Elisabeth Drake, Janet Kossy and Alana West, all of Newtown, South Sydney Herald subeditor Miriam Pepper of Redfern and dozens of others from across Australia faced charges of rail trespass for blocking the railway line to the world’s biggest coal port of Newcastle on May 8.
More than 2,000 people from many walks of life – Traditional Owners, farmers, people of faith, students and many more – took part in the Break Free actions in Newcastle. Some 400 people blocked the entrance of the port via a flotilla of kayaks, 2,000 took part on the beach and another 66 shut down the railway line and were arrested.
Break Free in Australia was part of a global day of 20 protest actions on six continents involving more than 20,000 people from the Indonesia and Nigeria to the US, UK and Turkey.
Retired teachers Ms Kossy and Ms Drake said that after a lifetime as law-abiding citizens, they were acting on their consciences.
“Australia has the ability now to move from dirty coal and oil to renewable energy. The move will help not harm our economy, but if we don’t make this change within the next few crucial years, human life on this planet, including the lives of our children and grandchildren, will suffer incalculable harm. The poorest will be worst affected. An urgent change from fossil fuel to renewables has to be a national priority. Future generations won’t forgive us if we neglect to act,” said Ms Kossy.
Ms Drake explained, “I had some concerns about participating in the action and risking arrest, however the absolute urgency of addressing climate change overrode everything else. I have two beautiful grandchildren, and my conscience demands that I do everything I can to bequeath them a healthy environment.”
Community organiser Ms West commented that the Break Free actions in Newcastle sought to highlight the damaging effect the coal industry has on the climate and on our political system. “International climate negotiations began two years after I was born, yet 24 years later there has been no significant action on climate change,” she said. “We are already seeing the devastating effects of climate change and across the world people are taking action into their own hands where governments have failed.”
Dr Pepper said she took part in nonviolent direct action due to the urgency of the issues. “Time is not on our side in our context of escalating climate change. Out of love for those people who suffer consequences of a problem they didn’t create, out of love for children of my family and of the world, and for the Earth itself and all our futures, I must in good conscience join with others to do what I can to prevent the expansion of fossil fuels.”
Ms Kossy, Ms Drake, Ms West and Dr Pepper had their cases heard at the Downing Centre Local Court and pleaded guilty to their charges. Kossy and Drake received 6-month good behavior bonds on November 8, with no convictions recorded. West and Pepper were convicted and fined on October 17, but on December 7 at the District Court successfully appealed the recording of their convictions and received 2-year good behaviour bonds.
