MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, 12th January 2009
UPPER FLORENTINE FOREST BLOCKADE RAIDED BY TASMANIA POLICE
Early this morning, police stormed a peaceful community blockade in the Upper Florentine Valley. Camp Florentine, located in logging coupe FO044A, has been defending the globally recognised old growth forests of the Upper Florentine for over two years. Activists are outraged at the raid, which may allow Forestry Tasmania to build 4km of new logging roads, opening up the valley to large scale logging operations.
"We are calling on Peter Garrett and David Bartlett to heed the advice of the World Heritage Committee and put an immediate halt to destructive roading and logging operations in the Upper Florentine Valley. The logging, burning and woodchipping of these irreplaceable carbon dense forests is an international disgrace" said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson and Triabunna 13 defendant Christo Mills.
"The pristine forests of the Upper Florentine Valley are a national treasure. It is an act of daylight madness for Minister Garrett and Premier Bartlett to continue supporting the devastation of such globally significant forests" said Mr Mills.
In July last year, the World Heritage Committee released an important decision that requested an extension of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area to "include appropriate areas of tall eucalypt forest" such as the Upper Florentine. Furthermore, the IUCN requested that a moratorium on logging in areas of potential outstanding universal value, including old growth forests located in the Styx and Upper Florentine Valley, should be considered.
"The Tasmanian and Australian Governments must be held accountable for the continued destruction of Tasmania's pristine old growth and high conservation value forests . Over 84% of the timber harvested from these globally renowned ecosystems will be woodchipped and exported by local climate criminals Gunns Limited"[1] said Ula Majewski, Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson and Triabunna 13 defendant.
"It is high time for the Tasmanian and Australian governments to stop pandering to the nefarious interests of greedy woodchipping barons Gunns Limited and immediately start legislating to protect Tasmania's outstanding old growth and high conservation value forests" concluded Miss Majewski.
Activists in the Upper Florentine Valley will continue to stand up and speak out against the continued destruction of Tasmania's old growth and high conservation value forests.
MEDIA UPDATE
THREE FLORENTINE FOREST DEFENDERS ARRESTED
Three activists have been arrested today in the Upper Florentine Valley. Forest defender Jacque Neeming was arrested and charged with trespass at 11:00 this morning after spending the night locked onto a logging road in the Upper Florentine Valley to protest against Forestry Tasmania's imminent roading operations. A male and a female activist were arrested just before 5:00 this afternoon.
Jacque was the first arrestee after a morning raid was conducted on Camp Florentine by Tasmania Police this morning. She was blocking the road using one of the activist vehicles firebombed in a vigilante raid on the camp last year. Despite removal attempts by police, five forest defenders continue their vigil high in the treetops with one blockading the road on the ground using a tunnel.
"The pristine old growth forests of the Upper Florentine Valley are some of Australia's most precious natural heritage. It is an absolute disgrace that the Tasmanian and Australian Governments stand by while Forestry Tasmania and Gunns Limited devastate our irreplaceable old growth forests" said Ula Majewski, spokesperson for Still Wild Still Threatened and Triabunna 13 defendant.
A community gathering to show solidarity for forests of the Upper Florentine Valley will be held tomorrow on Parliament Lawns at 12:30pm. Speakers include Kim Booth, Vica Bayley and Ula Majewski. All are welcome.
MEDIA UPDATE
THREE FLORENTINE FOREST DEFENDERS ARRESTED
Three activists have been arrested today in the Upper Florentine Valley. Forest defender Jacque Neeming was arrested and charged with trespass at 11:00 this morning after spending the night locked onto a logging road in the Upper Florentine Valley to protest against Forestry Tasmania's imminent roading operations. A male and a female activist were arrested just before 5:00 this afternoon.
Jacque was the first arrestee after a morning raid was conducted on Camp Florentine by Tasmania Police this morning. She was blocking the road using one of the activist vehicles firebombed in a vigilante raid on the camp last year. Despite removal attempts by police, five forest defenders continue their vigil high in the treetops with one blockading the road on the ground using a tunnel.
"The pristine old growth forests of the Upper Florentine Valley are some of Australia's most precious natural heritage. It is an absolute disgrace that the Tasmanian and Australian Governments stand by while Forestry Tasmania and Gunns Limited devastate our irreplaceable old growth forests" said Ula Majewski, spokesperson for Still Wild Still Threatened and Triabunna 13 defendant.
A community gathering to show solidarity for forests of the Upper Florentine Valley will be held tomorrow on Parliament Lawns at 12:30pm. Speakers include Kim Booth, Vica Bayley and Ula Majewski. All are welcome.
MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday, 13th January 2008
TWO MORE FOREST DEFENDERS ARRESTED THIS AFTERNOON AS THE TASMANIAN COMMUNITY SPEAKS OUT AGAINST ROADING IN THE UPPER FLORENTINE VALLEY.
Two forest activists have been arrested in the Upper Florentine Valley this afternoon. 'Adrian' had been locked onto a tunnel at Camp Florentine to protest against Forestry Tasmania's proposed 4km roading operations in the valley. He was arrested around 2:00 this afternoon. Another activist was arrested while attempting to replace 'Adrian' in the tunnel.
In Hobart, over 200 community members attended a gathering to show support for forest defenders in the Upper Florentine and to voice their outrage at the continued destruction and woodchipping of Tasmania's old growth and high conservation value forests.
"We are currently facing a global climate emergency. Local climate criminals Forestry Tasmania and Gunns Limited are continuing to devastate some of our most significant carbon sinks. The continued support of these internationally disgraceful practices by the Tasmanian and Australian governments is completely outrageous" said Ula Majewski, Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson and Triabunna 13 defendant.
"Forestry Tasmania has publicly admitted that up to 90% of the timber harvested in the Upper Florentine will end up being woodchipped. This reinforces their credentials as environmental criminals who are turning Tasmania's ancient forested areas into one big messy 'slum'. David Bartlett needs to take immediate action and put a stop to this destructive roading operation" said Miss Majewski.
"Right now in the Upper Florentine Valley, activists are standing up in defense of our world class old growth forests. We are calling out to our community here in Tasmania and across the nation to speak out and take a stand together against the greed-ridden forces that would destroy our communities and our outstanding old growth and high conservation value forests" said Miss Majewski.
Tomorrow a community walk in will be held at the Upper Florentine Valley. Community members will meet at Timbs Track car park on the Gordon River Road at 10am. All are welcome.
MEDIA RELEASE
SEVEN ARRESTED SO FAR AS OVER 150 MEMBERS OF THE TASMANIAN COMMUNITY STAND UP IN DEFENCE OF THE UPPER FLORENTINE VALLEY
At 11:15 this morning, over 150 members of the Tasmanian community took peaceful action in defense of old growth forests located in the Upper Florentine Valley. Community members are currently conducting a mass walk in to protest against Forestry Tasmania's roading operations in the old growth forests of the valley. Seven people have already been arrested, bringing the arrest count to 14 so far.
"The Tasmanian community is absolutely outraged at the environmentally criminal acts currently being perpetrated by Forestry Tasmania in the Upper Florentine Valley. Our community is standing up and speaking out against the continued destruction of Tasmania's carbon dense old growth forests" said Ula Majewski, Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson and Triabunna 13 defendant.
"Peaceful actions in defence of our ancient forests will continue over the coming days and weeks. The Tasmanian community is sick and tired of seeing our precious old growth forests being devastated, woodchipped and torched at the hands of climate criminals Forestry Tasmania and Gunns Limited" said Miss Majewski.
Updates will be posted throughout the day.
MEDIA UPDATE
Wednesday, 14th January 2008
18 ARRESTED IN THE UPPER FLORENTINE VALLEY AS 4 ACTIVISTS CONTINUE THEIR TREETOP VIGIL
18 community members were arrested during a mass community walk-in in the Upper Florentine Valley today, including celebrated landscape photographer Geoffrey Lea. One activist locked himself onto an excavator for over 2 hours and 24 community members blockaded the logging road, but were removed by police without being arrested. Four forest defenders are still perched high in the canopy of the threatened old growth forests located in proposed logging coupe FO044A.
Melbourne bands Milk and Rapscallion played live on the Gordon River Road in support of the 150+ individuals who travelled to the valley to protest against the continued destruction of Tasmania's old growth forests.
Adrian King, the activist who occupied a tunnel under the logging road and halted operations for over 34 hours, is expected to be bailed from the Hobart Magistrates Court at 4pm today. So far, 25 individuals have been arrested since Monday's morning raid by police on Camp Florentine.
"Once again, we are seeing a massive swell of community support for Tasmania's carbon dense old growth forests and outrage at the destructive roading, logging, woodchipping and burning of these precious ecosystems by local climate criminals Forestry Tasmania and Gunns Limited" said Ula Majewski, Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson and Triabunna 13 defendant.
"Our community will continue to stand up and speak out against these environmentally criminal acts. In this era of dangerous climate change, the destruction of Tasmania's ancient forests is a global issue" said Miss Majewski.
MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday, 15th January 2009
TWO ACTIVISTS LOCK ON TO A MYRTLE TO HALT THE DESTRUCTION OF OLD GROWTH FORESTS IN THE UPPER FLORENTINE
Early this morning, two forest defenders locked on to a myrtle tree in the road line to halt forestry operations in the Upper Florentine Valley. Yesterday afternoon, Forestry Tasmania pushed approximately 2-3km of new roading into the old growth forests of the Upper Florentine Valley. Forestry Tasmania has continued to fell trees and operate machinery in close proximity to the activists, despite requests from the community at the site to cease operations.
"Two brave forest defenders are currently locked onto an exquisite myrtle tree in the Upper Florentine Valley in an attempt to halt Forestry Tasmania's destructive roading operations that are ripping apart these world class forests" said Ula Majewski, Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson and Triabunna 13 defendant.
"The community are standing up and speaking out in defence of the carbon dense old growth forests of the Upper Florentine Valley. Peaceful actions will continue over the next few days, leading up to a mass community rally on Sunday at the site" said Ula Majewski
Updates will be posted throughout the day.
MEDIA UPDATE
Thursday, 15th January 2009.
TWO FEMALE FOREST DEFENDERS CUT OFF A MYRTLE TREE AND ARRESTED IN THE UPPER FLORENTINE VALLEY
Two activists have been cut off a myrtle tree and arrested around 12:20 this afternoon. The female activists were taking peaceful action against Forestry Tasmania's roading operations in the old growth forests of the Upper Florentine Valley. Forestry Tasmania continued to fell trees and operate machinery in close proximity to the forest defenders throughout the morning.
Activists are calling on Minister Garrett and Premier Bartlett to take heed of the community's critical concerns with the destruction of the Upper Florentine's old growth forests and place an immediate moratorium on all forestry operations within the area.
"Premier Bartlett and Minister Garrett need to immediately take action on the advice of the World Heritage Committee and the IUCN. The taxpayer funded devastation of the globally recognised tall eucalypt forests of the Upper Florentine Valley is an international disgrace" said Ula Majewski, Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson and Triabunna 13 defendant.
This afternoon's arrests bring the total number of arrests in the Upper Florentine to 27. A large community gathering will take place on Sunday morning at 11am.
