The Coconut Revolution

⁣This is the modern-day story of a Black native peoples' remarkable victory
over western colonial terrorism. A Pacific island rose up in arms against
giant mining corporation Rio Tinto Zinc (RTZ) - and won despite a
military occupation and blockade. When RTZ decided to step up production
at the Panguna Mine on the island of Bougainville, they got more than
they bargained for.

The island's Black people had enough of seeing their environment ruined and
being treated as pawns by RTZ. RTZ refused to compensate them, so the
people decided it was time to put an end to outside interference in the
islands affairs. To do this they forcibly closed down the mine.

The Papua New Guinea Army (PNGDF) were mobilized in an attempt to put
down the rebellion. The newly formed Bougainville Revolutionary Army
(BRA) began the fight with bows & arrows and sticks & stones.
Against a heavily armed adversary they still managed to retain control
of most of their island.

Realizing they were beaten on the ground, the PNGDF imposed a gunboat
blockade around Bougainville, in an attempt to strangle the BRA into
submission. But the blockade seemed to have little or no effect. With no
shipments getting in or out of the island, how did new electricity
networks spring up in BRA held territory? How were BRA troops able to
drive around the island without any source of petrol or diesel?

What was happening within the blockade was an environmental and
spiritual revolution. The ruins of the old Panguna mine were being
recycled... to supply the raw materials for the worlds first
eco-revolution.