Activists who oppose nuclear energy and its waste blocked a busy street in the central business district of Melbourne in Australia on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 to let themselves be known and heard with regard to their cause. The main problem is that unauthorized protests do not belong on city streets — just as they do not belong on access roads at airports.
Unauthorized Protests Do Not Belong on City Streets.
A car was parked on the tram tracks outside of the world headquarters of Broken Hill Proprietary Company — which is more familiarly known as BHP and is a multinational mining company that has been in business since 1851 — on Collins Street between Swanston Street and Russell Street.
Activists who were dressed in white hazardous material suits completely stopped vehicular traffic on the busy street and caused trams to be suspended for approximately two hours. Some of the protesters stood on black metal drums that mimicked radioactive waste; while other activists ignited flares and released orange smoke into the air. Banners sported messages such as “NUCLEAR NEVER SAFE”.
Approximately 20 people who were involved in the disruptive anti-nuclear demonstration were removed from the street by law enforcement officers. At least three people inside the vehicle — one of whom secured himself to the steering wheel with a bicycle lock — were expected to be charged with public nuisance, obstructing a roadway, and failing to obey a direction of a police officer. One woman was expected to receive a penalty notice for lighting a flare.
The protest was part of wider demonstrations that were linked to the Fukushima National Day of Action, which marked 14 years since the nuclear disaster resulted from a major earthquake which occurred off the coast of Japan with a magnitude of 7.2 on the Richter scale. That earthquake was only a precursor to another major earthquake with a magnitude of 8.9 on the Richter scale which caused extensive damage, the reported closing of major airports in Japan, and electrical power outages — as well as flash flooding caused by the resulting tsunamis. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant suffered a triple meltdown after the two major earthquakes and tsunami which occurred in Japan back in March of 2011.
The topic of nuclear power has become controversial in Australia as its upcoming federal election nears, with the members of one political party pushing for nuclear reactors to power the country; while the other party remains opposed.
Final Boarding Call
I just happened to be walking down Collins Street in Melbourne when the demonstration suddenly started to happen.
Although the protest was mostly peaceful, it was also disruptive and unlawful. Innocent people who were simply attempting to go about their day were greatly — and unnecessarily — inconvenienced. My guess is that most of those people who were impacted by the protests ultimately did not sympathize with the cause of the activists when all was said and done.
The activists have every right to peacefully protest whatever cause in which they truly believe; and I fully support that right — whether or not I agree with their cause…
…but numerous other more appropriate places to be heard are available than blocking streets in a city or the access roads of airports. Needlessly inconveniencing people typically does not solve problems or issues. Rather, more problems and issues are usually caused — as well as increased animosity towards the people who attempt to advance their cause.
I am not sure what I would do if activists disrupted my day or impeded me from access to an airport and prevented me from getting to the gate on time for my flight…
…and I would rather not find out.
All photographs ©2025 by Brian Cohen.
