Chaos on the streets of Melbourne as Extinction Rebellion climate pests shut down major intersection dressed up as koalas and Dan Andrews
- Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down major intersection in Melbourne CBD
- Some of the activists wore koala suits while another mimed cutting down a tree
- One man detained demonstrations which police said were mostly peaceful
- Demonstrators blocked roads in both directions at about midday on Wednesday
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Melbourne‘s streets have descended into chaos as Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down a major intersection to protest against tree-logging.
Over 100 protesters gathered on the Bourke and Queen Street intersection at about midday on Wednesday with one demonstrator detained by police.
Several of the climate change activists were dressed as koalas, while another wore a Daniel Andrews mask while miming cutting a tree down with a fake chainsaw.
Victoria Police were seen handcuffing a man wearing a koala hat as other protesters blocked access to several roads in both directions.
Several of the climate change activists were dressed as koalas, while another wore a Daniel Andrews mask while miming cutting a tree down with a fake chainsaw (pictured)
One protester dressed as a koala was suspended in mid-air holding a poster on Wednesday
Over 100 protesters gathered on the Bourke and Queen Street intersection at about midday on Wednesday with one demonstrator detained by Victoria Police
Two protesters took part in the demonstrations while suspended from a tee-pee structure and holding a sign that read: ‘Native logging = Extinction’.
The demonstrations were in protest of tree-logging activity in the state’s forests with many dressed as koalas to represent the endangered species.
One man said the peaceful protest was in opposition of Victoria’s publicly owned forestry agency VicForests who he blamed for making the climate crisis worse.
The activists gathered outside the state owned logging agency office and were heard chanting ‘VicForests, lawless loggers’ and ‘Arrest the real climate criminals’.
Victoria Police said the demonstrations were mostly peaceful, however had disrupted the flow of traffic at the intersection and caused diversions.
Two protesters took part in the demonstrations while suspended from a tee-pee structure and holding a sign that read: ‘Native logging = Extinction’ (pictured)
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The activists gathered outside the state owned logging agency office and were heard chanting ‘VicForrest, lawless loggers’ and ‘Arrest the real climate criminals’
Activist Deborah Kanssow said the group had been forced to take drastic action after months of inaction from state and federal governments.
‘People cant blockade in those (forests) any more without occurring heavy fines and jail,’ she told the Herald Sun.
‘What are people supposed to do to draw attention this issue?’
Another protester, Bron, agreed it was time to take stronger action.
‘Why is nothing being done? We are not winning this war,’ she said. ‘Among the people here are these are people who are worried for their children and humanity’.
Activists said the group had been forced to take drastic action after months of inaction from state and federal governments (pictured, protesters outside VicForests on Wednesday)
Mr Gleeson does not regret his actions which could have a massive effect on Australia’s art industry
The demonstrations in Melbourne’s CBD come just days after two Extinction Rebellion protesters superglued their hands to a priceless Picasso painting.
Retired teacher and grandfather Tony Gleeson, 59, glued his hands to the frame of Picasso’s Massacre in Korea in the National Gallery of Victoria on October 9.
The painting last sold for $US179 million ($A280 million) in 2015.
Mr Gleeson said he didn’t regret his actions and would gladly pull a similar stunt again – revealing it had taken hours of painstaking planning.
The activist said he and other protesters will be charged for putting a multi-million painting at risk, saying all the finer details of their plot will be ‘revealed in court’.
‘We accept responsibility for what we did … we will do what it takes, non-violently, to get where we need to be,’ he said.
More to come.
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