Reviews & Ratings for the Mount-Matterhorn

Between November 21 and November 24, 2024, Newcastle, Australia's largest coal export port located 170 kilometers north of Sydney, faced significant disruptions due to environmental demonstrations. Activists from the Rising Tide organization staged protests around bulk carriers navigating to and from the port. The vessel 'Mount Matterhorn' was compelled to receive police escort while departing Newcastle, while the 'ITG Uming 3' encountered a flotilla of approximately one hundred kayaks and small boats as it made its way into the harbor, supported by protesters who arrived via Nobby Beach. The protesters aimed to urge the Australian government to halt all new fossil fuel projects, put an end to coal exports from Newcastle by 2030, and impose a hefty tax of 78% on profits from fossil fuel exports to fund the transition to sustainable industries. Despite Australia’s commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050, the country has continued to approve fossil fuel projects, including coal and gas facilities, in flagrant contradiction to its climate goals. The protests led to the arrest of 170 individuals, including 14 miners, with many facing severe penalties. Some demonstrators were subject to possible fines of up to €13,550 or even two years in prison for 'disrupting a major installation.' Additionally, 32 people faced €2,000 fines for non-compliance with police directives. The New South Wales government has enforceable laws against actions that disrupt economic activities. Authorities sought to impose a temporary exclusion zone around the port through the Maritime Safety Act of 1998, but this action was blocked by the Supreme Court just before the protests began, on November 21. The unfolding events have raised concerns over the balance between environmental activism and economic operations in Australia’s pivotal coal industry.