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Whether you come by train, bus or car, by peddal, paddle or sail, it's a vitally important trip for you to make.
Dr. Simon Leslie and I found it was well worth making the trip, even with a few hurdles ...
Not just adding our support to the blockade of the worlds biggest coal port, but also enjoying a wonderful, well organised weekend event. Fun on the beach and great music at the festival.
And if you need any encouragement - just take a look at what Australia's coal is doing ...
The world is still moving away from net zero
The world is still moving away from net zero
Yes all nations are involved, but our tiny population has doubled our coal production and quadrupled our gas production since the UN called us to action.
And yet the our government continues to approve more new mines.
Though we are only 0.3% of the worlds population, we supply more than 5% of all the coal added to the world's sky every year.
It's time we stood up to our delinquent governments. Find an event you could join.
Come join us in Newcastle for a
Protestival
Help support a
blockade of the worlds largest coal port
And have a pile of fun
The federal government last month approved three more massive coal mine expansions that will add an estimated 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon pollution to the atmosphere over the next 30 to 40 years. With further gas fields and coal mines already approved this year, this will exacerbate the climate disasters being seen in regional Australia and across the planet. We need to take collective action to stop further coal and gas projects.
Better value and more fun than a music festival. Yes there are concerts, dancing and good food, and heaps more. Really good for the soul too. Be a part of Australia's biggest ever cc protest.
Find out more: https://www.risingtide.org.au
Join the protestival https://www.risingtide.org.au/pb2025rego
Rising Tide is a group of ordinary but concerned Australians, demanding:-
an end to any further fossil fuel proposals;
a tax on fossil fuel exports to fund the transition and climate loss and damage; and
the end of fossil fuel exports by 2030!
At the end of the hottest year in human history, a Rising Tide of 3,000 everyday people shut down the World’s Largest Coal port for an unprecedented 32 hours in Newcastle …
That was 2023
This November after a further step increase in global temperature, an even bigger blockade is planned, stressing to the government just how many Australians desperately want urgent action on climate change.
Did you know how much coal we dig up in Australia?
Did you know how much coal we dig up in Australia?
You're probably thinking - maybe a million tonnes a year? - we know it's a lot.
The answer is about 450 million tonnes. Yes really. Thats 450,000,000 tonnes!
Can you imagine that much coal?
Lets compare it with something you might know - Australia’s tallest building:
Thanks to the author of this image - best I could find on the web, but could not detect original to credit - great picture, I hope you dont mind me sharing it in this way :)
What would that much coal look like in comparison?
1 cubic metre of coal is roughly 1.4 tonnes
So that’s 316,000,000 cubic metres of coal
I figure that would make a pyramid twice as tall as Australia’s tallest building (Q1, 322.5m) ie 645m tall and 1.21 km across the base
Whoops - I couldn't find a picture big enough to put that in
Best I can do is use perspective and a wider frame to squeeze it in on this shot:
So this is how much coal Australia is digging up each year to add to our sky
Australia's tallest building alongside its annual contribution to our atmosphere
Australia digs up 400 to 500 million tonnes of coal each year (eg. 443Mt in 2022), significantly more than our ‘base year’ 370Mt in 2005)
That’s around 1/20th (5.16%) of the worlds total ‘production’ of coal; by comparison we are ~1/300th (0.3%) of the worlds population.
We know that burning fossil fuel is causing climate change
We know that burning fossil fuel is causing climate change
We know that we are close to tipping points that will likely return us to a prehistoric hot-house climate
We know that we are close to tipping points that will likely return us to a prehistoric hot-house climate
and the worlds greenhouse gas emissions are still rising faster than ever!
and the worlds greenhouse gas emissions are still rising faster than ever!
Approving new mines is absolute insanity
Approving new mines is absolute insanity
Last November a retired doctor and myself sailed this kayak from Port Kembla to Newcastle - from one coal port to another - to the largest coal port in the world - to join a 3,000 person strong blockade of Newcastle Harbour. (see the original story of our adventure at sail4sanity on facebook )
This coming November, why don't you join us there in Newcastle to help make an even bigger call for sanity, blocking the coal ships from supplying our pollution to the world.
Bring your kayak or small watercraft if you like the idea, but theres no need to get wet to get involved. You only need to come and add to the numbers on the beach. Amazingly the team arranges for good food and entertainment for us all. Even camping is available.
Learn more about the RISING TIDE and come join us 28-30th Nov.
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