Sydney Rainforest Action Group records, ca. 1985-1995

MLMSS 8982

fonds

ca. 1985-1995

Textual Records, Clippings

153680

1.8 metres of textual material (11 boxes)

Sydney Rainforest Action Group (SRAG) was formed by environmentalists as part of a nationwide response to concern about the effects of deforestation in Malaysia in 1960s, most notably in the state of Sarawak, on the native Penan people and the effects of logging on the rich biodiversity of the rainforests. To raise awareness about the issue and provide aid to the Penan people environmentalists in Australia formed the Rainforest Action Groups (RAG), one in each of three Australian cities, Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane (and later, in Hunter Valley).

The groups attempted to use nonviolent methods to halt the import of Southeast Asian rainforest timber into Australia. RAG began training and educating new group members in the late 1980’s and decided to begin blockading rainforest timber ships in 1988. In June 1991 through August 1991, some members of RAG traveled to Sarawak to join the Penan people and other activists in forming blockades to obstruct logging roads. In Australia on 17 August, the Sydney RAG organized a rally to support the Penan. Demonstrators met at the town hall and marched to Circular Quay, and collected donations to help the Penan people. On 22 August, Sydney RAG blockaded the Malaysian Consulate, in May 1992, Sydney RAG members rallied once more outside of the Malaysian embassy and in August that year RAG blockaded yet another rainforest timber ship.

RAG activity ceased in 1994, and the group seems to have either disbanded or merged with the San Francisco based Rainforest Action Network.

Reference:
Global Nonviolent Action Database, Australian Rainforest Action Groups boycott Malaysian rainforest timber, 1988-1994. http://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/australian-rainforest-action-groups-boycott-malaysian-rainforest-timber-1988-1994 (accessed 21 June 2013)

BOX 1
PRINTED MATERIAL
Printed periodicals, publications and reports relating to tourism, environmental and conservation issues in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea and Australian, ca. 1990-1994

BOXES 2-3
RESEARCH AND PUBLICITY MATERIAL
Bound file of newspaper clippings, reports, printed publications and newsletters relating to international environmental issues in Sarawak, Indonesia, China, Central America, Africa, Austral, British Columbia, Siberia, Ecuador, Philippines, New Zealand, ca. 1985-1990

Flyers and newsletters relating to environmental campaigns conservation, forestry and logging in rainforests mainly in Malaysia and Thailand and copies of reports relating to Australian international environmental policy, 1990-1995

BOX 4
RECORDS AND CORRESPONDENCE
Records and correspondence of Greenpeace relating to imported tropical timber from Philippines and Australian Tropical Timber Group (ATTG) including reports and research material relating to forestry and timber policy, ca. 1994-1995

Financial records relating to Rainforest Action Group PNG tour, ca. 1994-1995

BOXES 4-11
RESEARCH AND PUBLICITY MATERIAL
Research reports, printed newsletters, reports and copies of research material relating to environmental issues like forestry and logging in the Asia Pacific region including Australia and rainforests in Papua New Guinea, ca. 1985-1995

Newspaper clippings, campaign flyers, media releases, records and correspondence relating to environmental campaigns in Asia Pacific region including forestry and logging in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Malaysian blockade in Sarawak, ca. 1985-1995. Includes some research papers relating to international agreements and timber trade, council policies, industrial action and unions, and forestry in NSW

Notes relating to planning of environmental campaigns and events, 1994-1995, mainly PNG tour and Mitsubishi campaign

Copyright status:: In copyright - This collection has multiple rights owners
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Information upgraded as part of the Manuscripts Unprocessed eRecords Project 2012-2013