Rising Tide Northern Rivers has been training all year in preparation for the November ten-day blockade of the world’s largest coal port in Newcastle.
Using kayaks, SUPs, surfboards and anything that floats, activists will prevent all exports of coal from Newcastle from November 22 to 24, before taking the message to Canberra.
People from the Tweed Coast all the way to Lismore have been honing their kayaking, activism and consensus-making skills in preparation for the event, which promises to be the largest ever civil disobedience for the climate in Australia’s history.
The ‘People’s Blockade’ aims to bring together 10,000 people to stop coal ships from entering or leaving the harbour for at least 50 hours, in an escalation of last year’s blockade, when around 3,000 people closed the port for 32 hours.
‘Our governments are failing to protect us from the existential threat of climate change, so we are forced to take matters into our own hands,’ said participant Emma Briggs, 55, from Suffolk Park.
‘The warnings from scientists get more urgent every year, but we are still expanding coal mines and opening new gas fields and pipelines. It has to stop and we’re determined to demonstrate that there is no social licence for new fossil fuel projects,’ she said.
Bruns and Tweed training
Training is on the Brunswick and Tweed Rivers every month this year, and the next training will be on October 7 at the pirate ship in Brunswick Heads. There will be a beginners’ session at 10am, then those who are ready can paddle to the Wallum site between 11am and noon, and share a picnic lunch before returning to Brunswick Heads.
Tweed resident and bush regenerator, MJ Johnston said ‘This is now a fight for survival and humanity. It is a human reaction to feel the need to take protest actions in order to prevent the collapse of our liveable world. The time for action is now!’
‘We are already living in a climate emergency,’ said Brunswick Heads resident and parent Valerie Thompson.
‘Having our own home, school and workplace flooded, we have seen first-hand what happens when we let fossil-fuel interests dictate government energy policy. It is time for the people to rise up.’
All are welcome to join in the paddle practice sessions, for more information email: [email protected]. If you are interested in being involved in the blockade in November; you can register on the Rising Tide website: https://www.risingtide.org.au.
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