View images of the protest here.
The Pacific Conference of Churches commends the bravery of the Pacific youth warriors protesting Friday this week at Australia’s largest mining port, Newcastle.
Thirty youth activists from twelve Pacific island countries, supported by the 350.org, will be paddling their traditional canoes into the Newcastle port – the world’s largest coal export harbor – in protest against the destructive power of Australia’s coal mining industry.
“It is clear, man‐made climate change is having, and will increasingly have, an enormous impact on the lives of people worldwide; our Pacific youth warriors have embarked on a courageous act of taking this message to the people of Australia, by blockading the biggest coal exporting port of Newcastle,” the PCC General Secretary, Rev. Francois Pihaatae said.
“The very survival of our people is at stake and it is encouraging to see our youth taking action to protect and safeguard their future and that of the planet,” Rev. Pihaatae said.
Continued dependence on dirty energy sources, like Australia’s coal industry, is threatening the lives and livelihoods of Pacific peoples. Australians need to sit up, note the effects coal mining and the coal‐export industry is having on the health of the entire planet, and act towards giving up their heavy dependence on coal.
“Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbot’s recent statement that ‘coal is good for humanity’ is both negligent and irresponsible,” Rev. Pihaatae said.
Australia is the largest coal exporter, and coal is very attractive because it is cheap. Yet, coal accounts for almost half (43%) of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions ‐ 2.7 billion tonnes of carbon‐dioxide annually ‐ and is the main contributor to global warming.
This campaign by Pacific youth is a strong message that the dignity and rights of those already most vulnerable to climate change are further endangered by our heavy reliance on fossil fuels.
In December 2014 world leaders will gather in Lima, Peru for the United Nations climate‐change conference (UNFCCC COP20) to negotiate a time‐bound, accountable and solid climate‐change framework, in readiness for its launch in Paris next year. Such a legally‐binding agreement, if achieved, would commit governments to ensuring equity and dignity for all peoples, respect for the environment and sustainable use of natural resources. PCC expresses grave concern over the negative position taken by Australia, in not supporting the process towards the creation of a new UN climate deal.
Inspired by the leadership of the Pacific youth warriors, PCC calls on churches in the Pacific and Australia to speak out against the Australian government’s stubborn position. Prime Minister Tony Abbot needs to play an active part in reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. PCC further calls on all peoples to urge the Australian government to step up its state responsibility under the UN climate convention. A renewed commitment to the UN multilateral process by Australia would revive an already‐wilting climate‐negotiation process.
PCC calls on the Australian government to recognise its contribution to past and present climate change, and act now for the benefits of Pacific peoples and the planet.
For more information please contact:
Moderator Rev. Dr. Tevita Havea
or
General Secretary Rev. Francois Pihaatae
G.P.O Box 208, Suva.
4 Thurston Street, Suva, Fiji
Tel: (679) 3311 277 / 3302332
Fax: (679) 3303 205
e-mail: pacific@pcc.org.fj