Nativeforest

Over 300 people ventured to the wilds of the Upper Florentine to protest against the logging of the spectacular old growth forests there. In the largest mass arrest in Tasmania, for over 10 years (since Mother Cummings) some 23 people breeched Forestry Tasmania’s ‘exclusion zone’ and were charged with trespass. Read ABC report

 On Friday, Tasmania Police arrested a 21 year old woman for obstructing a police officer after she chained herself to a woodchip truck leaving the forest. In her bail agreement, Tasmania Police demanded that she is “not to be absent from that place (ie her home) between the hours of 7am-3pm and during that period you must present yourself to a police officer if required to do so.”  The condition basically place her under house arrest for a non-violent protest.Read full bail conditions

“I’m virtually under house arrest. I thought that bail conditions like the ones i have were only used on serious criminals who pose a threat to society, not peaceful demonstrators who are actually trying to bring positive change which will benefit the whole commmunity. These bail conditions are obvioulsy politically motivated, I pose no threat to society and do don’t deserve to be under virtual house arrest.Tasmania police seem to be more interested in protecting the profits of Gunns Ltd than acting in the public interest.” Said Bridget Gattenby.
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Today Forestry Tasmania backed by Tasmania Police have launched a large scale operation on protests and some of Tasmania’s wildest forests.

In the Weld Valley this morning 20 Police raided the South Weld forest camp and dismantled the tree-sit (picture). “For the past two months conservationists have conducted a non violent presence in the South Weld World Heritage Value forests in the Weld Valley. Tall Eucalypt forests that are adjacent to the TWWHA border are under immediate threat from logging, this ecosystem in irreplaceable,” Huon Valley Environment Centre’s Jenny Weber said. Read full press release

60 Police have raided camp Florentine this morning to remove road blockades so that logging of the contentious area can begin. An Exclusion Zone has been declared by Forestry Tasmania, to prevent public access to the area. A Hobart man has already been arrested for being in the exclusion zone. More arrests are expected today.  

Three conservationists are positioned 50 m up tree platforms blocking the access road and log landing. Two conservationists are chained to vehicles cemented into the road. Another is occupying a tunnel that has been dug under the road preventing access to the old growth logging area.
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While Tasmania Police were trying to cut a protester out of a car she was lock on to, sparks from the grinder they were using set part of the car on fire. Tas Police tried to extinguish the fire but their efforts made the firre flare up. The protester narrowly escaped being engulfed by the fire. she was unharmed even though flames came very close to her arm and head.

Read the: Hobart Mercury Article

Statement from Forest defender, Suzi Gavio:

On Thursday 30th of April I was at the site of the Upper Florentine Protest site on Gordon River Road. This is where I have been a peaceful protester for a few months against cutting a road into pristine wilderness.

I arrived in the Upper Florentine and I fell in love with this amazing forest. Its so unique, its looks like a fairy-tale forest, with giant trees, carpeted in moss containing magnificent microcosms of life.
I was really surprised that such a rare and precious beauty so close to the World Heritage Area boundary was getting destroyed. I’ve met heroic people that in the most peaceful way work every day so hard to try to save this incredible treasure. Read More »

Check out Tassie’s forests and the Triabunna 13 in this issue of Friend’s of the Earth’s fabuloso magazine Chain Reaction … pdf downloadable from http://www.foe.org.au/resources/chain-reaction/editions. Spectacular images by Rob Blakers and Matt Newton. Words by Jenny Weber, Alison Bleaney, Paul Oosting and Ula Majewski.

 Remaining defendants in the Gunns20 case won’t accept an offer by Gunns Ltd to settle the case.  Gunns made the offer on 3 April 2009. Accepting the offer would require defendants to pay Gunns’ legal costs and to give extensive undertakings restricting their activities and movements in Tasmania.
 
The timing of the offer has been questioned given the increase in speculation about Gunns’ proposed pulp mill.  In recent days there has been media speculation Gunns will make an announcement on the future of the mill including the date to commence construction.
 
Adam Burling (Defendant#6)
“This current offer from Gunns is offensive. After 4 and a half years of being dragged through court, Gunns now wants us to pay a bucket of money and give up our right to protest. Forget it,” said Adam Burling
 
“If anyone wanted proof that Gunns were interested in more than money when they started this case, this offer is the proof. The restrictions that Gunns want to place on us is nothing less than an attack on our freedom of speech,” said Mr Burling
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