Sprintcyclist
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Will these irresponsible thoughtless vandals be held accountable for the expenses they have made others incur ?
"POLICE arrested 37 activists who chained themselves to a train and rail tracks at Newcastle Port yesterday, shutting down the world's largest coal port for seven hours.
Protest organisers said up to 1000 people marched to the Carrington coal terminal to demonstrate against government inaction on climate change.
About 100 people scaled or cut through fences to enter the rail corridor and tie themselves to a fully loaded coal train.
More than 150 police officers attended the protest - including riot police, the dog squad, mounted officers and a water cannon bought for use at last year's APEC summit in Sydney.
Protest organiser Georgina Wood said police told activists that tough laws introduced after the 2005 Cronulla riots were being used.
A police spokeswoman said protesters had been arrested for trespassing, hindering police and resisting arrest. She said all those charged would appear in Newcastle Local Court.
Friends of the Earth spokesman Cam Walker said the protests were "fantastically successful".
"This marks a significant point in building a grassroots climate change (campaign) here in Australia," he said. "People standing up and having their say in a democracy is a beautiful thing to do."
Organisers estimate the action would have cost mining companies $1.3 million, but Mr Walker said the protesters were not economic vandals.
"If we look at what the climate scientists are saying, then what happened today is nowhere close to what has to be done.
"We're only doing this because we need to."
Friends of the Earth wants the federal Government to reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent by 2050.
The Rudd Government is committed to cuts of 60 per cent of their 2000 levels by 2050.
NSW Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon, union representatives and several coalminers also took part in the protest.
Matthew Watson, spokesman for Port Waratah Coal Services, said yesterday was a relatively quiet day at Newcastle port, with the protests delaying three coal trains scheduled to deliver 20,000 tonnes of coal to the terminal.
He said ship loading operations were not affected.
Mr Watson said the protesters had put their lives at risk by trespassing on the site and praised police for their professional approach.
Newcastle Port plans to ship 95 million tonnes of coal over the next year and is currently building a third coal-loading terminal.
Among the companies that use the port are BHP Billiton, Xstrata, Rio Tinto, Gloucester Coal and Centennial Coal Company."
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24013839-2702,00.html
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