Yeah...lets ban the coal and let the greenies freeze in the dark!

AlGore and the IPCC have a lot to answer for in terms of misdirecting the energy of many well intentioned people. Yes the ocean will almost certainly rise another 0.9 metres in the next 100 years (Copenhagen, 2009). This will come close to topping off the rise of 108 metres that has already occurred since the start of this warming cycle. In the mean time activists avoid the real and up close issues of our lives in Newcastle; the alcoholic haze that sits over the city.

Something for people of goodwill to put their energies to. The item below is an illustration of how degraded our society has become; "Victim says gangs are bashing at will". This really is daily life in Newcastle. Politicians encourage the idea of man-made Global Warming because it takes the heat off them and costs nothing. Their neglect of our local environment, policing and law enforcement, goes unchallenged by those activists whose attention has been diverted and real people suffer.

Last Year they came in swarms, in clapped out pollution spewing cars and vans, ranting, singing,thumping their chest singing we are saving the world. then they go home in the CARS, walk inside and turn the LIGHTS, AIRCON, HEATERS, TV on to watch their PROTEST. UNTIL they come up with an alternative usable power to replace coal they can shovel the protests and send it O/Seas to be burnt with the coal. The coal maybe the only thing to save AUSTRALIA from the world financial fiasco, they dont care though, they want to "SAVE" the world ... HA

Once again, a bunch of concerned citizens who apparently have the time to walk around destroying a countries economy further by stopping production (as such). Is it possible that these people could try and actually promote and maybe volunteer their valuable FREE time to a constructive solution? The studies into the solutions obviously have budgetary constraints. If they could volunteer to support that cause, it may negate the need to stop others from doing what they have to do to survive.

i bet the people in riseing tide use coal powered electricity and drive cars they should practice what they preach live without power no car or train or bus no tap water and go back to stone age conditions

The protesters should consider the greenhouse effects of operating buses empty (1.4 passengers per Km travelled inbuses using about 1/2 of fuel for every Km travelled) and 500 tonne trains with few people. Buses and trains also cost the community huge $$$$ but coal gives us income.

"People are angry that State and Federal governments are overseeing a massive expansion of coal exports at a time when the industry needs desperately to be phased out." Wow want a powerfull staement, okay Rising Tide, what is the alternative, Nuclear, no we don't want that in our country, (15 Years away), what about wind turbines, no it spoiling the view. Solar, no my power bill is now 3 times as much, bleet bleet bleet. Everyone understands the need to reduce emissions, but we must have a alternative, to make outlandish statemants like the one above is wrong. Why don't you protest at the relevant parliment houses to force the people in government to focus on other things then individual self preservation. The coal industry generates a lot of money in Qld and NSW, so we also need to replace the lost revenue from the support industries. Rising Tide what is your plan. You all turn up in cars, carrying plastic canoes, do you know how much oil it takes to make a poly canoe? about 200 lt The cars you drive al have tyres, how much oil does it take to make a car tyre? 50 lt per tyre A mix of clapped out panel vans and pre 70/80's cars adorn the car park, all in need of a emmission reduction program, what do you do about that? Come on Rising tide we all need to work together, in Australia we need power and water, we are short of both. We need to build alternative power stations (clean coal and nuclear) we need dams and desal water plants, we need to become a primary producter again, but guess what we can't build a nuclear power plants and no one wants a dam. Whats the proposal Rising Tide? We are not progressive enough, and we do not have enough people in this country to make a difference, what you are looking for with current attitudes is about 20 years away. In the current econmic climate not many nations will reduce the buring of coal as if they do it will lead to masive job losses. Oh that will be okay we can all paddle around the harbour in our plastic canoes. Holding up honest people form making an honest living, tieing up police resources making sure you are safe in your little arrany of plastic canoes.

These people make me sick. The coal industry puts more money into Australia. Do they live without electric lights.??????

I think it is disgusting that these poor people have had their protest thwarted by the action of the Port Authority! How are they supposed to block shipping when there is no shipping! Perhaps they could get Greenpeace to bring its old diesel ship back to Newcastle so they can block it - it is a substantial producer of greenhouse gases. I must say I saw more police than protestors - no doubt an effective use of police time.