Melbourne Indymedia

Uncle Kevin Buzzacott

Melbourne Indymedia — 2007-06-10T01:02:40

The Australian Conservation Foundation's (ACF) Peter Rawlinson Award was given to 'Uncle' Kevin Buzzacott, an Arabunna elder, on World Environment Day in 2007 for two decades of work highlighting the impacts of uranium mining and promoting a nuclear free Australia. Uncle Kev has been a tireless campaigner for indigenous rights including reclaiming the kangaroo and emu sacred totems from the Coat of Arms from Parliament House in Canberra and accusing the Federal Government of genocide. [Full Story]

Wikipedia | ACF Award citation |
Video: reclainming sacred totems from Parliament House

Forest Protests Escalating

Melbourne Indymedia — 2007-06-05T13:53:10

Forty police raided a peaceful blockade in the Upper Florentine valley, Tasmania with eight people arrested. According to protestors heavy handed tactics were used, and it is alleged that a crow bar was employed against activists. "The tactics used to remove activists here today have been a breach of duty of care" said activist Kylie MacFarlane. "The safety of the brave people using non violent direct action to make a last stand and create much needed awareness has been severely compromised."[Full Story]

In the Weld Valley campaign Huon Valley Environment Centre spokesperson Jenny Weber, and her daughter, were run off the road by a log truck. Greens Senator Bob Brown has called for the police to investigate the incident. Weld Valley activists were in the Supreme Court on Friday to prevent an injunction being imposed by Foresty Tasmania against a protest walk-in on the weekend.

Critical time in Tasmania's forests
Forest Defence Unit | Weld Valley Campaign | Videos

Defending Tasmanian Forests

Melbourne Indymedia — 2007-02-21T15:28:15

Weld Valley protesters ignore police caution - About 50 protesters have entered a Forestry Tasmania exclusion zone in the Weld Valley, south-west of Hobart. The protesters are trying to stop the logging of two coupes of temperate rainforest, next to a World Heritage Area. In the past week, behind locked gates, wilderness forests in The Lower Weld Valley have been attacked, and their world heritage qualities devalued at an alarming rate. [Full Story] [Latest News]

Recent News:
15 Feb: Protests, arrests and agression in Tassie's forests
14 Feb: Two Activists Arrested in Weld and Upper Florentine Ancient Forests
12 Feb: Direct Action in Tasmania's Southern Forests
11 Feb: Logging has begun in the Weld Valley

Videos | Weld Valley Online

Stop Japanese Whaling

Melbourne Indymedia — 2007-02-21T15:30:01

On a clear summer afternoon the crew of the Sea Shepherd ship Robert Hunter arrived in Melbourne after 6 weeks in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary searching for, then briefly engaging, the Japanese Whaling Fleet. The British Government has bowed to pressure from Japan and deregistered the Robert Hunter from Midnight 19 February. (Photos: 1, 2, 3)

Due to low fuel the Sea Shepherd ships were forced to return early. A fire on the Whaling Factory Ship, the Nisshin Maru, has disabled the ship and is likely to cause an early end to this whaling season. Sea Shepherd have called this fire Negligence that threatens the Antarctic Ecosystem. Sea Shepherd have detailed a number of conspiracy theories being put forward as to how they supposedly destroyed the Nisshin Maru.

Background
Sea Shepherd Ship Holed during Collision with Whaling Ship
Japanese Claims of Injuries are Bogus says Sea Shepherd
Japan and the Whaling Ban

Critical Mass

Melbourne Indymedia — 2007-02-18T01:50:38

A complaint by cyclists against a report of Critical Mass in Sydney's Daily Telegraph in November 2006 was upheld by the Press Council on Friday. The paper had failed to distinguish between fact and opinion and had blatantly breached the privacy of a member of Critical Mass, according to the Press Council. [Full Adjudication]

CFSMTB Blog: "This news article fails this test" MIM: Critical Mass cycle messengers attacked by Big Media Hypocrites

Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary

Melbourne Indymedia — 2007-02-18T01:53:48

Sea Shepherd found (photos) and engaged the Japanese whaling factory ship, Nisshin Maru, at approx. 0530 9 February (PST) close to the Australian Antarctic Territory in the Southern Whale Sanctuary. A rigid-hulled inflatable boat, with two crew onboard, went missing during the direct action and a truce was called between whalers and anti-whaling activists engaged in the search. The missing crew, stranded when their inflatable's engine broke down and a heavy fog precluded use of the helicopter, were found after seven hours by the Sea Shepherd flag ship Farley Mowat.

The Greenpeace ship Esperanza also responded to the search and rescue call and is about a day away from the location of the Japanese whaling fleet and the two Sea Shepherd ships. The Sea Shepherd ship Robert Hunter is continuing a close pursuit of the Nisshin Maru.

Sea Shepherd | Greenpeace weblog | Aotearoa IMC: Sea Shepherd uses direct action against whalers