'We're Worried The Planet Is Dying': Thousands Of Climate Protesters Bring CBD To Standstill

The Age - Zach Hope | Michael Fowler | Hunter Thompson

Part of the protesting crowd in Melbourne's CBD. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui 

Thousands of climate activists took over the streets of Melbourne and staged a "die-in" in the middle of Bourke Street on Friday in a bid to pressure the federal government to take stronger action on the environment.
Chants of "stand up, fight back" were heard as a mass of people organised by Extinction Rebellion – the same global network which protested for more than a week in London, leading to 1065 arrests – rallied in the heart of Melbourne.
Organisers were expecting up to 5000 demonstrators to take part in the rally, which caused major disruptions to commuters across the city from about 12pm.
The protesters marched from Parliament House to the intersection of Bourke and Swanston streets, where they laid down as if "dead" to represent extinction. The mass of protesters on their backs – and on wet bitumen – stretched about 100 metres towards Russell Street.
After about five minutes of silence, a gong brought on a round of applause and signalled the protest's resurrection. The crowd, again in full voice, moved to Carlton Gardens.
Father Bob Macquire earlier delivered a speech, followed by activists from the organising group that said it was “acting independently in solidarity with the "global event” by Extinction Rebellion.

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Climate Emergency rally brings city to a standstill
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Member of the group, Alex R, who did not want his last name identified, said he was “very pleased” with the turnout in spite of the earlier wet weather.Sisters Elizabeth, 10, and Florence, 8, painted signs and joined the protest "because we're worried the planet is dying".
Zoe, Jai, Ebony and Charlotte said they skipped school to attend the protest.
“What’s the point going to school on a Friday if we’re going to have nothing left in a few years? Giving up one day to make a difference is not much,” Ebony said.
Jai said he believed a protest such as this was the only way to deliver politicians a message on climate change.
“If they’re not going to listen, at least this gets the message across.”

Police at the scene. Credit: Luis Ascui

Artist and writer Abbie Harman, 43, said she had been left devastated by the federal election results and was driven to march to protect her children's future.
"I have two children under 10 and I just see an environment that isn’t suitable for them to grow up in," she said.
The Fitzroy North resident said Australians needed "decency in politics" and it was important that people marched to express how they felt. “It’s important. But we need much more people, support and action.”
Victoria Police Commander Tim Hansen told 3AW's Neil Mitchell that the force's main worry in Melbourne was about "fringe groups" which may try to attach themselves to the protest.
He said police had planned for a rise in political activism in the wake of the federal Coalition's election victory.
In a statement, police warned it would take action against anyone breaking the law.
"Victoria Police is well equipped and prepared to deploy resources, respond and intervene when needed," it said.
The protesters want the federal government to declare a climate and ecological emergency, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
"The climate emergency is not a political issue, it is a scientific fact," organisers said in a statement.
A group under the Facebook banner 'No Mandate 4 Refugee Racism: Bring Them Here, Free Priya & Nades' will stage another, unrelated protest from 5.30pm at the State Library.

Some protesters wore make-up or masks. Credit: Luis Ascui

The protests come about six weeks after vegan activists caused afternoon peak-hour chaos in Melbourne with a sit-in at the corner of Flinders and Swanston streets.
The activists, who did not alert police in advance, chained themselves to three Thrifty rental vans in the middle of the intersection, causing traffic chaos and affecting 11 tram lines. It also forced ambulances to take different routes to five major hospitals.
Police arrested 39 people at the vegan protest.

Links

• Thousands of students skip school for climate change protests
• Climate change protesters flood Melbourne's CBD, block traffic in call to action
• Mass climate 'die in' brings Melbourne CBD to a halt
• Climate change activists to stage protest at the Queensland Museum
• 'There is no Planet B': Tens of thousands of students ditch school for climate change rallies
• What's next for Adani, the coal project that helped to return Morrison to power?
• Adani could have Carmichael mine approved in three weeks
• Extinction Rebellion protests continue in London, police call for reinforcements as Heathrow braces for disruption
• More than 200 activists arrested in London climate change protests