Dressing up, moving speeches, protesting outside court and AGMs – Nannas are working hard to create a better future for our grandchildren.
Whitehaven AGM
A crowd of monsters and scary Nannas gathered outside the Whitehaven AGM on 30 October as the shareholders arrived at the entrance to the venue in Pitt Street. The excellent speakers included a representative from the Doctors for the Environment and Nanna Bron.
Bron gave a moving speech about how 10 years ago she heard the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon call for concerted global climate action “to put our house in order to make it liveable for future generations”. Bron knew that the Australian government and fossil fuel industries were doing the exact opposite, so she joined a protest outside Whitehaven’s Tarrawonga coal mine near Boggabri. There she and other activists were arrested for blocking the road to the mine. The next day her granddaughter Neve was born.
A decade later we can see that climate activism has been able to hold up some new projects, but not stop them. Bron called on the government to take two brave steps to protect Neve and all future generations: stopping subsidies for fossil fuel projects and imposing a price on carbon. Full transcript of speech here.
The rally took a Halloween theme with Whitehaven and coal represented as threatening monsters, so there was plenty of scope for great costumes. The Red rebels were there too.
Inside the meeting Whitehaven’s Chair Mark Vaile (yes the former Deputy Prime Minister) and CEO Paul Flynn faced many questions from shareholder activists, including some Nannas who had proxies from shareholders. They challenged the company’s environmental record, executive reward system, and massive expansion plans.
The Nannas who attended the meeting said that it was like being on another planet. What was different from previous AGM’s was that it was clear that clean energy activists are getting under the executive’s skins, and they have to be prepared with arguments that will save said skins from financial penalties and spills.
Rising Tide in Supreme Court
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has launched legal action against the organisers of the Rising Tide Blockade of the Newcastle Port. It is the first time the event has faced such a challenge after 12 previous protests.
Several Nannas attended a rally outside the NSW Supreme Court on Friday, when the Police outlined their objections to the event. Rising Tide will outline the reason why the event should go ahead on Tuesday 5 November. The prosecution is concerned about safety, resources, the inconvenience to locals and the cost to commercial operations, and Justice Desmond Fagan has made it clear, he will not hear anything about coals’ cost to the climate and the cost of extreme weather events.
The Rising Tide legal team claims there were no safety incidents last year and the illegal protest went for one hour only.
Nannas pointed out after attending the court that the event would
- increase tourism for local business – activist tourism,
- improve Australia’s shattered international reputation because of our continued coal and gas mining.
- be safer to have permission than not.
See all Rising Tide events
The full Rising Tide program has been released for November 19-28
Media reports:
NSW police take legal action to prevent climate activists blockading Port of Newcastle (The Guardian)
Lock the Gate Summer Holiday Postcard Campaign
Lock the Gate launched their Summer Holiday Postcard campaign on Saturday 26 October at a gathering of Sydney-based groups to review the NSW coal campaign and plan our next steps.
The cards have a space for a short message. Signed postcards are to be put in an envelope and returned to LTG by 22 November. They will be delivered to the Joint Standing Committee on Net Zero Future at NSW parliament in the first week of December.
Another collection and delivery will be conducted in early February when parliament returns. Look out for Nannas with postcards to sign!
Wednesday 6 November – Defeating Dutton’s Nuclear Power Plans
Don’t Nuke the Climate is conducting an hour long online session from 6pm on the nationwide debate over Peter Dutton’s plan to build seven nuclear power plants around Australia and the current federal parliamentary Inquiry into nuclear power generation in Australia. Submissions are due by Friday, 15 November 2024.
The issues considered in the parliamentary inquiry will be discussed, and the importance of making a submission. Former Senator Scott Ludlam will talk about how parliamentary processes work. Send RSVP
Thursday 7 November – Sydney Ratbags and Change Makers: Exploring Women and Environmental Work.
Several Nannas will be attending this event at Botany Town Hall 6.00pm – 9.00pm.
The evening will feature an intergenerational panel discussion, highlighting how women from different generations have approached environmental issues with boldness and creativity. It will be a night of networking, inspiration, and embracing the “ratbag” spirit—celebrating those who speak up, push boundaries, and drive meaningful progress for our communities and environment.
This annual lecture series honours Nancy Hillier OAM, a fearless advocate who fought tirelessly for environmental and social justice in Sydney’s Botany Bay. Register here
Save Sydney’s Koalas – Campbelltown Koalas
Friday 15th November – Lendlease AGM
9am at Wesley Centre, 200 Pitt Street. Protest against the koala deaths on Appin Road since Gilead Stage 1 started. Call for koala corridors to be kept open and the speed limit on Appin Road to be reduced from 80km – 40km per hour.
Nannas are watching
Pine Creek Choir performing One Day More on unceded Gumbaynggirr Country, mid north coast NSW.
It’s time to let our rivers flow. Inland Australia can only thrive when the rivers pulse, flow and connect. Nature Conservation Council video
Nannas are reading
Gas exporter Santos has been accused of misleading and deceptive conduct by advocacy group Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility in the Federal Court. The court has been told Santos has rejected allegations it plucked arbitrary figures out of thin air to support claims it could reach net-zero emissions by 2040. (The Northern Daily Leader)
Landmark court case sees activist group sue gas giant Santos for allegedly misleading investors (ABC News)
Economist Greg Jerico posted this on X. With comments:
Santos. Nine years. $38.5bn income. A boom in gas prices. $0 tax. None. Nothing. Zilch. They’re taking the piss. The govt is choosing to allow them to do so.
Forthcoming Events