Climate Protesters Face Court

Protesters from campaign group Friends of the Earth will face court in Wynnum, Brisbane this morning for their efforts to halt the expansion of the coal industry in Queensland.

Steve Skitmore (22) and Nathan Elvery (19), who were arrested after they stopped a coal loading conveyor belt at the Brisbane Port on the 22^nd October, by locking themselves to the structure, are part of a new campaign called Six Degrees.

 

"The QLD government is neglecting to protect the futures of every day Queenslanders by not phasing out the coal industry. When the coal mining companies have so much power in the halls of parliament, the only way to expose the truth here was through civil disobedience" Said Mr Elvery

"If the government won't act on climate change, then citizens will take action ourselves to protect our future and our land."

 

“Premier Bligh is contradicting every promise she makes to us that she is protecting our futures,” Mr Skitmore said.

During their October protest Mr Skitmore and Mr Elvery were also joined by 20 protesters who kayaked into the port of Brisbane to disrupt leaving cargo ships filled with coal.

Queensland is the largest coal exporting state in the largest coal exporting country in the world, leading to the emission of over 460 million tonnes of destructive carbon dioxide each year.

MEDIA: For interview and photo opportunities, please contact Eleanor Smith, Media Relations, ph: 0431 293 279, email: eleanor.smith@foe.org.au