Sydneysiders, hope you’ve already got this weekend’s climate camp in Helensburgh factored into your weekend plans. It’s going to be a momentous weekend.
Already Peabody Coal has announced “no trucks or trains would operate to or from the mine on Sunday, the expected day of the march”. Climate camp hasn’t even started and it’s already having an impact!
There’s a huge program lined up for the weekend, so whether you stay for all three days, just one or even an hour, there’ll be something for you to do.
For the intellectually stimulated, there are workshops on topics such as the government’s emissions trading system, the coal industry and political donations, sustainable transport, climate justice and much more.
For the aurally and visually stimulated among us, there’ll be a great line-up of live bands each night, movies and a climate camp photography exhibition.
Hungry? There’ll be a chai tent and much awesome food to be had.
And, of course, a space for kids.
It all culminates on Sunday, with a march of hundreds of people taking peaceful community direct action to demand an end to coal.
Why Helensburgh? Well, it’s the location of Australia’s oldest coal mine. Despite the fact that coal is Australia’s biggest contributor to climate change, the coal mine is set for a massive expansion, recently approved by the NSW government. The planned expansion is symbolic of everything that our state and federal governments are doing to resist an evolution to a renewable and climate-friendly future.
