11 Dec 2019 | 01:51 AM UTC
Australia: Environmental activists schedule protest in Sydney December 11
Environmental activists call for a protest in Sydney on December 11; heightened security presence and localized transportation disruptions expected
Event
Several environmental groups plan to protest in Sydney on Wednesday, December 11, to raise awareness for climate change as destructive bushfires have raged across eastern Australia since early November. Participants are due to gather from 17:30 (local time) at Sydney Town Hall. Approximately 9300 people have indicated on a Facebook event page that they intend to attend the demonstration.
A heightened security presence and localized transportation disruptions are expected near the protest site.
Context
Wildfires are an annual event in Australia between December and February; however, authorities have been on high alert since September 2015 over unseasonably warm temperatures, prompting scientists to speculate that climate change could be extending and increasing the intensity of the fire season. At least four people have died due to the wildfires that broke out across eastern Australia since early November 2019.
Advice
Individuals in Sydney are advised to monitor the situation, avoid all protests as a precaution, anticipate transportation disruptions, and adhere to any instructions issued by the local authorities.
