Four a (FA) activists who have been blocking major highways including Princes Highway in Sylvania on April 1 and the Grand Parade at Brighton-Le-Sands on April 5 were arrested and charged under the new draconian anti-protest laws.
The new anti-protest laws were rushed through parliament after a week of actions by climate action group (BA) held up container traffic at Port Botany. BA said it organised nine actions over five days 鈥渨ith over 20 hours of disruption to the Port of Botany鈥.
Climate protester Emma Dorge told聽Sunrise while hanging from a crane that she was doing it because the climate emergency would lead to 鈥渇ood systems collapsing within the next eight years鈥.
The FA activists face two years jail and/or a $22,000 fine.
BA activist Maxim O鈥橠onnell Curmi was arrested after spending five hours being suspended on a crane and charged with endangering a person on a railway and encouraging the commission of a crime.聽Curmi, who pleaded guilty to five charges, has been sentenced BA is raising funds for
BA activist who held a banner saying 鈥淣o Borders, No Nations, Stop Australia鈥檚 Operation鈥 disrupting operations at Port Botany was arrested and has had his visa revoked. He is in Villawood Detention Centre until his next court hearing in May. Another activist Tom also had their visa cancelled.
FA spokesperson Danny Noonan said they started organising weekly actions on February on roads that would cause the most disruption. 鈥淒isruption is the medium to get the critical message out about the environment crisis,鈥 he said.
Climate scientist Martin Wolterding took part in a civil disobedience action with FA and by disrupting in Lilyfield. The five activists who stopped morning traffic were all arrested and Wolterding was held overnight at Newtown Police Station. Wolterding was charged under the new draconian laws.
Wolterding told 麻豆传媒 that he took action in response to the IPCC report鈥檚 鈥渄ire findings鈥 that holding warming to 1.5掳C is no longer plausible. 鈥淓ight hundred scientists from over 26 countries set aside their normal roles, risking arrest in non-violent action, to focus attention on the desperate nature of the climate and biodiversity crises. I was part of #ScienceRebellion who highlight civilisation and perhaps our very survival as a species are at risk,"聽the 77-year-old climate activist said.
New South Wales police鈥檚 Strike Force Guard arrested FA Violet Coro at her home on April 7.