FOREST UPDATE: The Biggest Rally in the Florentine Ever - Saturday Week 31st January, 11am Timbs Track
Dear supporters of Still Wild Still Threatened and Tasmania's ancient and wild Southern Forests,
Destructive roading operations are still occuring as we speak in the Upper Florentine. Large scale logging operations will begin any day. The constant daily actions of forest defenders, and the strong support of the Tasmanian community has slowed roading operations and brought international attention to the devastation being wrought in this wild place.
Almost a thousand people have visited the Upper Florentine since roading operations commenced two weeks ago. We need to continue this strong demonstration by the Tasmanian community, and continue to pressure the state government to halt this taxpayer funded destruction.
For this reason, we ask you to come to the Upper Florentine on Saturday 31st January, and attend the Biggest Rally in the Florentine Ever! If you have attended previous events, haven't been able to make it, or have ever wanted to express a love of ancient forest and a desire to see the logging of ancient forest in Tasmania ended forever, we ask you to attend this rally.
A large contingent from northern Tasmania and some soon to be revealed speakers will be on hand to show their support. And if you want to spend a night (or a week) in this magical place, please bring food, a tent and some camping gear.
Reminder: the 'Reclaim Your Forests' weekend campout is on tomorrow in the Upper Florentine Valley. Please come along and show your support for our precious old growth forests.
Still Wild Still Threatened have just released an Upper Florentine Crisis Report, which has been sent to the IUCN, the World Heritage Centre, ICOMOS and key decision makers in Australia. A low resolution copy of the report is attached to this email or you can download a high resolution copy from www.stillwildstillthreatened.org. There is also a link to aerial footage of this horrific road on our website.
Check out a new short film documenting the 'Show us the maps' action at Forestry Tasmania this week on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht3oY7_Tdf4.
WHAT YOU CAN DO...
Come and visit the Upper Florentine Valley and support the campaign to save these precious forests.
WRITE TO THE POLITICIANS AND THE NEWSPAPERS. CALL UP YOUR LOCAL MP AND TALKBACK RADIO STATION.
Politicians need to know about your serious concerns with the destruction of the globally significant forests of the Upper Florentine Valley. Become an active citizen and exercise your democratic right to let the government know that old growth logging and the destruction of ancient ecosystems is unacceptable, and that serious changes to legislation and policy need to happen now!
Write a letter (every hand written letter is viewed as representing the opinions of 100 voters, so it's certainly worth making the extra effort) or send an email to your local federal member and any (or all!) of the following members of parliament. Make an appointment with your local MPs ... they are your employees and need to listen to your concerns.
Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper and call up talk back radio. Get the word out in the media!
The Tasmanian Government.
THE PREMIER OF TASMANIA
David Bartlett, MHA
Level 11. 15 Murray St. Hobart, TAS 7000
david.bartlett@parliament.tas.gov.au
THE LEADER OF THE LIBERAL PARTY, TASMANIAN DIVISION
Will Hodgman, MHA
Parliament House, Hobart, TAS 7000
will.hodgman@parliament.tas.gov.au
The Australian Government
THE PRIME MINISTER
The Hon. Kevin Rudd MP
PO Box 6022, House of Representatives
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Email via the PM.s website . www.pm.gov.au
THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP
PO Box 6022, House of Representatives
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Malcolm.Turnbull.MP@aph.gov.au
MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, HERITAGE & THE ARTS
The Hon. Peter Garrett
PO Box 6022, House of Representatives
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
MINISTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATER
Senator The Hon. Penny Wong
PO Box 6237
Halifax Street, Adelaide SA 5000
MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY
The Hon Tony Burke MP
PO Box 6022, House of Representatives
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENT & WATER
Mr Greg Hunt
PO Box 6022, House of Representatives
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Please contact us at stillwildstillthreatened@gmail.com for more info on what you can do to help us save the outstanding forests of the Upper Florentine Valley.
Donate online or at any Westpac Bank to the campaign to save these precious forests.
Account name: Tasmanias Southern Forests
BSB #: 737001. Account #: 704815.
For the forests, and with love and thanks,
all the crew at Still Wild Still Threatened
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Still Wild Still Threatened is a grassroots community organisation campaigning for the immediate protection of Tasmania's ancient forests and the creation of an equitable and environmentally sustainable forestry industry in Tasmania.
www.stillwildstillthreatened.org
stillwildstillthreatened@gmail.com www.myspace.com/stillwildstillthreatened
PO Box 295. South Hobart TAS 7004
