Media release – Grassroots Action Network Tasmania (GRANT), 21 January 2025
Statement on Arrest of Ruth Langford in Lutruwita’s Eastern Tiers
Grassroots Action Network Tasmania (GRANT) expresses full solidarity and admiration for respected Aboriginal community member Ruth Langford (Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung) who was this morning arrested protecting native forests in lutruwita’s Eastern Tiers. On the ground with Ruth are pakana people Carleeta Thomas and Cody Gangell.
Ruth Langford is a respected leader in both Aboriginal and wider community in lutruwita. Ruth is well known for bringing community together – creating and fighting for a different way forward in right relationship with country. To GRANT, Ruth is a generous mentor, who has shared knowledge, time and guidance as our network has grown. Her work and perspective have greatly informed GRANT on relationality and our collective obligation to protect the country we are guests upon.
Ruth’s arrest takes place as part of 20 days of action, as called for by Uncle Jim Everett – puralia meenamatta. Uncle Jim has called for a different way forward for our society, based on the preeminent law of lutruwita – recognising the history and untenable future of colonial governance.
Ruth said “As our global human society moves toward uncertainty, instability and toxicity, we choose not to be disillusioned or distressed. We choose to activate our cultural obligations and spiritual responsibilities. We choose a way that draws on the ancient wisdom of earth-honouring First Nations cultures.”
Ruth was arrested in an action organised alongside the Bob Brown Foundation (BBF). Both BBF and GRANT are mobilising alongside palawa / pakana in calling for the protection of native forests and embracing of First Nations law in country. This mobilisation is an invitation to all people living on lutruwita to stand up against the violence and negligence of the colonial system, and find a pathway forward based a commitment to truth-telling, justice and flourishing communities.
“It is clear that we cannot rely on the current colonial political systems or institutions to provide any leadership towards a healthy and vibrant way of being,” Ruth continued. “There is another way. The way home to healthy people is to nurture and sustain healthy forests and restore waterways. We must protect palawa law in country.”
GRANT believes building grassroots power is the best way to support collective liberation and combat ecosystem destruction. The fatal negligence and greed of the colonial government and corporations demand a community-led creative response. This involves steeping outside of the rules and regulations of the destructive colonial system. We call on the wider community to join us.
Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 21 January 2025
Palawa and pakana join forest protest on second day in critically endangered swift parrot habitat.
Ruth Langford Tipruthanna, Aboriginal community leader, Yorta Yorta Aboriginal woman with cultural responsibility within palawa country is today standing up against this logging on country, refusing to leave the forests that are being logged.
“Palawa elder Uncle Jim Everett puralia meenamatta has asked everyone to stand with him. To accept his call to defend and protect palawa country.”
“Native forest logging is destroying the relationship ecosystems that sustain all life. Under palawa law, we ask the question, who are the real criminals? When colonial government agencies, such as Forestry Tasmania, allow the destruction of important water catchments and increase our vulnerability to potential catastrophic fire events then we, the people, must act,” said Ruth Langford, who along with pakana people Carleeta Rose Helen Thomas and Cody Gangell, are protecting country today in the heart of Eastern Tiers forest, lutruwita / Tasmania.
“We are standing here today on land that was stolen, alongside the palawa and pakana Aboriginal people of lutruwita/ Tasmania. We are together in solidarity taking action to preserve and defend this wild country, as people have done so for thousands of generations prior to invasion,” said Erik Hayward, Bob Brown Foundation Campaigner.
“We stand with Jim Everett puralia meenamatta, pakana Aboriginal elder, to prevent these forests from being destroyed. We have been invited to support his cultural obligation to protect palawa country and we will stand tall and strong,” Erik Hayward said.
“Globally we are in a crisis of extinction and global heating. Our natural world is suffering the brunt of human-induced climate change and our forests are vital for the preservation of life.”
“Forestry Tasmania and the Rockliff government are refusing to acknowledge their role in this catastrophe. Jeremy Rockliff is sanctioning the decimation of the only swift parrot breeding grounds on our planet.”
“Without this Non-Violent Peaceful direct intervention this week, these critically important forests would be logged unimpeded, people need to know this atrocity is happening,” Erik Hayward said.
“We will stand up for these wild areas alongside the Aboriginal custodians until there is permanent and secure protection for these forests,” Erik Hayward said.