Thirty Pacific warriors are currently touring Australia to share their climate message and ask for our support and solidarity. On Monday they brought their message to Narrabri and the Leard Blockade and saw first hand the destruction wrought by Whitehaven Coal’s Maules Creek Project and Idemitsu\u2019s Boggabri Coal.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are sending a powerful message: we will not stand idly by as the coal industry sinks the future of the Pacific Islands \u2013 we are fighting for our god given right to live\u201d, says Mikaele Maiava, for the Climate Change warriors for Tokelau in a brief statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n Four of the thirty climate warriors come from Tokelau, which transitioned to 100 per cent renewables<\/a> in 2012. They are only too well aware of the negative impacts of climate change. Read the Ulu o Tokelau, Aliki Faipule Kuresa Nasau statement<\/a> from 3 October and understand the motivation of not just the four warriors from Tokelau – Avelio Tumua, Dedles Suega Isaia, Aleki Manuele and Mikaele Maiava – but all the warriors from all the countries of the South Pacific.<\/p>\n Countries that are part of the campaign include: Papua New Guinea, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tokelau, Niue, Cook Islands, Federated Sates of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau, Tuvalu, Nauru, Kiribati and Fiji.<\/p>\n Top story: @350Australia<\/a>: ‘#PacificWarriors<\/a> head to the #leardblockade<\/a>: http:\/\/\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/DoNAc2l7Tc<\/a>, see more http:\/\/t.co\/KZHtdgyckQ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 No Fibs (@NoFibs) October 13, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n First stop on the tour was a visit to the First Peoples Embassy at Redfern, where our Pacific visitors were ceremonially welcomed to country.<\/p>\n Pacific Warriors – Sydney\/ Redfern First Peoples Embassy #LeardBlockade<\/a> #BlockTheCoalBoats<\/a> http:\/\/t.co\/LFYpVp45O0<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 WACA (@akaWACA) October 13, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n On Monday the Pacific Climate Warriors travelled to the Leard Blockade to see the destruction already being wrought on the Leard state forest by Whitehaven Coal’s Maules Creek Project and Idemitsu\u2019s Boggabri Coal. The emissions generated by the coal from these two massive open pit mines will add to global warming and contribute to the rise in sea level and more intense storms and floods which is slowly threatening to drown islands, and wash away heritage and culture.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to find ways to keep coal and gas in the ground. People all around the world are recognising this and taking action to challenge the power of the fossil fuel industry. For us Pacific Islanders, there is nothing more urgent or necessary.\u201d said Mikaele Maiava, climate warrior from the Tokelau in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n Although Pacific Island countries only contribute 0.03% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions they will be the first to go under if the business as usual scenarios of the IPCC are allowed to come to pass.<\/p>\n 30 #Pacific<\/a> #ClimateWarriors<\/a> arrive at #LeardBlockade<\/a> get settled in before a day of action. #auspol<\/a> #nswpol<\/a> #NoFibs<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/o5JckZTd3E<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FrontLineonCoal (@FLACCoal) October 12, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Dinner tonight at #LeardBlockade<\/a> camp w\/ #Pacific<\/a> #ClimateWarriors<\/a> feasting on fresh food from our garden! #NoFibs<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/BtftV2MUbT<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FrontLineonCoal (@FLACCoal) October 12, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n #Pacific<\/a> #ClimateWarriors<\/a> media shed team are rockin it! @350Australia<\/a> @350Pacific<\/a> and us #LeardBlockade<\/a> crew #NoFibs<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/RJAM88jz0Q<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FrontLineonCoal (@FLACCoal) October 12, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Pacific #ClimateWarriors<\/a> learn about the ecology of the Leard Forest. #leardblockade<\/a>. #StandUpForThePacific<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/VXBBkxxXdI<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 350Australia (@350Australia) October 12, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n #ClimateWarrior<\/a> Fredrick Limai, from Solomon Islands at #LeardBlockade<\/a> to save his home from $WHC<\/a> climate crimes pic.twitter.com\/1LHspWWgfQ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FrontLineonCoal (@FLACCoal) October 13, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n #ClimateWarrior<\/a> Seia Mikaele Maiava, from Tokelau calls for the end of coal destroying his home #LeardBlockade<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/D7eb45q9b8<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FrontLineonCoal (@FLACCoal) October 13, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n #ClimateWarriors<\/a> at #LeardBlockade<\/a> not looking happy about $WHC<\/a> destruction of farms, forests, culture & climate pic.twitter.com\/9wzKAHnWEO<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FrontLineonCoal (@FLACCoal) October 13, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n #ClimateWarriors<\/a> #StandUpForThePacific<\/a> & against $WHC<\/a> Maules Creek Mine at #LeardBlockade<\/a> http:\/\/t.co\/OZ41gPbf3C<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/85pveUbuSZ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FrontLineonCoal (@FLACCoal) October 13, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Both coal projects plan to extract over 22 million tonnes of coal, producing carbon dioxide and other particulates pollution which will have direct health impacts and indirect impacts through the global warming it helps to generate.<\/p>\n While Pacific climate warriors were at the Leard Blockade, Tony Abbott was opening a new coal mine in central Queensland, the $4.2bn Caval Ridge coalmine in Moranbah, operated by BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA). He said at the opening as reported<\/a> by the Guardian<\/em>:<\/p>\n \u201cCoal is vital for the future energy needs of the world,\u201d Tony Abbott said. \u201cSo let\u2019s have no demonisation of coal. Coal is good for humanity. The trajectory should be up and up and up in the years and decades to come. The future for coal is bright and it is the responsibility for government to try to ensure that we are there making it easier for everyone wanting to have a go. It is a great day for the world because this mine will keep so many people employed \u2026 it will make so many lives better.” he said. Not a mention of the pollution coal emissions causes and the increase in greenhouse gases adding to climate change.<\/p>\n The Carbon Tracker project warns of a carbon bubble and stranded assets<\/a>, highlighting that most fossil fuel reserves need to stay in the ground.<\/p>\n The same day that Abbott was spruiking coal development to solve the world’s energy problems, the Bank of England governor Mark Carney called for climate change risk to be mainstreamed. He joins a host of other financial experts highlighting that continued fossil fuel investment poses a serious financial risk in a carbon-constrained world. Carney told an audience at the World Bank that \u201cthe vast majority of reserves are unburnable<\/a>\u201d if the world is to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.<\/p>\n Murray Drechsler, a media spokesperson for the Leard Forest Alliance said, \u201cWhilst Tony Abbott comes under international critique over his \u2018suicide strategy\u2019 to back the coal industry and bail on the UN climate summit, we are seeing the real leaders, real warriors, stepping up to protect our future. The impacts will be felt the world over, not only in the Pacific nations that are literally sinking as the oceans rise, but here in northwest NSW as a changing climate exacerbates the extremes of drought and flood.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cClimate Change is the defining challenge of our century, and here in Maules Creek a flashpoint for a global movement for safe climate, we are seeing genuine actions, alliances, and solutions being peacefully fought for.\u201d said Drechsler.<\/p>\n On Friday October 17th, the Pacific Island Climate Warriors will use the canoes they have built to paddle out into Newcastle harbour to stop coal exports for a day. They will be joined by a flotilla of other craft and solidarity action across Australia to oppose fossil fuel expansion in Australia and stand in solidarity with the Pacific Warriors<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWho else will stand up and fight for our people and our islands and culture? When will we be assured that we can continue to live without continuously fearing for the future and that of our children, grandchildren and our islands?\u201d said Mila\u00f1 Loeak, a 26-year-old Marshall Islands warrior who has travelled to Australia.<\/p>\n \u201cClimate change is not an issue that the Marshall Islands or Tokelau or any other island in the Pacific should be doing alone because this is a global problem. None of us who have felt the impacts of climate change should continue to suffer through them just to fulfill others\u2019 interests. It\u2019s wrong and it simply doesn\u2019t work that way,\u201d concluded Mila\u00f1.<\/p>\nWelcome to country<\/h3>\n
Pacific Climate Warriors Join the Leard Blockade<\/h3>\n
Towards Blockading coal at Newcastle Harbour<\/h3>\n