Top Posts
African climate change projects secure major funding
Former French PM urges China, Europe to unite...
NDDC, FOSDO launch tree-planting campaign to address climate...
WHO unveils an ambitious blueprint for action on...
New report shows nearly 900 million poor people...
Lagos to Host 2025 International Climate Change Summit
New study shows overheating world will add 57...
NAICOM urges W’African insurers to invest in climate...
Climate change: Nigeria, development partners launch Net Zero...
Nigeria launches net zero project to fight climate...
EcoNai Newsroom
  • Newsround
  • Nigeria
  • Africa
  • World
World

Australian climate activist jailed for obstructing traffic on Sydney Harbour Bridge

by Matthew Eloyi December 4, 2022
written by Matthew Eloyi December 4, 2022
605

An Australian climate activist, Deanna “Violet” Coco has been handed a 15-month jail term for obstructing one lane of traffic on the Sydney Harbour Bridge in April as part of a demonstration to raise awareness of the emergency caused by climate change.

Clément Voule, the UN’s special rapporteur on freedom of association and peaceful assembly, expressed worry about the prison sentence against Coco by an NSW court and the rejection to grant her bail until an appeal hearing till March 2023.

In an online post, Voule said “I am alarmed at an NSW court’s prison term against climate protestor Deanna Coco and refusal to grant bail until a March 2023 appeal hearing,”. “Peaceful protesters should never be criminalised or imprisoned,”.

Read also: UNICEF says floods killed 600 Nigerians, displaced 1.3 million

Recall that on April 13, Coco and two other members of the environmental advocacy group Fireproof Australia stopped two automobiles on the Sydney Harbour Bridge’s southbound Cahill Expressway. They carried signs, fired flares, and broadcast their demonstration live online, demanding immediate climate action.

During the morning rush hour, the protesters obstructed one of the bridge’s five city-bound lanes for around 25 minutes before being dispersed by law enforcement.

As of Friday, Coco was sentenced to 15 months in prison with an eight-month non-parole period after entering a guilty plea to seven counts before Magistrate Allison Hawkins in Sydney’s Downing Centre local court.

She will appeal her sentence. But she was denied bail on Friday, meaning that she will remain in detention while her appeals are underway. Her whole appeal will be heard on March 2, 2023, after a district court hearing on a bail application on December 13.

Story was adapted from The Guardian.

ActivistBlockJailTraffic
0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
admineconai

previous post
UNICEF says floods killed 600 Nigerians, displaced 1.3 million
next post
Obi pledges to tap into international climate finance if elected president

Related Posts

Former French PM urges China, Europe to unite...

October 22, 2025

WHO unveils an ambitious blueprint for action on...

October 20, 2025

New report shows nearly 900 million poor people...

October 20, 2025

New study shows overheating world will add 57...

October 16, 2025

Heaviest monsoon in a decade kills 458 people...

October 9, 2025

Council releases first fully electric bin lorry

October 9, 2025

Study shows US asthma inhalers produce same emissions...

October 7, 2025

Pope Leo hits out at climate change critics

October 3, 2025

Protesters seek $5tr payment from fossil fuel companies

October 1, 2025

UN official says climate change displaces up to...

September 30, 2025

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Bloglovin
  • Vimeo

@2021 - All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Eco-Nai+

EcoNai Newsroom
  • Newsround
  • Nigeria
  • Africa
  • World