Cheap imports fuel coal exports...

Have you every wondered why we are so dependent on export coal? We’ve heard lots of arguments for buying products that are made in Australia, but did you know that buying overseas-produced products is also fuelling climate change? Cheap imported consumer products are driving up greenhouse gases, and you can help stop global warming by buying less.

How does buying stuff fuel climate change?

In two key ways:

150 - 200 people protested at Newcastle today against the expansion of the world's biggest coal port. The protest was part of an international day of action demanding urgent action against climate change from the UN climate talks taking place in Bali.

- Here is an image gallery of images from the blockade.

- Here is a video of the train after it was stopped, here is a video with a member of Rising Tide speaking at the blockade, and here is a video of another Rising Tide person being cut-off the train by Police Rescue officers.

- Here is a slideshow of the image gallery (it's a bit erratic, you may have to bear with it).

Media Release

19th November, 2007

Coal Train Blockaded

Grassroots climate change action group Rising Tide has blockaded a coal train on its way into the world’s biggest coal export port, at Kooragang Island in Newcastle Harbour. No trains are able to enter Kooragang Coal Terminal because of the blockade.

Thankyou to everyone who took part in Saturday's Peoples' Blockade of the World's Biggest Coal Port!

Here are some photos from the day. Here is a slideshow. You might also like to see these, these, these... and these new ones.

Here are a few more photos and some words from one of the blockade particpants.

The protest was a fantastic show of community determination to take action against Australia's biggest contribution to climate change, despite resistance from government and industry. As well as being a powerful and symbolic action, the protest succeeded in disrupting coal exports from Newcastle Harbour.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the parade, it was great!
Photos here, with more to come.
Media release follows.

Further discussion of the issues raised in this media release is contained within this unpublished opinion piece.

As coal trains roll back into Newcastle today after being shut down by last week's storm, Rising Tide Newcastle has linked the disastrous storm with the region's export coal industry.

“Freak weather disasters like this are becoming more fierce and more frequent due to climate change, which is fuelled in part by Newcastle coal exports”, said Steve Phillips from Rising Tide. “As coal exports in Newcastle return to business as usual, we can expect to see more and more disasters like this in the future.”

“While it is impossible to pin the blame for any particular weather event on human-fuelled climate change, we know for sure that freak weather events like this are increasing in both frequency and intensity around the globe”, said Phillips. “We know that the situation stands to get much worse, and that action to reduce fossil fuel consumption – the primary cause of climate change – must be taken now. If we fail to act against coal, we are condemning ourselves and others to an unliveable climate.”

Rising Tide are involved in a determined community campaign to stop plans by governments and coal companies to double coal exports from Newcastle – already the world's busiest coal port.

“It is reckless and wanton to even consider expanding Newcastle coal exports when we know the damage that it will cause. Governments and the coal lobby are endangering human and non-human life, by ignoring climate change and pushing ahead with their short sighted and selfish agenda. Increasing coal exports would have a direct impact on global climate change, and would cost lives.”

“Coal exports have done enough damage. It is time to scrap plans to double Newcastle coal exports, and put in place plans for a just transition away from coal for NSW, into a sustainable future.”

Rising Tide Newcastle is launching a new website today, which allows you to pledge to take Peaceful Direct Action to prevent the massive expansion of Newcastle coal exports, which was approved by the Iemma Government in April.

This year will see the beginning of a rolling direct action campaign to pressure the State Government to take control of the coal industry, stop the acceleration of greenhouse gas emissions from export coal, and lead NSW forward into a post-coal economy. In Sydney this month, major NSW and international environment groups resolved to take a series of actions to stop the expansion of the coal industry in NSW, and the grassroots movement against export coal has been steadily building momentum over the last two years.