Tasmanian children speak out to save their ancient forests.

Media Alert - 6th February 2009

At midday today at Franklin Square, Tassie kids will be placing their hand-prints and a personal message to the Premier on a banner saying 'Ancient Forests For Our Future'.

"We are frustrated that us young people aren't being listened to. Destroying ancient forests will affect future generations, and the government doesn't seem to care about this. They only care about Gunns," said Hobart school girl Madeleine Irwin, 14 years.

"We will be getting as many young people as possible to place their hand-prints on this banner and write a message to the Premier, and we'll ask for a meeting to give it to him in person," Maddie said.

11 year old, Adam Irwin, Maddie's little brother, is donating one year's pocket money to the campaign to protect the Upper Florentine. " I'm also bottling Tassie spring water and sellng it to make money for the forests. My Dad says its a better business than Gunns at the moment," Adam said.

"David Bartlett seems like a nice guy but he obviously doesn't care about us or the environment. If he did care he would protect the old growth forests like the Upper Florentine," Maddie said.

"Environmental issues like old growth logging and climate change will make a very ugly future for us. Mr Bartlett and John Gay will probably be dead by the time climate change makes the lives of young people very difficult – don't they care about what will happen to their kids?," Maddie said.