Climate protesters block coal shipments in 3 Australian states

Climate protesters have disrupted coal shipments and motorway traffic at ports in Australia’s Newcastle, Brisbane and Melbourne, Report informs referring to The Guardian.

A climate protester has suspended herself from a rail bridge at the Newcastle coal ports, blocking trains, as coordinated protests were mounted at ports in Melbourne and Brisbane. The woman was livestreaming her solitary protest online and police were on site.

As she swung several hundred meters above the ground from the Kooragang rail bridge, she said the action was in response to Australia’s lack of action on climate change.

Blockade Australia said in a statement the protests were part of a “coordinated mobilization in response to Australia’s facilitation of the climate and ecological crisis and its active blocking of impactful action towards a safe climate”.

The previous Coalition government introduced harsh penalties for protesters whose actions impact the flow of traffic and the abilities of emergency personnel to get to accidents and emergencies.

Amendments to the Crimes Act passed by the NSW parliament last year impose jail terms of up to two years, and fines of $22,000, for protesters who cause “damage or disruption” to major roads or major public facilities.

In a statement, Blockade Australia said direct action like blocking the port is needed to shake up the system to move on from “business as usual”.