Community Climate Action Groups. Protests. Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS)

Community Climate Action Groups across Australia held protests at the offices of over 30 Federal MPs to protest the failure of the Federal Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS). This included the Labor Party Office of New South Wales in Sydney as well. The protesters are calling on the Government not to pursue a scheme that rewards big polluters, fails to commit to adequate emission reduction targets and locks Australia into catastrophic climate change. “We are deeply concerned that the CPRS takes a ‘business as usual’ approach to the urgent threat of climate change and does not commit to the emissions reduction targets that the science tells us are necessary to avoid dangerous climate change,” said Moira Williams from Climate Action Newtown, Sydney. “Big polluting industries like coal and aluminium must be made to cut emissions rapidly and immediately. The CPRS will give away billions in concessions without even achieving the necessary pollution cuts. In fact, emissions are likely to continue rising under this scheme,” continued Williams. The protests are twice the size of similar actions that took place last year following the announcement of the 5-15% emissions reduction target and the release of the White Paper for the CPRS. Protest organisers attribute the increase to the continued failure of the Government to meet the clear need for more decisive action.“It is an absolute disgrace that when faced with the threat of catastrophic climate change, our leaders are pandering to the powerful fossil fuel and mining lobbies, and continuing to ignore urgent scientific advice and widespread community alarm about the most important issue of our time,” said Pablo Brait from Yarra Climate Action Now. “We are calling for a moratorium on coal mining and coal-fired power stations, and an end to perverse subsidies for the fossil fuel industry. We want just sector-by-sector transition plans for affected workers and communities. The Government can stimulate the economy and create quality green jobs, by making direct investment in renewable energy to move towards 100% renewables by 2020.” Brait emphasised.

Climate Action Coogee in Sydney staged a protest outside the office of Federal MP Peter Garrett to oppose the Federal government’s proposed CPRS. “We want to send Peter Garrett the message that the people of Kingsford Smith want real action on climate change, not half-baked plans like the proposed emissions trading scheme,” said Mel Edwards of the action group. The action groups believe that CPRS is more about rewarding big polluters than reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the scheme is deeply unfair and will not keep coal in the ground. In fact, “it is doubtful that any emissions trading scheme would result in a significant shift away from fossil fuels, which are the main source of greenhouse gas pollution” Edwards added. Coogee Climate Action Group is demanding Federal Minister Peter Garrett to stand up and reject the CPRS in favour of a just and rapid transition to renewable energy that will create quality green jobs and a safe climate.

Climate action group in Newcastle Rising Tide accuses the Federal Government’s proposed CPRS for not delivering the promised cap on pollution and will actually increase greenhouse gas emissions. Campaigners complain that the scheme does not limit the number of emissions units that may be granted as a result of reforestation projects, issued at a fixed charge by the Government, or the number of emissions units that may be bought from overseas schemes. “As a result, there will be no cap at all” says Rising Tide. Spokesperson of the Group Georgina Woods, said, “The Government has pulled the wool over our eyes on this one. We have read the fine print, and we are shocked. This is not a cap and trade scheme, because there is no cap. This is merely a trading scheme.” The Government came under fire for announcing emission cuts of only 5-15% by 2020. Activists argue that “even this minimal promise” will be broken if the scheme is passed into law in its current form. “The Government has to get serious. All pollution units in Australia, whether bought from overseas, raised in reforestation projects or provided under the price cap must be subject to our emissions cap. Otherwise, pollution will just keep rising and our entire economy will be left behind as nations around the world shift to low-carbon futures.” added Woods.

People's blockade. World largest coal port. Newcastle, Australia. Green house gases. Climate change

Hundreds of Australians took part in a peaceful blockade of the world’s largest coal port, the port of Newcastle. Gathered in hundreds at the Horseshoe Beach the protesters were calling on the Federal Government to resist the lobbying of polluting industries for free pollution permits. “We would like to see a moratorium on new coal-fired power stations, mines and infrastructure combined with a plan for a just transition to a renewable energy economy.” said Rising Tide Spokesperson Carly Phillips. “Coal exports are Australia's single biggest driver of climate change, eclipsing all of the greenhouse pollution we make here at home. They are also our fastest growing contribution to climate change – with all of Australia's coal ports undergoing massive expansions. Rising Tide is a grass root organisation that campaigns for reducing greenhouse gas emissions which causes climate change of the planet. This was the fourth human blockade organised by Rising Tide at the Newcastle Port over a period of four years.

Coal remains a low cost energy source and it provides usable energy at a cost between USD 1 ~2 per MBtu (One million British Thermal Unit) compared to USD 6 ~12 per MBtu for oil and natural gas (3412 Btu = 1kWh). Coal prices are stable compared to oil. However, one of the most significant challenges in addressing global climate change is reducing greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the use of coal. Coal use, primarily for the generation of electricity, now accounts for roughly 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions posing severe threats to eco systems and communities. Coal plays a major role in meeting energy needs of the countries like the United States, and is likely to continue to do so in coming decades. 50 percent of the electricity generated in the United States is from coal. Rising energy demand will continue to drive up coal consumption, particularly in countries with large reserves such as the United States, China and India.

“If the Rudd Government was serious about reducing Australia's climate impact it would immediately put a stop to the expansion of the coal industry and put in place plans to phase it out and replace it with jobs in renewable energy. Coal is fuelling global climate change” added Ms Phillips. 250,000 tonnes of coal a day passes through the Newcastle port, which eventually turns out to be more than half a million tonnes of greenhouse pollution, when used to generate energy.

Australia exports approximately 60 percent of its annual coal production, making it the number one exporter of coal (29 percent of global coal exports) in the world. Japan is the destination for over 60 percent of Australia’s coal exports. Australian suppliers set prices for their coal exports directly with Japanese utilities. The annually negotiated price of these contracts has a large effect on Australia’s coal export earnings. According to Australian Coal Association, black coal remains Australia's largest export and the country exported AUSD 24.4 billion worth of coal in 2007-08. As of 2004, Australia contained 86.5 billion short tons (Bst) of recoverable coal reserves, the majority of which are concentrated along the country’s eastern seaboard in New South Wales and Queensland. These two states account for almost 97 percent of Australia's annual coal production. Australia has more than 100 privately owned coal mines located throughout the country. Around 60 of these mines are open pit operations, with the remainder being mined underground. Over the last decade, coal production in Australia has grown by 36 percent, with new projects continuing to come online every year. As a result of several consolidations in recent years, Australia’s coal industry is dominated by four mining giants : BHP Billiton, Anglo American (UK), Rio Tinto (Australia-UK), and Xstrata (Switzerland). Australia is the world’s fourth largest coal producer. In 2004, Australia produced 390.9 million short tons (Mmst).

As of 2004, Australia had 48.6 gigawatts (GW) of installed electric generating capacity and approximately 75 percent of electricity produced in Australia is from coal with around 55 percent coming from black coal according to the United States' Energy Administration statistics. Rising Tide in Newcastle who mobilised several support groups believes that It is morally culpable for the government to continue expanding the coal industry given its impacts on the global environment. Campaigners expressed their concern “The State and Federal governments need to prove to the people that if they are serious about dealing with climate change they must first deal with coal”.

This symbolic gesture of people's blockade which was well attended by the people of all ages showed the community's need to get away from Australia's coal dependency. Employment is another aspect the Federal Government will have to look into in making plans to phase out coal as a source of energy as around 30,000 are employed in black coal production. “In these uncertain economic times, it is more important than ever that the Government invest in clean and renewable jobs for the future: we can have power without coal, we can have jobs without coal, but we can’t have coal without climate change.” Rising Tide spokesperson stated.

Sydney gay lesbian mardi gras 2009. 31st year. 2008 legal reforms. Same sex marriage. Acceptance

There's one night in the calendar that belongs uniquely to Australia. Every year thousands fly in from over 40 countries to experience it. Activists from around the world converge on Sydney for this event to march and speak for those who still cannot speak for themselves. One of the most famous and largest event in the global gay calendar - the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras took place 2009 for the 31st year. Australia's Olympic gold medalist of 10 m platform diving Matthew Mitcham led the parade choriographed under the theme “Nations United”. “I am proud to have been chosen to lead the parade” Mitcham said. Mardi Gras is, Mitcham added “all about acceptance”. Thousands of people of diverse sexual orientation : gay, straight, bi, transgender showed up to parade and party in the street, cheer on the parade floats and most importantly, to celebrate the right to live freely. The objective of the organisers is to raise the visibility of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer communities. However, over the years Sydney Mardi Gras has broaden its horizon through its wide spectrum of participation to encompass activism of immigrant rights, indigenous people rights, workers rights, religious tolerance, animal rights etc.

Mardi Gras evolved as an international gay solidarity activity in the shadows of the Stonewall riots in New York. A Police raid of the Stonewall Inn in 1969 provoked spontaneous rioting by gays and lesbians in an overt display of dissent against government led persecution of homosexuals. Commencing in June 1978 to commemorate Stonewall, the very first march had to face police violence resulting in 53 arrests. The next three years saw its name being changed to Sydney Gay Mardi Gras, the event shifting from June to February and the introduction of a post parade party which, is today billed as one of the biggest in Australia.

Mardi Gras still draws strong public support that has allowed it to continue without interruption for 31 years. Now it also is a recipient of some limited funding by the government, a factor that may help cement its iconic status in the Sydney cultural landscape in the years to come.