25.05.09 Activists Shutdown Triabunna Woodchip Mill

10 forest and climate change activists have shutdown woodchipping
operations at Gunns Limited’s Triabunna mill. Two activists are
attached to a conveyor belt, with banners reading “No Climate
Protection without Forest Protection” and “Gunns – Climate Criminals”.

Activists have deliberately avoided obstructing log un-loading
machinery to avoid impacting forest contractors.

Similar actions are being staged at woodchip facilities in Geelong,
Victoria and Eden and Newcastle, NSW.

“Seeking to address climate change without ending the industrial
woodchipping of native forests is delusional, stupid, and criminal.
How can Australia ask nations such as Indonesia and Papua New Guinea
to reduce forestry emissions while we continue destroying some of the
world’s richest carbon stores? ” said Huon Valley Environment Centre
spokesperson Warrick Jordan.

“The logging of native forest is Tasmania’s carbon elephant in the
room. The Bartlett Government, Forestry Tasmania and Gunns claim that
forestry is Australia’s only carbon positive industry. This
conveniently ignores the fact that under official Kyoto rules, no
emissions from native forest are counted. Tasmania deserves a climate
policy that is based on more than the Premier’s current ‘if I can’t
see it, it doesn’t exist’ policy,” Warrick Jordan said.

“If the Rudd and Bartlett Governments are serious about addressing the
climate crisis, then the protection of our carbon-rich old growth
forests should be the most basic part of a climate change policy,”
Warrick Jordan said.

“Last week, the world’s first climate change-induced evacuation of an
entire people began in PNG’s Carteret Islands. The board members of
Gunns, and those others responsible for the continued destruction of
Tasmania’s forests, should take a long look at their children and
grandchildren and decide whether they feel comfortable condemning them
to a future dramatically impacted by climate change,” Warrick Jordan
said.

“Gunns will likely legally pursue activists for undertaking this
necessary, peaceful action. In reality, however, Gunns are the real
criminals. Robin Gray and his cohorts will not be around to see the
worst of a climate impacted future, but our generation will. Gunns
can throw around as many lawsuits as they want, but they will not
dissuade ordinary people from taking peaceful action in defence of
Tasmania’s ancient, carbon-rich forests,” Warrick Jordan said.

“Today’s action has avoided obstructing machinery designed to unload
logs delivered by logging contractors," Warrick Jordan said.