Winter Solstice 2006 - pictures and report.

For the second cold, wet day in as hardly as many
weeks, a good-sized crowd of Hunter residents braved the elements to
demonstrate their concern with climate change, and opposition to the
expanding Hunter coal industry - domestic and export.

A crowd of more than 60 gathered in Civic Park from 3:30pm on the
Winter Solstice, after shutting down the power at home in protest of
coal-fired electricity generation, a major cause of climate change.

At about 4pm, the crowd set off East down King Street, drumming,
dancing, generally being loud, and talking to onlookers about the
Hunter coal industry's role in perpetuating global climate change. The
parade was, very reluctantly, moved onto the footpath by police, and
took an amended route up the Hunter Street Mall. We wound up in the
shelter of the Foreshore Park train sheds, with some battery-powered
speakers and entertainment (the batteries are currently being recharged
with solar panels. Dodgy we know, but the best we could do in the
circumstances!)

Thanks to everybody who helped with the parade, and everyone who came.
There are some pictures below, drop us a line if you want
them in high resolution.