LUCY LANDON-LANE
A few weeks ago, when the 7.30 Report revealed that the RPDC’s serious concerns about fugitive emissions from the pulp mill had been totally disregarded by both Gunns and the State government, I knew it was time for civil disobedience.
Our petitions have been ignored, our letters have been ignored, our rallies have been ignored and our democracy is seriously flawed. It is time to place our bodies on the line.
I want to tell you about the peaceful community protest outside Parliament House, in which 20 people were arrested 2 weeks ago…
I was afraid. I was really afraid of being arrested but I was more afraid of what might happen if I don’t put my body on the line for what I believe in.
Getting arrested was not as bad as I had anticipated. We were peaceful and well organized, so there was no need to fear conflict.
After some time of standing in the rain in the company of several junior police, a sergeant came and read a proclamation once, telling us to leave within the next 5 minutes or be arrested. Our supporters stepped aside. The sergeant came back and warned us once again, and then his team proceeded to arrest us one by one.
They were polite and respectful, some even smiled! There was a an air of celebration in the freezing rain, as our wonderful supporters cheered and clapped us all as we were led off to the paddy wagons, giving us strength and courage.
There will be more arrestable actions in the future, and they will be peaceful, creative and include as many people as possible. The more people who are prepared to participate in civil disobedience the better, so we can get a powerful message across to state and federal governments, and potential jvps, that we will not allow this pulp mill to be built.
But these events MUST be peaceful – if they are peaceful then you have nothing to fear.
If they are peaceful you have nothing to fear.
We invite you to join us in peaceful community protest to willingly be arrested if this is what it takes for change to come.
And if you are not yet ready to be arrested, please come and support those that do.
The supporters are just as important as the arrestees.
There is a new group simply called Pulp the Mill which is devoted to the creation of more peaceful community protests. You can contact us by emailing:
Yes, we want to pulp the mill but what are we peacefully protesting FOR?
We are fighting for our clean air; for our ocean; for our forests; for our rivers; for our children; for all the wild creatures of ocean, air and land; for our democracy and for the future of the planet; and we are prepared to put our bodies on the line.
