What scares you more?
The impact of warming by 1.5 degrees that results in drought, famine, heat stress, species die-off, loss of entire ecosystems and habitable land and 100 million people being thrown into poverty?
Or a hundred or so activists in a kayak?
Yesterday in Newcastle the police arrested over 100 protesters who continued to blockade Horseshoe Bay, the world’s biggest coal port. One of the people arrested was 97-year-old Reverend Alan Stewart. Doing his bit for what he knows is right. Isn’t that the most Christian action of all?
This weekend over 2,000 people (of which I was one) gathered to join the Rising Tide blockade to stop over half a million tonnes of coal from leaving the port. It was a peaceful, joyous gathering that had a key message demanding the government stop allowing new coal projects, and to properly tax existing fossil fuel exports. This was a 30-hour legal blockade until 4pm on Sunday. After that point the police moved in with their full force. And in the space of a few minutes the protesters became criminals. Not the fossil fuel companies who quietly profiteer. Who commit atrocities not just in plain sight but with subsidies.
The protesters came from around the country. Mums, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles, kids, and dogs. They were not a threat to public safety. In fact, they were the opposite. They are the first responders in this climate crisis. They are the front line in safety. The people who turn up. They are the heroes of the climate movement – calling out the corruption of governments who give lip service to lowering emissions while they busily open new coal mines.
Since Labor came in and promised we’d reach Net Zero by 2050 they’ve approved four new coal mines or expansions with 147 million tonnes of lifetime emissions. Australia currently has 116 new coal, oil and gas projects in the pipeline. I wonder how Tanya Plibersek sleeps at night.
Nearly 18 months ago I gave up drinking. With that went my very bad habit of having a cigarette when I was a bit drunk. Is that what happens with Tanya? Except instead of smoking she green-lights coal mines? Does she have a big night on the Sav Blanc and then wake up and go, ‘Oh my god. Did I approve a coal mine last night?’
Our governments continue to take donations and give subsidies to fossil fuel companies. Have they forgotten about us? Our children? Our children’s children? Their children? At the pointy end of the climate crisis, it’s not just corrupt, it’s criminal.
That’s why a 97-year-old Reverend stayed in the water. That’s why he found himself getting arrested. It’s why over 100 people ended up getting arrested. Ironically, at this most important time in human history our governments have created laws to protect corporations and to punish us. It’s no coincidence that NSW anti-protest laws were brought in and we have the biggest coal port in the world on our door step and we are in a climate emergency.
Protesting, or peaceful assembly, is a common law right that can be traced back to the Magna Carta. It is protected by the Australian Constitution. Yet state laws are so broad that people can face criminal charges of up to 2 years in jail and a $22,000 fine.
So we step up to call our government to account – we are arrested.
When corporations cause catastrophic climate change they are rewarded.
We urgently need donation reform. We need climate justice.
Because pretty soon our jails will be full people like 97-year-old Alan Stewart.
People like you and me.
Now come on Mandy, admit it, the protesters got exactly what they wanted. You don’t get much coverage by bobbing around in a kayak for a few hours. Outstay your permit, get arrested – that really gets you on the evening news. That’s fine! I’ve been in plenty of protests and know how you always battle to get anyone to give a stuff.
A good performance, certainly, but please quit with the martyrdom stuff. You love a good performance, Mandy!
Money/ Greed.
The root of the worlds demise.
It’s a difficult problem
But problems can be worked on
At least.
You could have knocked me down with the proverbial feather when I read some positive commentary on Backlash this week about Labor’s energy policy. Good news for the planet it seems, that Labor plans to have 82% of Australia’s energy coming from renewable sources by the end of the decade – compared with 35% at present.
What happened? Did someone at the Echo respond to “backlash” at the constant carping of its editorial stance? Is it a token gesture at balance – in the fine print on the back page? Whatever, it was mildly encouraging, but somewhat swamped by “Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox” needing to be renamed The Greens Party Policy Vacuum, Anti Labor (conveniently also, anti my main rivalJustine Elliott), Soapbox”
Labor has a strategic and calibrated plan to achieve its targets. They have already significantly increased the mix. When the targets recently looked greatly under challenge, Labor launched a scheme to partner with private investment to accelerate the process. They are also increasing grid capacity to take advantage of the increased renewables production including Snowy 2.
A real plan is necessary – transition doesn’t just happen. Climate change is leading us to catastrophe, but can anyone envisage the economies and industries across the globe just flicking a switch to stop all fossil fuel generated power? Without chaos and its own forms of catastrophe?
There are 116 projects “in the pipeline” but four (including extensions to existing projects) have been approved. This approval includes metallurgical coal used for steel production. The world depends on steel for construction (remember the housing crisis), manufacture and surgical instruments. It is the most recyclable material we use.
Gas is an important transition fuel as it can be readily switched on and off in response to the ebb and flow of renewable production. Gas is part of our transition plans and very much so for resource poor countries like Japan (one of our main export destinations) and their plans to reach net zero.
A personal soapbox, for one-way dialogue, is very handy. Campaigning, behind what was once witty and clever, but light hearted, comedic banter, is conveniently undemanding.
What would be more appropriate here would be for Mandy to actually explain, in some granular detail, the Greens policy for a total transition from fossil fuels. Taking note that there is more to an energy policy than slogans.
Lizardbreath is that really you?, have you taken a course of sensible pills?. Please don’t make me agree with you ever again, it makes me very uncomfortable. Well said, however it doesn’t let Albo or the greens off the hook for being complicit in totally ignoring the destruction of our scrub, forest areas and private land for it’s windmills, solar panels and transmission lines. The hypocrisy is astounding, the destruction is unforgiveable, what chance doe’s anyone think a mine proposal or farm clearing would have in being approved?. The utter bare faced lack of conscience and embarrassment should have the people and media up in arms, however the media are running a protection racket for this cause. Go figure Australia, we are fools, we need some guts to reject this disgrace.
Gregrrrrrrrrrrrr, your deep concern for the land is noted.
I’m not reading any of your concern of Coal, Oil and Gas projects destroying the environment.
He is holding you to your standards to point out your hypocrisy. They are not our standards.
Gosh, it makes me feel uncomfortable too Gregrrrrrr. There’s nothing here that’s inconsistent with what I’ve been writing. Unlike you, I can see a need to urgently transition to renewable and less emissions intensive energy.
Nothing is ideal, and these products do have a shelf life – and create a carbon footprint – so if you didn’t think anthropogenic climate change is a real thing you wouldn’t bother. I do, so I can see that taking up some land (doesn’t need to be forests etc) for solar farms is better than the alternative. Most farm industry can carry on underneath the windmills and off-shore windmills are designed to have minimal impact. Despite Dutton running around jumping on that bandwagon.
People are generously remunerated for the use of their land in these ways.
I’d also like to see the government going harder but I also know the reality of the situation. People are all totally on board for renewables and climate action until they think it might cost them more or the first major blackout costs lives – or just even interferes with their Netflix streaming.
I want some sort of a future for my precious grandchildren. I don’t think letting Dutton back in will get them there.
But if all this sounds sensible, be careful, you might find yourself lining up to vote Labor 😱
What’s this, a mutual admiration society or honour among thieves?
Cheers, G”)
Try addressing what’s written.
Don’t bother Ken. The censorship has ramped up again.
Yes, vote ALP, sustainable pop. party & Animal Justice parties. Greens don’t have a population policy. I wonder why?
Good on you But i sure hope youre off the grid and dont flick the switch that gives you power from anything coal fired
I do live off the grid, and it gives you a great appreciation for coal, and dams, and stuff.
Lizardbreath, as long as my arse points to the ground I will never first and foremost vote green or labor. You haven’t explained why the self righteous greens have not started protesting against wrecking the environment to save the planet. They are unforgiveable rodent hypocrites of the highest order.Bandt paddles around Newcastlr harbour making a bigger fool of himself than ever before while neglecting the role he was employed to do. Such a waste of space. Such a trainer to the environment.
Not just me here, but an avalanche of material is available to explain the necessity of finding cleaner energy sources. You, from your highly qualified scientific perspective just disagree. End of story.
More means better? Have you seen the mountain of Marxist literature that exists? Never works, kills hundreds of millions of people, and yet, they continue to be funded. It doesn’t stop flooding during an El Niño drought though.
So climate change is a Marxist plot?
Electricity is the means of production of energy for machines. Water is the means of production of energy for humans. There is no shortage of water or coal in Australia, but you are being increasing restricted, tracked and traced, with both. One side blames capitalism, the other, communism. People forget capitalism was also invented by Marx. It’s the antithesis to his thesis, which is a requirement when running a dialect. Marx lived in the age of mercantilism, which is the direction the BRICS nations are trying to take the world.
🤸♀️
Mandy, 1000% on topic!
And ontop of Minister Tanya’s 4 coal project approvals this year was also the approval of 116 new gas wells in the Surat Basin for one of the ALP’s $’sdonor – fossil fueller SANTOS. Well done to SANTOS in getting a tidy little ROI so soon!
Whether it Lab or LibNat, they just take turns in delivering their own brand of bollocks.
Whether its School Kids striking or the wider community protesting, the same result from our LabLibNat Cartel – ignore the climate emergency, shut down the protestors, get the Fossil Fuel train or boat rolling on.
The IEA has belled the cat on opening new Coal and Gas projects –
From oilprice.com
“IEA Says No New Major Fossil Fuel Projects Needed In Net Zero Scenario”,
By Charles Kennedy – Sep 26, 2023, 8:30 AM CDT.
As to gas being a “transition fuel”, this is a simply a game spun by the fossil fuellers, with full agreement of government that has been bought off by $’shundredsofthgousandsFossil Fuel Industry, the game of replacing coal with gas, as the embedded fossil fuel for decades and decades to come.
Where ya bin’ Joachim? Haven’t heard from you in ages!
Thanks for your concern, our bromance is set for take off.