NEWCASTLE 2024 PROTESTIVAL RISING TIDE

CLIMATE ACTION SHOWDECEMBER 16TH 2024Produced by Vivien Langford NEWCASTLE 2024 PROTESTIVAL WITH RISING TIDE Recorded on the beach and at the Protestival village, you will hear voices from many climate action groups and concerned citizens.After a week of informative quiet and peacefulworkshops and a concert with Peter Garrett the Sunday morning opened on  a day of arrestable action in the shipping lanes of the greatest coal port in the world.I had sat throught the supreme court case weeks before, which only suceeded in making the event more newsworthy and risky. There was a lot of media there but I am not sure they will convey to you just how well informed, strategic and committed this diverse group is. You will hear:A 16 year old girl tearful about the cruel future we are creating. A 90 year old woman who kayaked out  fpour times into the shipping lanes and was disappointed that the police just kept towing her back.Sunday began with a Maori climate warrior taking us up a notch with the haka.Julie Fraser a unionist from Darwin speaks about a shift in priorities from subsidising coal exports, to supporting the care sector in all its forms. A Doctor for the environment and former ecologist spoke about th unexpected consequences of bush fires and floods. June Norman intoduced Oldies Rising Dr Roger Smith spoke of the peaceful nature of this gathering and a woman in Turquoise explained the urgent need for our government to tax the coal exports and support a workers transition. NSW MP Sue Higginson described what had happened in  the Supreme Court and how the NSW Premier Minns had tried to stop this very determined protest against new coal and gas projects. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/24/climate-activism-rising-tide-protest-newscastle-coal-port  Greens Leader Adam Bandt was there, fielding questions about our international reputation and the folly of our government continuing to open new coal and gas projects.https://www.instagram.com/adambandt/reel/DCv2iPtzp6C/  Federal MP David Shoebridge praised the people of Newcastle and those who have come from all over the country to protest this ongoing trade. Zack Schofield the media spokesperson from Rising Tide deftly handled "gotcha" questions from the media asserting that surely an industry that ruins a safe climate for future generation is criminal. Two intrepid knitting nanas who have locked themselves on to logging machinery because saving the forests is climate action, tell us a circus story. It features Barnaby Joyce, Tanya Plibersek and Anthony Albanese with a tiny wind turbine and  a giant submarine stuffed down his pants. As in all circus acts there is a tight rope and in this case "the tightrope of our future" is navigated by a two year old child, her mother and grandmother. Bev Smiles from Mudgee Coal Alert speaks about how  coal  mine expansions will endanger the underground water resource. Bob Brown once called Bev a true patriot and a national treasure as she keeps up the battle against the mining giants.Here she is speaking to NSW Parliament.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxXNePCX3EcIf you are inspired by these voices and would like to get involved : https://www.risingtide.org.au/