Wollongong marks World Environment Day
Chris Williams, Wollongong
14 June 2008
More than 100 people rallied in Wollongongs mall on June 7 for World Environment Day. Organised by the Wollongong Climate Action Network (WCAN), the action was in opposition to the proposed sell-off of NSW electricity and plans to build a new coal-fired power station.
The crowd heard from John Kaye (Greens MLC), Arthur Rorris (South Coast Labour Council), Paola Harvey (University of Wollongong Environment Collective), Kamala Emanuel (Socialist Alliance), Rowan Huxtable (WCAN) and Tess OBrien (Resistance). Emanuel argued that the campaign against the Tasmanian pulp mill needed to be emulated, explaining that Labor Premier Paul Lennon had been forced to resign and ANZ had withdrawn financing for the project. We can stop the [electricity] sell-off if we build irresistable community pressure on the Iemma government, she said.