Excavating the wild …

Ula Majewski Still Wild, Still Threatened
A ‘symbolic’ sequence of the excavator in action from Day 1 of the bust. All photos by Alan Lesheim
There is nothing quite like the silence of a freshly cut clearfell or a freshly cut aggregated retention coupe, just as there is nothing quite like the terrible roar of a chainsaw or an excavator splitting open the dawn air. In these blasted landscapes, the voice falls silent; narrative is systematically rendered nonexistent. To stand within this silence, in the choked up confusion of mud and splintered stumps, to come across the jagged remains of a tree under which you sat a few weeks before, is to truly understand the terrible parameters of ignorance and disrespect that are compelled by something as fundamental and as simple as human greed. Quote from: The cracking of our hearts: HERE

The picture sequence, media updates …

MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday, 14th January 2008
SEVEN ARRESTED SO FAR AS OVER 150 MEMBERS OF THE
TASMANIAN COMMUNITY STAND UP IN DEFENCE OF THE
UPPER FLORENTINE VALLEY
Logging coupe FO044A, Upper Florentine Valley. Photo: Rob Blakers.
At 11:15 this morning, over 150 members of the Tasmanian community took peaceful action in defense of
old growth forests located in the Upper Florentine Valley. Community members are currently conducting a
mass walk in to protest against Forestry Tasmania’s roading operations in the old growth forests of the
valley. Seven people have already been arrested, bringing the arrest count to 14 so far.
“The Tasmanian community is absolutely outraged at the environmentally criminal acts currently being
perpetrated by Forestry Tasmania in the Upper Florentine Valley. Our community is standing up and
speaking out against the continued destruction of Tasmania’s carbon dense old growth forests” said Ula
Majewski, Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson and Triabunna 13 defendant.
“Peaceful actions in defence of our ancient forests will continue over the coming days and weeks. The
Tasmanian community is sick and tired of seeing our precious old growth forests being devastated,
woodchipped and torched at the hands of climate criminals Forestry Tasmania and Gunns Limited” said Miss
Majewski.
Updates will be posted throughout the day.

MEDIA UPDATE

ONE MORE ARREST IN THE UPPER FLORENTINE VALLEY AS ONE ACTIVIST LOCKS ONTO AN EXCAVATOR AND 24 COMMUNITY MEMBERS BLOCKADE THE ROAD

One more community member has been arrested in the Upper Florentine Valley this afternoon, bringing the total for the day to 8. 24 community members peacefully blockaded the logging road 200 metres in from Gordon River Road, before being removed by police. One activist from Still Wild Still Threatened is currently locked onto an excavator to protest against Forestry Tasmania’s roading operations in the old growth forests of the Upper Florentine Valley.

Melbourne bands Milk and Rapscallion have joined the protest and are currently playing live on the site in support of Tasmania’s old growth forests.

MEDIA UPDATE

Wednesday, 14th January 2008

18 ARRESTED IN THE UPPER FLORENTINE VALLEY AS 4 ACTIVISTS CONTINUE THEIR TREETOP VIGIL

18 community members were arrested during a mass community walk-in in the Upper Florentine Valley today, including celebrated landscape photographer Geoffrey Lea. One activist locked himself onto an excavator for over 2 hours and 24 community members blockaded the logging road, but were removed by police without being arrested. Four forest defenders are still perched high in the canopy of the threatened old growth forests located in proposed logging coupe FO044A.

Melbourne bands Milk and Rapscallion played live on the Gordon River Road in support of the 150+ individuals who travelled to the valley to protest against the continued destruction of Tasmania’s old growth forests.

Adrian King, the activist who occupied a tunnel under the logging road and halted operations for over 34 hours, is expected to be bailed from the Hobart Magistrates Court at 4pm today. So far, 25 individuals have been arrested since Monday’s morning raid by police on Camp Florentine.

“Once again, we are seeing a massive swell of community support for Tasmania’s carbon dense old growth forests and outrage at the destructive roading, logging, woodchipping and burning of these precious ecosystems by local climate criminals Forestry Tasmania and Gunns Limited” said Ula Majewski, Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson and Triabunna 13 defendant.

“Our community will continue to stand up and speak out against these environmentally criminal acts. In this era of dangerous climate change, the destruction of Tasmania’s ancient forests is a global issue” said Miss Majewski.

Ula Majewski
Forest Campaigner
Still Wild Still Threatened

PO Box 295. South Hobart TAS 7004

www.stillwildstillthreatened.org