It all started just after 5 a.m

One car started honking its horn, long and drawn out. I awoke to see flashing lights in the distance near the fringe of the clearing and all around.
Then the sound of grinding, cutting metal.

I stumbled out of my van to see more flashing lights and a swarm of police in high visibility gear, helmets, batons, and a convoy of paddy wagons.

This all seemed a little intense and dramatic, a total of 30 police congregated around the blockade, public servants being the muscle for a privately owned mining company, a great use of tax payers money.

MMG is the Chinese state owned mining company with an active lease on this region, they are meant to be conducting an ecological survey to establish whether any at risk and endangered flora and fauna are in the area before they conduct any demolition.

They are acting before taking the correct surveys, yet private citizens are being arrested for breaking the law? Where is the logic? I was incredibly disappointed to see the government fail, this was the start of a lengthy protest that lasted thanks over 50 days.

MMG are driving through a 4 km stretch of road through pristine wilderness, ancient forest that needs world heritage listing and protection from any new destruction.

MMG are working towards a large tailings dam where they will process mineral extraction, corrupting the land, spoiling the river system and scarring the land forever.

Thanks to the bob brown foundation for their continued and tireless effort to keep protect this diverse and unique landscape. This fight is continuing to this day, a year on and the protesters are still holding on to stop illegal logging and the destruction on native habitat.

The short term benefit of mines is outweighed by the long term ramifications and scarification of these forests.