Despite the increasing climate warnings, the coal industry continues to pollute like there’s no tomorrow. Australia’s dirtiest power station – Hazelwood, in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley – has been the subject of increasing protest over recent years, including recent actions by Greenpeace.

This polluting old dinosaur spews an average of 17 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere every year and was scheduled to be shut down this year. But, it was given an extention until 2031 by the state ALP Government. Now the owners of Hazelwood are set to receive hundreds of millions of dollars in handouts from the Australian public under Rudd’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.

The community have had enough and are calling for Hazelwood to be switched off and replaced with renewable energy.

On Sunday, 13 September 2009, people from across Victoria and Australia will come together for a day of peaceful community mass civil disobedience to Switch off Hazelwood and Switch off Coal – taking direct action for renewable energy.

It’s being organised by community members who care about climate change and are willing to take peaceful community action. Greenpeace aren’t involved in organising the event, but we’re really supportive of the community groups who are and some of our staff and volunteers will be going along for the day.

So if you’re passionate about action on climate change and are fed up with writing letters to politicians who never listen, get involved in the action.