Dozens of protesters, including a 97-year-old man, were arrested this Sunday in Australia for blocking ship access to the country’s largest coal export port, during a protest against the use of fossil energy to stop the climate crisis.
Rising Tide Australia, organizer of the protest that since Saturday has blocked the traffic of coal cargo ships in the port of Newcastleindicated in his X account that at least 59 people have been arrested so far.
Since Saturday, groups of between 50 and 60 protesters have been taking turns getting on canoes, boats and inflatable boats and preventing ships from leaving the port, the largest in the country for exporting coal.
Among the protesters who went out to sea was Alan Stuarta 97-year-old religious pastor who declared he did it for his grandchildren and future generations after being pulled out of his boat with great difficulty by the police, who then escorted him to the place where they installed his device.
“I am very sorry that (future generations) suffer the consequences of our lack of action. I believe it is my duty to do what I can and defend what I know is right,” Stuart, who, after being accused by the Police would become the oldest person charged with a crime in Australia.