Hundreds of protesters blocked a canal that connects Australia’s largest coal port this Saturday to prevent the entry and exit of ships loaded with this mineral, in protest against the climate crisis.
At least 1,500 people gathered near the port, in the state of New South Wales, and took turns riding in canoes to block the passage of ships, in a 30-hour protest, organized by the group Rising Tide, reported the ABC state television. quoted by the Efe agency.
The protest, which will end this Sunday at 4:00 p.m. local time (9:00 GMT), caused the blockade of the port, making it impossible for ships to enter or exit for security reasons.
Protesters are demanding that the Australian Government stop all new projects involving the use of fossil energy.
Among the protesters was the political leader of the Os Verdes party, Adam Bandt, who published on his X account (formerly Twitter) a photograph of himself paddling a canoe to block the passage of boats.
Proud to jump into the water with @RisingTideAus to blockade the largest coal port in the world today.
If Labor doesn’t stop coal, the people will. pic.twitter.com/Xg8KTKVcFX
-Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) November 25, 2023
The climate crisis is one of the big topics of political debate in Australia, a country exposed to the effects of droughts and extreme temperatures that is also the world’s second largest exporter of thermal coal and the largest exporter of cooking charcoal.
Source: TSF
