Trendpills
Thousands of climate activists participated in a large-scale blockade of the Port of Newcastle in Australia, the world's largest coal port, causing significant disruption to fossil fuel exports. The protest, organized by the environmental group Rising Tide, involved a flotilla of kayaks, surfboards, and other small boats to physically obstruct the shipping channel over a period of several days.
The demonstration, part of the group's ongoing “People’s Blockade” campaign, drew a crowd estimated at up to 7,000 people. The primary goal was to halt coal exports and demand an end to new fossil fuel projects. The prolonged action succeeded in temporarily halting port traffic, with protesters successfully disrupting the entry of at least one bulk carrier, which was forced to turn around.
The event was framed by organizers not just as a protest but as a festival of resistance, combining direct action with community gatherings on shore. The central message, promoted heavily during the event, was a call for the government to tax coal profits and use the funds to secure new jobs for workers in a clean-energy economy. The action is part of a broader campaign for which organizers are calling for a fair transition for communities currently dependent on the fossil fuel industry.
Police response to the multi-day blockade was significant, with authorities making over 170 arrests as they worked to clear the harbor. Despite the arrests, activists declared the event a victory for people power, highlighting their ability to mobilize thousands and generate global media attention. The action has been described by allied groups as one of the largest acts of civil disobedience in Australia's history, representing a major escalation in the country's climate resistance movement.
