STILL WILD STILL THREATENED, with update
Major woodchip exports are disrupted today as forest conservationists take action at ports in Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales.
This dramatic intervention is held by conservationists around the nation outraged at the Rudd Federal Government’s failure to address the role of native forests in solving the climate crisis.
The national action comes following the expected delays in phasing in the Rudd Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, which is grossly inadequate, and fails to address the essential role native forests play in storing carbon.
“One of the cheapest and most effective ways for the Federal Government to reduce emissions immediately is to halt the export woodchipping of Australia’s native forests,” says spokesperson, Lauren Caulfield, on site at…
“Australia’s native forests are rich natural carbon stores, but they are still logged at an alarming rate. More than 80% of what is logged is turned into woodchips. Logging releases huge amounts of carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere”, says Harriet Swift, spokesperson for activists who have shut down the…
“Research by the Australian National University reveals Australia can cut greenhouse emissions by 24% by ending the logging of our native forests,” says Nils Wiebken, spokesperson for conservationists occupying…
“If Penny Wong and the Rudd Government are serious about addressing the climate crisis, then the protection of old-growth forests must be the basic part of a realistic climate change policy,” says spokesperson Warrick Jordan, on site at…
“While the international community struggles to tackle the climate crisis, in Australia we are seeing irreplaceable old-growth forests continue to fall to the chainsaws and bulldozers”, says Prue Acton.
“As a wealthy minority world nation, Australia should be leading the way in forest protection. Continuing to log and woodchip our forests in a climate crisis is a national disgrace.”
Conservationists around the nation are calling on the Rudd Government to act immediately to protect old growth forests as vital carbon banks, and to halt to export woodchipping.
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Media Release Update 1.30pm Monday 25.05.2009
Three Activists Arrested at Triabunna Climate Action
Three activists have been arrested after this morning’s climate change action at Gunns Limited’s Triabunna woodchip mill. Two were removed from a woodchip conveyor belt at around 9am, and have been charged with trespass. A third activist was arrested outside of Gunns’ property on a warrant issued regarding a recent forest action in the Upper Florentine. All three activists have been bailed. The remainder of activists were ordered to remove themselves from the area for a period of 24 hours.
Two activists have also been arrested for trespass at the Geelong woodchip export facility.
“Despite forest activists not targeting unloading machinery, Gunns closed the entire mill site, denying entry to log truck drivers, for around two hours, before subsequently allowing log trucks to enter the site and begin unloading. Around an hour later two activists were removed from the woodchip conveyor belt,” said Huon Valley Environment Centre Spokesperson Warrick Jordan.
“Indications are that Gunns may pursue legal action for this peaceful action. While peaceful activists are targeted for highlighting the destruction of ancient forest, Gunns is allowed to pollute the atmosphere with impunity. Gunns aims to protect its profits while activists are sued for protecting the future,” Warrick Jordan said.
“The exclusion of native forest logging emissions from the national carbon accounts must end, as must the destruction of old growth forest. Climate change is too serious for the Rudd and Bartlett Government’s to bury their heads in the sand and ignore the massive emissions generated by the logging of old growth forests,” Warrick Jordan said.
“To say that forestry is Australia’s only carbon positive industry is disingenuous – without proper measurement of native forest emissions the forestry industry has no grounds for making this statement. They are plucking it out of thin air,” Warrick Jordan said.
