Santos Tour Down Under 2012 - highlights

This is the way Santos treats peaceful protesters!

What happened to the right to free speech!

As a result of the rough handling - one of the protesters a 65 year old woman had her fingernail ripped out. Both woman at the end's of the banner had bruisers on there arms.

Event organisers did not attempt to open a dialogue with the protesters - instead they stole the banner and have not returned it - despite attempts to have it returned.

The peaceful protesters from Lock the Gate members did the right thing and had discussions with SA police about their intentions to hold a peaceful protest and declared they had no interest in disrupting the event or doing anything which would place bike riders in danger.

The behavior of the people who ripped away the banner and speed off shows a complete disregard to the rights to freedom of speech.

Santo's is largely responsible for 'fracking' down under - and people have a right to be upset given the concerns surrounding coal seam gas and the fracking processes.

for more information about Lock the Gate see: http://lockthegate.org.au/

Update: The event organisers apologised for this incident and returned the banner to the police for collection. The group went on today to hold another peaceful protest for the last day of the TDU.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• activism

[LibCon00]

ummm looked like the tour down under staff removing it, not santos employees

[twindify]

@LibCon00 Yes indeed it was the event staff - however as the event staff stated they are one in the same - and the event staff where directed to 'get rid of it'...

[theabocNathan]

It is DANGEROUS for the cyclists... You have all the right in the world to demonstrate, but if the wind blows that sign up and it gets caught in the riders wheels, WOW a crash like that could drown you message out..

[twindify]

@theabocNathan a valid concern - if the event staff asked the peaceful protesters to move the banner to be behind the railing they would of happily obliged - indeed they did for another protest on the final day of the TDU, however to physically assault and steal the banner with no attempt of dialogue is wrong.event the general manager of the event apologised and the protesters are not taking it any further. However there is a deep seeded reason for the protest

[EMC2Scotia]

Look forward to seeing this story on every prime time news service in the next few days, Santos, and the TDU event organisers, just needlessly bought themselves an awful lot of negative publicity, and much sympathy and support for a protest group not many of us would have heard about prior. I hope charges of unlawful theft and assault are laid against the individuals in that car.

[twindify]

@EMC2Scotia please spread through your networks - this video is established through creative commons.

[ionplanet]

after selling so much spin on TV ads,Woodfod Folk Festival & sports sponsorships, Santos don't want to be linked with fracking & TOXIC CONTAMINATION OF FARMS & WATERWAYS... most embarrassing. ...so good u filmed them stealing that sign.

[cazzajecko]

Need to hire an aeroplane banner next time.

[jonbiddell]

@twindify That has to be assault of the protesters at the very least

[MyBarry2009]

@LibCon00 You mean stealing it ?

[TamaraOtello]

@theabocNathan I ran the rally, there was little wind and plenty of people holding it, it had no hope of blowing away, they only got it as I was scared someone was going to get hurt and called to let it go, as it was two 65yo plus women sustained minor injuries to their hands and bruising to the arms, we got the banner back under threat of reporting it stolen, the police did not intervene at any stage

[Olylama]

@scottleaver9 Santos bankrolled the whole thing. Thats how they were involved. Ok so removing it might have been a safety thing, but wow so aggressive huh?

[theabocNathan]

@twindify If they had of moved the banner behind the rails it would not have been seen and hence the protest would have been moot.. But Agreed their probably should have been better dialogue.. I'm a competitive cyclist and the dangers that an unsecured banner can cause are horrible.. But the right to peaceful protest is something I also believe in. I thank you for being able to see my view point and I also understand yours...

[twindify]

@MyBarry2009 feel free to circulate this video where ever you would like - it is established with creative commons.rights