Australia: Protesting APEC and George Bush in Sydney

To draw attention to the lack of climate targets being talked about and implemented by the APEC climate criminals: George Bush and John Howard, climate activists have used direct action in disrupting the coal industry through targeting Loy Yang Coal Power plant, one of the most greenhouse gas polluting coal power plants in the world; as well as two actions in Newcastle, the world's largest coal export port.

There is an intense security lockdown in Sydney with extraordinary police powers being granted to marginalise and suppress protest of APEC, the war in Iraq and the presence of George Bush and other heads of state.

The NSW Supreme Court granted Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione's application for an order to prevent Saturday's antiwar march moving from Town Hall down George Street, but qualified the decision with statements on people's right to free speech. Some reporters continue the media and police beat-up of 'violent protestors'.

The Stop the War Coalition are considering march options. Outside Court Alex Bainbridge said "our rally and demonstration will be going ahead. As we have always said we intend for this to be a peaceful protest. We have never ruled out non-violent civil disobedience." It is also likely that several banned protesters will defy police at Saturday's march regarding being placed on an exclusion list without judicial reason.

Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) such as Greenpeace, Caritas, Christian World Service, Climate Action Network Australia, GetUp!,Tear Australia, Union Aid Abroad have established an NGO media centre. On September 4 the Australian PM John Howard was invited to discuss climate change, aid and trade at NGO Media Centre. See their Video reports of Day 2 and Day 3. Other thoughtful analysis/opinion stories have included: Carnival of Capitalism - Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation Summit, and APEC, Sydney and the Australian Corporate Dystopia.

APEC & West Papua should be a prominent issue for discussion of APEC leaders, but is entirely absent.

While the NGO invited Howard to discuss issures, Graeme Dunstan organiser of the Friday evening Ghost Dance event invited George Bush. It is extremely doubtful that either will take up these invitations to 'meet the people'.

Other events include on Friday: Sydney Peoples Alternative Rally & Festival, Bums for Bush - World Record Moon Attempt, and the Sydney APEC Ghost Dance. The Big Stop Bush march organised by the Stop the War Coalition, is scheduled for Saturday.

A walkout of schools on Wednesday attracted a few hundred schoolkids to a peaceful protest through the streets of Sydney despite warnings of mayhem and strict policing of truancy rules.

The media and police have continued to beat up the prospect of violence based upon a smear campaign of the Mutiny collective (Mutiny in their own words) and the Flare in the Void convergence in an effort to divide and subdue dissent and protest. Melbourne Alliance for Civil Disobedience Co-ordination (ACDC) has appealed for unity and solidarity.

As APEC was starting on Sunday and Monday climate activists staged dramatic direct actions: Greenpeace targeted a coal carrier in Newcastle, the world's largest coal port; activists from Real Action on Climate Change succeeded in shutting down the Loy Lang Power station in Victoria for 5 hours (Video); and on Tuesday activists disrupted a coal terminal in Newcastle. All these actions highlight the Australian Government addiction to the coal lobby which is behind its spoiler role in international negotiations on climate change.

Photos: Apec Fence, Snipers at APEC, Apec Fence: war on our lives