Environment
60 police raid camp
ED HILL Still Wild Still Threatened
60 Police have raided camp Florentine this morning 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. A Hobart man has already been arrested for being in the exclusion zone. More arrests are expected today.
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Police try to gain access to an activist that is in a tunnel approximately one metre deep below a van blocking a logging road in the Florentine Valley. Police tape marks the suspected extent of the tunnel.
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Four Upper Florentine Arrests, Forestry Tasmania Employee Assaults Two Female Conservationists.
Four conservations have been arrested this morning, as they stopped gravel trucks from entering a quarry. The trucks are taking quarried gravel to the controversial old growth logging road.
Conservationists were physically prevented from leaving the quarry area by Forestry Tasmania employees, with two people assaulted by Forestry Tasmania employee Scott Marriot, including kicking one female protestor.
Two of the arressted will appear in Hobart magistrates court this morning.
“These assaults by a Forestry Tasmania employee are outrageous. Will David Bartlett condemn this violence as strongly as he vilifies peaceful protestors standing up for Tasmania’s ancient forests?These kind of actions demonstrate who the real extremists in the Upper Florentine are,” Ed Hill said
A conservationist has locked their arms into a barrel filled with concrete to prevent access to the quarry. The quarry is outside the exclusion zone on an area of public land .
When police arrived at the scene they immediatley arrested the three other conservationists for “public nuisance”.
“We see these heavy handed tactics, as an attempt by Tasmania police to intimidate conservationists for standing up for Tasmania’s forests. In the past when police have used the public nuisance charge against conservationists it has been thrown out in court. This is an attempt by Tasmnaia Police to silence and restrict peaceful protest activity even though they know that their pathetic charges will not stand up in court.” Said spokesperson Ed Hill
“Tasmania police need to understand that the public will not be silenced on this issue and that their intimadtory tactics will not silence the will of forests campaigners to stand up and defend these natural wonders.”
“It’s a shame to see Tasmania police once again looking after the interests of wood chipping barons Gunns Ltd, by protecting them from the public’s disapproval; of their wholesale destruction of our iconic old growth forests.”
The felling of ancient trees in the area has begun and futher stop work protests and arrests are expected to take place today, in conjunction with the midday rally at parliament lawns.
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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.stillwildstillthreaatened.org
stillwildstillthreatened@gmail.com www.myspace.com/stillwildstillthreatened
PO Box 295. South Hobart TAS 7004
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MEDIA RELEASE
6/5/09 7am
POLICE REMOVE TREE PLATFORM, TREE SITTER REMAINS UP.
LOGGING OF COUPE 44A TO COMMENCE.
MIDDAY PROTEST AT PARLIAMENT LAWNS
Another tree platform has been removed by police late yesterday afternoon; the person occupying the platform has climbed away from police and remains up the tree.
Logging machinery is expected to arrive at the controversial old growth coupe 44A this morning. Conservationists will stay in the area to continue protesting and to monitor operations. At least five Police have maintained a presence in the area throughout the night, in a semi permanent mobile police station bus that has been established on the site.
“Tasmania Police will again show the public whose interests they represent as they personally escort logging machinery into this pristine wilderness forest.”
“Today we will bear witness to mass destruction of this pristine ancient eco-system,
We will watch trees that were mature when Abel Tasman first sighted this island in 1642, come down in an instant.”
“These natural wonder’s of the world should be treasured and nurtured, instead they are systematically destroyed inch by inch and then napalmed from the air to leave no trace at all. Today is a sad day not just for Tasmania but the whole world, as these globally significant world heritage valued forests are rushed to the chip mill.” Spokesperson Ed Hill said.
“Tasmania should be leading the world in sustainable forest management instead of wiping the last old growth area’s off the face of the planet forever.”
“David Bartlett has a responsibility to protect these final old growth stands, for the future of Tasmania and for global biodiversity retention and climate stability.”
A rally at parliament lawns will be held at midday today to support conservationists still in the Upper Florentine and call on David Bartlett to immediately cease operations in the area.Senator Christine Milne will address the gathering.
Further protests are expected throughout the day in the Upper Florentine
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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.stillwildstillthreaatened.org
stillwildstillthreatened@gmail.com www.myspace.com/stillwildstillthreatened
PO Box 295. South Hobart TAS 7004
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A Man has been arrested this morning after being removed from a tree by police this morning.
The man spent all night in the tree sitting on a branch, after police removed his platform yesterday. Two more conservationists remain up trees defying police orders to come down.
Still Wild Still Threatened has today released maps that disprove Forestry Tasmania’s claims that 90% of the Upper is unavailable Florentine is available for harvesting.
“Forestry’s track record of telling the truth speaks for itself. If Forestry Tasmania think they can make false claims that suit their own interests without members of the public scrutinizing their claims then they have underestimated the publics concern over this issue.”
“The maps clearly show that the majority of tall eucalypt forest is not protected, and is available or wholesale wood chip driven destruction”
“Forestry claim they have the support of the general public, if that was the case then they wouldn’t be making false claims to try and convince Tasmanian’s that their operations are sustainable. They are clearly not.” Said spokes person Ed Hill
The woman removed from the tunnel yesterday is still waiting to appear in Hobart magistrates court.
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FOOTAGE AND STILLS AVAILABLE SOON.
MAPS ATTACHED AS PDF FILE.
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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.stillwildstillthreaatened.org
stillwildstillthreatened@gmail.com www.myspace.com/stillwildstillthreatened
PO Box 295. South Hobart TAS 7004
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MEDIA RELEASE
3/5/09
Police move in so logging may begin.
Three conservationists are positioned 50 m up tree platforms blocking the access road and log landing.
Two conservationists are chained to vehicles cemented into the road. Another is occupying a tunnel that has been dug under the road preventing access to the old growth logging area.
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.
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.stillwildstillthreaatened.org
stillwildstillthreatened@gmail.com www.myspace.com/stillwildstillthreatened
PO Box 295. South Hobart TAS 7004
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MEDIA RELEASE 4th MAY 2009
LOGGING IN UPPER FLORENTINE: AN OPPORTUNITY LOST
The Wilderness Society today described logging in the Upper Florentine as unnecessary when the demand for woodchips and sawlogs has dropped.
In March it was revealed by Forestry Tasmania that high quality sawlogs were being processed into lower-value veneer, due to a ‘6 to 7 per cent downturn in demand for sawlogs because of the national housing slump.’ [1]
The Tasmanian Government should be using the current recession to consider new ways of managing our forests into the future: ways that increase job opportunities for Tasmanian families, that protect our water resources into the future, and that reduce Tasmania’s carbon emissions.
“Forestry Tasmania has admitted that up to 90% of the wood from the Upper Florentine would end up as woodchips, yet woodchip mills are reducing output and there is low market demand for high quality sawlogs. There is no need to log this forest at this time,” said Vica Bayley, spokesperson for The Wilderness Society.
“The forests of the Upper Florentine are of recognised World Heritage-value and represent a massive bank of stored carbon that would be released into the atmosphere on logging.
“Targeting these forests is a climate crime, and will make it much harder for Tasmania to meet its reduction targets. The Tasmanian Government should take this opportunity to reconsider its approach to forest management in this state,” concluded Mr Bayley.
Vica Bayley
Tasmanian Campaign Director
The Wilderness Society (Tasmania) Inc
130 Davey St, Hobart TAS 7000
Email: vica.bayley@wilderness.org.au
Website: www.wilderness.org.au
[1] http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2009/03/12/60671_tasmania-news.html
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MEDIA RELEASE 5/5/09
Police have used questionable methods for removing a woman from a tunnel under the road late yesterday afternoon. A large excavator was used to dig the woman out of the tunnel. Police removed all protesters from the legal viewpoint on Gordon River rd, so no filming of the excavation could take place. Media crews had left the site earlier. The arrested woman from Hobart is being held in remand in the city along with the Hobart man arrested early yesterday morning.
Police are continuing to dismantle the elaborate system of tree sits and road blocks today. The arrival of logging machinery is now imminent however logging is yet to commence.
Support in numbers is expected throughout the day as the community rallies to support the blockade.
A peaceful rally is planned for today in solidarity with people still occupying the ancient trees.
“The use of such a large machine to remove the peaceful protester from a tunnel under the road is clearly irresponsible. By removing witnesses from the legal view point on Gordon River rd, the police are making it clear that their operation is dangerous and off limits to public scrutiny.” Said spokesperson Ed Hill.
The two conservationists held on remand last night are expected to be released at 9am this morning in Hobart.
“Holding peaceful protesters overnight on remand is unnecessary and heavy handed. These people are not violent criminals or thieves. They are peaceful conservationists who are concerned about how we as a state are contributing to the decaying state of the planet. In the future these people may be regarded as heroes, history will be the judge.”
“The peaceful protesters in the Upper Florentine care about Tasmania’s environment and community and contribute to it in so many ways, yet the Tasmanian Police insist on treating them like hardened criminals by enforcing over the top remand conditions.” Said Mr Hill.
“We once again re-iterate our calls to meet with Premier Bartlett and key industry stakeholders to come to a solution to this decade’s long dispute. Premier Bartlett needs to understand that he leaves us no option but civil disobedience if he continues refusing to engage with forest campaigners.”
Protest activity is expected to escalate throughout the week.
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.stillwildstillthreaatened.org
stillwildstillthreatened@gmail.com www.myspace.com/stillwildstillthreatened
PO Box 295. South Hobart TAS 7004