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Media release 14th July 2008

Nine climate campers from across Australia stop work at world’s largest coal port NSW Government chained to coal industry

6am Koorgang coal loader, Newcastle

Four climate activists have locked on to the fourth coal conveyor belt at Koorgang coal export terminal in Newcastle. Five others have attached themselves to coal loading machinery.

These actions follow from Sunday's mass community shut down of the Carrington coal rail line, also in Newcastle, as part of the Camp for Climate Action. Australia's first "Camp for Climate Action" is six days of inspiring workshops and direct action aimed at shutting down the world's largest coal port. Joanne Ferris, spokesperson for the group said, "Australian Governments are chained to coal.

In the face of impending climate crisis the NSW Government is expanding the coal industry, Australia's number one source of greenhouse emissions.

"Today we are locking on in response to reckless Government policies of so-called "clean coal" and power privatisation which are locking us into runaway climate change," she said.

Media Release
12th July 2008

Coal targeted in huge protest

Who: climate protesters
What: march and coal train blockade
Where: Islington Park, Islington, Newcastle
When: 10 am, Sunday July 13
Hundreds of people from all over Australia will attempt to peacefully prevent coal trains from reaching the port of Newcastle tomorrow morning to protest the expansion of the coal export industry and the prospect of climate catastrophe.
Protestors will gather at Islington Park at 10am and march to Carrington coal terminal where they will attempt to peacefully occupy the coal train line on its way to the port.
The action will be the biggest direct action protest against coal and climate change in Australia’s history. NSW Treasurer Michael Costa yesterday criticised the protest, saying that shutting down the port at Newcastle for just one day would cost $34.5 million dollars.
The protestors have been taking part in the “Camp for Climate Action since Thursday, and further protests are expected.
“This protest is part of a growing movement of people calling for a rapid and effective transition away from Australia’s dependence on coal for power and coal exports”, Georgina Woods said today.

Media release: 3pm 13th July 2008

Forty arrested: Direct action protest shuts Newcastle coal line

Forty people have been arrested during thousand strong protest at Newcastle today.

Two more have just locked on to the coal train that has been stationary at the terminal for the past six hours.

No coal trains have moved in or out of Carrington coal terminal fore the last six hours and services have still not resumed.

The protest is the culmination of the Camp for Climate Action – a direct action protest camp that has been underway in Newcastle for the last five days.

Climate camp spokesperson, Georgina Woods said, "The attention of the world is on Australia today, as a thousand people have marched on the world's biggest coal port in Newcastle to demand a swift move away from coal depedence."

"Climate change is the issue of our time and today's protest is a turning point in the climate change debate.

"there is no longer any excuse for the Australian Government to keep expanding the coal industry. The people are ready for change and the time is now."

Further information or comment: Georgina Woods 0438 223 771
Holly Creenaune 0417 682 541

Climate camp protesters have hit back at Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell saying he and the state government are the ones who are “deluded” about climate change.

“There is no solution to the climate emergency unless we stop burning coal,” Georgina Woods said today.

“Professor Garnaut has warned that “The most inappropriate response would be to delude ourselves, taking small steps that create an appearance of action but which do not solve the problem.”

“This is exactly the deluded policy that O'Farrell and his counterparts in the State government support.”

“We are the realists in this debate.

We recognise that burning coal is driving us to catastrophe and we must do everything we can to make a rapid shift away from coal.

The Camp for Climate Action is part of an international movement against coal will culminate in a mass community protest this Sunday aimed at stopping coal trains near Carrington Coal Terminal in Newcastle.