[FoE] must be studied in order to appreciate the fanaticism amd coercive fantasies that romantic

158 Pages·2005·8.93 MB·English

Up to a few decades ago, many people in the world took the
environment for granted. Forests, rivers, mines, the sea or the
atmosphere, seemed to be infinite or at least too big to notice any
impact due to human activities. This perception started to change
in the second half of the twenty century, forests were despairingly,
deserts were increasing, petroleum reserves will meet demand for
just a few more decades, water is becoming a scarce commodity
in many parts of the world and the climate is changing all over the
world.
The deterioration of the environment is probably acknowledged by
most people in the world and there has been considerable work
in trying to reduce environmental problems. Massive reforestation
programs are in place in many countries, ozone destroying
chemicals are being replaced, cleaner productions methods have
been implemented in many industries and many countries have
environmental education courses in their schools. As important as
all these progams might be, they are usually oriented to deal with
the environmental damages, that is with the consequence. They
are what we might call: impact reduction strategies; but very often
they overlook the causes and if we do not deal with the causes, the
consequence are always going to be coming.
How can we stop climate change or mining pollution impacts, if
the world economic system, accepted by all countries in the world,
promotes the consumption of oil and minerals, particularly now with
all the global agreements in trade and investment? What must be
clearly understood is that the deterioration of the environment is the
logical consequence of the economic system whose main objective
is to generate and increase wealth for those who already have
wealth. What is known as globalisation is a world wide movement
oriented to maximise profits for the large transnational corporations,
at the expense of the rest of society and the environment.
This state of affairs is what justifies and generates the need for
environmental activism. The environmental struggle is not just a
movement for restoration activities, it is mainly and foremost a
movement to remove the causes of environmental deterioration.
To see an organisation like Friends of the Earth Australia, engaged
for 30 years in the struggle to remove the causes of environmental
deterioration, generates hope for the world environmental
movement and knowing that FoE Australia is a member of our
network Friends of the Earth International is also a cause for pride
for all of us. Congratulations FoE Australia, keep up the good work.
Ricardo Navarro
Chair
Friends of the Earth International
It seemed like a simple idea: to produce a book on FoE Australia to mark our 30th
anniversary. But the more we dug for information, the more the story evolved. There
is an incredible depth to the campaigns and people that have been FoE over these last
three decades. This publication provides just the most basic of summaries of some of the
campaigns and projects of FoE in Australia: there are many people, key campaigns and
victories, and entire local groups missing. This is partly due to what was in the ‘historical
record’, but mostly due to space constraints. We had a minimal budget for this project,
which greatly influenced the overall size of the book. For the many errors, mis-spellings
and omissions, I apologise: please send feedback, and we will endeavour to include your
information in the second edition of this book.
Churning through old Chain Reactions, newsletters, endless files in various offices and
talking with both old timers and newcomers has re-enforced yet again my immense
respect for FoE, as a network and an organisation, and strengthened my commitment to
this unique and remarkable entity. I need to pass on special thanks to Dave Sweeney for
his help in this project and Natalie Lowrey and Valentina la Piana, who stepped in and
took on design and negotiations with printers, in between all their other work at FoE.
Thanks to everyone who’s been there over the years: its been an honour to work with you.
Here’s to another couple of decades of good work and even better outcomes!
Thanks to Anthony Amis, Peter Barker, Barry Brown, Roz Byass, John Englart, Geoff
Evans, Ann Ferguson, Eva Haarburger, John Hallam, Adrian Hann, Dimity Hawkins,
John Hepburn, David Hughes, Len Kanaar, Cathryn Kriewaldt, Sarojini Krishnapillai,
Stephanie Long, Ila Marks, Linda Marks, Kathleen McCann, Christy Mannon, Eric Miller,
Loretta O’Brien, Ricardo Navarro, Roman Orszanski, Jane Rogers, Domenica Settle,
Rowena Shakes, Kim Stewart, Dave Sweeney, Lee Tan, Gillian Walker and Elizabeth
Wheeler.
Thankyou to David Pope (Heinrich Heinz) for permission to reuse some of his cartoons
that appeared previously in Chain Reaction magazine. David has some great books of
political cartoons: see http://www.scratch.com.au/ for details
Many thanks to Valentina la Piana for scanning above and beyond the call of duty and
taking on production management, and to Elizabeth Wheeler for last minute, and massive,
proof-reading.

FoE 30 Years IV
‘We do not forget, we remember. We do
not stop, we continue. We dream and we
struggle, we will not become tired’
-Friends of the Earth Costa Rica
This is dedicated to three friends
we have lost in the struggle: Maria
del Mar Cordero, Oscar Fallas and
Jaime Bustamante, murdered in
December 1994 for their activism.
And to their comrades in Friends
of the Earth Costa Rica, for their
courage after this terrible act; they
never wavered in their path or
their work in spite of considerable
ongoing risk to themselves.

Cam Walker
National Liason Officer
Friends of the Earth Australia
[email protected]
READERS ARE WARNED THAT THIS BOOK CONTAINS IMAGES OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE DECEASED
FoE 30 Years V
The optimism, courage and FoE’s national magazine, has
creativity noted by Chain Reaction been published over most of FoE’s
in 1986 have been features of lifetime. Some of its rich history
FoE’s thirty year history. Whilst is also explored herein. As an
these are now organisational organisation, FoE’s structures and
qualities, they have evolved from processes have evolved greatly
the contributions of thousands over thirty years, and some of
of individuals across Australia, in these are described in the section
widely varied political, social and ‘FoE Australia structure, decision-
ecological contexts. This book is making and management’. As a
a tribute to those people, and a national body of an international
reminder of all that is possible and organisation, FoE has a broader
positive as we seek environmental structural context, so the final
justice and more sustainable and chapter looks at FoE International,
equitable global social systems. and some of the significant
international victories that FoEA is
The book begins with an proud to be associated with.
overview of some of FoE’s core
philosophies and approaches, and For thirty years, FoE members
then highlights some of its main and groups in Australia have
campaigns and achievements been thinking globally, acting
in the context of wider political, locally and working creatively for
social and economic issues. Local environmental and social justice.
groups have been the mainstay
of FoE’s thirty years, and some
of these groups are discussed
in some depth. Chain Reaction,
...................................................................................................................................................................................................
FoE 30 Years 1
Over thirty years, FoE has 1981 Environment and the Economy,
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FoE 30 Years 2
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FoE 30 Years 3
decades. In Australia, FoE is committed to
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FoE 30 Years 4