Mass Arrests At Federal Parliament As Australian's Urge Effective Climate Action

< BACK TO ENVIRONMENT starstarstarstarstar   Conservation - Environment Press Release
23rd November 2009, 05:35pm - Views: 674





People Feature Rising Tide 1 image

Mass arrests at Federal Parliament as

Australian’s urge effective climate action



23 November 2009, Canberra: Police are arresting approximately 150 climate

protesters taking part in a sit-in at Federal Parliament.


One by one, protesters are being led or dragged away from the front entrance,

following a mass civil disobedience protest today. Around 200 people converged on

Parliament this morning to stage a mass sit-in, shutting down the entrance to the

building."


The participants are calling on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to secure a strong, legally

binding treaty at the upcoming international climate negotiations in Copenhagen.


The protest comes just two weeks before international climate conference in

Copenhagen, Denmark, to finalise a new global treaty on how the world addresses the

threat of climate change.


“This has been a true expression of the deep sense of betrayal many Australians feel

about Kevin Rudd’s lack of effective action on climate change,” said Georgina

Woods, spokesperson for the demonstration. “We voted for this government so they

would stand up to the big polluters, and lead the world on dealing with the impending

climate crisis.”


“Instead, Kevin Rudd has perfected a marvellous line in greenwash, the polluters are

getting taxpayer handouts and under the legislation currently before the Senate,

Australia will not have to cut domestic emissions one jot.”


“People have come to Canberra from around Australia today to take a stand for

climate protection. We call on Kevin Rudd to do the same. Australia must commit to

strong pollution targets, and no carbon offsets at the Copenhagen climate talks in two

weeks. If he fails, mass arrests will continue as Australian’s take climate action into

their own hands.”


Images are available on request


For further information, contact: Keiller MacDuff 0429 033 411

For comment from the site of the sit in, contact: Georgina Woods 0438 223 771







news articles logo NEWS ARTICLES
Contact News Articles |Remove this article