This week has seen Greenpeace ramp up protests against Australia’s expanding coal industry, with activists from the organisation staging a protest in the Queensland town of Mackay. Greenpeace’s largest ship, “The Esperanza”, joined a three-day blockade of export coal. The vessel was steamed into the Hay Point Coal Terminal, blocking the berth of one of the world’s largest coal export ports. The action was a show of solidarity to the people of the Pacific Islands, coinciding with the Pacific Island Forum.