It’s now been over 12 hours since Greenpeace activists locked on to the Hay Point coal export terminal. Four climbers remain locked securely to the coal loader.
With the terminal shut down for 12 hours, Greenpeace has helped stop millions of dollars damage to the climate. The activists plan to stay locked on for as long as it takes for Kevin Rudd to get the message – expanding the coal industry means Australia remains the world’s biggest coal pusher. Our export coal makes us directly responsible for sea level rise and salt water swamping the Pacific.
Today’s action has seen stacks of media interest from TV, radio, print and online. Favourites include the Brisbane Times claiming “Rudd’s no climate hero” with pix from our action and that spot-on cartoon in Mackay’s Daily Mercury. And here’s a wrap of our digital graffiti action that kicked off events this morning.
The Greenpeace action comes as Pacific Island leaders call for 45% emissions cuts at the Cairns Pacific Island Forum. Today, Tuvaluan Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia said that Tuvalu needs Australia’s help to combat climate change.
“Australia is a big country and is looked at by small countries like Tuvalu as a possible donor who can help us in many ways,” he said. “In this case, climate change’s impact, we are talking already with the Government of Australia to help us with our preparation programs.
“But Australia could be doing much more when it comes to reaching agreement on global emissions reduction targets.”
“I’d like to see Australia doing much, much more than it is doing nowadays,” Mr Ielemia said.
