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The blockade kicked off on Tuesday, 4 August at the Abbot Point coal export terminal in north Queensland. At dawn the following day, 10 activists occupied a coal loader further south at one of the world's largest coal export terminals – Hay Point.
On the Thursday, Greenpeace's ship, the Esperanza, steamed into Hay Point to join the three-day blockade of the coal terminal.
As these events unfolded, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was meeting with Pacific leaders in Cairns for the Pacific Islands Forum. We were calling on Rudd to support calls from Pacific island nations to drastically cut emissions.
Catch a summary of the action in the wrap video below or see how it unfolded each day.
Wrap video of our three-day blockade
| Midday: Several Greenpeace activists in inflatables arrive at Abbot Point coal terminal, near Bowen, north Queensland. 1.30 PM: Three activists successfully lock on to a jetty that's part of the expanded coal facility. They unfurl a banner saying, "Coal or climate, Kevin?". 6.00PM: The three activists at Abbot Point are taken down by police. 7.00PM: Meanwhile, at the Pacific Islands Forum, Small Island States produce a joint communiqué that calls on developed countries to cut CO2 emissions by 45% by 2020.It's a great milestone, and ensures pressure will be on both the larger Pacific countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand, to do something significant at the forum. » VIDEO: Watch the activists scale and lock on at Abbot Point » PHOTOS: Some beautiful shots from the day's activities » BLOG: Climate Action On Two Fronts |
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| 12.00AM: Two Greenpeace "activists" take over the homepages for The Australian and The Courier Mail, as part of our online campaign. The digital activists spray-paint the message "Toodle-oo Tuvalu? Your call Kev" on the websites.
6.30AM: Ten Greenpeace activists scale a 50-metre high coal loader at Hay Point coal export terminal in Mackay, Queensland. They lock onto the structure to stop its operation. 9.50AM: Two activists are cut off the coal loader, leaving eight still locked on. 11.00PM: A further four activists are removed. The remaining four are safely suspended from cables on the loader. 7.00PM: The four activists remain hanging like fruit bats from the coal loader. They prepare to bunker up for the night. » VIDEO: Footage of the coal blockade at Hay Point » PHOTOS: Activists on top of the coal loader at dawn [Facebook] » BLOG: An activist's view from on top of the coal loader |
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| Dawn: The four activists remain locked on to the coal loader and are greeted by a bright morning. "What an incredible way to wake up. Moon setting and sunrising," says one of them.
9.00AM: The Pacific Islands Forum resumes for its final day. Much anticipation around what emissions targets will be agreed to. 2.30AM: With the Forum concluding very soon, Greenpeace's ship, the Esperanza, steams towards the Hay Point coal loader where the four activists continue their blockade. The blockade has now lasted over 30 hours. 3.30PM: The Esperanza reaches the coal loader to join the bloackade. An activist on the loader unfurls a banner saying "Coal or climate, Kevin?" 5.00PM: We get news in of the final targets agreed to – 50% by 2050, rather than the 45% by 2020 that many Pacific island states were hoping for. Disappointment with Rudd and the Forum outcome. 7.00PM: The four activists make their way down from the coal loader. » VIDEO: Esperanza joins protesters at coal blockade » PHOTOS: Early morning shots of the coal blockade [Facebook] » BLOG: Interview with one of the four activists » BLOG: A Pacific view of the PIF outcome |
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| Dawn: All activists are back on solid ground, and no doubt tucked away getting a decent sleep in a real bed.
9.00AM: Greenpeace's ship, the Esperanza, sets on its journey north to Cairns, where it was holding a public open day that weekend. » BLOG: A Pacific analysis of the PIF outcome |
