A colourful flotilla will occupy and disrupt the world’s largest coal exporting port — Newcastle Harbour — on June 5, World Environment Day. We want canoes, kayaks, surfboards, surf-skis, tinnies, rafts, floating banners, flags and people paddling together against Australia’s massive contribution to climate chaos through coal exports.

Why Newcastle? Because the port exports 80 million tonnes of coal per annum (240 million tonnes of CO₂). Because industry and government are planning an increase in the port’s export capacity of up to 70% by 2010. This is a 50 million tonne per year expansion of Hunter coal exports (over the next five years) compared to Australia’s annual total consumption of 67 million tonnes.

Because the federal government has committed more money over the next five years to coal exporting infrastructure upgrades in the Hunter ($270 million) than to renewable energy nationally ($250,000).

Because part of the planned expansion includes a new coal loader and devastating dredging of the harbour. Because the export expansion will inevitably result in the approval of many proposed coalmines in NSW including Centennial Coal’s proposed open-cut coalmine at the iconic and bio-diverse Anvil Hill site.

Because global greenhouse emissions need be cut swiftly and dramatically to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate chaos. Because it’s about multinational corporations colluding with the government at great expense to the world’s poor and the planet’s biodiversity.

Kayak training days will be held for inexperienced kayakers. There will also be prop-making workshops. We still need more vessels and life jackets for the day. Get in touch with Rising Tide in Newcastle on 0437 275 119 if you can help out.

From Green Left Weekly, May 24, 2006.
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