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Thirty Years of Creative Resistance - Friends of the Earth Australia

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This critical approach was not appreciated<br />

by all green groups, but over <strong>the</strong> years<br />

<strong>the</strong>se same groups came to support FoE’s<br />

position, resulting in a more sophisticated<br />

and holistic position on timber production<br />

being adopted by much <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> movement.<br />

FoE also started to raise awareness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

threats posed by Copper Chrome Arsenate<br />

(CCA), <strong>the</strong> most common treatment for<br />

preserving s<strong>of</strong>twood timber. After several<br />

years this started to yield results as <strong>the</strong><br />

issue was finally taken seriously by o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

green groups, <strong>the</strong> broader community and<br />

relevant authorities. In 2003, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Australia</strong>n<br />

Pesticides and Veterinary Medical<br />

Authority announced that it intended to<br />

place a ban on <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> CCA in certain<br />

domestic situations because <strong>of</strong> heath risks.<br />

In August 1991, <strong>the</strong> bulk chemical<br />

facility at Coode Island in inner western<br />

Melbourne suffered a major fire and a<br />

toxic cloud descended over much <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

city. An inquiry was held into <strong>the</strong> possible<br />

relocation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> facility to Point Lillias,<br />

a headland on Port Phillip Bay near<br />

Geelong. The situation was complicated<br />

by plans to locate a naval arms complex<br />

on <strong>the</strong> same headland, <strong>the</strong> East Coast<br />

Armaments Complex. FoEM worked with<br />

a range <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r groups throughout <strong>the</strong><br />

parallel state and federal inquiries into<br />

<strong>the</strong> re-location <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se facilities under<br />

<strong>the</strong> banner <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Combined Environment<br />

Groups. FoEM argued that any decision<br />

on <strong>the</strong> Coode facility should occur within<br />

In 1992, FoE Fitzroy launched its forest<br />

campaign.<br />

...................................................................................................................................................................................................<br />

FoE maintained a regular picket outside <strong>the</strong> state government<br />

department responsible for logging (DNRE).<br />

a context that sought to achieve an<br />

overall reduction in <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> hazardous<br />

chemicals. In <strong>the</strong> end, nei<strong>the</strong>r facility was<br />

moved to Point Lillias. The Coode Island<br />

facility remains a danger to residents<br />

in <strong>the</strong> inner west suburbs <strong>of</strong> Melbourne<br />

and FoEM continues to work to highlight<br />

<strong>the</strong> costs and impacts <strong>of</strong> our chemical<br />

dependence.<br />

Clare Henderson and Larry O’Loughlan<br />

were prominent national advocates <strong>of</strong><br />

Right To Know (RTK) legislation in <strong>the</strong><br />

early 1990s. RTK refers to <strong>the</strong> right <strong>of</strong><br />

people to access information on <strong>the</strong><br />

existence, quantities and effects <strong>of</strong><br />

emissions from industrial activities. The<br />

call for RTK legislation was occurring<br />

against a backdrop <strong>of</strong> voluntary programs<br />

such as <strong>the</strong> ‘responsible care’ program<br />

initiated by <strong>the</strong> <strong>Australia</strong>n Chemical<br />

Industry Council and was based on <strong>the</strong><br />

correct assumption that large companies<br />

could not be trusted to manage <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

operations through voluntary disclosure<br />

programs.<br />

FoEM began working on forest issues in<br />

1992, when <strong>the</strong> East Gippsland Forest<br />

Network (EGFN) merged with FoEM. The<br />

EGFN had itself grown from Melbourne<br />

Rainforest Action Group in <strong>the</strong> late 1980s.<br />

The creation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> FoEM Forest Network<br />

and <strong>the</strong> energy <strong>of</strong> a new generation <strong>of</strong><br />

activists resulted in more than five years <strong>of</strong><br />

intense campaigning to protect Victoria’s<br />

forests. Over <strong>the</strong> summer <strong>of</strong> 1993-94,<br />

FoEM joined <strong>the</strong> Wilderness Society and<br />

Concerned Residents <strong>of</strong> East Gippsland to<br />

form <strong>the</strong> East Gippsland Forest Alliance.<br />

FoE 30 <strong>Years</strong> 55

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