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The Blockade

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Terania Creek and the Forging of Modern Environmental Activism

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in World Environmental History ((PSWEH))

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Abstract

Despite TNFAG’s extensive efforts, the Forestry Commission maintained its determination to log Terania Creek, due to proceed in August 1979. This chapter documents the blockade: when all else failed, a mass demonstration spontaneously evolved into a month-long protest, which saw the pioneering of many now well-known activist tactics including tree-sits, bulldozer obstruction, road sabotage, theatrical protest and ‘black wallabying’. It also outlines the strict adherence to nonviolence and the evolution of organic protest techniques. The chapter details the police reaction, the response of the media and the eventual intervention of politicians, bringing an end to the blockade and resulting in the eventual protection of the forest, and all rainforest in New South Wales, in 1983.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Humanities, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia

    Vanessa Bible

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  1. Vanessa Bible
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Bible, V. (2018). The Blockade. In: Terania Creek and the Forging of Modern Environmental Activism. Palgrave Studies in World Environmental History. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70470-8_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70470-8_4

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-70469-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-70470-8

  • eBook Packages: HistoryHistory (R0)

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