NSW: Copenhagen protesters chain themselves to coal train

AAP General News (Australia)
12-20-2009
NSW: Copenhagen protesters chain themselves to coal train

SYDNEY, Dec 20 AAP - Environmentalists chained themselves to a coal train and rail
tracks near NSW's Newcastle Port to protest against the outcome of the Copenhagen climate
talks.

The 25 activists marched onto the tracks about 9am (AEDT) on Sunday, occupying a bridge
and stopping trains from entering the Kooragang coal export terminal for six hours.

The action, organised by Rising Tide environmental group, was aimed at shutting down
coal export operations at Newcastle, the world's largest coal port.

Rising Tide spokesman Steve Phillips said the protest was an act of desperation after
the UN climate summit failed to produce a just, effective and legally binding treaty.

"The US, Australia and other wealthy countries wrecked the talks," Mr Phillips told AAP.

"People are tired of seeing our leaders fail to address to problem of climate change
- we want to undertake bold and long-lasting action."

Mr Phillips said two people chained themselves to a stopped train, and four were tied
to the tracks during Sunday's blockade.

Police began to remove and arrest the protesters about midday, using angle grinders
to cut through the chains, he said.

A sixth person sat atop a large wooden tripod erected on the line, and large banners
reading `Greed wrecked Copenhagen: Now it's up to us all', and `You could have done something
great' were hung at the site.

Police said 14 people had been arrested by the time the action ended about 3pm (AEDT).

Mr Phillips hailed the day a success, and threatened further action if governments "continue
to fail to solve the climate crisis".

"We are now putting world leaders on notice that the longer they fail on this issue,
the more action like this will occur," he said.

The climate change summit was widely criticised after world leaders put forward a deal
aimed at limiting global warming to two degrees celsius.

But it's not clear if the deal can achieve that goal because it contains no targets
to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions blamed for climate change - and the deal is not
binding.

AAP bzs/apm

KEYWORD: CLIMATE COAL UPDATE (PIX AVAILABLE)

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