firsttake Posted February 26, 2004 Share Posted February 26, 2004 i hate politics, but i thought this was hilarious... http://www.elimin8.net/12oz/CKN1G_operahousegraffiti,0.jpg'> taken from: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/18/...7749748004.html The Opera House sails will be guarded 24 hours a day, seven days a week after two protesters climbed to the top of one and painted "No War" before being arrested yesterday. The incident is an embarrassment after security was upgraded at the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge last November because of the growing risk of terrorist attack. Opera House chief executive Norman Gillespie said the extra guards had been decided on following a security review in the wake of this morning's incident. "While we respect the right of Australians to protest, it was a totally unacceptable way of doing it," he said. "To deface such a wonderful icon ... It was an act of reckless vandalism, totally unacceptable." After being led down from the sails by Police Rescue, British astronomer Dr Will Saunders, 42, and Australian David Burgess, a 33-year-old environmental campaigner from Bucketty, NSW, were charged with malicious damage and "climbing a structure and painting it''. The malicious damage charge carries a maximum penalty of 5 years jail. Dr Saunders, who has lived in Sydney for three years, has also been detained by police under the Migration Act. Burgess told smh online: ``The majority of Australians are against this war. This is a message to John Howard: please do not go''. He said ``a national icon is nothing compared to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people''. When questioned about his malicious damage charge, he said: ``Our prime minister is about to go in and maliciously damage an entire nation''. Asked whether the protest was worth it, Burgess replied: ``Absolutely it was''. Saunders told journalists: ``I love your country'' and insisted he would have made the same protest in London, on the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, had he been there. He said he was ``not worried'' about the malicious damage charge. ``If war isn't the ultimate damage, I don't know what is'', he said. Both men were released on bail this afternoon after being charged, on condition they not enter the CBD until the mention of their case at the Downing Centre local court on April 16. Saunders said he was ``very much in need of a cup of tea'' after he was released by police. Police said the incident happened at 8.56am. The intruders were first spotted by security guards on closed circuit TV. Guards called police when they couldn't talk them down. Superintendent Phil Rogerson of The Rocks police station said the incident was "a wake up call for everybody in Australia". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Dazzle Posted February 26, 2004 Share Posted February 26, 2004 Dude....that was like over a year ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WebsterUno Posted February 26, 2004 Share Posted February 26, 2004 :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Quickwood Posted February 26, 2004 Share Posted February 26, 2004 old news buddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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