At 11 am, Thursday 21st November, demonstrators from London Rainforest
Action Group scaled the front of Australia House in The Strand, London,
in protest of the Australian Government's plan to introduce Resource
Security Legislation.
20 feet above the main entrance the building is adorned with large
stone statues (and a sheep), perfectly positioned as a prop for
activists. The statues were blindfolded with contrasting black fabric
and a banner, "WILDERNESS! NOT WOODCHIPS", was hung across the 5 m
width of the doorway. A group of people with plackards demonstrated in
front of Australia House. The blindfolds were used to symbolize the
Australian government's refusal to acknowledge the destructive effects
of Resource Security Legislation.
The demonstrators were able to climb to the statues before Embassy
security became aware of their presence. Once they were noticed
a minor panic broke out among the staff and attempts were made to call
them down before the police were called. In UK tradition they were
polite enough to ask if the climbers had permission to be up
there. Spokespeople on the ground tried to talk with Embassy staff as
to the reason for the demonstration. This was not possible as security
wanted them down "before they broke their bloody necks".
A Channel 7 (Australia) TV crew covered the action from beginning to
end. The demonstrators left the front of the building as soon as they
felt they had made their point, and filming was completed. The
blindfolds were left in place.
The action was quick, empowering for the people involved and achieved
possibly the first evening TV news coverage for a forest action in the
UK. We were able to leave the area before the police arrived, though
half a mile down the road the police intercepted the demonstrators - we
were pretty obvious walking down the Strand with a ladder. After
questioning we were allowed on our way as the High Commission did not
want to press charges.
Shelley Braithwaite
London Rainforest Action Group
9 Cazenove Rd
London N16 6PA
ph 081 - 806 1561
fax 081 - 806 5226