Direct action

Direct action

Be the change you wish to see in the world (Mohandas K. Gandhi)

Members of Six Degrees believe that one of the most effective and inclusive avenues for social change is through non-violent direct action (NVDA). Put simply, NVDA is any action that attempts to engage people in enacting the change they wish to see in the world. NVDA can organise a community event like a street party, plant a vegetable garden in an abandoned plot and protect it by disabling a bulldozer. NVDA can occupy empty buildings to house the homeless, take over government offices in protest or blockade coal infrastructure.

Queensland is the largest coal exporting state in Australia, in the country that exports the most coal in the world. This unenviable position leaves Queenslanders who are concerned about our environment with a weighted responsibility for shifting energy production and exports onto a more renewable footing as soon as possible. If the changes required to do this are not delivered by our elected representatives, then citizens will take action ourselves to protect our children, our land and our planet.

In our society, where decision-making is still largely centred in the hands of the political and business elite, coal industry representatives gain privileged lobbying access to government while some community groups are unable to make their voices heard even by their elected representatives. With these systemic inequalities, NVDA is a way of bypassing such avenues of community engagement and recognising our own power in creating positive and lasting change.

Direct action against the coal industry has been happening in Australia for a number of years. Since 2006 Rising Tide Newcastle has organized four occupations of the Newcastle Port – the world’s largest coal port. In July of 2008, hundreds of people came together for Australia's first Camp for Climate Action. On the main day of action 57 people were arrested and all coal trains to Carrington port were successfully halted. Early November 2008 saw coal-fired power stations in Brisbane, Newcastle, Melbourne and Perth non-violent direct actions that will continue to take place around Australia.

As a method of social change, NVDA has a long and rich history. It has played a central role in illuminating injustices and creating change all across the globe; from colonial India and apartheid in South Africa, to the Jabiluka blockades in the Northern Territory. NVDA remains a strategic and powerful method of change today and Six Degrees considers widespread and sustained community opposition central to transforming the coal industry in Queensland. Queensland citizens are now rising up to topple unequal power structures and are demanding more comprehensive participation in decision making.

Direct action is a powerful, strategic and relevant way to create positive and lasting change. Be part of the solution, take action now.

Get involved in Direct Action against the coal industry in Queensland