Climate rally shuts down Collins Street as protesters chain themselves together

Date
    December 10, 2015
    The Age

Collins Street has been shut down by a snap climate change protest, with activists chaining themselves together outside two major buildings.   

The protest appears to be part of a larger global campaign meant to send a message to delegates at the Paris climate conference.

The activists chained themselves together outside the corporate headquarters of BHP and Westpac, blocking their entrances. Police have begun cutting the protestors chains and removing them.


The protest was staged between the headquarters of BHP and Westpac.

The protests are part of a national day of action, with other targets including coal ports around Australia. The protesters say Australia is paying lip service to climate change action while increasing coal exports.   

"We are targeting two examples of the broken system that is failing people and environment," activist Bronwyn Plarre said in a statement.

"We are here to connect the dots between Westpac and BHP who represent the finance and extractive industries that displace Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, destroy our environment, and drive the continuing disparity between rich and poor in our world."

More to come.

Climate protesters target coal ports in Newcastle, Port Kembla and Brisbane   
ABC News
Updated about 2 hours ago


Climate change activists have staged operations at three coal ports and in the centre of Melbourne, chaining themselves to equipment and calling on industry to "connect the dots" in the fight against global warming.

Police said three people who locked themselves onto a coal-loading conveyor belt at the Port of Newcastle were arrested, while activists said two others who scaled coal-loading equipment at Port Kembla near Wollongong, were also taken into custody.

Protesters at the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group (NCIG) premises in Newcastle stopped operations by locking themselves to the facility at Koorangang north of the CBD.

Police sent rescue teams and the Bomb Disposal Unit, unchaining the protesters at about 8:00am.

In Port Kembla, the protest and accompanying police operation caused truck traffic to build up around the port.

One of the protesters was pictured swinging from a coal loader.

Protest group Front Line Action on Coal said the two activists involved had been taken into custody.

In Brisbane, a small group of protesters tied themselves to trees opposite a railway station to stop coal trains travelling to the Port of Brisbane, with a spokesperson for Queensland Rail saying one freight train was waiting to get through.

With the United Nations climate conference underway in Paris, Newcastle protester Vanessa Weibford said communities were demanding more action.

"We're doing this because we live with the immediate threat of having coal on our doorstep," she said.



"Newcastle is the home to the largest coal port in the world.

"Our temperatures are soaring and we're burning the planet, despite global efforts to push back the worst threats of climate change, while in Paris our government continues to ignore the science."   

Rada Germanos from the group Front Line Action on Coal said the loading of a Taiwanese bulk carrier at Port Kembla had been halted by protesters.

"We are standing inside the port and there are coal trucks backed up as far as the eye can see," Ms Germanos said.
Protest irresponsible, unsafe: NCIG

NCIG chief executive Aaron Johansen said the prime concern was safety.

"The safety of protestors, of emergency services and of our own NCIG employees."



Mr Johansen called the actions "irresponsible".

"While NCIG supports the right to protest, it deplores such actions which puts the lives of protestors, emergency services and others at risk," he said.

"All operations in the vicinity of the protest have been stopped while the matter is concluded."



Ms Weibford said there is a worldwide effort at the Paris conference to halt global warming.

"We're not feeling like our government is listening to the people of Australia, and protecting us from run away climate change," she said.   

"The consequence of being arrested is nothing compared to what will happen to the planet."

The UN climate conference has unveiled a new draft agreement that aims to minimise global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius.

Rent-a-crowd. Every single one unemployed.

____ wrote on Dec 10^th, 2015 at 2:34pm:
Or citizens of that country.

____ wrote on Dec 10^th, 2015 at 2:34pm:



It is not only substantiated, but I defy you to find a single one of them that has a full-time job  ie not a 'Kat job'.

While you are at it, find out if any have had a bath or shower this week.

Were the chains BHP steel? Did they come from metal out the ground at all? Or did they just pull them out from rainbows stored in their arse?

Maqqa wrote on Dec 10^th, 2015 at 1:48pm:

maqqa had kids to kick heads in: bye bye jew-net 

what I dont GET is ..

not long ago.. Blue Steele in Port kemble was on the verge of closing...UMMMMMMMM thats right they make steel all using good old.. oops bad old coal..

there was a loud.. NOOOOOOOOOOOO from some folks on here I swear crook was one of them..

save those JOBS....an d they did.. not all of them for sure but a lot were saved.. and some lefties oin  here were wiling... why do we buy steel from overseas.. when we can buy it from here..... DUH...\

now we have them closing the coal loader at PORT KEMBLA and Newcastle.. ..

oh my goodness me..

so its okay to make steel but not use coal..

and certainly not export coal... ye gods I wonder where these people think our money comes from???..

have the Greens told them about they side of things???.......

of course not.. they do not care about jobs.. thats what makes me laugh about crook.. he goes berserk if the govt doesnt prop up the car industry which of course has nothing to do with emissions does it???>>

and then pats these idiots on the back........

for helping to create more job loses....



well it makes sense to some..