From Sydney to Boggabri: Smash ANZ & Whitehaven Coal

Whitehaven coal and the destruction of Leard state forest while their ATM card slots were glued shut. During the Mardi Gras festivities numerous ANZ “GAYTM’s” were vandalised with paint and in the days following the parade two of the pinkwashed machines on Oxford St were smashed with a metal bar.

ANZ is the primary investor in the Whitehaven coal project, which is currently devastating the once pristine forests in Mauls Creek. Whitehaven is in deep financial straits and is only being propped up on ANZ loans. By specifically and intensively targeting ANZ for their support for this project across the country we can force them to review the profitability of their investment.

We wish solidarity and strength to all those at the Leard blockade, but we hope to remind them that the struggle against eco destruction should not be stymied and restricted by the terms of environmental NGO’s and their media strategies. Effective resistance incorporates all modes of struggle, from letter writing and street protests, to lock-on’s and sabotage.

While we’ve heard sloganeering about “NVDA (non-violent direct action)” preached like scripture at blockades, we must ask, which is more violent, the massive deforestation of native forests or a few burning bulldozers.

Comments

The first paragraph of this post has been altered from the text that was originally uploaded about two weeks ago. The part of the paragraph has strangely been cut out, and now does not make sense. I am presuming it was a technical error or accident by the moderator who reposted/approved it.

The first paragraph should actually read:

"Throughout February and March 2014 dozens of ANZ billboards across Sydney were vandalised. Numerous ANZ branches also had their facades painted with slogans denouncing Whitehaven coal and the destruction of Leard state forest while their ATM card slots were glued shut. During the Mardi Gras festivities numerous ANZ “GAYTM’s” were vandalised with paint and in the days following the parade two of the pinkwashed machines on Oxford St were smashed with a metal bar."

I hope the moderators can correct the error.

Cheers

This post has been altered from what was originally submited to indymedia. (hopefully just a moderator mistake or technical error)

The first paragraph should read:

Between February and March 2014, dozens of ANZ billboards were vandalised throughout Sydney and dozens of ANZ branches had their facades painted with slogans denouncing Whitehaven coal and the destruction of Leard state forest while their ATM card slots were glued shut. During the Mardi Gras festivities numerous ANZ “GAYTM’s” were vandalised with paint and in the days following the parade two of the pinkwashed machines on Oxford St were smashed with a metal bar.

For some reason the first part of the above text is missing. What was originally posted said:

"Throughout Februrary and March 2014 dozens of ANZ billboards were vandalised across Sydney. Numerous ANZ branch facades were painted with slogans denouncing Whitehaven coal and the destruction of Leard state forest while their ATM card slots were glued shut. During the Mardi Gras festivities numerous ANZ “GAYTM’s” were vandalised with paint and in the days following the parade two of the pinkwashed machines on Oxford St were smashed with a metal bar.

ANZ is the primary investor in the Whitehaven coal project, which is currently devastating the once pristine forests in Mauls Creek. Whitehaven is in deep financial straits and is only being propped up on ANZ loans. By specifically and intensively targeting ANZ for their support for this project across the country we can force them to review the profitability of their investment.

We wish solidarity and strength to all those at the Leard blockade, but we hope to remind them that the struggle against eco destruction should not be stymied and restricted by the terms of environmental NGO’s and their media strategies. Effective resistance incorporates all modes of struggle, from letter writing and street protests, to lock-on’s and sabotage.

While we’ve heard sloganeering about “NVDA (non-violent direct action)” preached like scripture at blockades, we must ask, which is more violent, the massive deforestation of native forests or a few burning bulldozers."

It would be nice is moderators could correct it.