Tasmania's Southern Forests...Still Wild, Still Threatened
NEW BANK DETAILS: Westpac Bank, a/c name = Still Wild Still Thretened, BSB = 037001 A/c No = 529183 THANKS!!! Learn More
Artists/Performers Call-out and Events invitations
This Summer in Tassie is gonna be HOT!!!! Beat the heat-waves and join us on our cool temperate island state for a wicked series of events and some fun-as blockading! Just 2 of the amazing events planned for this summer in Tassie... Performers/artist/muso call out for this summers spectacular forest fundraising even… Read More
Recent Cause Activity
Just 2 events to be held this busy summer in Tassie for our Southern Forests..
please invite any artists/performers/story tellers etc...
Performers/artist/muso call out for this summers spectacular forest fundraising events...
Picnic In The Park And After Party 23rd January;
After the huge success of last years event, we are looking for all circus performers, dancers and musicians who would be interested in helping us make another fantastic family friendly day on the 23rd of January 2010 12pm - 4pm.
Following the Picnic we will be kicking off some evening festivities for the big kids, and are looking for bands and musos to come help pick up the vibe and celebrate til late...
Be My Florentine Caberet 12th - 14th February;
Tasmania's ancient forests are calling out to all dancers, musos, spoken word performers, circus mob, gypsies, burlesque beauties and performers of all persuasions to take part in the outrageously and spectacularly fantabulous Be My Florentine Cabaret. This year's Caberet will kick-off on the 12th February at the Peacock Theatre and continue once again in the pristine ancient forest of the Florentine.
Please contact Jacque on 0409 821 293 or email stillwildstillthreatened@gmail.com if you are interested in performing, working, cooking, installing art, etc. at any of these events.
My Dear Friend, Need your HELP on "SAVE THE FOREST". Please Go to http://www.facebook.com/note.php... and click "like" the note.(not like this post) Thank you!
MEDIA UPDATE, 3:30pm
11.10.2009
Logging operations were stopped for the day in old growth forest in the Styx Valley while 40 conservationists in Hobart CBD marked out the shape of the 72 hectare Styx Valley logging coupe.
"It took over two hours for 40 people to cover the giant area that is getting clearfelled in the Styx Valley right now. This massive coupe represents just one of 290 native forest logging coupes on public land that Premier Bartlett will decimate this financial year." spokesperson Ed Hill said.
"This logging site in the Styx Valley doesn't look much different to illegal logging sites in Indonesia, the difference being that logging of rainforest in Tasmania is legal." Mr Hill said.
"Tasmania should be world leader in sustainable forestry; instead Premier Bartlett is clearfell cable logging huge swathes of old growth forest right to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area boundary."
"As the logging industry faces major cut backs and stagnant markets it is obvious there is necessity for re-invention. Cable logging is out dated, highly destructive, and clearly not the sustainable direction the industry needs to be heading.” Said Mr Hill.
The protester that remains 20m up cable logging machinery is expected to be removed and arrested later this evening, having halted work for the day.
A Conservationist maintains a position 20m up a cable logger. This has stopped operation of the cable logging machine for the entire day.
Media Release 12/10/09
CONSERVATIONISTS CALL FOR CABLE LOGGING BAN – CLEARFELL LARGER THAN HOBART CBD
Press Conference- 12:30pm Parliament Lawns
Cable logging operations in old growth forest in the Styx valley have come to a halt this morning. A conservationist has climbed 20m to the top of a cable logging machine and is positioned on a platform supported by ropes connected to other logging machinery. This is preventing operation of the cable logger.
Today’s Styx Valley protest will be supported in Hobart by conservationists marking and walking the boundary of cable logging coupe TN045B.
The coupe boundary, taken from Forestry Tasmania’s maps, has been over layered on a map of Hobart and covers most of the CBD area.
The superimposed logging coupe includes Hobart waterfront at the beginning of Davey St, the top end of Salamanca Place, stretches past St David’s Park and up to the Mercure Hotel on Bathurst St. Myer and Elizabeth St Mall fall in the center of the superimposed clearfell area.
Marking of the coupe will begin at 10:30am on the northern boundary, Forestry Tasmania headquarters and will proceed to the eastern boundary at State Parliament by 12:30pm.
“The archaic practice of cable logging in the Styx valley allows for mass destruction of huge swathes of old growth forest on very steep slopes bordering the World Heritage Area.” Said spokesperson Ed Hill.
The contentious cable logging coupe was surveyed by conservationists and included in a report prepared for the World Heritage committee visit to Tasmania in March 2008. The World Heritage committee requested that the State party consider an “extension of the property to include appropriate areas of tall Eucalypt forest.”
“This massive coupe, 73 ha in size, on slopes up to 38 degrees represents just one of nearly 300 logging coupes on public land that Premier Bartlett wants logged this financial year.” Said Mr Hill.
“The superimposed map covers a huge area of the city, but because the city is flat and the logging coupe is very steep the boundary has been compressed to 55 ha. Despite covering the main area of the CBD the map still only covers about two thirds of the 73ha area being clearfelled in the Styx Valley right now. The actual boundary would exceed the CBD limits.” Said Mr Hill.
“Federal and State Governments must ban cable logging if the integrity of the WHA border is to be kept intact. Massive greenhouse gas emissions cuts could be made possible from a cable logging ban. Old growth Eucalyptus regnans forest, which this coupe is comprised of, has been proven by scientists from the ANU, to store more carbon than any other forest type.” Said Mr. Hill
“Logging sites like this don’t look much different to illegal logging sites in Indonesia. The difference being that clear felling of old growth rainforest in Tasmania is legal.” Said Mr Hill
“It is blatant hypocrisy for the Federal Government to condemn logging of rainforest in Indonesia and at the same time sanction rainforest destruction in Tasmania. Australia should be a world leader in sustainable forestry instead we are cable logging huge clear felled areas bordering the WHA.” Said Mr Hill.
“As the logging industry faces major cut backs and stagnant markets it is obvious there is necessity for re-invention. Cable logging is out dated, highly destructive, and clearly not the sustainable direction the industry needs to be heading.” Said Mr Hill.
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Love & Peace!
STILL WILD STILL THREATENED
MEDIA RELEASE 1.10.09
MORE FLORENTINE CHARGES DROPPED
Police question credibility of FT staff
Charges of assault and public nuisance against forest protestors in the Upper Florentine have been dropped in Hobart magistrate’s court today. Natalie Keene, 31 of Hobart, Ali Alishah, 25 of Hobart and Lee Sargent 29 of Kaoota had charges of assault and public nuisance dropped and Lauren Platzer, 23 of Kaoota, had her public nuisance charge dropped.
Principal legal officer Mark Miller made a statement in court that questioned the credibility of Forestry Tasmania employees involved in the incident as they used their cars to block a road preventing peaceful protesters from leaving the area. Mr Miller also made it clear that no peaceful protester was committing a nuisance or assault as Forestry Tasmania staff claimed.
"Once again we're seeing Forestry Tasmania leading the police down the garden path to once again make wrongful arrests of peaceful forest defenders. Premier Bartlett must resolve this issue and engage with forest campaigners rather than leaving it up to Tasmania police who have repeatedly had to drop charges due to FT’s incompetence and misleading claims that have led to dozens of wrongful arrests. Forestry Tasmania is a government enterprise out of control; Premier Bartlett must pull them into line and resolve the continual cycle of his police force being misled and making wrongful arrests." Said spokesperson Ed Hill.
"This situation exemplifies Forestry Tasmania's approach to dealing with the public, lie, intimidate and misuse the law. Premier Bartlett must insist FT change the way they do business and resolve the ongoing conflict by giving ancient forests the protection the deserve whilst ensuring a sustainable future for the timber industry by making use of existing plantations." Said spokesperson Ed Hill.
"When this incident occurred in May this year Still Wild Still Threatened consistently stated that these charges were blatantly wrongful and would be thrown out in court. Peaceful forest defenders have been presumed guilty until proven innocent when they've been innocent all along. FT and the State government have vilified forest defenders for their supposed illegal actions and once again they've been found to be legal. Premier Bartlett needs to recognise community concern over the destruction of the Upper Florentine rather than accepting the advice of incompetent and untruthful employees of FT." Said Mr Hill.
"Mr Miller's comments about this incident make it clear that FT staff were the only people committing a nuisance by illegally detaining forest protesters using a government vehicle to block an access road. Still Wild Still Threatened is currently seeking legal advice over the potential for police to charge FT staff with public nuisance." Said Mr Hill.
"Today's decision by the police to not proceed with the charges vindicates the right of our community to peacefully stand up for Tasmania's ancient forests." Concluded Mr. Hill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j...
ow long do we have to keep fighting!?!?!?
STILL WILD STILL THREATENED
MEDIA RELEASE 22.09.09
CAMP FLORENTINE OUT OF EXCLUSION ZONE
Over 90 wrongful trespass charges
Conservation group Still Wild Still Threatened have today revealed that the Camp Florentine protest camp has never been in an exclusion zone. The protest has maintained a constant presence in the area since 2006. Forestry Tasmania has consistently stated that the camp is illegal and is situated in an exclusion zone.
Surveyor’s maps of the area clearly show that the protest site and all associated tree sits and other sites of protest activity fall outside the exclusion zone.
Last week it was revealed that Forestry Tasmania had bungled the mapping of the exclusion zone meaning a large area where the majority of protest has occurred in the last three years is outside the exclusion zone.
The first arrests occurred in February, 2007 and since then Still Wild Still Threatened estimates that there has been over 90 charges of trespass laid against community members. In light of the exclusion zone being mapped incorrectly all of these people may now appeal against their conviction.
“Forestry Tasmania’s incompetence and the inaccurate information they gave police means that the protest site is not in the exclusion zone and not a single trespass charge against peaceful protesters has ever been legitimate.” Said spokesperson Ed Hill.
“Forestry Tasmania’s staggering bungle raises serious doubts about their ability to manage our state’s forests and highlights their lack of accountability as they blindly led police and the State Government to believe that protests in the area were illegal.” Said Mr.Hill.
“A massive police operation that lasted the entire month of May drained police resources and tied up the force across the state, just to facilitate Forestry Tasmania’s decimation of ancient forest. Tasmania police acted as the public escorts for Forestry Tasmania and blindly followed their directions about where the exclusion zone begins. Tasmania police should have verified the location of the exclusion rather than accepting Forestry Tasmania’s inaccurate information and making wrongful arrests.” Said Mr.Hill.
“The State Government has vilified forest protesters for their supposed illegal actions when in fact they’ve been legal all along. Premier Bartlett should apologise to concerned members of the public who have stood up for Tasmania’s forests and wrongfully been arrested and charged, due to the incompetency of the State owned business enterprise Forestry Tasmania.” Said Ed Hill.
MEDIA RELEASE
20.9.2009
WRONGLY CONVICTED UPPER FLORENTINE PROTESTERS URGED TO APPEAL
Over 90 former defendants to be contacted
Conservationists convicted of trespass in the Upper Florentine valley will be contacted and urged to appeal against their convictions, according to Still Wild Still Threatened.
The organisation that spearheaded protests in the old growth forests of the Upper Florentine said that more than 90 charges of trespass have been laid and gone before the courts since February, 2007. Still Wild Still Threatened will put a call out via the internet sites Facebook and Myspace, as well as email contact lists, to the 90 plus people arrested in the Upper Florentine for trespass, including many international visitors, urging them to get legal advice to appeal against their convictions.
This follows the revelation that Forestry Tasmania bungled the exclusion zone boundary and gave wrong information to the police, resulting in the trespass charge against Derwent Valley grandmother Lynda Blyth being dropped. The police have also communicated that trespass charges against others accused of trespass would also be dropped if they fall into the same category as that of Ms Blyth, who was arrested over 200 metres from the exclusion zone.
“Dozens of people have stood up to the Government, Forestry Tasmania and the logging industry to defend the ancient forests of the Upper Florentine and they have been wrongly accused of breaking the law,” said Natalie Keene, Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson. “Many have been wrongfully convicted because the police blindly accepted the word of Forestry Tasmania.”
"Those wrongly convicted should have legal and other costs incurred through their arrests and trials reimbursed by Forestry Tasmania," Ms Keene said.
The Upper Florentine exclusion zone has been in place off and on according to the bungled boundaries since April 2006. Since then, there have been a constant community presence and numerous protests resulting in over 90 charges of trespass.
"Forestry Tasmania should apologise to all the members of our community they have wrongly accused of breaking the law," said Ms Keene. "We demand that the Tasmanian Government put in place a more effective watchdog for Forestry Tas, whose incompetence continues to be exposed." Ms Keene said.
"Premier Bartlett has egg on his face because he blindly accepted Forestry Tasmania's claims that people were breaking the law. We hope this development will encourage him to be less gullible - and more clever - in his approach to the forest issue." said Ms Keene.
Top News - Past 7 Days
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Styx valley cable loged coupe, 72Ha; Ban Cable Logging. Photo e.capp
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ban cable loggin! (photo e. capp)
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