Triabunna Woodchil mill shut down in National Climate Action

Media Release Monday 25.05.2009

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.