PAUL OOSTING
Greenpeace and ECA Watch highlight Andritz involvement in Gunns native forest destroying mill.
The campaign against the proposed Tasmania pulp mill moved to Austria last night as Greenpeace and local N.G.O. ECA Watch Austria staged a a spectacular action in front of the headquarters of the Austrian company Andritz (on Thursday 4 June).
Activists transformed the building’s main entrance into a tree-eating monster, pointing to the significant role Andritz will play in destroying some of the world’s last high conservation value forests.
“International efforts to stop Gunns’ pulp mill being built are ramping up. Greenpeace believes it is crucial to support the campaign to prevent Tasmania’s carbon rich forests from being destroyed,” said Greenpeace Head of Campaigns, Steve Campbell.
“The worlds forests are critical in our fight to combat climate change – any company that gets involved in a project like Gunns’ pulp mill will face huge public opposition around the globe,” said Mr Campbell.
The Austrian Export Credit Agency OeKB – which is currently assessing whether or not to be part of the funding for the pulp mill – was also targeted at the action. In July 2008, The Wilderness Society of Australia, Greenpeace Austria and ECA Watch Austria met with OeKB to inform them of the proposed pulp mills impacts.
“Any organisation considering being involved in Gunns’ pulp mill needs to be aware that they will be supporting a project which is opposed by the majority of Australians, as well as people around the world who want a safe climate and a healthy environment,” said Paul Oosting pulp mill campaigner for The Wilderness Society.
“It is fantastic to see Greenpeace and ECA Watch take the campaign to stop Gunns’ pulp mill to other parts of the world,” concluded Mr Oosting.
FOR IMAGE USE: Please use as copyright (c) Greenpeace/Prinz Kurt
ENDS
Notes to editors
1. An Essential Research poll, commissioned by GetUp in June 2008, found 61 per cent of Australians were opposed to the carbon polluting mill and want a low carbon economy for Tasmania based on a burgeoning tourism sector and healthy environment.
