Sunday July 13th - community protest to stop coal exports!

Join the peaceful community protest

When: 10am Sunday 13th July.

Where: Begin at Islington Park, march to Carrington coal terminal.

What: On 13th July, hundreds of people from across the country will take part in Ausralia’s biggest single direct action protest against coal and climate change. Please join us to be part of this historic movement.

The protest begins with a colourful rally and march, and you don’t need to be willing to be arrested to come along. We will march to Carrington coal terminal where members of the community will walk onto the coal rail line to stop coal exports in their tracks.

Hundreds of people of all ages and from all walks of life will attend the protest which aims to be an inspiring and empowering show of community opposition to the expansion of the coal industry. This protest is your chance to take direct action against the reckless coal export industry. Our aim is to call the Federal Government’s attention to the extreme urgency of the climate challenge and the need for Australia to move away from coal reliance and begin reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the next two years.

Why should I go?

The greenhouse gases from coal exported from Newcastle harbour are greater than the total volume of greenhouse gases emitted from NSW from every other source combined.

At a time when climate change is already threatening vulnerable communities around the world and pushing species and ecosystems to the brink of extinction, the coal industry is still rapidly expanding in Australia. Our country is already the biggest coal exporter in the world, and it’s getting bigger. Globally and at home, greenhouse gases are still rising, despite years of study and talk about the impacts of global warming.

There is no more time to wait: time is running out for effective action to avert runaway climate change – when increased temperatures and more frequent wild fires begin to kill the forests and woodlands of the world and they begin emitting greenhouse gases in huge quantities, beyond our control.

In December next year, Australia will join the nations of the world in Copenhagen to reach agreement on our global strategy to avert this crisis: it will not work unless we have a plan to end our reliance on coal for export and energy.

This community protest against coal expansion is an opportunity for you to take part in the growing movement of ordinary people taking historic action to avert this crisis in a safe, supportive and positive environment. In the spirit of Ghandi, the Suffragettes and Martin Luther King, we will engage in peaceful direct action to physically stop coal trains for the day and send a powerful and positive message to the world.

For people wishing to participate in direct action, please try to make it to one of the peaceful direct action workshops that are being held during the camp, and in particular, the action role play on Saturday afternoon (you can find the camp program here). There will also be workshops on legal rights for activists during the camp.

For others wishing to participate in the community day of action but who are not willing or able to particpate in the blockade of the rail line, there will be plenty of opportunity to contribute creatively to the protest, to support others, and give strong voice to your desire for real action on climate change.

So bring puppets, banners, placards, flags or whatever else can help you raise your voice for climate action, and we look forward to seeing on the 13th!

P.s. and remember to invite your friends and family!

How to get there:

Islington Park is a short walk from Hamilton train station. Walk one block up Beaumont Street to the Maitland Road t-intersection. Cross the road at the lights and turn left. Islington Park is two more blocks up Maitland Road.