(1/?)
"... the best way to kill this idea dead is to deter investment, by making it crystal clear that any mining or exploration permits granted will be legislatively revoked, with no compensation, and that any investment made will be lost. Its worked well against the oil and gas industry; now the opposition needs to apply the same tactics to defend our natural taonga."
https://norightturn.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-orcs-are-back.html
Preach! I'd add that we need to start ramping up for earth defence campaigns.
(2/?)
In the late 1960s, Save Manapouri organised citizens to save this beautiful lake from an ill-conceived corporate welfare power scheme;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Save_Manapouri_campaign
In the 1990s, Native Forest Action used treesits and other Direct Action tactics to save hundreds of acres of West Coast bush from having its hardwood giants stripped out by state-owned loggers Timberlands;
(3/?)
In the noughties, the Save Happy Valley campaign occupied a proposed coal mine area on public land at in Waimangaroa for more than a year. Halting coal mining expansion on the West Coast for about about a decade;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Save_Happy_Valley_Coalition
These are just 3 prominent examples of effective Direct Action in defence of conservation land. I haven't even mentioned the Karangahake Guardians campaigns against gold mining in Coromandel.
(4/4)
It's been a while since we needed these Direct Action tactics. We've had governments that could be convinced to do the right thing, through a combination of public rallies and legal action.
But this government has showed it doesn't give a fig about public opinion, nor environmental law. So I guess it's time to dust of those lock boxes and get ready to lie in front of a few bulldozers.