australia

Sydney Harbour Bridge was barely visible through the smoke and amber coloured sky. Men covered in protective clothing sprayed water at the blazing bush. A row of four ducks swiftly waddled their way out of danger.

That was the first time I had seen my new home, Sydney, for over two months. I couldn’t smell or feel the burning heat from the fires but I witnessed the fires and their destructive paths on the TV, the TV inside my Russian prison cell.

For a long time organisations like Greenpeace, backed by people like you, have been calling for stronger protection of our oceans.

Last week showed our voices were heard. The Australian environment minister Tony Burke announced what is a genuinely significant step forward for ocean protection, not only for Australia, but in global terms. 

One of Asia Pulp and Paper's Australian companies has been caught in an embarrassing PR incident, in which clumsy personal attacks on Greenpeace campaigners and others have been traced back to its staff.

Last week saw some high-flying direct action from our Australia Pacific colleagues. Coal export facilities in Queensland were occupied for days by climbers hanging like fruit bats from the rigging, and our ship the Esperanza was on hand to help enforce the blockade.

Meanwhile, politicians from Pacific nations were in Cairns to debate strategies for tackling climate change - but the outcome of their meeting was anything but positive.