Both rallies where well attended, would guess several hundred to a thousand more at the Climate Action Rally, (But really the attendance was very similar and a debate on numbers would be a distraction from the real issue).
More corporate media at the Anti Climate Science rally. Lots of independent media at the Climate Action Rally (where does it all go?).
On monday morning activists disrupted business as usual at the offices of International Power - the well known climate vandals responsible for the filthy Hazelwood coal power station, by reclaiming the swish foyer of the Rialto building, playing country music and distributing flyers. The action coincides with the UN climate talks this week in Copenhagen, where the world is watching and waiting to see if our leaders can agree on any practical solutions to climate change.
The first of the 22 people arrested at the dirty Hazelwood brown coal powered electricity generator on September 13th 2009 have faced court. The two protestors were offered a "Diversion" which is a legal process sometimes offered by police to first time offenders. It means they have to plead guilty but are dealt with by a Magistrate outside a formal court hearing and our guaranteed to not receive a conviction.
The police prosecutor asked for a $100 fine to be imposed but this was upped by the Magistrate to a $250 fine - the money to be donated to the RSPCA.
Approximately 200 hundred people rallied in Belgrave on Saturday October 24th at the office's of Victorian Cabinet Minister James Merlino to join the international day of action calling for a target of 350 p.p.m. at Copenhagen to ensure we avoid runaway climate change. The event included a massive banner of messages, chalk ups, music, 350 native plants being given away and a "people's court session".
In a determined direct action at Ratcliffe Coal Power Station at Nottingham in England, 1000 Climate Activists have “swooped” on the power station in an effort to shut it down. The action resulted in dozens of arrests and protestors tore down fences and breached the perimeter at several points. Despite power supply not being interrupted, protestors considered the action a success through publicity gained and the fact it shows people are willing to attempt decommission coal power stations to bring down emissions, if the pollutions will not.
On Sunday 13th September, after an overnight climate camp in Morwell, Victoria, five hundred protesters gathered outside Hazelwood coal fired power station. Hazelwood is one of the developed world's most polluting power stations. Among the five speakers to the rally, Dr Merryn Redenbach, a paediatric doctor and one of the protest organizers, spoke about the impacts of climate change and why the protesters were willing to risk arrest for trespass to promote the transition to renewable energy and closing down coal fired power stations.
ADDRESS TO "SWITCH OFF HAZELWOOD"
On Sunday September 13, 2009 people from across Victoria, and Australia, will come together for a day of peaceful community mass civil disobedience and walk on to Switch off Hazelwood and Switch of Coal - taking action for renewable energy.
Switch off Hazelwood- Switch off Coal is a day of fun, creative, inspiring direct community action at one of the main causes of climate change - coal burning power stations – specifically Hazelwood coal power station.
