Climate Camp protestors will appeal Newcastle Court decision

Six people, including two members of Six Degrees, who were arrested at the Camp for Climate Action on July 13 2008 appeared in Newcastle Local Court yesterday. Despite their defense that they were acting to prevent the greater harm of climate change, and an expert statement from eminent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scientist, Professor Andy Pitman, they were found guilty. They will appeal the decision at the district court later in the year.

The group’s legal team, Barristers David Patch and David Shoebridge, argued that the defendants who had entered the Carrington coal terminal in Newcastle acted out of necessity to prevent a greater harm – the export and burning of coal and subsequent harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

The six defendants argued that they entered the coal terminal because they were concerned about the imminent danger posed climate change. This meant they felt it was necessary to disrupt the coal supply chain. All had tried lawful methods of protest before their actions, such as writing letters and submissions. However emissions had continued to rise.

As one of the defendants Emma Brindal said: 

Last year we went onto the coal train tracks in Newcastle to halt coal trains because we believed it was necessary to take action on climate change where our governments were not doing so.

The Court said that this case was not about climate change. However we feel our actions were all about climate change – and coal’s role as the main contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.

We know that the general public shares our concerns. We need to phase out coal fired power generation and create clean, renewable energy infrastructure and jobs.

The six defendants said they would appeal to the District Court on both points of law and the severity of the sentence.

One of the grounds of appeal will be based on the failure of the court to admit as evidence the expert witness statement of the eminent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scientist, Professor Andy Pitman.

In addition, the defendants will maintain their opposition that their actions were reasonable in order to protect the planet from greater harm.

It is expected the appeal will be heard in a matter of months.

The six defendants are: Hazel Blunden, Emma Brindal, Edward Cranswick, Chris Doran, Ashwyn Falkingham, and Kristy Walters.

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