More than 100 people were arrested during a protest at the Port of Newcastle in Australia. The protesters were upset about the lack of action on climate change and the country’s dependence on coal. They blocked the port’s shipping lane by swimming or using kayaks. They believe their actions stopped over half a million tonnes of coal from being exported. Australia is the second largest coal exporter in the world and relies on coal for its energy.
The Port of Newcastle is the most important terminal for coal shipments in Australia. Around 3,000 people from all over the country took part in the 30-hour protest, which the police had approved. However, after the protest was supposed to end, some protesters stayed in the water. This led to 109 arrests, including five minors who were later released. On Monday, 104 people were charged for not leaving the harbour channel.
The protest was organized by a group called Rising Tide. They said it was the “biggest act of civil disobedience for climate in Australia’s history.” The protest happened right before the global climate change summit. Rising Tide wants the government to tax thermal coal exports and stop new fossil fuel projects. Australia has been criticized for not doing enough about climate change, but the Prime Minister has promised to work with other countries to reduce emissions. However, the government has also approved new coal mines and has more projects waiting for approval.
One of the protesters, a 17-year-old named Anjali Beams, said she was willing to get arrested because young people’s concerns about climate change are being ignored. She doesn’t want her future to be sacrificed for the profit of the fossil fuel industry.
In summary, more than 100 people were arrested during a protest at the Port of Newcastle in Australia. They were upset about the lack of action on climate change and the country’s reliance on coal. The protest happened right before the global climate change summit. The protesters want the government to tax thermal coal exports and stop new fossil fuel projects. The government has set a goal to reduce emissions, but has also approved new coal mines. Young people are taking a stand against the fossil fuel industry because they feel their voices are being ignored.
Original news source: Climate protest: More than 100 arrested at world’s largest coal port (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a copy of the article. Instruct them to read the article together and then write a concise summary of the main points. After a few minutes, have each group share their summary with the class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of questions related to the article, such as “Do you agree with the protesters’ actions? Why or why not?” or “Should the government tax thermal coal exports?” Have the students individually answer the questions and then pair up to discuss their answers. After the discussion, conduct a class poll by asking students to raise their hands or using a polling app to see how many students agree or disagree with each statement.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Choose 10 vocabulary words from the article, such as “protest,” “disobedience,” or “emissions.” Write each word on a separate piece of paper or index card. Divide the class into teams. One student from each team will come to the front of the class and pick a word without showing it to their team. They must then draw a picture to represent the word while their team tries to guess what it is. The first team to correctly guess the word gets a point.
– Sketch It
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article and a blank piece of paper. Instruct one student in each pair to describe a scene or event from the article while the other student sketches it based on their description. After a few minutes, have the pairs switch roles. Allow time for students to share and compare their sketches with the class.
– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Pose a question related to the article, such as “What are some potential solutions to reducing dependence on coal?” or “How can young people effectively advocate for action on climate change?” Have the students individually think about their answer to the question. Then, have them pair up with a partner and discuss their answers. After the discussion, bring the class back together and ask a few pairs to share their ideas with the whole class.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What were the protesters upset about during the protest at the Port of Newcastle?
2. How did the protesters block the port’s shipping lane?
3. Why do the protesters believe their actions stopped coal from being exported?
4. Why is the Port of Newcastle important for coal shipments in Australia?
5. How many people participated in the 30-hour protest?
6. Why were some protesters arrested after the protest was supposed to end?
7. What group organized the protest and what did they call it?
8. Why did one of the protesters, Anjali Beams, say she was willing to get arrested?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
More than 100 people were arrested during a protest at the Port of Newcastle in Australia. The protesters were upset about the lack of action on climate change and the country’s dependence on coal. They blocked the port’s shipping lane by swimming or using (1)______. They believe their actions (2)______ over half a million tonnes of coal from being exported. Australia is the second (3)______ coal exporter in the world and relies on coal for its energy.
The Port of Newcastle is the most important terminal for coal (4)______ in Australia. Around 3,000 people from all over the country took part in the 30-hour protest, which the police had approved. However, after the protest was supposed to end, some protesters stayed in the water. This led to 109 arrests, including five minors who were later released. On Monday, 104 people were charged for not leaving the harbour channel.
The protest was organized by a (5)______ called Rising Tide. They said it was the “biggest act of civil disobedience for (6)______ in Australia’s (7)______.” The protest (8)______ right before the global climate change summit. Rising Tide wants the government to tax thermal coal exports and stop new fossil fuel projects. Australia has been criticized for not (9)______ enough about climate change, but the (10)______ Minister has promised to work with other countries to reduce emissions. However, the government has also approved new coal mines and has more projects waiting for approval.
One of the protesters, a 17-year-old named Anjali Beams, said she was (11)______ to get arrested because young people’s concerns about climate change are being ignored. She doesn’t want her future to be (12)______ for the profit of the fossil fuel industry.
In summary, more than 100 (13)______ were arrested during a (14)______ at the Port of Newcastle in (15)______. They were upset about the lack of action on climate change and the country’s reliance on coal. The protest happened right before the global climate change (16)______. The protesters want the government to tax thermal coal exports and stop new fossil fuel projects. The government has set a goal to reduce emissions, but has also approved new coal mines. Young people are taking a stand against the fossil fuel industry because they feel their voices are being ignored.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is a protest?
2. How would you feel if your concerns about climate change were ignored?
3. Do you think it is important for young people to take a stand on important issues? Why or why not?
4. Why do you think the protesters want the government to tax thermal coal exports?
5. How do you think the protesters feel about the government approving new coal mines?
6. What is civil disobedience? Give an example.
7. Do you think the government should prioritize reducing emissions over the profit of the fossil fuel industry? Why or why not?
8. How do you think the fossil fuel industry impacts the environment?
9. Have you ever participated in a protest or demonstration? If so, what was it about?
10. Do you think the government should listen to the concerns of young people? Why or why not?
11. How do you think the protesters felt when they were arrested?
12. What do you think is the role of young people in addressing climate change?
13. How would you feel if your future was being sacrificed for the profit of an industry?
14. Do you think the government should prioritize renewable energy sources over coal? Why or why not?
15. How do you think the global climate change summit can help address the concerns of the protesters?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. protest
2. climate change
3. coal
4. arrested
5. fossil fuel
6. emissions
7. government
8. future
Meanings:
(a) The time that is yet to come, especially one’s own life ahead
(b) The group of people who make decisions and laws for a country
(c) A type of fuel formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals
(d) A black or brown rock that is burned for heat and energy
(e) Taken into custody by the police for breaking the law
(f) The release of harmful gases into the atmosphere
(g) A public demonstration to show disagreement or disapproval
(h) The long-term change in weather patterns caused by human activity
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Why were the protesters upset during the protest at the Port of Newcastle?
(a) Lack of action on climate change and the country’s dependence on coal
(b) Lack of police approval for the protest
(c) Lack of participation from other countries
(d) Lack of support from the government
2. How did the protesters block the port’s shipping lane?
(a) By building a wall
(b) By protesting on the dock
(c) By swimming or using kayaks
(d) By flying drones
3. What do the protesters believe their actions achieved?
(a) Increased coal exports
(b) Reduced the country’s dependence on coal
(c) Improved the government’s response to climate change
(d) Stopped over half a million tonnes of coal from being exported
4. What is the Port of Newcastle known for?
(a) Being the largest port in Australia
(b) Being the most important terminal for coal shipments in Australia
(c) Being a major tourist attraction
(d) Being a hub for renewable energy projects
5. How many people participated in the 30-hour protest?
(a) Around 100 people
(b) Around 10,000 people
(c) Around 30 people
(d) Around 3,000 people
6. Why were 109 people arrested after the protest was supposed to end?
(a) They refused to leave the harbour channel
(b) They vandalized property
(c) They stayed in the water
(d) They disrupted traffic
7. Who organized the protest at the Port of Newcastle?
(a) The government
(b) Rising Tide
(c) The police
(d) The fossil fuel industry
8. Why did Anjali Beams, a 17-year-old protester, say she was willing to get arrested?
(a) Young people’s concerns about climate change are being ignored
(b) She wanted to support the fossil fuel industry
(c) She wanted to become famous
(d) She wanted to protest against the police
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. Young people are taking a stand against the fossil fuel industry because they feel their voices are being ignored.
2. The protesters believe their actions stopped over half a million tonnes of coal from being exported.
3. The protest was organized by a group called Rising Tide, who called it the “smallest act of civil disobedience for climate in Australia’s history.”
4. The Port of Newcastle is the most important terminal for coal shipments in Australia.
5. Over 100 people were released during a protest at the Port of Newcastle in Australia.
6. They unblocked the port’s shipping lane by swimming or using kayaks.
7. Australia is the second largest coal exporter in the world and relies on coal for its energy.
8. The protesters were content about the abundance of action on climate change and the country’s independence from coal.
Go to answers ⇩
Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Writing Questions:
Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
1. Why were the protesters upset during the protest at the Port of Newcastle?
2. How did the protesters block the port’s shipping lane?
3. What did the protesters believe their actions accomplished?
4. What is the Port of Newcastle’s significance in Australia?
5. What are some of the demands of the protesters from the group Rising Tide?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. What were the protesters upset about during the protest at the Port of Newcastle?
The protesters were upset about the lack of action on climate change and the country’s dependence on coal.
2. How did the protesters block the port’s shipping lane?
The protesters blocked the port’s shipping lane by swimming or using kayaks.
3. Why do the protesters believe their actions stopped coal from being exported?
The protesters believe their actions stopped coal from being exported because they blocked the shipping lane, preventing the coal from being loaded onto ships.
4. Why is the Port of Newcastle important for coal shipments in Australia?
The Port of Newcastle is important for coal shipments in Australia because it is the most important terminal for coal shipments in the country.
5. How many people participated in the 30-hour protest?
Around 3,000 people from all over the country participated in the 30-hour protest.
6. Why were some protesters arrested after the protest was supposed to end?
Some protesters were arrested after the protest was supposed to end because they stayed in the water, refusing to leave the harbour channel.
7. What group organized the protest and what did they call it?
The protest was organized by a group called Rising Tide. They called it the “biggest act of civil disobedience for climate in Australia’s history.”
8. Why did one of the protesters, Anjali Beams, say she was willing to get arrested?
One of the protesters, Anjali Beams, said she was willing to get arrested because young people’s concerns about climate change are being ignored and she doesn’t want her future to be sacrificed for the profit of the fossil fuel industry.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) kayaks
(2) stopped
(3) largest
(4) shipments
(5) group
(6) climate
(7) history
(8) happened
(9) doing
(10) Prime
(11) willing
(12) sacrificed
(13) people
(14) protest
(15) Australia
(16) summit
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. protest
Answer: (g) A public demonstration to show disagreement or disapproval
2. climate change
Answer: (h) The long-term change in weather patterns caused by human activity
3. coal
Answer: (d) A black or brown rock that is burned for heat and energy
4. arrested
Answer: (e) Taken into custody by the police for breaking the law
5. fossil fuel
Answer: (c) A type of fuel formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals
6. emissions
Answer: (f) The release of harmful gases into the atmosphere
7. government
Answer: (b) The group of people who make decisions and laws for a country
8. future
Answer: (a) The time that is yet to come, especially one’s own life ahead
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. Why were the protesters upset during the protest at the Port of Newcastle?
Answer: (a) Lack of action on climate change and the country’s dependence on coal
2. How did the protesters block the port’s shipping lane?
Answer: (c) By swimming or using kayaks
3. What do the protesters believe their actions achieved?
Answer: (d) Stopped over half a million tonnes of coal from being exported
4. What is the Port of Newcastle known for?
Answer: (b) Being the most important terminal for coal shipments in Australia
5. How many people participated in the 30-hour protest?
Answer: (d) Around 3,000 people
6. Why were 109 people arrested after the protest was supposed to end?
Answer: (c) They stayed in the water
7. Who organized the protest at the Port of Newcastle?
Answer: (b) Rising Tide
8. Why did Anjali Beams, a 17-year-old protester, say she was willing to get arrested?
Answer: (a) Young people’s concerns about climate change are being ignored
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. Young people are taking a stand against the fossil fuel industry because they feel their voices are being ignored. (Answer: True)
2. The protesters believe their actions stopped over half a million tonnes of coal from being exported. (Answer: True)
3. The protest was organized by a group called Rising Tide, who called it the “smallest act of civil disobedience for climate in Australia’s history.” (Answer: False)
4. The Port of Newcastle is the most important terminal for coal shipments in Australia. (Answer: True)
5. Over 100 people were released during a protest at the Port of Newcastle in Australia. (Answer: False)
6. They unblocked the port’s shipping lane by swimming or using kayaks. (Answer: False)
7. Australia is the second largest coal exporter in the world and relies on coal for its energy. (Answer: True)
8. The protesters were content about the abundance of action on climate change and the country’s independence from coal. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧
