Two protesters scaled a coal loader and dropped a banner at Whitehaven’s Werris Creek mine. (photo courtesy Leard Forest Alliance)
October 2nd, 2014
Activists protesting against a coal project have disrupted mining operations at several sites in the Gunnedah Basin, in northern New South Wales.
An anti-coal protest group said about 150 protesters had targeted four mines and a coal loader operated by Whitehaven Coal, which is planning a controversial mine at Maules Creek, near Narrabri in the state’s north-west.
Opponents, including environmentalists and farmers, have said the project and associated forest-clearing pose significant environmental threats including to biodiversity and water required for agricultural use.
Four protesters chained themselves to access points to the Maules Creek project and two scaled the coal loader at the Werris Creek mine and unfurled a banner.
At the Tarrawonga mine at Boggabri a protestor climbed a tripod structure to block access to the site while, three others chained themselves together across the road.
Two protesters chained themselves to a gate at the Rocglen mine near Gunnedah and another pair chained themselves to a gate at the Gunnedah coal handling plant.
Police from Barwon Local Area Command said at least six people were arrested.
They included a 27-year-old environmentalist who chained himself to a rail line near Newcastle.
Police rescue officers had to cut the man free and he was likely to be charged with trespass.
The Australian Rail Track Corporation confirmed the protest had disrupted rail operations.
The rail line, which is used to transport coal into the Port of Newcastle for export, was blocked for more than two hours.
Protesters demand inquiry into ‘flawed approval processes’
Helen War, from the Front Line Action on Coal group, said the protesters wanted the State Government to conduct an inquiry into how the Maules Creek project was given planning approval.
“They’re calling for an immediate stop to work at the Maules Creek mine and for the New South Wales Government to conduct a full inquiry into the flawed approval processes,” she said.
Whitehaven Managing Director Paul Flynn said the protests caused little disruption at Maules Creek, but there were delays at the company’s other active mines.
“The police have been called for each of these activities,” he said.
“The reality of it is, is that it will only be a marginal impact on us for the day, and unfortunately again another widespread consumption of important valuable community resources such as the police and police rescue.
“I’m not quite sure what these people thing they’re doing by targeting just innocent people trying to do their job.”
Greens leader Christine Milne visited an activist camp site near Maules Creek on Sunday to show support for the ongoing protest action.
The party has controversially supported those involved in the unrest, including activist Jonathon Moylan.
Moylan was given a 20-month prison sentence in July after pleading guilty to issuing a fake press release that temporarily wiped millions of dollars from the company’s books.
Ms Milne said Moylan was supporting the Maules Creek farming community and has had his day in court.
“And that is what you do when you’re an activist but the company hasn’t faced the full face of the law and that is what is wrong here,” she said.
“You’ve got community activists who are prepared to take the consequences but the company who gets out of taking the consequences.”
Today, on October 1st 2014, the demonstrations against the ong
Today, on October 1st 2014, the demonstrations against the ongoing clearance of the Hambach Forest continue at the gates of Europe’s biggest open cast mine.
At 09:25 am three bulldozers, one chain dredger and one truck were occupied at the gateway of the open cast mine Hambach.
The workers of RWE and the hired security reacted violently. They attacked the demonstrators with metal pipes. Diggers which were occupied by persons sitting on them continued to move, disregarding the fact that this was a serious threa[t] to the activists‘ lives.
Due to the violence performed by RWE’s wageworkers the activists were displaced from the territory already 15 minutes later. They withdrew to avoid further violent escalation.
Is the planned destruction of a forest more important than the health of human beings?
Further information on today’s events and pictures will follow soon!
UPDATE:
Despite the violent behaviour of the workers nobody was injured seriously. Here are pictures showing the action: 01.10. blockade action
UPDATE:
One person was blocking the shovel of a chain dredger. The driver started the engine anyhow and began to shake the shovel trying to throw down the person sitting in it. One of the truck drivers tried to remove an activist from a vehicle violently using his hands. When this didn’t work he grabbed a tool and attacked the activists.
UPDATE:
The workers atacking the activists work for the deconstruction company H.B.-Kaiser Abbruch und Erdarbeiten. This company it at the moment responsible for the deconstruction of the old Hambach Railway in the name of RWE. Several machines were working although people were standing close to them. The drivers declined to stop the engines, even though they would have been obliged to do so for safety reasons according to German law.
The workers attacked the activists not only with their fists but also using hammers and even a crowbar. Hein Bert Kaiser, the owner of the company, was on site as well. He was actively involved in the violence against the activists and even threatened them: “Whoever damages my diggers and cars is going to die.” Being asked, he confirmed: “This is a death threat.”
Also reported was a new canopy occupation:
During the night to September 30, activists occupied a tree near the edge of the open cast mine Hambach. The tree is one of many that is supposed to give way for the brown coal mine Hambach during the cutting season that starts on October 1.
“This destruction is only one example emphasizing the value of environment and humans in this economic system!”, one of the tree occupiers says.
“The open cast mine, one of the biggest producers of CO2 in Europe, is not only responsible for the expulsion of humans and the deforestation of one of the last primeval forests in Middle and Western Europe. It is also having an impact on the world climate. Thus, it is jointly responsible for heatwaves, droughts and flood[s]. Thereby whole ecosystems are collapsing, especially in the Global South, and many people lose their livelihood.”
With this action the activists want to oppose the destruction of life and call everyone to get involved in the conservation of our livelihood.
“We see ourselves as a part of a global movement, which is accusing the profit of individuals in disadvantage of everyone! We are in solidarity with indigenous peoples all over the world, who are especially suffering from the power of companies and who in some cases effectively manage to resist”, another activist says.
