18-12-02

Central Highlands blockade and this

Heading out to the Central Highlands? - Read this...

Train action coming - TBA

18-11-02

Forest Freedom Festival 23-24 November

Cycle for old growth 2

Central highlands update

Here's an easy way to get Hancock Insurance to protect the last remaining habitat of the Strzelecki Koala. FoE International has a cyber action page on their website. Just click on the page and add your name to the letter which is addressed to Hancock in Boston. They'll love to hear from you!!!

http://www.foei.org/cyberaction/koala.php

It's really a grim situation down here. Hancock are gutting reafforested land under the guise that it is all plantation. Koalas are known to move into these reafforested areas from natural forest areas where they then face the brunt of rampant plantation loggers!!!

EPA publish report on Lake Tyers Catchment

In PDF form (get acrobat reader here)

Part I

Part II

Wombat Forest community consultation process

1-11-02

Goolengook Old Growth Study

http://www.veac.vic.gov.au/proposed.htm

An early early morning, a long day and Police violence to mar the peaceful spectacle of highlighting the destruction of our precious old-growth, our rainforests and water catchments! A pepper-spray wielding Police goon assaulted a number of protesters at Survey Rd today.

Incensed by the ingenuity of suspending a wheelchair bound activist from a tripod, our bootboy hero pulled up in his kop car and immediately set upon a protester thumblocked to an NRE vehicle. The protester suffered deep cuts to his thumbs as a result. The policeman was nobly assisted by NRE forest officers who also assaulted protesters in the fracas.

Eventually the undercarriage of the vehicle was removed along with the protester, who was arrested and taken to Bendoc Police station. Later the tripod was dismantled and the blockade broken for the day.

Such is the cost of trying to protect our precious water catchments, our forests, our teachers, our heritage. Drink deep of liberty while it lasts. The struggle against corporate fascism and greed continues. --

http://www.geco.org.au

RMB Bonang Highway Goongerah, East Gippsland Victoria, 3888

Phone: 03 5154 0156 Fax: 03 5154 0157

Media Release 31 October 2002

Wheelchair Blockader Stops Logging at Bonang River

A woman in a wheelchair is blockading Survey Rd on the Errinundra Plateau, preventing logging traffic from entering two controversial logging coupes in the Bonang River water catchment. The mother of two is suspended from a tripod in her wheelchair, which is blocking one end of the road, while a protester in a tree sit attached to a gate is blocking the other end of the road. It is the fourth week of protests at Survey Rd, and during this time, Search and Rescue police have removed three tree platforms attached to logging equipment. There have been two arrests for Wilful Trespass.

The logging coupes, on the border of the Errinundra National Park, contain old growth forest and rainforest and form part of a wildlife corridor between two reserves. "Melbourne is on the eve of water restrictions, yet the Bracks government is still allowing logging to be taking place in water catchment areas. While the country is gripped by drought, we have no choice but to stop this from occuring," said spokesperson for the protesters, Fiona York. "Although we are pleased that the government is finally recognising the importance of protecting Goolengook, there are many areas of old growth forest, water catchment and endangered species habitat that remain unprotected. The Bonang River area is one such place that deserves protection, and we will continue to protest until areas such as these are permanently protected," she concluded.

Digital footage and stills will be available.

For further information: Fiona York Goongerah Environment Centre (03)51540156 --

http://www.geco.org.au

RMB Bonang Highway Goongerah, East Gippsland Victoria, 3888

Phone: 03 5154 0156 Fax: 03 5154 0157 Email geco@green.net.au

26-10-02

Action 1-11-02 7.30 AM.

WHAT? Honk for Old Growth Forests (4th week running)

WHEN? Friday 1st November, 7.30am - 10am

WHERE? 240 Victoria Prd, City, near corner of Smith St opposite Catholic University

WHO? Victorian government's NRE (Natural Recourses and Environment)

WHY? Because NRE are still logging old growth forests

BRING? Banners, animal costume, props, camera, friends and if you can, wear a suit for the cause!!

16-10-02

At 7.30 am Friday October 18, people will be doing an action at the DNRE Building Cnr Nicholson St and Victoria Pde. Bring banners or whatever. In support of the Survey Road blockaders. A rerun of last Fridays action which was aired on Channel 31 on Monday Night.

8-10-02

Survey Road is spectacular old growth forest. Protest against its destruction at 8am Friday 11-10-02 at DNRE (cnr Nicholson St and Victoria Pde City).

Bus heading out to East Gippy this coming weekend. For lift call Sean 0417 825 972

Survey rd. Feb 2002

GECO Media Release

Tuesday 8th October 2002

Rainforest Treesit Blockade Continues

East Gippsland - on the edge of the Errinundra National Park- Conservationists on the Errinundra Plateau continue to defy Police Search and Rescue and Department of Natural Resources and Environment officers who failed in their attempt to remove a tree-sitter yesterday. Two machines, a log-loader and a dozer are attached to the tree-sit, halting further harvesting operations in the contentious area. Conservationists have witnessed days of destructive roading operations opening up large swathes of untouched ancient forests for exploitation, and are determined to protect them.

Conservationists maintain that NRE provisions for the protection of wildlife are not adequate and are concerned about the lack of pre-logging surveying in the region. The protection of rainforest species in the proposed forest coupes is also being investigated by conservationists. In particular the presence of rare mixed forest associations, consisting of a rainforest understorey and an emergent eucalypt canopy.

"The NRE's own block reports for the area detail these forests, and yet they are content to clearfell what are essentially rainforests with the public none the wiser. With adequate surveying, appropriate protection can be afforded for these stands." said Morgan Boehringer of the Goongerah Environment Centre. " Remember that when we found evidence of quolls in the area in 2001 the NRE decided the presence of a nearby Special Protection Zone and the National Park were enough protection - the old 'they'll just go somewhere else' mentality all over again. The problem is, that somewhere else is increasingly disappearing," Mr Boehringer continued.

On ABC Radio (Sale) yesterday, spokesperson for the NRE, Anne Geary maintained that the forest operation was lawful and that conservationists should "abide by the umpire's decision." It seems that this is the same umpire who allowed the desecration of the Goolengook forest earlier this year, during which hundreds of concerned citizens, from the local area as well as the cities staged mass protests and six-weeks of civil disobedience. "Until the NRE come clean, do their homework and manage forests with sustainability in mind, they can expect the citizenry to continue to defend their heritage from bloody-minded vandals. Goolengook proved that ancient forests are more important as storehouses of bio-diverstiy and tourist icons to the public than they are being clearfelled, wood-chipped at a loss and failing as regeneration coupes." Mr Boehringer said.

For more information contact: Morgan Boehringer

Goongerah Environment Centre (GECO) (03) 5154 0156

7-10-02

MEDIA RELEASE MONDAY 7TH OCTOBER 2002

TREESITS BLOCKADE RAINFOREST ON EDGE OF NATIONAL PARK

East Gippsland - Conservationists have prevented harvesting operations by attaching a tree-sit to logging machinery in the Brodribbforest block on the northern border of the Errinundra National Park. Forest coupes lying close to the National Park and a Special Protection Zone are earmarked for harvesting on Survey Road, where for the past five days roading machinery has prepared roads into these precious rare and unique areas. The scheduled coupes are high conservation old growth forests with some cool temperate rainforest species such as the Southern Sassafras, and evidence of critically endangered animals such as the Spot-tailed quoll.

'These coupes represent the last remnants of a wildlife corridor between two sections of the National Park." said spokeperson for the Goongerah Environment Centre, Rena Gaborov. "They also contain rare plant association communities, such as the mixed forest, an uncommon interaction between rainforest and emergent eucalypts. There are trees in these coupes that can fit seven people around them- there are not many of these giants left.' finished Ms Gaborov.

Roading and logging have been blockaded in this area for two consecutive summers, proving the tenacity and determination of conservationists in this remote area. Evidence of the rare and threatened Spot-Tailed Quoll was found by conservationists in the Survey Rd area in 2001, when a roading machine was captured and halted for over a month. In January this year a further blockade ended when extremely heavy-handed Police and NRE officers pulled apart a circle of linked conservationists at the base of a tree-sit. "Coupled with the devastation of the Dingo Creek catchment on the northeastern boundary of the Park, and considered in the light of the clearfelling of Goolengook this year, the presence on Survey Road of marked coupes this close to the National park emphasises the strategy of the NRE - to fragment the boundary of the National Park, and thereby extinguish any hopes for an extension of the National Park by making these coupes into failed regrowth wastelands. " said Morgan Boehringer.

Conservationists plan to halt operations in Survey Road for as long as possible. . "These areas must be protected for future generations, they are our universal heritage. The Department's own forest block reports detail an uncommon abundance of animal and bird-life, as well as the afore-mentioned plants species and associations in this area. We are calling on the NRE to cease harvesting operations in the Survey Rd area, and on the Bracks government to make some sort of sign that old-growth and high conservation forests are worth more than clear-felling and woodchipping." said Mr Boehringer.,

For more information contact Morgan Boehringer Goongerah Environment Centre. (03) 51540156

4-10-02

Well howdy folks

What's happening in East Gippsland? Well due to the lack of rain this winter work on the Errinundra Plateau has commenced quite a few months early. Roading has commenced on Survey Road today, with roading machinary and a dozer being moved in just a few hours ago.

The scheduled logging coupes on Survey road in the Brodribb forest block are high conservation old growth forests with cool tenperate rainforest speices such as Southern Sassafras and evidence of critically endangered animals such as the Spot-tailed quoll. The coupe/s? that roading is being prepared for are the last remnants of a wildlife corridor in between two sections of the Errinundra National Park. Roading and logging have been blockaded in this area for two consecutive summers.

The Errinundra Platau is extremely precious for countless ecological reasons and unprotected areas must become part of National park as soon as possible.Such roading operations lead to coupes that in effect ring-bark the national park, making any extensions of the Park difficult. There are trees in theses coupes that can fit seven people around them- there are not many of theses giants left.

We need people here for any direct action as we know how the saying goes 'the more the merrier' please help anyway you can . We'll keep you posted.

cheers GECO -- http://www.geco.org.au

RMB Bonang Highway Goongerah, East Gippsland Victoria, 3888

Phone: 03 5154 0156 Fax: 03 5154 0157

Email geco@green.net.au

13-9-02

Todays Action @ PaperlinX

27-8-02

SCUMLOTTO #2

Friday 13th Sept - theme 'Corporate Ghouls'

Meet at Friends of the Earth at 6.30 am (sharp) 9419 8700

join in the fun, games and cheeky street theatre

byo props and costumes (come as your favorite corporate vampire)

your host - Roger Scully

16-8-02

Our first action today was another blockade of Paperlinx (paperstinx)starring the radical cheerleaders. No photos..sorry I slept in but I will try to put some up later. I did make it to Auspine though.

Auspine have tried to present themselves as an environmentally friendly timber company. Activists give Auspine the thumbs down for being environmental con artists. Behind us is timber from tropical rainforests, front left is highly toxic treated pine and front right is jarrah from the old growth forests of Western Australia. Auspine - environmental con artists indeed.

click here for more photos and a press release from the Auspine action

***PRESS RELEASE***

FRIDAY AUGUST 16, 2002

ENVIRONMENTALISTS BLOCKADE RAINFOREST PAPER IMPORTERS AND CALL ON AUSTRALIAN’S TO BOYCOTT THE USE OF TROPICAL RAINFOREST PAPER.

Supporters and members of Native Forest Network and Friends of the Earth today blockaded the offices of PaperlinX - 307 Ferntree Gully Road, Mount Waverley). The blockade lasted 2 hours and was attended by 40 people. This action is one of a series that will highlight PaperlinX’s role in the destruction of tropical rainforest. The action was filmed by Channel 9 and Channel 10 and reported by Radio 3AK.

Environmentalists are alarmed at PaperlinX’s ongoing imports of photocopy paper sourced from tropical rainforests in Indonesia. Spokesperson for Friends of the Earth and Native Forest Network Anthony Amis said, “From our research it would appear that PaperlinX are easily Australia’s largest importers of tropical rainforest paper, sourced largely through their subsidiary Spicers Paper.” “We are calling on all concerned Australian’s to get behind our campaign to boycott these products. It is an absolute tragedy that tropical rainforests are being logged and converted into plantations to supply cheap photocopy paper to Australian consumers” said Mr Amis. “We understand that PaperlinX could be profiting from up to 100,000 tonnes of paper per year from the notorious Singapore based Asia Pulp and Paper (APP). APP log rainforest throughout Indonesia” said Mr Amis. “This situation may appear to be bizarre when you consider that these cheap imports are undercutting PaperlinX’s local production of photocopy paper. But it is our contention that PaperlinX may sell their Maryvale mill in the near future and concentrate on selling paper from imported sources”.

Friends of the Earth UK has recently published two reports showing that up to 70% of logging being carried out in Indonesia is illegal and that the main beneficiaries of the logging are the Indonesian police and military. We call on PaperlinX to stop the importation of rainforest pulp and paper” said Mr Amis.

For Media comments call Anthony Amis 9419 8700

For more information on paper imports from Indonesia go to:

http://www.australianpaper.forests.org.au/globalpaper.html#rfp

http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/paper_tiger_hidden_dragons.pdf

Stay tuned for more scumlotto action

12-8-02

SCUMLOTTO IS HERE.

Lucky companies win right to direct actions!!!

Friday August 16th

Meet at Friends of the Earth at 6.30 am (sharp)

Company A are destroyers of native forest and importers of tropical rainforest. Blockade and/or occupation of company offices (or watch if you like to watch)

Company B is a timber yard stacked with stolen and immorally gained property (native forest and tropical rainforest). Bring a white coat and clipboard as we intend to conduct an environmental audit.

Support needed and welcome.

9419 8700

8-7-02

HILLTOPS ALERT from ACT (Actively Conserving Trentham)

Calling for help to establish a camp/blockade at hilltops this Saturday the 13th July,10.00am till late. We are building a shelter. Bring warm clothes , lunch and rain coats. Also meeting to discuss tactics to prevent, (once again),the logging of Hilltops. Help us protect  this important coupe.

To get  there - go  to Trentham, take road to Blackwood, turn right after tip into Domino Road . Travel 2-3 km till Lyonville track.

You will find us there.

For further info call Sandy on  54341659.