Jail Time

It is my understanding that the purpose of the state is to establish
conditions under which people may realise to the fullest their potential. 
The responsibility extends to future people.  When the state fails this
responsibility, the individual must challenge its authority.

The NSW government supports the export of Australian hardwood chips.  I
believe this industry compromises the opportunities of future Australians to
realise their full potential.  I therefore see it as my duty as a citizen to
challenge this industry and the state which supports it.

On October 16, 1991, I protested at the Kooragang Island woodchip export
facility.

In the course of that protest I disobeyed a law of the state of NSW.  I fully
understood the consequences of this action.  I was fined $265 or six days
jail.

After challenging the role of the state in this industry, I will not turn
around and request that the state mitigate the consequences.  Further, I will
not financially reward the state for its actions, and so that leaves one
outcome, jail.

I hope that upon witnessing the suffering the state imposes upon me, officers
of the state, and other, may understand the sincerity with which I hold my
beliefs.  People might then compare my beliefs with the motivations behind
the woodchip industry: next year's profit margin.

Within ten years or so, the Daishowas of this world will quit Australia's
native forests for cheaper eucalypt plantations overseas.  Many timber
workers will be consigned to the industrial scrap heap.  No doubt the short
sighted leaders of the Australian timber industry will again point the bone
at the greenies.  My hope is that the timber workers see through this scam,
and join together with other small operators to create truly sustainable
forest industries in this country.

Alas, until then the place for the honest person in a state which fosters
environmental injustice, is in jail.

I spent six days in Maitland maximum security facility. I shared a cell with
two men in for various violent crimes. They were friendly and at no time
inside did I feel threatened. I was allowed access to books I took in with
me, and spent most of my time reading. We had a TV in our cell. The
authorities piped in a video each night. On two nights I was appalled by the
nature of the videos shown. One night we were treated to a documentary style
movie of an 18 year old on a killing rampage through South Dakota in the
fifties. This guy shot just about everybody he met. He ended up going to the
electric chair unrepentant saying "at least they'll remember me"! A couple of
strategically placed letters upon release soon had a little storm happening.
If the state is going to repress me for challenging it, it is going to pay
all the way! (They were bloody terrible movies too!)

I think activists in Australia should face the 'big stick' of the
government's repression whenever necessary. The lack of fear in the mind of
the activist may free them to even wider possibilities in future actions.
Plus, the action of going to jail, in itself, seems to create whole hosts of
new opportunities for spreading the word about change and effective means to
achieve it. As one famous Novocastrian refrained in the 70's - never let a
chance go by.
James Langley