Release the Copenhagen prisoners!

When: Monday, 11am at the Danish Consulate in Sydney. 

Address: Goldfields House, 1 Alfred Street, Circular Quay.

What: Solidarity action and letter delivery demanding the release of Copenhagen climate prisoners, including Sydney activist Tash Verco.

Wear: whatever you want, or your best Princess Mary imitation gown 'n' crown.

The Copenhagen meeting was an abject failure – with rich countries like Australia pushing false solutions of offsetting and carbon trading, and avoiding urgently needed emissions reductions.  But instead of taking action, the authorities locked up those who actually were. 

We already gave the Danes a princess – give us back our protestor!

More information

Danish authorities are continuing to detain an Australian, Natasha Verco, for a third week since the Copenhagen climate conference. She will appear in court in Copenhagen on Monday January 4^th 2010. 

Natasha was arrested on Tuesday December 15^th, a day before the major ‘Reclaim Power’ protest during the United Nations climate negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark. She is being charged with “incitement” for her role in organising the climate justice protest.

Tadzio Mueller, a German arrested alongside Natasha, said on his release from custody, “The Danish government’s appallingly disproportionate reaction, the political policing used to gaol some 1800 activists for nothing at all; using tear gas, pepper spray, baton charges and mass preemptive arrests; sets a precedent dangerous not only for Denmark, but for the future of the world.”

Tash Verco is a long-time advocate for social change in Sydney, Australia. She is a graduate of the University of Technology honors program in Social Inquiry; a founder of Rural Australians for Refugees; and a co-founder of Friends of the Earth Sydney.  

A direct appeal to the Danish Consul General in Sydney, Michael Hansen, will be launched as Friends of the Earth Sydney will hand-deliver a personal letter.  The letter asserts the right to protest as a fundamental human right, and demands the charges against Tash and all other climate justice activists be dropped and they be immediately released.