Port in a storm.

.An article in last week's edition of "The Saturday Paper" by Mina Bui Jones titled as above, is of concern.

Not for what some people may think is a mindless protest. The concern is that when some people in Australia decide to gather together,to protest and blockade the port of Newcastle, apparently the world's largest coal port, action is taken by authorities ie. government, to endeavour to use a variety of ways to inhibit peaceful protest. Once again the poor old police are dragged into a fracas that many of them would probably support.

Then our esteemed authorities decide to impose a "Supreme Court rejection of our notice of assembly" then

a special marine exclusion zone affecting public waterways for three days. On top of that attendees may face arrest. All of this in a free,democratic country.

It seems our appointed leaders believe they must behave as though we are a part of the Russian (Putin) regime.

When are our appointed leaders going to accept that at least a major part of our population, is seriously concerned about climate change, and the fact that the export of coal from the Port of Newcastle accounts for 1 percent of global carbon emissions? On top of that the federal government has approved three huge new coal expansions for NSW in September. Another example of how our politicians display contempt for the issue of climate change.

The grassroots, climate defense movement - Rising Tide, deserves our applause, approbation and thanks for their bravery. Surely it is obvious that becoming a member of the movement and replacing the political parties with parliamentarians selected and voted in by their electorate, sworn to at all times act only in the interest of the nation, will remediate these issues.

www.movementforbettergovernment.com.au