Sydney Knitting Nannas are now officially on holiday until 12 January when we will hold our next Zoom meeting. That is unless something urgent pops up. Check out our Christmas video.
Christmas Video
Sydney Nannas had a lot of fun making a short Christmas video outside Nanna HQ at Custom’s House at Circular Quay on Friday 8 December.
Protest Laws
Following the NSW Supreme Court finding that parts of NSW’s harsh anti-protest laws are unconstitutional, undemocratic laws remain in place criminalising street protesters and infringing on our right to civil disobedience.
We are asking the NSW Premier and the Attorney General to repeal in full these laws and introduce further laws which enshrine and protect the right to protest in NSW.
NSW Greens MP, Sue Higginson, has made it easy for us to email them here.
We want to thank Nannas Dom and Helen and the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) for taking on this legal challenge and congratulate them on their win. EDO News
Backwash from Rising Tide blockade – harsh bail conditions
Extremely harsh and restrictive bail conditions were imposed by NSW police on 18 of the 109 people arrested at the Rising Tide blockade of Newcastle coal port three weeks ago. The 18 people, including one Knitting Nanna, had previous convictions related to protests. The conditions were described by the NSW Council for Civil Liberties as ‘scandalous’ and ‘undemocratic’. The arrestees have not been able to associate with any protest group which doesn’t just mean withdrawing from group activities, but not having any form of contact with many of their close friends.
The Environmental Defenders’ Office (EDO) applied for a variation of bail conditions for the arrestees, and at a court hearing on Friday the conditions were removed and replaced with not being able to commit an offence.
Sydney Nannas are writing to the NSW Police Minister and the Commissioner of Police objecting to the repressive bail conditions. We are also very worried that Legal Observers were arrested at Rising Tide, even though it was very clear they were not protesters but were there to perform their important role observing and recording interactions at the event.
Nannas are grateful for EDO’s support for the arrestees, and for all the work they do to protect the climate and the environment. We encourage those who can to donate to the EDO. Rising Tide has a fundraiser to assist the people arrested with their fines and court costs.
NSW Coal Watch Parramatta
On Monday some Nannas joined Lock the Gate, Parracan and Move Beyond Coal outside the Department of Planning for a Christmas-themed protest about the 13 new coal mining projects in the NSW planning system. The noisy gathering attracted the attention of Planning Department staff who listened as we sang cleverly re-worded Christmas carols with strong messages about the coal mines they will be assessing in the new year.
NAB AGM
Nannas were pleased to stand with Tiwi Islander traditional owners and other activists outside the AGM of NAB on Friday morning in Martin Place. The Tiwi Islander elders have been fighting the Santos Barossa gas project by campaigning to stop investments and also in a Federal Court challenge. They say that for NAB to lend Santos $1.5 billion to destroy their sea lands and cultural heritage shows deep disrespect for them. So far NAB has refused to meet with the Traditional Owners, saying it would be “inappropriate”. There is hope that after travelling more than 3,000 kms from their homelands the bank will agree to meet and listen to their objections to the massive offshore gas project.
Before going into the meeting the Traditional Owners thanked everyone for their ongoing support. Members of Market Forces, Move Beyond Coal, 350.org, XR Drummers and the Nannas made sure that NAB knew we were there. There were speeches about NAB’s continuing huge investments in fossil fuel projects, and some Christmas carol singing.
After the protest Nannas retreated for a fabulous coffee and chat nearby.
Message for new Nannas
There is no pressure to participate in the Nannas in any particular way – we know everyone’s got other commitments so it’s best if you choose what you like doing and what suits you best.
Links
Nanna Larri from South Coast Nannas has just had a chapter titled Viva la Nannalution published in an academic book. Ageing of the Oppressed: A Pandemic of Intersecting Injustice was edited by Silvia Perel-Levin and is available at Amazon.
Reclaim the Void – to symbolically ‘seal’ one of the holes left by the mining industry with an artwork expressing the story of country.