People’s power for the climate - November 22 at Eraring Power Station

It is almost unbelievable: we are living through a climate emergency, but our greenhouse gas emissions are still rising. Our community must come together to call for a safe climate future. Come and be part of starting the new, renewable industrial revolution on Saturday November 22nd.

Where: Eraring Power Station (link to google map), the largest coal-fired power station in NSW
When: 11am, Saturday 22nd November 2008
Why: Just one week later, Australia will meet the nations of the world at the international climate talks in Poland. We need to tell them: we would rather keep the Great Barrier Reef than live on polluting coal power.

Contact: Georgina Woods 49261641 or georgiefrances–at–yahoo.com.au

On 15th November, thousands will march in the Walk Against Warming. One week later, we will take our demonstration for a safe climate directly to the equal biggest single source of carbon dioxide pollution in the country – the Eraring Power Station on the Central Coast, between Newcastle and Sydney.

In the first two weeks of December, Australia will join the rest of the world at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) talks in Poznan, Poland. During this time, major climate policies, with the potential to change the course of history, will be announced.

Don’t let them forsake the Murray Darling and the Great Barrier Reef.
Don’t let them sell out the climate and our children’s future for the sake of coal company profits.

Join us protesting ongoing rise in greenhouse pollution at the Eraring Power Station, between Newcastle and Sydney.

The rally will be calling for immediate commitment by Australia to 2010 being our “peak carbon” year – after that and forever, our greenhouse pollution must come down.

Some people will be establishing a vigil camp after the rally in the lead up to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Climate Change Minister Penny Wong heading to Poland for the climate talks. More details below.

The next few months are such important times to be part of community climate change action. Please come along. Meet at 11am, Saturday 22nd November, at Eraring Power Station.

About Eraring Power Station:

Eraring is one of the biggest single point sources of carbon dioxide pollution and equal largest coal-fired power station in Australia. It is owned by the NSW State Government company Eraring Energy. Every year, the Eraring power station emits over 20 million tons of C02 (carma.org) – making it among the most polluting power stations in the world.

It is facilities like Eraring that will need to be closed if we are to shift quickly to a low-carbon future. Come and help start the new, renewable industrial revolution on Saturday 22nd November.

Travel:

Travel by bus is being arranged from Sydney. Contact Meg from Greenpeace if you would like help. Meg.ivory–at–au.greenpeace.org

By train: Get on the Newcastle train from Sydney, or the Sydney train from Newcastle. Not all of the trains stop at Dora Creek station, so make sure the one you’re getting does. Hop off at Dora Creek. Protest organisers will be running shuttles from Dora Creek to the protest site, but it is a 20 minute bike ride, if you bring your bikes.

By car: Travel north on the F3 from Sydney (south from Newcastle). Take Freeman’s Drive (the Morisset exit) and follow the signs to Morisset. Head north from Morisset along Wangi Road. There is an Eraring Power station turn off left from Wangi Road.

What’s going to happen

On 22nd there will be a big protest rally at the power station. There will be speakers and a barbeque lunch.

We will be establishing a vigil camp after the rally in the lead up to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Climate Change Minister Penny Wong heading to Poland for the climate talks.

You are welcome to stay over at the vigil, or come back during the week for workshops, film screenings and cheerful candle-lit dinners.

Then join us again at the end of the week for direct action protest against the power station on the eve of the Poznan climate talks.

We won’t get another chance to stop the flow of pollution into our atmosphere. We must do everything we can to show the Government that this is an emergency, and that we will not accept anything less than emergency measures.

What you will need:

• Bring your family and friends and make it your stand against ongoing rises in greenhouse pollution.
• Bring sun-cream and hats. There will be some water, but a personal bottle is advisable.
• Bring banners and placards.
• Vegetarian barbeque will be provided.
• If you would like to camp, bring camping gear