THE Suffragettes and The Salvation Army both employed peaceful protest in their determination to challenge the Establishment. Both were ultimately successful.

More recent advocates of peaceful protest to challenge governments, and campaign for civil rights, include Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi. Both were arrested and spent time in prison for their beliefs, yet they are now revered worldwide as leaders for social change.
A decision to be arrested for civil disobedience is one few make lightly. And it was no snap decision for those who chose to be arrested outside Parliament House in August, or during the Community Forum at Beaconsfield in October. But we firmly believe the threat Gunns Ltd’s proposed pulp mill poses for the future of every Tasmanian – especially those of us who live in the Tamar Valley – and the process by which our state government enabled it to secure approval, more than justifies it.

The objective of Peaceful Community Protests is to show our politicians and potential investors of the mill, the depth and extent of community opposition to the Pulp Mill. We are responsible citizens, concerned about the divisions in our state created by the proposed mill. We hold fast to guidelines such as: we will not use or return violence, physical or verbal, towards any person or property; and we will not place ourselves in obvious danger and try to ensure the safety of all people in and around the action. Protesters are trained before taking part in an action.

It is widely accepted that the proposed mill has always enjoyed the unqualified and unquestioning support from the state’s Labor and Liberal parties. Despite widespread community concern about the initial secrecy that surrounded the project, and the valid arguments about the detrimental effect it would have on health, water, air quality, the environment, and existing businesses, our elected Labor and Liberal representatives refused to listen.

Governments who ignore those who vote them into office do so at their peril. And governments who are perceived to design laws that benefit one company over the electorate, as with Gunns and its pulp mill, should not be surprised when the electorate resorts to civil disobedience. Nothing short of an independent inquiry into the PMAA, and a referendum on the pulp mill and its location, will satisfy Tasmanians now.

Many people say, “I’m prepared to be arrested on site when construction starts,” but we believe it may well be TOO LATE by then. PLUS you may face far greater fines and potentially be sued. People sometimes draw comparisons with the campaign to stop the Franklin dam, and think that because the Franklin was saved due to 1200 arrests, that we can do the same thing again. It may well be too late and too hard to stop once construction starts, and the Franklin was saved with Hawke getting into power and the High Court win as well as the arrests.
 
If you are considering taking this empowering step of participating in well organized peaceful protest, please go to our website http://www.pulpthemill.org/, fill out the questionnaire and we will contact you as soon as possible.