Come see
the first wave
Do you support
MASS ACTION ON
CLIMATE CHANGE?
Come see a screening of Rising Tide's "The First Wave"
The federal government last week 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.
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 last year
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.
On Tuesday 8th, Illawarra residents are invited to a showing of Rising Tide’s movie
“The First Wave”
about the brilliant 2023 blockade of the worlds largest coal port,
along with footage of two local grandfathers who sailed their tiny kayak from Wollongong to Newcastle in all weathers, to promote last years event and call for more action.
Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss how local activists may want to get involved this year, and to meet the intrepid kayakers. Tom Hunt offers this thought ‘Our climate future is now desperately serious. Record global temperatures for the last 15 months in a row indicate our economy is pushing the world back towards a pre-historic climate. We must do more to arrest this‘. His companion on last year’s journey, Dr Simon Leslie, comments that ‘if you think it’s unfair and wrong that Australia, as one of the most economically-advanced countries in the world, is so disproportionately contributing to global warming and sea level rise, … then please join us at Rising Tide’s information night …’
Who is invited? Anyone concerned about climate change and the environment
What time? 6.30 to 7.40 pm, Tuesday 8 October
Where? The Wollongong Library Theatrette, 41 Burelli St, Wollongong
How much? Free
Contacts: Tom Hunt 0438 254 679 Anne Kelly 0403 537 209
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 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!
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 22nd-24th Nov.
