BRIEF
People occupy coal port
Steve O'Brien, Newcastle
10 February 2007
A flotilla of waterborne vessels kayaks, rafts, canoes and even a yellow rubber duckie joined in the Peoples occupation of the worlds biggest coal port in Newcastle Harbour on February 10. The protest demanded No new coal mines, No new coal-fired power stations and No new coal loader.
Rachel Evans, Socialist Alliance candidate for the NSW Legislative Council, was one of the 200 people who occupied the harbour while another 300 supported from the shore. She told the demonstration that people are realising that we need renewable energy sources, not coal or nuclear. Coal accounts for 30% of Australias greenhouse emissions, and the proposed Anvil Hill coal mine in the Hunter would generate over 27 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year alone.