EF! action at Australia House

Resource Security Legislation Threatens Australia's Last Forests

In late November, activists from the London Rainforest Action Group and Lea Valley Earth First! scaled the front of Australia House in the Strand, London, in protest at the Australian Government's plan to introduce Resource Security Legislation.

The proposed legislation, "Resource Security for Major New Industrial Wood Processing Projects", provides indefinite security of access to native forests to the timber industry. If the legislation is passed most most of Australia's native temperate forests will be put in permanent "Wood Production Zones" with woodchipping and clearfelling looking set to continue well into 21st Century. Already some 20,000 hectares of forest a year is clearfelled for the export of woodchip and sawlogging industry alone.

The activists were able to climb onto the balcony and hang a "WILDERNESS! NOT WOODCHIPS" banner and to blindfold various statues including a sheep. Once the activists were noticed a minor panic broke out amongst the staff and attempts were made to call them down before the Police were called.

In true British tradition the staff were polite enough to ask if the climbers had permission to be there. Activists on the ground tried to talk to embassy staff as to the reason for the demonstration. This was not possible as the security wanted them down "before they break their bloody necks!!".

The action was quick, empowering for those involved and achieved massive media coverage in Australia.

Shelley Braithwaite
London Rainforest Action Group.