NSW: Climate activists arrested after Opera House protest

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-2009
NSW: Climate activists arrested after Opera House protest

SYDNEY, Dec 15 AAP - Five Greenpeace activists who unfurled a climate protest banner
from the Sydney Opera House have been arrested, police say.

The two men and three women were taken to The Rocks police station where they are assisting
police with their inquiries.

Another person was also given a move-along direction, police said.

Police were called to the Opera House about 8.15am (AEDT) on Tuesday, following reports
five people were attempting to climb a sail of the building.

Greenpeace spokesman James Lorenz said the activists did not resist arrest.

At about 9.20am (AEDT) on Tuesday, the activists unfurled the 100-square-metre protest
banner from the top of the eastern sail of the Opera House.

The banner, which has since been removed, read "Stop The Politics, Climate Treaty Now",
calling for world leaders to deliver a legally binding climate treaty at the climate summit
in Copenhagen.

Greenpeace CEO Linda Selvey said the activists were highly trained and had practised
the stunt beforehand.

She said getting the protest message across was worth risking arrest.

"The most important thing, from our perspective, is that we get the message across,
rather than the fact that some activists get arrested because it's such a critical time
in the process at Copenhagen," she said.

"Basically, (Prime Minister) Kevin Rudd and other world leaders seem to be focusing
more on politics than they are on getting the outcome which is what we need for the planet.

"The fossil fuel industry is very cashed up and has been spending a lot of money to
get the ear of politicians.

"We feel it's very important to use whatever tactics we can to get our message across
on behalf of Australians."

AAP bm/hn/dep

KEYWORD: SUMMIT ACTIVISTS UPDATE

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