Last week Sydney Knitting Nannas attended two rallies on issues close to their hearts – repeal of the anti-protest laws and stopping the expansion of gas.
Climate and biodiversity activists are increasingly taking non-violent direct action to draw attention to the urgency of action to protect the future. Less disruptive activism has been ignored by the mainstream media, governments and corporations. Nannas strongly oppose the hastily passed anti-protests laws put in place to suppress public protests, so we joined the Rally Against Repression last week to call for their repeal.
Repeal the NSW anti-protest laws
On Saturday 8 July five Sydney Knitting Nannas met up on Pyrmont Bridge with other climate, peace and environment groups for a Rally Against Repression. The speakers called for the NSW anti-protest laws to be repealed. Nanna Helen from the Mid-Coast was one of the speakers, and she told us the background to the constitutional challenge she and Nanna Dom have made against the NSW anti-protest laws with support from the Environmental Defenders Office. We don’t know when the outcome of the Supreme Court case will be announced, but we’re hoping for a good one.
The rally was able to proceed without interference from the police. The march to Queens Square was very slow and stopped for chanting and singing at all the intersections. It was clear the police were under instruction to let the protest happen.
Along the way we met up with Nanna Purl who couldn’t manage the stairs. She attracted lots of attention and posed for many photographs. Passers-by gave the group the thumbs up except for a few motorists who were not impressed, although they were only inconvenienced long enough to read the banners and placards.
No New Gas rally
Sydney Nannas joined the Australian Youth Climate Coalition at Tanya Plibersek’s office on Thursday. This rally was about stopping the proposed Middle Arm Project near Darwin on Larrakia country in the Northern Territory.
In 2022, the Labor government announced over $1.9 billion of public money to fund the project which will make way for the opening up of new gas basins, like the Beetaloo, and Barossa in Tiwi Islands, for the export market. Gas projects in these areas have faced strong opposition from Traditional Owners and communities.
There were well-informed speakers and lots of enthusiasm from participants, creating a great vibe. Nanna Elizabeth’s homemade cookies were a hit with everyone, including the two police in attendance. Her cheerful crocheted flower banner provided photo ops for photographers and caught the attention of passing traffic.
It was good to see more people at this rally than earlier ones at the Minister’s office against the huge gas developments proposed for the NT. We’ll be there again, persisting with the campaign even when we’re not getting the responses we want. We don’t really know what impact the movement against fracking the NT is having on pollies, but we know we need more people actively opposing the expansion of gas in whatever ways they can. Extreme weather events in the past couple of weeks in different parts of the world tell us we have less time than we thought for serious climate action. Step one hasn’t changed: no new gas and coal.