MEDIA RELEASE
23 October 2008

Tasmanian Forest Protesters Arrested, Logging Industry Violence Continues

Two forest activists were arrested for trespass and obstruction after halting logging operations in the Lower Weld Valley, Southern Tasmania, today. A non violent protest was held in an area of ancient forest in the Weld Valley that is being logged as part of a 118 hectare cable-logging clearfell," Jenny Weber, Spokesperson for Huon Valley Environment Centre said.

"The two protestors who were arrested, Will Mooney and Simon Browning, were part of a larger group who were protesting the on going destruction of Tasmania's high conservation value forests. Will Mooney was subjected to violent and intimidating behaviour by a logging contractor who wielded a large demolition saw near him," Jenny Weber said.

"We call on industry spokespeople to stop their ongoing support for violence. Protestors have always adhered to strict non-violent principles. No one deserves to be treated with violence. Logging contractors have the choice to respond to protestors without violence and in a decent manner,"

"It is time the Premier resolved this ongoing conflict in the forest by protecting high conservation value forest immediately, and offer a compensation package to those who work in the industry," Jenny Weber said.

Extra Note: The culture of violence against forest activists has been publicly supported by both the logging industry and Forestry Tasmania this week. In this video, taken on Thurs, you can see a logger use a power saw to intimidated a forest defender locked on to an excavator.

You can help stop this violence by writing to our Tasmanian Premier, David Bartlett. Ask him to do something about protecting our last remaining old growth forests and to stop the violence and threats from the pro-logging vigilantes. His email: david.bartlett@education.tas.gov.au

You tube video:
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=XztadlAzZOY