Knitting Nannas Needling Cowper MP Over Coal And Renewables

KNAG via Facebook

Knitting Nannas Against Gas (KNAG) is quite possibly the most likeable pro-renewables and anti-fossil fuels activist group  in Australia.

KNAG carries out peaceful protests against environmental vandalism associated with fossil fuels and in support of renewable energy. .

“The idea of the Knitting Nannas is that of the iron fist in the soft fluffy yellow glove – there aren’t many scarier things than a forthright woman in her prime.”

You can check out the Nannafesto here.

Often light-hearted and always polite, but with a very serious message, one of their activities are knit-ins. The Nannas sit and knit outside the offices of politicians to draw attention from passers-by to that politician’s failings on environmental and clean energy issues.

While not affiliated with any political party and “annoying all politicians equally”, Hastings Macleay Knitting Nannas have been giving some special attention to Luke Hartsuyker MP lately. Mr. Hartsukyer is Federal Member for Cowper, which incorporates Port Macquarie.

Hastings Macleay KNAG met with Mr. Hartsukyer last week and were not impressed with what he had to say.

“Our local member did not commit to renewables.  He did however, commit to fossil fuels until 2050 and does not believe renewables will be reliable enough until mid this century,” said the group in a letter published on Port Macquarie News.

The Nannas state Mr. Hartsuyker is not opposed to “funding dirty coal such as for Adani”. He doesn’t support the establishing of a government-assisted renewable energy hub in the Cowper electorate.

To highlight the error of Mr. Hartsuyker’s ways, the Hastings Macleay Knitting Nannas will sit and knit outside his office at 146 Gordon Street, Port Macquarie every second Tuesday, from 2-3pm.  The next knitting session will be tomorrow afternoon (March 13).

Hastings Macleay KNAG say they will continue the action until such time the Australian government stops funding fossil fuels – so they could be turning up there for quite a while.

“Knitting Nanas¹ don’t want our grandchildren paying the price for our fossil fuel usage,” wrote member Colleen Carmody.

The Nannas will probably find a significant local support for their action given the popularity of renewables in the area. Solar power in Port Macquarie has grown to more than 4,150 small scale installations boasting a collective capacity of close to 14 megawatts.

While firmly committed to non-violent activism, at times the Nannas’ antics result in police attention. When playing snakes and ladders on an oversized board in Southbank, Brisbane last week to raise awareness of gas field impacts on surrounding residents, the police were called in to move them along.

KNAG via Facebook

As you can see from the above photo, KNAG members can be quite terrifying in their yellow and black outfits designed to strike fear into the hearts of all who would oppose them, and obviously pose a clear and present danger to law and order in Brisbane.

For those interested in joining or supporting the Nannas in their efforts, dozens of groups (known as loops) are established across Australia. In areas where a loop is yet to be established, people are encouraged to start their own.