The Rising Tide 'protestival' has been in planning for a year.
Organisers have bent over backwards to liaise with relevant organisations to ensure we can exercise our right to protest peacefully.
By suddenly imposing a massive exclusion zone from Stockton to Newcastle beach, denying us the use of Transport NSW's land and carpark at Horseshoe Beach, the NSW government is doing everything it can to deny our right to peacefully protest.
Frankie, a 12-year-old, pointed out the emperor's new clothes on NBN. She said if the "government is throwing a tantrum because we're having a fun safe festival, then how can we make any difference? Because our climate is obviously in a crisis right now, it's vital we need to make a change. The government is not listening to science, they're not listening to reason, so they're going to have to listen to the people."
In my view it's obvious they're listening to King Coal.
The CSIRO's 2024 State of the Climate report said that climate change is happening, that it's not a secret, and the message now is to be climate smart.
People of Newcastle have to decide, which side are you on: our children, or those who dumbly sacrifice their future for profit?
Niko Leka, Mayfield
Disruptions can't be ignored
The editorial 'New fines put punishment before point' (NH 13/11) seems to be saying that the protesters for action on climate change are justified in causing massive disruptions to people's lives because of the lack of action that protesting through proper channels has achieved.
So, I take it, any person, or group, with a cause that governments have not implemented, should be free to disrupt things as they see fit? I have many causes I have lobbied, mostly unsuccessfully, for over the years, e.g. the closure of Myuna Bay centre, the barbaric practices that farmers subject to farmed animals too etc.
So apparently I should feel free to go around causing massive disruption around the place?
The main demand of the protesters, the immediate cessation of the use of fossil fuels, is impossible.
The power grid simply would close down if this happened overnight.
It can happen only with a long transition period, which the present government is pursuing as quickly as practically possible.
The fight to avert climate change is over. The continual freakish weather events, all over the world prove it's here to stay. It needed to start 25 years ago, but thanks to climate change denying governments all over the world (including the LNP in Australia), the cause is lost as the majority of people agreed with them.
If Labor loses the next election, as looks likely, I might gather a band of disenchanted supporters and try an insurrection the way Trump did four years ago. The end justifies the means, apparently.
Jan Phillip Trevillian, Fennell Bay
Protest has made little difference
JOHN Lawton (NH, 14/11), you wish Rising Tide every success in saving lives with their climate change protests. Don't you realise they and other protest groups have not saved one life in their years of protests, and have shown they never will?
They certainly haven't made a positive difference to the future lives of our children.
In my opinion, you are not thinking clearly if you believe otherwise.
Not one bit of legislation has been created because of their fight. I believe they are dangerous, useless entities in the climate change wars.
I believe they have put people's lives in danger a number of times, including when they block trains. All they do is disrupt people's lives with their activities that have never made a difference to the climate change wars.
True climate change warriors should be looking to promote their cause with positive actions that do not disrupt the lives of those who they need to bring onside.
The protesters should certainly stop putting other lives in danger, including the emergency services personnel, for whom they seem to have little care.
Glen Wilson, Cardiff
Flotilla of rules cracking down outdo Trump
AMONG his many anti-democratic actions, Trump has threatened to use the military to quash public protest of any sort. However, he has been beaten to the punch (pun intended) by the NSW Premier's heavy fines and jail time for climate protesters.
Don Owers, Dudley
President's picks no surprise
DEMOCRATICALLY-elected Republicans are already starting to get their knickers in a knot after being overlooked for the large number of unelected sycophants Trump is placing in powerful positions. You supported an obvious narcissist, you accept the consequences. Unfortunately, so does the rest of the planet.
John Arnold, Anna Bay
His word may be his Bond
YOU'D be forgiven for thinking that Trump's new administration team looks like every single baddie from every James Bond film ever made. Maybe the big man fancies himself as 007.
Julie Robinson, Cardiff
Trump win more proof of tactic
I SEE all the homegrown Trump-anzee pretend Americans are excited over their idol's victory. It just proves the power of appealing to the lowest common denominator. Just like with the Voice, fear and bigotry won. Since we are all quoting: "You can sway a thousand men easier by appealing to their prejudice, than you can convince one man by logic."
David Jennings, Edgeworth
Blockade canoe choice matters
MAY I suggest Rising Tide search online for "Kamay Botany Bay Environmental Education Centre making a traditional bark canoe"? When I see all of you paddling around Newcastle harbour in a traditional canoe, not a petroleum byproduct, I'll take you seriously. Until then may you continue to drown in hypocrisy.
Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay
Nuclear help over the horizon
JOHN Arnold, as someone who worked in the engineering sector, we planned, and designed projects for the future. Things such as nuclear energy, as you flippantly stated would take until 2050 to build, it would actually come online just in time to replace all those renewables that have been built now, because that will be their end of life. Nuclear lasts 80 to 100 years, renewables 15 to 20 years. Do the maths.
