*MEDIA RELEASE*

Monday, August 27, 2007
     
Tasmanian forest defenders occupy Gunns’ Launceston office this morning

Forest activists from the Huon Valley Environment Centre and the Still Wild Still Threatened campaign have occupied the head office of Gunns Ltd. this morning, highlighting the impacts of the pulp mill on Tasmania's ancient forests.

"We have reached a state of emergency in Tasmania. The proposed mill will obliterate huge areas of ancient forests all over the state." said Warrick Jordan, Huon Valley Environment Centre spokesperson.

"Our world class forests and our most fundamental democratic processes are being clearfelled and burnt by Gunns. This is why we have moved our protest from the wilderness of the Southern Forests to the front door of the 'real state parliament''" said Mr Jordan.

"The irreplaceable forests of the Weld, Styx and Upper Florentine valleys are already being massacred in the interests of greedy woodchip barons and corrupt politicians," said Still Wild Still Threatened campaign spokesperson Ula Majewski.

"If approved, the mammoth appetite of this pulp mill will accelerate the destruction of Tasmania's ancient forests to unprecedented levels, threatening species with destruction and contributing to climate change" said Ms Majewski.

Forest defenders have made it clear that they will continue to conduct peaceful actions at least once a week for the forseeable future to protest against the devastation of Tasmania's high conservation value forests.