Watching the sunset slide into the ocean in the last days of 2013 I’ve been allowing myself quiet times. Lying on a beach. Indulging in bad movies. Hanging out with lovely long time friends that aren’t activists and not talking politics all the time. Thinking. Reflecting. And bracing.

2014 is going to be the most important year we have ever had. With thousands more clearly seeing the damage to be wrought by the Abbott government we will see the beginning of rapid growth of the social movement that we will need to build in order to win. It is going to set the scenes that will see the battle lines move out of the political arena and to the frontline for years to come. We may see people jailed in this country for speaking for environment and social justice. We are … Read More »

Well it has been a long time coming, but we have finally launched the updated version of the Camp Walmadan booklet, complete with the ‘WE WON’ wrap around copy, with reflections and stories from the successful campaign to stop Woodside’s proposed gas refinery on the Kimberley coast.

A huge shout out to our lovely and patient designer friend Lilia who did such a fab job and everyone who shared their stories… as well as those that didn’t have a chance.

Celebration is important, and we wanted to make the resource available for everyone to share, but add in some positive stories – as we all know, wins like this don’t come around every day.

It is timely as ‘Heritage Fight‘ – the remarkable documentary of the Goolarabooloo people and Broome community is currently showing on NITV, and Part One is available for a … Read More »

We’ve been helping coordinate the campaign to support Jonathan Moylan – a young man who has been targeted by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission, and threatened with 10 years jail and $765,000 in fines for a simple act of good conscience.

The announcement that ANZ should have made in January 2013 was that they were withdrawing their $1.2 billion from Whitehaven coal. But unfortunately it turned out to be a hoax – Instead their ongoing investment in toxic futures was exposed – and a conversation got started.

We support action in highlighting the issues around coal finance and divestment, and believe that Jono’s actions opened up an important conversation that Australia needs to have. How long are we willing to directly contribute to the root causes of climate change by profiting from coal? And why are our banks using our money … Read More »

It is the little campaign that could… McDonald’s figured that this would be a brief protest that they would be able to move past quickly but things haven’t quite worked to plan.

We did some nonviolent direct action training with the community a few weeks back and they are an impressive bunch. Coordinated, articulate and dedicated – they are proving a force to be reckoned with.

In the last week they have gotten the kind of media that many grassroots campaigns can only dream of, with articles in the Australian, the Age, and the Sydney Morning Herald. Nightly news bulletins have featured them multiple times over this last big week, including the ABC and live crosses from morning shows like Sunrise.  Even a positive editorial in the Herald Sun – no easy feat.

They have gained the support of construction unions who are … Read More »

Well it has taken a while to sink in – one of the largest environmental and community wins in Australia’s history has been achieved. Despite the company rhetoric and the majority of the mainstream media there is a growing awareness that this campaign was led by, and the win should be claimed by the remarkable community of Broome, who held their ground in the face of Woodside’s proposed gas plant and some of the biggest multinational oil and gas companies in the world.

Photo: Kimberley Direct Action

Of course they were ably supported by supporters around the world, and organisations such as as Sea Shepherd, Australian Conservation Society and many others. Peter Robertson from Wilderness Society lays out the facts clearly – if it wasn’t for the determined community resistance, this project would have gone ahead long before … Read More »