Tell the truth: Stop destroying the future of Tasmania’s working families

Timber Communities Australia An Open Letter to all Supporters and Members of the Wilderness Society
It’s time to tell the truth that like modern European mills, dioxins in the treated effluent will not be detectable. That the level of dioxins stated in the approval conditions will be a ten times less than US EPA drinking water standards, and that the approval conditions are a worst-case scenario.
1 May 2009
The Wilderness Society Inc
C/- Anti Pulp Mill HQ
Launceston, Tasmania 7001
An Open Letter to all Supporters and Members of the
Wilderness Society
TELL THE TRUTH
STOP DESTROYING THE FUTURE OF TASMANIA’S
WORKING FAMILIES
SCRAP THE JOB DESTROYING FINANCIAL TIMES ADVERTISEMENT
Activist groups including the Wilderness Society have announced a campaign to target
foreign banks by running an advertisement in the Financial Times. We urge you to
withdraw from this socially divisive and destructive act.
Timber workers, working families and communities that depend upon the sustainable and
lawful harvest of our multiple use native forests and purpose grown plantations urge you
to tell the truth about the remarkable achievements of Tasmania’s forest management and
the approved Bell Bay pulp mill.
Forest contractors, timber workers, small businesses and community members are urging
you to tell the truth about the environmental credentials of this green pulp mill. To tell the
truth that the World Bank has funded similar modern ECF mills throughout the world
with spectacular success in terms of local economies and local environment.
The value adding Bell Bay pulp mill will only downstream process pulp wood from
plantations and managed regrowth forests. No old growth forests will be impacted by
the mill.
Tasmania has 97.5% (2 million hectares) of its wilderness in reserves. None of its
wilderness will be affected by the mill’s activity.
The approved Tasmanian pulp mill at the Bell Bay industrial estate has been designed to
the most rigorous environmental standards. These standards have been endorsed by the
World Bank’s International Finance Corporation.
We urge you to tell the truth about the social and economic benefit of the mill. How it
will create 2,500 jobs – that’s 2,500 families as well as hundreds of small businesses
that will be supported through the Global Financial Crisis. This is at a time when jobs are
at an all-time premium.
We ask that you tell the truth about the failed legal action that cost your Society almost a
half a million dollars in legal fees and confirmed that the Federal Government had fully
assessed this project. The truth means that the mill WILL fully meet the Equator
Principles set by the world’s banking community and the United Nations Principles of
Responsible Investment. [see attached assessment]
It’s time to tell the truth that like modern European mills, dioxins in the treated effluent
will not be detectable. That the level of dioxins stated in the approval conditions will be a
ten times less than US EPA drinking water standards, and that the approval
conditions are a worst case scenario.
As a registered Australian business we ask that you comply to advertising standards and
tell the truth about how the CSIRO has assessed the air quality, how the Chief Scientist
expert panel fully assessed the mill and how the water pipeline supplying the mill will
use less than 1% of available water, and how easement has already been secured along
the majority of the route, and that there are alternative routes in areas still being
negotiated.
It is time to tell the truth that the Tamar Valley desperately needs the jobs to be created
by the pulp mill, and needs the existing jobs in the forest industry that will be saved by
the Bell Bay pulp mill.
Tasmania currently has 47% of its native forest reserved for conservation, almost
five times the target set by the WWF, the IUCN and the Convention on biological
diversity. TRUE. We urge you to tell the truth about this remarkable achievement and
that you use your advertising skills to promote the real facts about forest management in
Tasmania.
Do not sell out Tasmania’s future, its tourist industry, its workers and their families in
your campaign. Do not destroy Tasmania’s international reputation for sustainable and
balanced development.
As ordinary Tasmanians we demand you come clean. Tell the truth, and stop selling
out and hurting our families.
SIGNED
Eva Down Ferdie Kroon
Northern Regional Coordinator
Timber Communities Australia Tasmanian Forest Contractors Association
Scott MacLean
Secretary
CFMEU Forestry Division
Gunns Approved Pulp Mill to meet Principles of Responsible
Investment and the Equator Principles
An examination of annual reports lodged with the Australian Stock exchange
shows that Gunns Limited complies with the Principles of Responsible
Investment issued by the United Nations1:
1. Incorporates environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG)
issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes.

2. Are active owners and incorporate ESG issues into ownership
policies and practices

3. Seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues
4. Promotes acceptance and implementation of the Principles within
the investment industry

5. Work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the
Principles

6. Reports on activities and progress towards implementing the
Principles

From documents lodged with the Federal Government for the pulp mill project to
be approved under the Australia’s (A High-Income OECD Country) Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act it is clear that the following Equator
Principles adopted by the World Bank2 have been met:
Principle 1: Review and Categorisation
Principle 2: Social and Environmental Assessment
Principle 3: Applicable Social and Environmental Standards
Principle 4: Action Plan and Management System
Principle 5: Consultation and Disclosure
Principle 6: Grievance Mechanism
Principle 7: Independent Review
Principle 8: Covenants
Principle 9: Independent Monitoring and Reporting
Principle 10: EPFI Reporting
1 United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative and UN Global Compact, 2008 The PRI
Initiative http://www.unpri.org/
2 World Bank/IFC, 2008 World Bank Guidelines and Criteria Referenced in the Equator Principles http://www.equatorprinciples.
com/index.shtml