with Rev Dr Chris Walker
Protest in Newcastle
I was one of the people to participate in the Break Free protest against coal mining and climate change in Newcastle on Sunday 8 May. My wife and I were arrested in doing so. We were part of this national protest that involved some 2,000 people. Most took part in the protest at Port Newcastle where there was a large flotilla of kayaks as well as many people on the beach. No coal ships came into or out of the port that day as a result. My wife and I chose to be part of another aspect to the protest. We went with a group of about 60 people to a rail bridge to stop coal trains. We had to get through or over a wire fence in order to climb onto the tracks then onto the rail bridge. We were arrested for trespassing. Why did we do this?
I have been involved in various non-violent protests over many years – against the war in Vietnam and Apartheid in South Africa when I was a student, against nuclear weapons in the 1980s, against Australia joining the USA in wars on Afghanistan and Iraq, in relation to refugees and asylum seekers, and in solidarity with aboriginal issues. The issue this time was not war or racism but climate change. It is a major issue but unfortunately gets less attention now than a few years ago when the film “An Inconvenient Truth” by Al Gore highlighted the issues. Yet it is not as though the climate situation has improved or temperatures have remained the same. Instead all the scientific evidence is that global warming is happening at a rapid rate. We have had the hottest years on record. We are having more extreme storms, affecting poorer people especially. The ocean level is rising, as low lying islands in the Pacific are experiencing. The Arctic ice is melting. Despite some progress in terms of international conferences and agreements, such as the Paris Agreement last year, not nearly enough action is taking place to reduce the effects of climate change. In order to raise awareness protest was needed. To highlight the seriousness of the issue some of us were even prepared to engage in civil disobedience and risk arrest.
The Break Free protest in Newcastle was in fact part of a global protest in May to put pressure on governments to turn from fossil fuels and accelerate the transition to a 100% renewable energy future. There will be a dozen major mobilisations around the world to demonstrate that people are prepared to escalate resistance to new and existing fossil fuel projects, hold governments to their word, and build a future free from the power and pollution of the fossil fuel industry. Protests are planned for an open pit lignite mine in Germany, the UK’s largest coal mine in Wales, coal power plants in the Philippines, coal mines in South Africa, fracking, oil, and tar sands projects in the USA and Canada, oil and gas infrastructure in Brazil and others. A range of environment groups are involved including Climate Action Network, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Rainforest Action Network, 350.org and others.
Newcastle was chosen for the protest in Australia as it is home to the world’s biggest coal port which operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It has nine coal berths and shipped 158 million tonnes of coal last year. In September last year, despite significant community opposition, the NSW Government approved a fourth coal loader that will increase the capacity of the terminal. Yet coal is a dirty form of energy that is a major contributor to pollution. Australia is acting irresponsibly in continuing to mine and export coal to places where it will pollute the atmosphere, contribute to global warming and affect the health of local people.
Protest including civil disobedience has led to profound changes across the world – from the inspiration of Ghandi and Martin Luther King to numerous local fights for people’s rights and environmental protection. In Australia such protests saved the Franklin River in Tasmania and stopped the Jabiluka uranium mine. Many of us felt we needed to act to try to effect change. Doing so publicly and non-violently even to the point of civil disobedience was deemed necessary. The recent bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef, one of the world’s greatest natural treasures, shows that we have to act immediately to reduce the effects of climate change.
I am committed to non-violent action. So it was pleasing to see the Break Free participants’ agreement which we all affirmed at the training and information day on Saturday prior to the protest on Sunday. The main points were as follows: I will assert my right to peaceful protest. I will take responsibility for my own actions, and support others to respect this agreement. I will not use physical violence, verbal threats or insults. I will not damage the equipment or property of others. I will treat each person with respect, including workers and police.
There were also guidelines in regard to relating to one another which were also valuable and clear. They included the following. Respect cultural diversity and ensure first nations and frontline voices are prioritised. Respect people’s physical and emotional boundaries. Communicate clearly, openly and truthfully with everyone – especially people who you may have conflict with. Be aware that your actions do have an effect on others.
The protest did achieve significant public media coverage, such as ABC television’s national news. Social media was very active on the day. The organisers were sending pictures and reports to various media. No doubt all who took part have been communicating with those in their networks. We can only hope that our point concerning coal and climate change did register and that climate change will be an issue the major political parties take more seriously. (I have drawn on the Break Free Newcastle Handbook in writing this blog.)
Chris Walker
(National Consultant Christian Unity, Doctrine & Worship)