franklin dam case study Flashcards
How was the Tasmanian Wilderness Society established?
In 1972, the Tasmanian government gave the Hydro-Electric Commission of Tasmania permission to build dams on both the Serpentine and Huon Rivers. Damming these rivers flooded the natural basin of Lake Pedder, causing environmental damage, and the extinction of species. Environmental groups protested politicians to try to stop the damming, however, were unsuccessful. In 1976, some of these activists, including Bob Brown, formed the Tasmanian Wilderness Society.
What did the Tasmanian Wilderness Society do?
The Tasmanian Wilderness Society campaigned against issues such as deforestation, mining and road building in wilderness areas.
When was the Franklin Dam proposed?
In 1978, another dam was proposed by the commission to be built on the Gordon River.
What would be the implications of building the dam?
Building the dam would generate hydroelectricity and create new jobs, however, would flood the Franklin River and surrounding areas.
Who protested the dam?
The Tasmanian Wilderness Society lobbied the Tasmanian government, arguing that the dam would destroy endangered species, and First Nations’ rock art.
Who else protested?
In 1980, 10 000 people marched through Hobart in protest of the construction of the dam, and a further 20 000 people marched again in Hobart in February of 1983.
Was the dam approved?
In 1982, the Tasmanian Liberal Party decided to go ahead with the construction of the dam. Activists asked the Australian government to step in, but, it refused.
What happened after the project was approved?
In 1982, the campaign to save the Franklin grew as activists of the Wilderness Society travelled Australia to raise awareness, including Bob Brown.
Did on-site protests take place?
In December 1982, Brown and the Wilderness Society led a blockade of the Franklin Dam construction which lasted until March 1983. Protestors conducted workshops on peaceful protests, stopping works of the Hydro-Electric Commission from entering the site.
Did the United Nations intervene?
During the time of the blockades, the United Nations listed the Franklin River and surrounding area as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, though the government did not step in to stop the Tasmanian government from building the dam.
How many people were at the active protests?
6000 people registered to protest, 1500 were arrested and 600 spent the night in jail, including Bob Brown.
How was the Franklin River protected?
In March of 1983, the Labor Party led by Bob Hawke was elected after in his campaign he mentioned the importance of saving the Franklin. The Hawke government opposed the dam and began to introduce legislation to protect the Franklin. The Tasmanian government refused, forcing the Australian government to take the case to high court, and win.
What is the legacy of the Franklin River Campaign?
The campaign to save the Franklin River led to a greater awareness of environmental issues within Australia. It also helped to bring environmental activists together to create political parties.
How was the Greens party formed?
During the 1980’s, Green political parties had formed in most Australian States. They are particularly concerned with protecting the environment. In 1992, the NSW, TAS and QLD Greens agreed to form a national party led by Bob Brown. The Greens are now the third most popular political party in Australia.
What is Partington’s model of significance?
Partington’s model of significance is way to measure the significance of an event by assigning a value to each of it’s questions:
Importance: How important was it at the time?
Profundity: How deeply did it affect people’s lives?
Quantity: How many people’s lives were affected?
Durability: How long did it affected people’s lives for?
Relevance: How important is it to our present lives?
What is some evidence for importance?
- The Franklin listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1982
- In August of 1981, the federal leader of the Australian democrats conducted a Senate inquiry into the “the federal responsibility in assisting Tasmania to preserve its wilderness areas of national and international importance”.
- In 1981, Kevin Kiernan, Bob Brown and Bob Burton searched the valley for anything that could aid their campaign. They ended up finding Kutikina, a substantially large cave which they found to be home to 75,000 artefacts and 250,000 animal bone fragments.
- In December of 1981, the Power Referendum returned it’s results, with around 47% of Tasmanians vote for the original Gordon below Franklin scheme, about 8% for the Gordon above Olga scheme, and 45% vote informally with more than 33% of voters writing “No Dams” on their ballot papers.
- Bob Brown stated that “flooding the Franklin would be like putting a scratch on the Mona Lisa”
What is some evidence for profundity?
- A federal Cabinet decision made in May of 1983 concluded the need to consider projects—including those in ‘high technology industries—that could provide employment for Tasmanians.
- The issue caused violence between groups.
What is some evidence for quantity?
- In terms of the on-site blockades, 6,000 people registered to help, nearly 1,500 protectors of the wilderness were arrested and 600 went in paddy wagons across the island, overnight, to Risdon Prison
- In 1980 about 10,000 people marched the streets of Hobart protesting against the proposed dam
- Between 20,000 and 25,000 people turned out to save the Franklin in Hobart
What is some evidence for durability?
- The Franklin Dam dispute was one of Australia’s largest political controversies which lasted over five years
- Conservationists have marked the 30th anniversary of the Franklin Dam blockade, but the issue continues to divide opinion in Tasmania
- All up, 1,272 protesters would be arrested over the four months to March 1983
What is some evidence for relevance?
- Many of the Franklin protestors would go on to be leaders of the Greens. The major success of the Franklin Dam protests prove that power in number and voices could create substantial environmental change, this idea encouraging the formation of the national Greens party in 1992. Today, the Greens not only speak for the environment but also on behalf of people who are disadvantaged in our society: children, refugees, students, people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and individuals and families living in poverty
- Each year, a few hundred people tackle the eight-day journey down the wild Tasmanian rafting river. For former blockaders who helped prevent it being dammed, the trip has added poignancy
- The Franklin Dam protests proved the importance of politics within the heart of environmentalism, and 50 years on, there are Green parties in over 90 countries in the world, six in European countries and New Zealand
What legislation was proposed to save the dam?
In March of 1983, the Australian Labor Party under Bob Hawke passes regulations under the existing National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975, and then passes the World Heritage Properties Conservation Act 1983, which prohibits Franklin River dam-related clearing, excavation and building activities that had been authorized by Tasmanian state legislation.
How was the issue brought before high court?
In May of 1983 The issue is brought before the High Court, Commonwealth v Tasmania. The government of Tasmania claims that as the right to legislate for the environment was not named in the Constitution, and was thus a residual power held by the states, that the World Heritage Properties Conservation Act 1983 was unconstitutional. The federal government, however, claimed that they had the right to do so, under the ‘external affairs’ provision of the Constitution as, by passing legislation blocking the dam’s construction, they were fulfilling their responsibilities under an international treaty (the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, Australia having signed and ratified that convention and the Franklin River having been listed on it). The Commonwealth government also argued that the federal legislation was supported by the constitutional powers of a federal government to pass laws about corporations and about the people of any race (in this case the aboriginal race, whose sacred caves along the Franklin would have been inundated). A ruling gave the federal government the power to legislate on any issue if necessary to enforce an international treaty and has been the subject of controversy ever since. The Franklin River is saved!
What is the essay structure?
Introduction:
- General outline (general statement, background information, context)
- Thesis (answer to question, central idea)
- Arguments (outline arguments to support thesis)
Body Paragraphs:
- Point (main point, topic sentence)
- Evidence (introduce first evidence)
- Explanation (explain and analyze evidence)
- Example (provide specific examples to reinforce point
- Evaluation (evaluate or analyze example)
Link (Link to paragraph argument, central idea of next paragraph)
Conclusion:
- Restate thesis (central idea and answer to question)
- Summarize arguments (recap arguments and summarize evidence)
Closing statement (broader statement, historical significance, final thought)
