Paul Oosting Wilderness Society Press Release
8,000 people march the streets of Launceston in a massive display of opposition to Gunns’ pulp mill
And, the crowd: 8000 or 3000? …
TODAY well over 8000 people marched through the streets of Launceston to rally against Gunns’ pulp mill. The rally began at Civic Square and culminated in City Park with speeches from gardening personality Peter Cundall, Geoff Law of The Wilderness Society, Lee Bell of the National Toxics Network and Tasmanian Senator Christine Milne.
The pulp mill is proposed for the Tamar River near Bell Bay in northern Tasmania by woodchip giant Gunns Limited. If it proceeds the mill will eventually consume 4 million tonnes of logs each year. Because it is a chlorine-bleaching mill, it will produce hundreds of tonnes of organochlorines each year, which contain some of the most toxic substances known to science.
“Today’s fantastic turn-out is a show of strength against the pulp mill which will pollute the air and sea and devastate our native forests if it goes ahead,” said Geoff Law.
Mr Law spoke strongly against the destruction of the forests and the worsening plight of endangered species such as the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle if the mill goes ahead.
Mr Bell of the National Toxics Network warned of the likelihood of toxic contaminants entering the sea, the groundwater and air if the pulp mill proceeds.
Greens Senator Christine Milne said that the pulp mill would undermine Tasmania’s reputation as a clean, green place to live and invest, and would exacerbate Tasmania’s contribution to global warming.
Mr Cundall spoke of the determination of Tasmanians to defend the natural beauty and lifestyle of their island against large-scale industrial developments that consume the native forests and pollute the environment.
Christine Milne Press Release
MEDIA RELEASE
Saturday, 16 September 2006
Huge pulp mill rally puts Howard on notice in Bass
Not since the days of the Wesley Vale pulp mill has rural Tasmania rallied against a project in the way that people took to the streets in Launceston today, Australian Greens Senator for Tasmania Christine Milne said.
“Just as the community rallied in support of the Wesley Vale farmers they are now rallying in support of rural communities where wholesale destruction of native forests is occurring and plantations are driving families off the land,” Senator Milne said after addressing the rally.
“The people of the Tamar Valley do not want the air pollution that will emanate from the mill and I challenge the federal and state governments to explain why pulp mill missions have been exempted from Tasmania’s clean air legislation and national standards have been weakened three times over to accommodate the pollution.
“With Australia expecting an horrendous drought this summer, with lower than average spring rains forecast and higher than average temperatures what fool would direct 26 billion litres of water a year to a pulp mill and then as pollution into Bass Strait?
“Prime Minister John Howard received a hostile reception when he went to Braddon recently because he has been putting the interests of rich city investors keen to minimise their tax ahead of local farmers.
“His reception is likely to be even worse in Bass as opposition to the pulp mill grows.
“The strong turn out today should signal to Prime Minister Howard that taxpayers do not want their dollars directed as subsides to Gunns.”
Those differing crowd estimates, Suntas, 8,000; ABC, 3,000:
Sunday Tasmanian: 8000 say no to pulp mill
ABC: Anti-pulp mill rally a warning to PM, Greens say
