Here is an account of the Fossil Fools Day activity carried out by Rising Tide Newcastle on the morning of April 1st. For information about everything else that happened around the world visit the global Fossil Fools Day website.

Fossil Fools swap coal for consumer products

150 - 200 people protested at Newcastle today against the expansion of the world's biggest coal port. The protest was part of an international day of action demanding urgent action against climate change from the UN climate talks taking place in Bali.

Thankyou to everyone who took part in Saturday's Peoples' Blockade of the World's Biggest Coal Port!

Here are some photos from the day. Here is a slideshow. You might also like to see these, these, these... and these new ones.

Here are a few more photos and some words from one of the blockade particpants.

The protest was a fantastic show of community determination to take action against Australia's biggest contribution to climate change, despite resistance from government and industry. As well as being a powerful and symbolic action, the protest succeeded in disrupting coal exports from Newcastle Harbour.

This year will see the beginning of a rolling direct action campaign to pressure the State Government to take control of the coal industry, stop the acceleration of greenhouse gas emissions from export coal, and lead NSW forward into a post-coal economy. In Sydney this month, major NSW and international environment groups resolved to take a series of actions to stop the expansion of the coal industry in NSW, and the grassroots movement against export coal has been steadily building momentum over the last two years.

Protest Centennial Coal Annual General Meeting.

9.15 am Friday November 24

Menzies Hotel, 14 Carrington St Sydney (behind Wynyard Station)

What and where: A colourful flotilla to occupy and protest the world's biggest coal port.

When: World Environment Day, 5th June, 2006.

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