News Flash 11/5/2009 22 ARRESTS IN UPPER FLORENTINE FOREST PROTEST
22 people have been arrested today in a peaceful community action in protest to the logging of the pristine Upper Florentine valley.Click news menu item to find out more
On Morning 60 Police have raided camp Florentine to remove road blockades so that logging of the contentious area can begin. An Exclusion Zone has been declared by Forestry Tasmania, to prevent public access to the area. So far there has been 4 arrests including one person who was pulled out of a tunnel by Police using an escavator. Police have also arrested one person who was locked on in a car dragon and one who was up a tree sit. Two of the activist were placed into remand for monday night. The protest camp has been running since 2006 when Forestry Tasmania began pushing a new road through pristine wilderness forest. Despite widespread public condemnation Forestry Tasmania now plan to log 25 hectares of the first 50 hectare coupe, 80% of the timber will be wood chipped. "It's disappointing to see, once again, Tasmania Police being the public escort for Gunn's Ltd and Forestry Tasmania's ruthless plans to log our remaining old growth forests into extinction. 80% of the forest that will be logged will go to Asia to make wrapping, toilet and writing paper. Is this how we want our iconic world heritage valued forests to be remembered?"; said spokesperson Ed Hill. "The logging industry is facing massive cutbacks and a stagnant wood chip market.Ports are drowning under wood chip stockpiles, yet this government insists on continuing to decimate the pristine, carbon dense forests of the upper Florentine for woodchips."; Said Mr. Hill "This is a last ditch effort by the Bartlett Government and they're good mates Gunn's ltd to obliterate remaining old growth areas before the state of the wood chip market prevents them from doing so." ;"Given the current economic climate it is irresponsible of David Bartlett to allow our iconic, globally recognized old growth forests to be destroyed forever for short term marginal gain. David Bartlett should realize the long term value of our forests for tourism, carbon storage, habitat, clean air and water."; Said Mr. Hill Hundred's of people are expected to attend a community rally in the upper Florentine this Sunday, to support the actions of the conservationists. MEDIA CONTACT: ED HILL 0414 199 645
FOR UPDATES ON CAMP FLORENTINE PLEASE CHECK OUT NEWS MENU:
What you can do:
Come and visit the Upper Florentine Valley and support the campaign to save these precious forests.
WRITE TO THE POLITICIANS AND THE NEWSPAPERS. CALL UP YOUR LOCAL MP AND TALKBACK RADIO STATION.
Politicians need to know about your serious concerns with the destruction of the globally significant forests of the Upper Florentine Valley. Become an active citizen and exercise your democratic right to let the government know that old growth logging and the destruction of ancient ecosystems is unacceptable, and that serious changes to legislation and policy need to happen now!
Write a letter (every hand written letter is viewed as representing the opinions of 100 voters, so it's certainly worth making the extra effort) or send an email to your local federal member and any (or all!) of the following members of parliament. Make an appointment with your local MPs ... they are your employees and need to listen to your concerns.
Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper and call up talk back radio. Get the word out in the media!
The Tasmanian Government.
THE PREMIER OF TASMANIA
David Bartlett, MHA
Level 11. 15 Murray St. Hobart, TAS 7000
david.bartlett@parliament.tas.gov.au
THE LEADER OF THE LIBERAL PARTY, TASMANIAN DIVISION
Will Hodgman, MHA
Parliament House, Hobart, TAS 7000
will.hodgman@parliament.tas.gov.au
The Australian Government
THE PRIME MINISTER
The Hon. Kevin Rudd MP
PO Box 6022, House of Representatives
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Email via the PM.s website. http://www.pm.gov.au/contact/index.cfm
THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP
PO Box 6022, House of Representatives
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Malcolm.Turnbull.MP@aph.gov.au
MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, HERITAGE & THE ARTS
The Hon. Peter Garrett
PO Box 6022, House of Representatives
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Peter.garrett.MP@aph.gov.au
tellpeter@petergarrett.com.au
MINISTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATER
Senator The Hon. Penny Wong
PO Box 6237
Halifax Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Senator.wong@aph.gov.au
MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY
The Hon Tony Burke MP
PO Box 6022, House of Representatives
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Tony.Burke.MP@aph.gov.au
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENT & WATER
Mr Greg Hunt
PO Box 6022, House of Representatives
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Greg.Hunt.MP@aph.gov.au
Please contact us at stillwildstillthreatened@gmail.com for more info on what you can do to help us save the outstanding forests of the Upper Florentine Valley.
For the forests, with love and thanks, from all the crew at Still Wild Still Threatened
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Still Wild Still Threatened is a grassroots community organisation campaigning for the immediate protection of Tasmania's ancient forests and the creation of an equitable and environmentally sustainable forestry industry in Tasmania.
www.stillwildstillthreatened.org
stillwildstillthreatened@gmail.com www.myspace.com/stillwildstillthreatened
PO Box 295. South Hobart TAS 7004
