XR protesters at Batemans Bay. Photo: Kat McCarthy
The global movement Extinction Rebellion (XR) says the “unprecedented global emergency” connected to climate change drew 100 people to the Batemans Bay CBD on a busy spring Saturday (October 19) morning to raise awareness of the need for action.
From midday, the group formed up on the shorefront near Innes Boat Shed and marched to the Riverside Plaza intersection, corner of North Street and Perry Street.
Security guards blocked entry to the Riverside Plaza, so the group marched around the intersection.
Some of the protesters carried a blue banner across the intersection, signifying the conservative scientific estimations of where sea level rise will reach by 2100.
Local Extinction Rebellion spokesperson Dr Geoff Berry says, “Life on Earth is in crisis. Scientists agree we have entered a period of abrupt climate breakdown, and we are in the midst of a mass extinction of our own making.”
Extinction Rebellion protests have been organised in major cities around the world attracting millions of people, Saturday’s event was the first time the group which advocates non-violent civil disobedience has staged an event in the Eurobodalla.
“When sea level rise reaches 0.74m the local community in Batemans Bay will suffer flooding, dramatic loss of land mass, displacement, storm surges, economic ruin, loss of food security, access to clean water, significant sanitation issues, increased risk of infectious diseases and compromised access to effective health care,” Dr Berry says.
Protesters at the Bay on Saturday morning. Photo: Alex Rea
Earlier on Saturday, a small but committed band of protesters waved placards on the highway outside Tradelink to protest the company’s links to the Adani Coal Mine in Queensland.
Tradelink is owned by Fletcher Building, a New Zealand company actively bidding to supply key materials to Adani. Protesters say Tradelink will face ongoing consumer boycotts.
“We chose Batemans Bay because climate action protests so far have been in Moruya, on the Council grounds. We wanted to spread the movement to include the larger commercial hub of the shire,” Dr Berry.
“Batemans Bay does seem to be more conservative and apathetic in terms of politics, so that made it seem even more important to take the protest there and see how it was received.
“Extinction Rebellion aims to build pressure on all levels of government to take action on climate-related issues, especially removing subsidies for fossil fuel industries and making them available to the renewable energy sector.
Anti Adani protester outside Tradelink in Batemans Bay. Photo: Alex Rea
“Therefore it makes sense that we try and shift as many people as possible out of the ‘middle-ground’ space, where they are aware that there is a problem with the way we treat our natural environment and a need to change immediately in line with credible climate science, into acting on that in any way possible.
“We were pleased with the general reaction and felt vindicated in our decision not to block traffic, as Extinction Rebellion have been doing in capital cities around the world.
“We received many honks, cheers, waves and calls of support, as well as a few errant middle fingers from drivers.
“These few individuals have a right to believe what they wish, but we know we are on the right side of history and scientific fact.”
No future XR Eurobodalla events are planned at this stage, but the group intend on joining forces with 350 Eurobodalla, the Nature Coast Marine Group, Plastic Free Eurobodalla.
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