Clive Stott Grindelwald
There are smokeless ways for the forest industries to get rid of their rubbish (residue they call it), and to reduce fuel to prevent bushfires, so why aren’t they being made use these?
World Environment Day is on June 5th.
We have been having these days for years and what have we learnt from them here in Tasmania. Nothing? Are we that blind that we don’t even look at the gains being made by other countries or even other States to do with environmental practices. Third world countries are managing better.
To allow the forest industry to set fire to Tasmania to the point where the smoke hospitalizes people, beggars belief. Not to mention the fouling of our air, killing of our native animals, polluting our upper atmosphere, and so on. ‘Pyromania’ is the desire to burn things.
There are smokeless ways for the forest industries to get rid of their rubbish (residue they call it), and to reduce fuel to prevent bushfires, so why aren’t they being made use these?
Our State Environmental Minister (Michelle O’Byrne) has endorsed this polluting practice by her silence up until recently. So has our Heath Minister (Lara Giddings) and our Director of Public Health (Dr. Roscoe Taylor).
Ms. O’Byrne seems to be out of step with her own Environment Department when it comes to the harmful effects of forestry smoke. She now states, “During the current burning season, the forestry industry is trialing a standard for management of planned burn smoke. The standard specifies a method of predicting planned burn smoke travel and dispersion…” “My Department supports this trial and has contributed to the development of the standard.” The runs are on the board, what a failure!!
With what has happened one could be excused for thinking this (secret) standard (not even with a capital S) was drafted for our Environment Minister by the combined forestry industries. The pollution caused to our environment is the worst you would find anywhere in the world.
Tasmania must put an end to planned burns right now by pushing through legislation. How many years does it take?
On World Environment Day our Labor government must walk around with it’s head bowed in shame for what is being done to the environment.
Clive Stott
Grindelwald
www.cleanairtas.com
