Another big day for Nannas at the Rising Tide Protestival in Newcastle. An estimated 3,000 people attended the event on Saturday. A crowd gathered for the premier of the Knitting Nannas Climate Circus.
Sydney Knitting Nannas and Rosie from Lismore performed in the Climate Circus with ringmaster Bernie, the horse Denial and it’s rider Barnaby, Tanya the juggler, Albo the magician and his beautiful assistant, the nuclear lion and its tamer, and a Rising Tide activist had a go at walking the tightrope, like they had been doing all week. We hope to publish a video of the show soon.
After the Circus, Nannas performed a couple of our favourite coal songs to suit the occasion.
A big flotilla of kayaks went out on Newcastle harbour around midday on Saturday, including many Nannas.
Most of the kayakers didn’t go into the shipping lane but some did. Eight were detained but only one woman and two men were arrested and taken away.
Many protesters went out, were towed back to shore and went out again. One couple went out six times and weren’t arrested. One young teenager was constantly on the wrong side of the line and was taken back to shore but went out again and again and did the same. It reminded an onlooker of catching a fish that was too small and throwing it back in the water but the fish kept getting caught.
When a policeman said he wanted a raft removed from the water, a police liaison officer swam out, talked to the people on the raft and swam back to shore to tell the police they were not going to come ashore. The police appear to be reluctant to arrest people. Perhaps its because they hate doing paperwork!
On Saturday night there will be a small night flotilla. On Sunday no ships are scheduled to come into the harbour until 1.45pm.
Lots of great music on the stage, including Peter Garrett.
