Interdependent Power

1. Interdependent
Power
The story of the Bentley Blockade and
Metgasco
“ We'renot protestorswe'reprotectors. A slight, but massive, paradigmshift”
Bentley Renewables Pledge

2. Is power something that belongs only to the powerful, those possessing the
material resources?
If so, how do those lacking access to traditionally conceptualised ‘power
resources’ succeed? Frances Fox Piven argues that traditional theories of power
fail to adequately account for the (even mediated) successes of protest
movements that lack the material means often associated with power (Piven,
2008 p. 3).
Image 1
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3. She instead advances a theory of interdependent power which is “rooted in the
social and cooperative relations in which people are enmeshed by virtue of group
life” (Piven, 2008, p. 5). Notably, despite the growing power of multinational
corporations fostered by globalisation, Piven argues that globalisation is in fact
good news for those wishing to exercise interdependent ‘power from
below’ (2008, p. 7-8). How do environmental movements exercise this
interdependent power when they do not provide a service such as labour to those
they are fighting against?
Image 2 3

4. The Bentley Blockade
Set amongst rolling hills, in idyllic countryside, just such a struggle for power
and influence continues, and the ‘underdogs’ have drawn first blood, so to speak.
The Bentley Blockade has been in effect since February 2014 in an effort to
prevent gas giant Metgasco from drilling and fracking on arable farm land.
Metgasco’s exploration licence has been suspended pending community
consultation and and ICAC investigation.
Image 3
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5. “CROWN LANDS ACT 1989 - SECT 171
Exclusion of minerals, other reservations, exceptions etc”
The first hurdle successful movements must overcome according to Piven,
is to break the rules, and the Bentley Blockade ‘protectors’ have certainly
met this condition. Section 171 of the Crown Lands Act 1989 (NSW)
dictates that the sale, lease or disposal of land “does not include the sale,
lease or disposal of any minerals contained in the land” (Crown Lands Act
1989, S171).
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Image 4 -
NSW
Certificate
of Title
where
minerals are
listed as
excluded

6. So, whilst the farmers and
residents own the land, they do not
own the minerals and as such have
no legal right to prevent Metgasco
from mining or exploring under a
licence.
Image 5 - Metgasco Licence Map: PEL 16 covers Bentley
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7. Nevertheless, that is just what the
local residents have done, even in
the face of threatened police
action. Note this protesters
reference to staying on private
property because it is “the safety
zone” under the Enclosed Lands
Act. They attempt to comply with
as many rules as they can, whilst
breaking those they must.
Image 6
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8. Additionally, the Bentley Blockaders are
working toward being ‘off grid’ and
sustainable by generating solar power for
the camp rather than relying on companies
like Metgasco for their power.
The second hurdle, according to Piven
(2008, p. 9) that the protectors have
overcome, is that they have recognised that
Metgasco requires their co-operation
(mainly to get out of the way). In this aspect
the Bentley Blockade has an advantage over
a movement such as a labour movement:
they do not require pay or any other form of
compensation from the corporation they are
disrupting, so their activities are less likely
to result in personal lack of resources.
Image 7 - the beginning of solar for Bentley
Image 8 - solar power fruition
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9. The third and fourth obstacles identified by Piven (2008, pp. 10-11) that the protectors have
overcome are those of coordinating an ongoing disruption, whilst maintaining subsistence
activities. The Bentley movement have utilised the internet to mobilise enough protestors on
a rotational basis, so there can be an uninterrupted presence on site, whilst individuals are
able to also maintain their home, work, and school commitments or alternatively, to live on
camp and commute directly to work.
Image 9
Image 10
Image 11
All from
the web
address
shown in
Image 9
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10. Musicians such as Jon Butler and
Xavier Rudd (Image 12), amongst
many others ( have added their
musical talents to the general air of
festivity (Image 13). Whilst the
Blockade has only won the first
stage so far, they are fully capable
of ‘staying the distance’.
The fifth hurdle that the protectors
have overcome is that of
navigating disruption in social
relationships and networks. In fact,
it seems that the movement is
creating or strengthening social
relationships.
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11. It would seem then, that environmental movements like the Bentley
Blockade, whilst having less in the way of labour to withhold in aid of their
cause, are still very capable of mobilising interdependent power and using
the internet to great effect.
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12. References
Benltley Renewable Pledge. (2014). About. https://www.facebook.com/
renewables4bentley/info [Facebook About page]. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
Crown Lands Act 1989, Section 171. Available from http://www.austlii.edu.au. Accessed 25
May 2014
Piven, Frances Fox. 2008. Can Power from Below Change the World? American
Sociological Review, Vol 73, No. 1, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25472511
Accessed 24 August 2011
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