We received another reminder today of the passion, enthusiasm and spirit that we will all need to overcome political barriers to change, as separate community demonstrations in Victoria and Queensland protested the madness and immorality that is export coal.
In Melbourne, several hundred people put off their lunch break to converge at Victorian Parliament House, home to a Government that – in a move that could only be either ignorant or contemptible of the climate emergency we face – wants to create a brown coal export industry and flog 12 million tonnes per year of the world’s most greenhouse-polluting fossil fuel.
Rather than quitting coal, the Victorian Government is trying to get the rest of the world hooked. That’s the international trade equivalent of a nicotine-addicted schoolkid handing out cigarettes to their mates.
In Queensland, a team of kayakers blockaded the Brisbane Coal Port today, demanding answers from the Queensland Government about how planning to massively expand it’s coal export industry could be justified in a world already being ravaged by climate change. We want to know why the Queensland Government won’t plan to break Queensland’s coal addiction and transition to a sustainable economy,” said Bradley Smith, spokesperson for the kayakers.
When you scan the policies being enacted by our governments, state and federal, a catalogue of climate madness is what you find. From plans to double Australia’s coal exports nationally, to actually constructing new export coal industries in Victoria of all places, which uses the highly volatile brown coal for electricity to the numerous proposed coal-fired power stations proposed to be built. How long such insanity can prevail will depend on how strongly the community rise up and demand real action from our so-called leaders. When we see the community jumping into action so spontaneously and frequently like this, it gives us all hope that we’ll turn the tables even sooner on our recalcitrant polluting industries and the governments they have captured.
Want to take action? Go for it! Here’s a couple of opportunities. On Saturday, thousands of community actions will take place around the world as part of the 350.org international day of action, calling for a climate deal to be struck at Copenhagen that keeps global CO2 concentrations to 350 parts per million or below. You can join an action near you or even add to the 4000+ activities that will be happening around the world. If you want to stay part of the action, our website has plenty of ideas for you to be a part of the community action.
