FATHER & DOCTOR, SINGLETON
Our political and economic system has been developed into one that places corporate profit, political power and resource extraction at higher priority than our social well-being, our environment and our health.

Slow reform won’t succeed in preventing catastrophic outcomes whilst our political system is corrupted by donations and cronyism.

We have news media that lies and distracts, to protect economic profit.

We need direct action and transformational change. We needed it decades ago and we didn’t get it, the next best time is now.

Our future could be much better, but it won’t be given to us. We need to fight for it.

CONSCIOUS LAWYER, HAMILTON
I’m pledging because I want to face the climate emergency as a community and help bring about justice.

FILM STUDENT, WALLSEND
I'm pledging because I am sick of feeling powerless. The end of humanity is within spitting distance and I am tired of government inaction. I am tired of fossil fuel companies getting away with destroying the earth.

HEALTH PROFESSIONAL

Although I’ve always “done my bit for the environment”, the tangible reality of climate change hit me during the 2019/20 bushfires.

I realised, if we don’t change now, this will happen more and more often, though our lives, and the lives of the kids I work with.

I don’t believe any protest have ever disrupted quality of life as much as the months us living in fear; our beautiful bushland being inaccessible due to being on fire; and the countless times in the past 2 years roads have been cut due to flooding. Not to mention the homes and lives lost in fire and floods.

To me this is a pledge to fight for our future.

GRANDFATHER, MAITLAND
I’m signing this pledge for the very simple reason that I believe in democracy. I see our political system has been overtaken by corporate power that controls both the public message, politics and legal decision making. So my stand is for a healthy environment. I believe the only way possible is to resist the innate corruption within our currently flawed democracy.

GRANDPARENT

Action on climate change is happening way too slowly. We need to do everything possible to speed up the elimination of fossil fuel emissions - for our children, grandchildren, the planet!

Im pledging because i love our planet and all its beautiful diversity, nature inspires me to grow, to be present and patient, but also resilient when the time comes. the time is now. i stand with our mother and i will use my voice to speak for her needs and against the words of those who's motivations lay in selfishness and lust for power.

QUEER VOLUNTEER, KOTARA

In order to be able to make a difference and know that I'm contributing to something worthwhile!

BROADMEADOW

I think Kendra Pierre-Louis put it best when she wrote: “…when we talk about climate change, there’s often a hidden resignation— like of course we harmed the Earth.” I am pledging because I am trying to imagine the stories that are possible beyond resignation and scarcity-thinking, beyond capitalism, beyond patriarchy, beyond racism, beyond oppression.

ARTIST/MUSICIAN, BROADMEADOW

I'm keen to join with anyone who wants to take climate action. We don't have much time. And I am here in Newcastle.

There has to be a genuine, coordinated transition to a cleaner, safer world and the three most pressing issues needing attention are what we eat, transport and our energy.

ACTOR & THEATRE MAKER, METFORD
I'm a concerned citizen, who thinks something needs to be done to fix this mess of climate disasters that we are experiencing. They will only get worse, if we don't act now.

PARENT, MAYFIELD WEST
The tide is running out and it's time to really do something about the existential crisis we are facing.

TEENAGER, MYUNA BAY
Because I am passionate about the environment and more needs to be done, coming from a family who are climate change deniers I've seen first hand the amount of willful ignorance that is having such devastating impacts on our planet and I'm frankly tired of idly waiting by for something to get done when reality is, unless we get involved to do something, people like my family who deny the climate crisis will continue to f*** up the planet until it's too late

LAW STUDENT, NEWCASTLE
It's time to do the hard work of taking on the coal industry, which profits from the destruction of my future, and has captured Australian politics in its grubby hands. Corruption and collusion has stifled our decarbonisation for too many decades.

NANNA

Concern for the environment/planet

SUPPORT WORKER, LISMORE
I am pledging to join Rising Tide in the fight against the fossil fuel companies because I experienced first hand the effects of climate change during the Lismore floods.

It angers me to see individuals hoarding personal wealth from coal oil gas, whilst regular people lives get harder and harder.

STUDENT, NEWCASTLE
As a young person, I’ve got my whole future ahead of me. I’m scared that that future will be stolen by the greed and lies of the megarich and fossil fuel executives.

But what helps me to feel hopeful about my future is by doing everything that I can to protect it. Because for me, taking action is the only antidote to despair.

CHEF, NEWCASTLE
I’m pledging because I care for our planet and a bright future for the next generation.

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER, NEWCASTLE
I’m pledging because this is a climate emergency!

PERMACULTURALIST, TIGHES HILL
I haven't found a better proposition for getting big carbon business out of government.

BUDDHIST PREIST, WALLSEND
I am a lifelong Novocastrian, who is a socially & ecologically engaged Buddhist priest & pastoral carer, & have ongoing activist connections with the good work of Rising Tide.

FARMER, MONKERAI VALLEY
Devastating climate change is happening fast. Faster than the societal change we are making to ensure our children’s world is a safe place. Labor is doing better than the Coalition, but they are still approving new coal mines and gas fields. These will bring more climate related devastation.

I’m making a pledge to join civil resistance against the business as usual (window dressing at best) response of our governments and top energy companies.

YEAR 12 SCHOOL STUDENT, POKOLBIN
I’m taking the pledge for my family and friends. For my cousins, who are too young to understand the world they see is disappearing, for my childhood friends who lost their homes in the Lismore flooding. For my pop who sat in his Lismore home and watched the disaster unfold and wondered if his house was next. And finally, for my future, for yours, for our world’s.

WORKING YOUTH, NEWCASTLE

There are so many reasons I’m signing this pledge but the one that rings in my head the most is my fear for our futures. We have to be the change or it won’t happen, we’ve been shown this time and time again. The future doesn’t build itself and if we let the people in charge continue it’s only going to worsen every day. Power is in the hands of the collective!

AUTISTIC TRANSMAN, MEREWETHER
I want a future I can look forward to.

MOTHER, NEWCASTLE
I’m signing for my sons. They are already starting to lose the things that make life great. Fires and rain make it difficult to spend time outside, high sea level events make the beaches dangerous, our local food sources are struggling, the future looks grim, yet those in high office continue to ignore reason. So I am ready to stand together with my community and use the most effective tool we have left, nonviolent civil resistance.

FARM MANAGER, HUNTER VALLEY
It’s important to me that I remain connected to the global movement of people striving for systemic climate justice. I strive to make a difference as a land manager in my local area, and I tend to get absorbed in this work. Rising Tide is an opportunity for me to connect. I appreciate Rising Tide's explicit demands; particularly that no-one gets left behind. It's time we see a transition plan with teeth that also adequately supports our families in the energy sector. Y'know, the ones who keep most of us powered.

GRANDMOTHER, MAITLAND
I'm fighting for a liveable climate for my grandchildren and future generations. Whilst I have many friends and family who are employed in the mining industry who may have to move to different jobs - they will still be able to work. But we can't move to a different planet. I'm listening to the climate scientists and fighting for a safe climate and transition for workers.

SCIENTIST AND GRANDPARENT, BUCKETTY
The window of opportunity to protect my six beautiful grandchildren from global climate chaos is rapidly closing as the Arctic, Greenland and West Antarctic pass critical tipping points.

YOUNG PERSON, SYDNEY
Our fossil fuel exports are resulting in people's homes being burnt and washed away. We have to stop them.

SUFFOLK PARK

I’m Pledging out of the reason to make this planet so green. I can’t even imagine A big permanent earth with all people living and growing food and life our intention to nourish ourselves and our pacha mama!!

FORMER TEACHER, HAMILTON EAST
The climate crisis is a not just an environment crisis, but a crisis of justice. It’s vital that those of us who have capacity, stand in solidarity with those on the frontlines.For me, that means standing with former students and other young people to protect their future.

CONCERNED CITIZEN, NEWCASTLE
My friends’ homes have been lost in floods and fires and I watch in horror as the same occurs around the world, more and more frequently and with more intensity. We're heading for climate breakdown and Newcastle coal exports are Australia's single biggest contribution to this global crisis. We must unite against our this, because we still have the chance to create a beautiful, safe and more equitable future but time is quickly running out.

SUB-CONTRACTOR
There is a chance to maintain a beautiful world. Especially with new geothermal projects like Quaise and similar.

PERMACULTURALIST, NEWCASTLE
We must take our dire global situation seriously and force systematic change. The healthy future of planet earth and its life-support systems must not be cast aside for the greedy profits of a minority.

DAD & ACADEMIC, DELORAINE, TASMANIA
I’m a father of two awesome boys. Both have witnessed catastrophic floods and fires. My youngest, in particular was profoundly affected. He wouldn’t leave the house with checking BoM and fire maps. My job as a dad includes ensuring the climate is liveable.

GARDENER, CYCLIST, DISABILITY WORKER

Because collective action is needed now to tackle the ongoing impacts of climate change.

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER

Climate action is needed ASAP

QUEER STUDENT

To help stop climate inaction and push towards a cleaner and greener world

STUDENT

I’m pledging because I believe climate actIon needs to be top priority for everyone, and because I love my family and I want to know that I gave it everything I could for my cousins. This is our responsibility as humans to care for this planet for us and all the other creatures and organisms on it.

ENGINEER AND GARDENER

Because with 10,000 of us (or even less tbh) properly organised, committed and courageous, we can stop this carbon pollution death project as is our obligation to all of life.

FRIEND

For a better future

RETIRED CAPITLIST TOOL, ACTIVE CLIMATE REBEL

In Australia we are deluding ourselves with a fiction that our wealthy and resource abundant nation has some unique exemption that allows us to continue digging the fossil fuel pit and that's OK. It is now desperately urgent that we move past this - there is so much more to do. There is no time to waste.

With our governments, banks, corporations and media promulgating this deceit largely in unison, it is going to take commitment from everyone that we can mobilise to shift this narrative.

GRANDPARENT

I am pledging because urgent action needs to be taken to greatly reduce the amount of coal which is exported from the Port of Newcastle with the goal of no more coal/fossil fuels being mined.

WRITER AND MUSICIAN

I'm pledging because I live on this planet and would like it to stay habitable for humans and other nonhuman relatives. I'm very committed to protecting the environment and this seems like a direct, nonviolent way to engage more people in redirecting our society away from fossil fuels and pollution.

GRANDPARENT

I want to make sure I do what I can to ensure this world is available and flourishing for my grandchildren to live in

QUEER, DISABLED VETERINARIAN

I love Australia's unique ecosystems and wildlife. I want to fight to protect them from a corrupt system and those in power who are profiteering from the destruction of a liveable habitat.

MUSICIAN

I'm all in for civil resistance, all in for climate justice