Sunday 30 November: Over 140 kayakers, swimmers and others arrested at Rising Tide including Nannas in amazing actions. And there are more actions happening today, Monday. Rising Tide has stepped up again this year.
As of 5.30pm Sunday 30 November, 141 people had been arrested at the Rising Tide Blockade in Newcastle according to a NSW Police media release.
Of those arrested 18 juveniles were dealt with under the Young Offender’s Act, 121 adults were charged with various offences under the Crimes and Marine Safety Acts.
The morning started with Greenpeace Australia Pacific activists scaling and blocking a second coal export ship from entering the world’s largest coal port during the Rising Tide People’s Blockade. Australian musicians Oli and Louis Leimbach from Lime Cordiale joined the action. Two women were arrested aboard the Greenpeace ship off the Newcastle coastline.
The message to the Australian government is simple – set a timeline to phase out coal and gas!
During the Protestival police were present on the ground in the parks, on the beach and on horseback. Police on jetskis, Marine Area Command, the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit, and PolAir were also involved.
Kayakers and swimmers who set out to stop the coal ship, were cheered on by chants from the crowd on the beach. They were warned by Police that they would be charged under Section 18B of the Marine Safety Act. However, arrestees were charged with blocking a major facility.
New Sydney Nanna, legendary activist/ journalist and long time friend of the Nannas, Wendy Bacon joined Nanna Tracey in a kayak. They paddled outside the exclusion zone and were charged with blocking a major facility in Newcastle Harbour.
Nanna Alex was also arrested. She said she decided to take direct action to stop the coal ships because as a Professor of Public Health she knows the risks. Other Nannas from other areas were arrested and will be included in a later wrap up report when we get details.
Tanya Mottle from Narara Village came to her first ever protest this weekend and was inspired by the Nannas to make this compilation of todays events.
Youth Rising: Kelly at Rising Tide. So many sensible young people at Rising Tide. We need the fossil fools to get out of the way so they can take over!