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.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
