The First Wave, a new film by environment group Rising Tide, was launched by an enthusiastic crowd on April 4.
tells the story of the historic two-day People鈥檚 Blockade of Muloobinba/Newcastle, the world鈥檚 largest coal port, last November.
More than 2000 participants joined the blockade at Horseshoe Beach at the entrance to Newcastle harbour for a three-day festival which included a blockade of canoes, kayaks and rafts.
Ships carrying coal from the mines of the Hunter Valley were stopped for 48 hours.
The film depicts climate activists in kayaks, gathering on the beach聽and linking up on the water.
It includes short interviews with participants, who explain why they became involved and their hopes for a fossil fuel-free future.
After the film,聽a panel discussed how to build and broaden the climate movement.
鈥淪eeing the movement against coal grow is an absolute privilege,鈥 Matt聽Jeffreys, Indigenous activist and聽 president of the NSW Musicians聽Union said. Climate justice and First Nations justice are聽鈥渆ssential鈥.
NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann said the film was 鈥渋nspiring鈥 and will encourage more people to join the blockade this year.
鈥淣SW Labor has passed a carbon net zero bill, yet continues to approve new coal and gas mines,鈥 Faehrmann said.
A migrant from Iran said the blockade was a 鈥渕assive people鈥檚 action鈥, and asked how more migrants can be drawn into the movement.
She said a recent Nature Day in Sydney, which attracted more than 1000 people from migrant communities, featured Rising Tide and other environment groups.
Journalist and environmentalist Chris Nash was among 109 activists arrested at the end of last year鈥檚 People鈥檚 Blockade.
鈥淭he experience of being at the People鈥檚 Blockade and being arrested聽was inspiring鈥, adding it reminded him of the movement against the聽Vietnam聽War.聽鈥淭here was a great diversity of activity, including stalls and a strong Indigenous presence.鈥
He praised the organisers鈥櫬爌reparation for 鈥渁rrestable actions鈥, saying聽at the ensuing court cases in January, no one with no prior conviction was fined. 鈥淭he blockade experience changes the way you see the future of the climate movement.鈥
Rising Tide organisers Shaun Murray and Alexa Stuart launched a new Rising Tide聽Handbook, outlining the group鈥檚 aims and strategy to build the climate movement.
This includes the Climate Defence Pledge and Rising Tide鈥檚 structure and聽decision-making system.
Rising Tide is planning a national tour with meetings in various cities in the lead-up to the 10-day People鈥檚 Blockade.
鈥淲e are aiming for 10,000 people to mobilise this year,鈥 Stuart said. 鈥淭he November action will transform climate activism in Australia.鈥
[For more information and to聽get involved visit .]