Thousands protest at Peoples Blockade of coal at the Port of Newcastle

Image: Peoples Blockade - Rising Tide Australia

An estimated 3,000 people gather at Newcastle, the world's largest coal port this weekend, for a 30 hour blockade of coal ships. 

They came in sail boats, canoes, kayaks to block the shipping channels to stop any ships this weekend. Authorities were notified of the protest, and blockades have been held in previous years which stop shipping movements during the blockade hours.

The Peoples Blockade has 3 basic demands:

1. Immediately cancel all new fossil fuel projects
2. Tax fossil fuel export profits at 75% to fund community and industrial transition, and pay for climate loss and damage
3. End all coal exports from Newcastle – the world’s largest coal port – by 2030

The Federal Government in the last 18 months have approved 4 new coal mines of 10 fossil fuel projects. There has been no attempt to reign in the over $11 billion per annum in Fossil Fuel tax subsidies. Fossil Fuel companies have been making a bonanza in profits in recent years with no attempt by the Government to tax these companies to raise revenue for the damages of growing climate disasters from drought, flood, tropical cyclones and heatwaves.

There are currently  14 new coal projects in the approvals pipeline just in New South Wales.

The International Energy Agency has stated there is already too much coal, oil and gas in production to blow the Paris climate targets, and that no new fossil fuel projects should be approved. (See latest IEA report The Oil and Gas Industry in Net Zero Transitions) This is also shown in the UNEP Production Gap and Emissions Gap reports released earlier this month.

109 arrested at blockade on Sunday

After the 30 hours of blockade expired, police boats moved in and ordered people to cease blocking the channel. Many people refused.

👉🏽 109 arrested, including 5 minors

👉🏽 Many held past midnight

👉🏽 2 kept in custody, as they refused to sign bail conditions 

👉🏽 Everyone well and in good spirits

Vice AuNZ video report:

Rising Tide Report from Saturday:

Life after coal exports: Worker solidarity and the transition

On Friday evening a forum was held in Newcastle. The forum included speakers:

* Li Mei Brusey (Friends of the Earth and Copower)

* Tim Lang (Labor Environment Action Network)

* Grant Howard (Illawarra coal worker)

* Matthew Jeffrey (ASU member and Wadi Wadi man of the Yuin Nation)

* Maddy Yerbury (Tomorrow Movement)

The forum was Chaired by Zane Alcorn, CFMEU member and co-host of Green Left radio on community radio 3CR

Video News reports

ABC Video report:

Skynews Video Report:

7 News report:

References

ABC News, 25 November, 2023, Port of Newcastle blockaded as paddlers protest coal exports and lack of climate action https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-25/hundreds-paddle-out-coal-port-blockade-newcastle-climate-change/103146494

The Guardian, 25 November, 2023, Newcastle port blockade: paddling activists take part in one of the biggest climate protests in Australia’s history https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/25/newcastle-harbour-blockade-activists-planning-the-biggest-civil-disobedience-action-in-australias-history

SBS News, 25 November 2023, Australia's largest coal port halts shipping amid climate activists' blockade https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/australias-largest-coal-port-halts-shipping-amid-climate-activists-blockade/mhphacav9 

The Guardian, 27 November 2023, Newcastle port: more than 100 arrested after climate protesters continue blockade past agreed deadline https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/26/newcastle-port-arrests-made-after-climate-protesters-continue-blockade-past-agreed-deadline