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Early this morning, Wenz (29) climbed off the road bridge next to the ‘Port Botany’ sign, blocking the rail to and from the port.

“Blockading Port Botany impacts the flow of wealth and so, reaches people with power. Other methods of protest haven’t solved the climate crisis, but direct action has the potential to create the change we need”

“The climate crisis is a systemic issue and so the only way to address it is by hindering Australia’s operation”

Wenz

Blockade Australia will be hosting regular information sessions online and in-person so people can get involved. Then we will take to the streets and cause mass political chaos for those causing climate chaos from June 27.

“We are living through climate collapse, it is here now and it is more important than ever to take collective action”

Wenz

Today, Max, 26, ran into Patrick Terminal at Port Botany and scaled 60 metres up a crane to suspend himself above the freight terminal. The unloading of a freight ship was delayed by more than 5 hours due to this disruption.

“The climate crisis is not only being ignored but being actively blocked by the system we call Australia.”

Max

Max has shown that one person taking action can halt a massive amount of infrastructure, slowing down the death machine of Australia’s economy. Australia’s active role in climate collapse warrants direct responses like this.

This morning, Emma (25) suspended herself from a bipod structure attached to ropes blocking all freight trains moving in and out of the Port of Botany. Emma locked herself to the structure, causing several hours of disruption.

This is the fourth consecutive day Blockade Australia activists have shut down Australia’s largest container port, to resist Australia’s insatiable appetite for destruction.

“The powers have prioritised the economic wealth and political power of an elite few. They have used policies of extractivism and destruction to exploit everything from this land and people. Those goods are moved around through roads, ports and rails. That’s why I’m attached to this bipod”

Emma

Emma’s action is part of a sustained period of direct action against Australia’s economic operations. Blockade Australia uses this strategy to push back against the forces driving us to ecological and social collapse.

“The system we currently know and its endless economic expansion is incompatible with life. Solutions will never come from within the system, we need to build collective power to confront and obstruct Australia”

Emma

This morning, Alex Pearse (33) suspended himself off a monopole blocking all trains running to and from the Port of Botany. This is the third consecutive day Blockade Australia has shut down this continent’s largest container port.

“Australia is a rigged system doing exactly what it was designed to do: exploit people and extract resources from this continent.”

Alex

The system is not broken, it’s designed to break us. No matter what party, no matter what policies, self-preservation and the protection of the ruling class is what Australia does best. Sustained action that shuts down centres of political and economic power is our best chance of forcing the political change required. Change is necessary for survival. As Australia continues to block climate action, we will Blockade Australia.

“We are facing a climate catastrophe. I have worked in environmental science for 12 years and during that time I have seen no credible action on climate. I am taking direct action because without a halt to business as usual there will be no true change”

Alex

For the second time today, Blockade Australia has stopped trucks at Port Botany. Dom and Helen have blockaded Penrhyn road with two trucks. Dom has climbed atop one, and Helen has locked on to the steering wheel of another. This is a significant economic bottleneck; it is the only access road to Port Botany’s largest terminal. Australia’s design principle is to use everything in its path to gain private wealth and power. Port Botany is a 24/7 operation of relentless, unsustainable growth. It is a prime example of Australia’s priority to maximise exploitation of people and planet in the pursuit of global supply chains. Disrupting it at pinch points where it is most critical, like the roads leading in and out of major container ports, is effective resistance to this project of mass destruction.

Dom, a wildlife carer and preschool teacher, who through their work has experienced harsh drought firsthand said:

“My experience is just a taste of what others are and will continue to experience as this crisis continues. All appropriate action is being blocked by Australia.”

Dom

Helen is a practicing psychologist who recognises that a climate response requires a new approach to politics: “The mass collapse of ecosystems, wars over resources, and extreme weather events are the inevitable conclusion of a system built on greed and exploitation.

“Everything is at stake. Engaging in strategic action like this is our attempt to force the changes necessary for survival while we still have the chance to act”

Helen

This morning, activist Arno (21) is suspended from a steel bipod over the bridge on Sirius road leading into Port of Botany. This structure is tied off to the opposing side of the bridge, which is blocking and choking the flow of traffic in and out of the Port.

Arno has a banner tied to them which reads:

“No Borders, No Nations, Stop Australia’s Operation.”

There are no borders when it comes to climate collapse. This is the second day of action Blockade Australia has taken at the Port of Botany, which is a crucial part of infrastructure to the Australian project.

“Australia is built to exploit and that’s never going to change unless we get in the way. Let’s stop talking to the oppressors nicely.”

This action is taking place on the unceded land of the Bidjigal people. We pay respect to past and present Elders of this community and acknowledge the significance of our actions being in this place where the colony began. Bidjigal and other First Nations people of this continent have resisted colonisation and genocide at the hands of Australia for over 250 years.

Two climate activists stopped movement on two major roads in the Port of Botany this morning. Henry (20) was suspended from a tensegrity tower while Tom (23) was hanging from a monopole.

The 7m high tower, built from bamboo and rope sat blocking Simblist road, a major entry point to the container port. This stopped all trucks from accessing the area.

“If we don’t actively engage in dismantling this system, we are upholding it’s destruction of our climate”

Tom

Tom climbed a 9-metre monopole that had ropes stretching across all lanes of traffic with a banner reading “Less Placards – More Lock-ons.”

“Disrupting points of importance in this system like Port Botany is the climate resistance we require.”

Henry

“We live under this illusion that we can go and elect a new government that cares about the climate crisis and the people”

Blockade Australia took action today on the Country of the Bidjigal People. We acknowledge that all of our activities take place on the continent Bidjigal People call Kamata. We honour the Elders who came before and are with us now.

After 11 consecutive days and over 20 actions, Blockade Australia’s mobilisation against the biggest coal port in the world has come to a close. For 65+ hours infrastructure was blocked with 28 people arrested. Thank you to everyone who watched, shared and participated in Blockade Australia’s Newcastle mobilisation.

The past two weeks have shown that it’s possible to cause serious disruption to the Australian system, if motivated individuals unite in a coordinated way. The police came down on us through a Strike Force, excessive charges, helicopter patrols, and raids on unconnected homes and offices. With this expected state repression we continued to pull off actions around them, showing that we will not be intimidated by their flexes that guard Australia and property over all life on earth.

If you were inspired by this mobilisation, transform that into action by committing to the Sydney Dates: 27th of June – 2nd July. Through collective power and strategic direct action we can force Australia to deal with climate change. Simply ignoring it and blocking climate action will not continue under our watch.

Follow Blockade Australia and if you give a damn about your future make sure you plan, take time off, organise yourself and be in Sydney in 2022

Jacinta and Kirsten entered at dawn; with Kirsten disabling machinery and Jacinta locking on to a structure at ground level. This is the 20th action in 11 days halting operations at the Newcastle port.

“The problem is that our system is based on exponential growth, that revolves around money and power which is unjust and unequal. All life forms suffer because of the human actions of the corrupt and exploitative systems of our government and multinationals. I’ve come here to do direct actions because I feel it is one of the ways for me to stand up for what is right”

Jacinta

“I’m a law student and it is upholding the duty of care laid down in Sharma v Minister for Environment to stop coal ports fuelling the CO2 emissions that cause climate change. In July this year the Sharma case found that the Minister has a duty to take reasonable care… to avoid causing personal injury or death… arising from emissions of carbon dioxide into the Earth’s atmosphere”.

Kirsten

For the second time today, activists have shut down the World’s Biggest Coal Port in Newcastle as part of disruptions against the port that have been taking place since last Monday. Newcastle local Quinn (24), has locked on to infrastructure. Clancy (20) is dangling above piles of coal.

The pair have hung a banner that says
“Australia: climate thug”.

“Resistance is fertile and is effective when we come together. I’m calling for people to join blockade Australia next year from June 27th in Sydney the economic and political heart of this beast. The resistance to inaction on climate is growing and it needs you.”

Australia is a racket. Getting in the way of of this empire of destruction and desecration is the only appropriate action at this point in history. Action like this is our best chance at prying power away from the dominating class and create space for real solutions to the climate collapse.