Title: Tasmanian Wilderness Society blocks dam construction (Franklin River Campaign) 1981-83 | Global Nonviolent Action Database
Headings: Tasmanian Wilderness Society blocks dam construction (Franklin River Campaign) 1981-83
Tasmanian Wilderness Society blocks dam construction (Franklin River Campaign) 1981-83
Goals
Time period notes
Time period
Country
Location City/State/Province
PCS Tags
Influences
Sources
Name of researcher, and date dd/mm/yyyy

Content: Nonviolent obstruction
blockade of dam construction
199. Nonviolent confinement
Blockaders jailed
Methods in 5th segment
007. Slogans, caricatures, and symbols
"NO DAMS" yellow triangles
018. Displays of flags and symbolic colors
Wilderness Society flown over Hydro Electric Commission building
172. Nonviolent obstruction
blockade of dam construction
199. Nonviolent confinement
Blockaders jailed
Segment Length
3.5 months
Leaders, partners, allies, elites
Leaders
Bob Brown, The Wilderness Society
External allies
Bob Hawke (Labour Party leader), Dr. Norm Sanders (Democrat MHA)
Involvement of social elites
David Bellamy (Botanist and author), Shane Howard (Folk singer), Claudio Alcorso (Hobart Millionaire)
Opponent, Opponent Responses, and Violence
Opponents
Hydro-Electric Commission, Government of Tasmania (under Premier Robin Gray)
Nonviolent responses of opponent
not known
Campaigner violence
not known
Repressive Violence
not known
Classifications
Cluster
Environment
Classification
Change
Group characterization
Australian environmentalists
Joining/exiting order of social groups
Groups in 1st Segment
The Tasmanian Wilderness Society
Groups in 6th Segment
Bob Hawke
Segment Length
3.5 months
Success Outcome
Success in achieving specific demands/goals
6 out of 6 points
Survival
1 out of 1 points
Growth
2 out of 3 points
Total points
9 out of 10 points
Notes on outcomes
An extremely successful campaign. Not only did it influence Australia's environmental movement, but environmental activism throughout the globe. Case Study Details
Database Narrative
In 1976,
the Hydro Electric Commission of Tasmania solidified their plans with the
Australian government to build a dam across the Franklin and Gordon Rivers, in
the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. The Tasmanian Wilderness Society
formed not long after this announcement to take action against the Hydro
Electric Commission and their plans to bulldoze the surrounding wilderness for
the construction of the dam. The director of the Wilderness Society and leader
of the anti-dam campaign for the following seven years was Bob Brown, a local
environmentalist and general practitioner.