Stories and images

• cultural power • the climate movement • social movement history

“Making the movement move”

Campaigners gather outside Adani's HQ in Brisbane on hearing that it had illegally started construction on the mine. Image: Alex Bainbridge/ Stop Adani

What would the Stop Adani movement be without images?

From the beginning, imagery has been crucial in “propelling” the movement – in generating the ‘political energy’ that ‘makes the movement move’:

Launching the movement: the Stop Adani Roadshow

Stop Adani was launched as a national movement with the 2017 Stop Adani roadshow.

The Roadshow was rich in visual images, portraying the Galilee Basin, the Great Barrier Reef, a mobilised movement, renewables and the impact of coal.

Images of

  • the problem

  • what is at stake, and

  • what is at risk

For the movement to take off and succeed, the threat of the Adani mine first needed to be established in the mind of climate campaigners and then the public. Stopping Adani needed to be made urgent and compelling. In achieving this, images did a lot of the work.

People taking action: images of a mobilised movement

Images of people taking action have provided a spark for others to get involved and convey the strength and vibrancy of the movement.

The movement’s “stop” sign

A stop sign signals danger, a warning, and the need to come to a halt so that everyone can remain safe. 

It’s everywhere in the movement’s imagery.

Film screenings

The visual power of the films ‘Guarding the Galilee’ and ‘A Mighty Force’ has been important in generating energy for the movement.

For many people, getting involved and staying energised has a lot to do with images in films like these.

Striking students

Images of striking students have added a new dynamic to the “political climate” in which decisions about coal and climate change are made.

Stopping Adani has been a key focus for the school strike movement in Australia.

Iconic themes, iconic locations and respected public figures

The beach, fire, farmers, water and drought, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Great Barrier Reef… for Australians, these are iconic themes. 

Through Kokoda veteran Bill Ryan, Stop Adani has also evoked the imagery of ANZAC. 

Support from figures such as Michael Caton and Missy Higgins, and from bands such as Midnight Oil adds further to the movement’s cultural power.