Climate change knows no borders. When we burn coal in Australia, those emissions impact on a low-lying Pacific island and an Arctic glacier. When we push coal out of Newcastle and it's burned overseas, the Great Barrier Reef bleaches and dies a bit more.

Onboard Greenpeace ship, the Esperanza, during the Energy [R]evolution tour of Australia is a united nation of activists, some with much to lose if we ignore nature’s warning of climate impacts. They hail from Canada, Fiji, Belgium, US, Australia, Malta, France and the Netherlands.

Here are two of their stories.

Daniel, Fiji

Daniel was arrested on 28 July, 2008, painting climate change messages on the side of coal export ships in Hay Point, Queensland. Daniel is a Greenpeace volunteer. His family comes from Kiribati in the Pacific, where climate change impacts of king tides and flooding threaten to drown the island. Kiribati’s highest point is just four metres above sea level.

"On recent visits to Kiribati, I have seen such a difference to what Kiribati was like before. If we don’t do something right now, my country won’t be there any more. I am so proud of where I come from and I wouldn’t want that to happen.

"I urge the government, the people concerned with decision-making concerning climate change, to take this matter very seriously. I ask everyone out there to join hands for this fight that we are all here for.

"I think Greenpeace’s direct action is so important because time is running out. We need to reduce using coal as an energy source and switch to renewables as time is running out."

Watch video of a king tide lashing Kiribati (3:35 mins)

Isabelle, Belgium

Isabelle works on the Esperanza as a deckhand. It’s her fourth trip with Greenpeace and, with Daniel, she was arrested painting messages to Kevin Rudd on coal ships at Hay Point, Queensland.

"More and more we are starting to see the consequences of climate change. I think it is very important to do as much as we can to prevent that and to save what is left to save and to cherish it for the future.

"I have been involved in a few Greenpeace actions. They are powerful because we have tools and means to make a protest that others can’t do.

"I am hoping to inspire other people to take action to protect the things they cherish ... and to make them aware that you don’t have to be a Greenpeace activist to make a difference. The difference lies in your own motivation and in your own courage to change things. I want to inspire others to go back to their home, their community, and get involved with local activities that are so important to a future of sustainable living.”

Watch video of glaciers melting in Greenland (3 min)

Greenpeace has travelled Australia’s east coast to send a message: It’s time for an Energy [R]evolution! We must cut greenhouse emissions urgently. We must shift to the only possible option – low-emission renewable energy.

It’s there, we’re ready. All that’s missing is the political will to make it happen.

Start here: Sign the Energy [R]evolution petition to Kevin Rudd

Read updates as the Hay Point action unfolded

Watch the action video