Preparing for a Community Blockade

Introduction

Here are some practical things you may like to consider in logistical preparations for a community blockade. This is just meant as a discussion starter, and won’t be applicable to all situations.

Helpful Skills

• Communications – skills in radios, setting up comms systems
• Scouting and surveillance
• Welding
• Carpentry/general handy skills
• Transport: utes and trailers, plus general errands
• Solar, generators and alternative power generation
• Rigging, ropes, camp structures
• Cooking – for meat eaters and vegetarians
• Physical work – digging pits etc
• Medical and first aid
• Having fun, music, art and creativity!

Action Roles

Here are some roles typically covered in action situations. People can support you to train into these roles as needed, and we should always ‘buddy up’ to share skills with new people.

• Police liaison: people to talk to police and advocate for safe actions
• Worker liaison
• Media liaison and spokesperson
• Social media
• Photographer and videographer (multiple ideally)
• Peacekeeper and/or conflict resolution
• Community liaison and/or meeter/greeter
• Night watch
• Quick decision making team – work out in advance which decisions need to be broadly consulted on with the whole group, and who is trusted to make urgent decisions as needed

There can be many more – this is just a few of the key ones

Logistical Needs

• Good quality tarpaulins, large ones and lots of different sizes
• Rope – lots of it, lots of different sizes
• Setting up bush toilets
• Vans, utes in good condition (unlikely to be stickered)
• Friendly nearby houses for washing, showers, time out
• Shovels
• Hammers, nails, drills, general tools
• BBQ
• Gas bottles and burners
• Marquees & tents
• Planks/bricks/crates – makeshift shelves
• Drums for fires
• Large grills for fire
• Billies and kettles, coffee makers
• Large pots and pans
• Long handled spoons
• Cups, plates etc
• Large water containers
• Spare blankets, sleeping bags
• Rubber/mats/old carpet/rugs/pallets for ground
• Storage boxes and crates
• Kitchen sink and wash station set up
• Climbing gear (optional)
• Banner material, paints, cardboard for placards, thick textas
• Torches, gas lanterns, solar lights for paths at night
• Whiteboard/chalkboard
• Radio for news
• Hardware, scrap metal for ‘devices’
• Rechargeable batteries and charger
• Internet dongles/hotspots (multiple user stations)
• Two way radios
• Spare phones, telstra sims, possibly aerials and patch leads
• Non-perishable food and staples for bulk cooking
• First aid gear
• Hand sanitiser
• Binoculars
• Cameras and video camera (or people who have their own)
• Spare wet weather gear, boots, warm clothes
• Info desk – sign up sheets, campaign materials, welcome signs & info
• Large maps of surrounding area
• Caravan or other relatively weather proof set up for media/computers
• Generator, powerboards, extension leads

Also, who do you know who may not be able to participate, but could provide support or assistance, Eg: Cheap printing, room hire for community meetings, fundraising, cheap food/catering, equipment loan or donations

Access Resource

• Community Blockade Preparation Counteract

Explore Further

• Blockades that changed Australia
  Blockades that changed Australia including Jabiluka, the Bentley blockade, S11, Nookanbah and the Knitting Nannas.
• A Beginners Guide to a Blockade Camp
  Many successful campaigns have based their direct action from blockade camps and include the wins against the damming of the Franklin river, stopping the Jabiluka uranium mine, and the proposed gas hub at Walmadan/James Price Point. It can be a scary thing, heading to a blockade camp for the first time. Here are some tips to get you started.
• Facilitation at the Frontlines
  This article includes reflections and tips for ‘extreme sport’ facilitation at blockades and action camps. Includes notes about logistics, comfort of participants, timing, internal organisation within the facilitation team, holding the space, and being transparent about role and power dynamics.
• Frontline Action on Coal FLAC: Ten Years on the Climate Frontline
  Frontline Action on Coal (FLAC) have used blockades and non-violent direct action to oppose new fossil fuel projects in Australia.
• The Jabiluka Blockade – 22 years on
  Do you know about one of Australia’s most effective anti-nuclear blockades? The Jabiluka blockade in 1998 stopped the Ranger Uranium Mine in Australia. This article includes the campaign timeline and many further resources.
• Australian Blockading Handbooks
  A collection of Australian Blockading Handbooks from the 1980s to the present including the Daintree, Franklin River, Jabiluka, etc.