Over 100 Arrested in Blockade of World's Largest Coal Port

The protest, organized by Rising Tide, disrupted coal exports from Australia's Port of Newcastle ahead of the global climate change summit, COP28.

Over 100 climate activists, including five minors and a 97-year-old reverend, were arrested after a two-day blockade of the world's largest coal port, the Port of Newcastle in Australia.
The protest, organized by Rising Tide, saw hundreds of activists occupying the shipping lane, preventing over half a million tonnes of coal from leaving the country.
The protest, dubbed the 'biggest act of civil disobedience for climate in Australia's history', took place just days ahead of COP28, the yearly global climate change summit.
Rising Tide is calling for the Australian government to tax thermal coal exports and cancel new fossil fuel projects.
Despite enshrining an emissions reduction target of 43% by 2030 into law, the Australian government has green lit four new coal mines since last May, with 25 more projects awaiting approval.