Thirty Years of Creative Resistance - Friends of the Earth Australia

1990s
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• Image from Chain Reaction
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• The ‘Gungalidda embassy’ outside the CRA AGM in Melbourne.1994.
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• ‘Aidex’ – Thousands of people descended on Canberra to shut down the AIDEX arms
exhibition, 1991. Photo: Cam Walker.
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• Image from Chain Reaction #76, 1996, shortly after the Howard government came to
power.
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• Image from Chain Reaction #63-64, 1991. Heinrich Hinze.
• ‘Telstra’ – The Howard Government was elected in 1996. Funding for its
environment portfolio was linked to a partial privatisation of Telstra, the national
communications company. FoE was one of the few green groups to voice opposition to the
sale. Shortly after, its ongoing funding from the federal environment department was
cut. Photo: Cam Walker.
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• Ricardo Navarro of FoE El Salvador, the chair of FoE International, speaking during
a climate justice event, Melbourne, 2001
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• Main image from Chain Reaction #59, 1989. Artwork: Mandy Carter.
• Fosco Ruzzere, long term anti nuclear campaigner, FoEM.
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• In 1992, FoE Fitzroy launched its forest campaign with direct actions in East
Gippsland. FoE also maintained a regular picket outside the state government
department responsible for logging (DNRE). Melbourne, February 1994.
• Louise Matthessian at the occupation of the Commonwealth Offices in Melbourne after
the announcement of the 1994 woodchip license renewals.
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• Action outside the state government forestry offices over destruction of old growth
forests in East Gippsland, 1994. Photo: Cam Walker.
• Use of pressure point tactics at the same event.
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• ‘Coalition Against Freeway Extensions (CAFÉ)’ – Basing its name on the earlier
resistance to the F19, based around CAF or Citizens Against Freeways, which opposed
the Eastern Freeway in the late 1970s. For several weeks, CAFÉ blockaded roading
operations on Alexandra Parade in Melbourne. A community info centre was set up on the
medium strip of the Parade.
• Community members arrested on Alexandra Parade at a press conference, Melbourne’s
Magistrate’s Court, after all charges against them were dropped.
• Obstructing bulldozers, Alexandra Parade, November 1994
• CAFÉ ended the years actions with a 400 strong street parade along Brunswick Street,
Fitzroy to the road works on Alexandra Parade, lead by a cardboard tram. When building
the F19 in the 1970s, the government had promised a light rail system, a promise never
delivered. Photo: Cam Walker.
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• Occupation of the woodchip pile, Midways woodchip mill, Geelong. Photo: Cam Walker.
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• Artwork for the first Indigenous solidarity gathering, 1997. Mark Trinham.