This week saw a small step taken towards the energy revolution in Australia as Munmorah, one of the oldest and dirtiest coal power stations in the country, announced its closure.
Last week Greenpeace launched a vital new campaign for Australia. We’re taking on the massive coal mining and coal export expansion plans particularly in Queensland. These mega coal mines, coal port infrastructure and increases in coal shipping traffic not only spell disaster for our climate but for Australia’s national treasure – the Great Barrier Reef.
The eyes of even the most hardened court observers glazed over as the seemingly endless mess of legal procedures dragged on. It wasn’t just unremarkable, it was outright dull – obscuring the profound struggle set to unfold.
Last night our two activists were removed from the survival pod that had been suspended from the Leiv Eiriksson oil rig for four days. They were arrested just before midnight last night, local time, and taken to the Greenland capital of Nuuk. The Greenpeace ship Esperanza remains just outside the 500m exclusion zone, imposed by a Danish navy warship, around the drill site. Captain of the Esperanza Madeleine Habib blogs for us directly fom the ship.
The Australian captain of the Greenpeace ship Esperanza - Madeleine Habib - sent us this blog from the freezing waters of the Arctic where activists are taking action right now, preventing deep water drilling from the world's most controversial oil rig - the 53,000 tonne Leiv Eiriksson - operated by the Cairn Energy. We've got activists hanging from the underside with enough food and water to keep them going for ten days.