More than a 100 climate activists were arrested after a 30-hour blockade at the world's largest coal port in Newcastle, Australia.
The protest, which saw over 3000 people take part in the two day blockade over the weekend, was organised by the climate activist group Rising Tide.
Hundreds of people took to the water swimming and paddling using kayaks and surfboards in an attempt to stop coal export from leaving Newcastle.
Rising Tide called it “the biggest act of civil disobedience for climate in Australia’s history” and claimed to have halted the export of more than half a million tonnes of coal from the country.
Climate protestors defiant as they're pulled onto police boats after occupying the shipping channel at the Port of Newcastle. The blockade shopped coal ships for over 32 hours #PeoplesBlockade pic.twitter.com/9B44DtECZv
— RisingTideAustralia (@RisingTideAus) November 26, 2023
A Port of Newcastle spokesperson said on Saturday: "At present, due to the number of people currently in the shipping channel, all shipping movements have ceased due to safety concerns, irrespective of the cargo they are carrying or intend to load."
In a statement New South Wales Police said they charged 109 people after protesters continued beyond the agreed time on Sunday 4pm.
They said: "Police will allege in court that a number of protesters purposely entered the harbour channel after this time despite appropriate warnings and directions by police."
Police confirmed on Monday 18 people were taken to Newcastle Waratah and Toronto police stations, while 86 were taken to nearby port facilities.
Among those arrested was 97-year-old, Alan Stuart, who defied the agreed deadline for the blockade.
How to arrest a 97yo climate protector at the #PeoplesBlockade? Very carefully and to a heroes welcome! If charged, Reverend Alan Stuart will be the oldest person ever charged in Australia 😲
— RisingTideAustralia (@RisingTideAus) November 26, 2023
"I think it is my duty to do what I can and to stand up for what I know is right.” pic.twitter.com/mZLunitdRa
He said: "I am doing this for my grandchildren and future generations."
"I am so sorry that they will have to suffer the consequences of our inaction. So, I think it is my duty to do what I can.”
Anjali Beams, a 17-year-old school demonstrator from Adelaide who also remained in the water after the deadline, said she was protesting because the government has “consistently ignored young people’s voices."
She added: "The Newcastle coal port is the largest coal port in the world, and I will not be complicit in letting my future get sold away by the fossil fuel industry for their profit.”
The protest comes ahead of COP28, the annual climate change summit which starts on Thursday in Dubai. A report by the United Nations released ahead of the summit has warned that the world is heading towards 2.5 to 2.9C of warming.
Rising Tide called on Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, to block new coal projects and tax coal exports at 75 percent to “fund the transition" to cleaner fuel sources.
Australia exports about 70 percent of its black coal to eastern Asia, making it one of the world’s largest exporters. Fossil fuel also contributes heavily to the country’s electricity generation.
A Rising Tide organiser, Alexa Stuart, said: “If the Government will not take action on climate change the people will use civil disobedience. We wish we did not have to do this, but the Albanese Government needs to understand we are serious.”
Mr Albanese promised to "join the global effort" to curb greenhouse gas emissions when taking office in 2022. Since then he has increased the country’s reduction emission target from 26-28 percent to 43 percent by 2030.
However, he has ruled out banning fossil fuel projects citing "devastating impact on the Australian economy.”
