Today Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Miranda Gibson is launching a campaign in Japan. Miranda Gibson has been living at the top of a tree, known as The Observer Tree, since December 14 2011 and her action has received international attention.

The innovative campaign to outreach the Observer Tree to the people of Japan will raise awareness of the threatened forests of Tasmania.

Components of the Japanese campaign include a video about the Observer Tree with narration by a Japanese translator, an article on Japanese blogs, websites and ENGO newsletters and a flyer to be distributed at events. The Observer Tree website also now features a Japanese page, which has attracted over 2,000 views since being released last week.

Still Wild Still Threatened has collaborated on this unique campaign effort with the Japan Tropical Forest Action Network (JATAN). On March 11th the film was shown in Tokyo at a commemorative event for the Fukioshima tragedy. Japanese campaigners also gave presentation and distributed information about the Observer Tree.

“Ancient forests in Tasmania have world heritage values. Now these forests are being destroyed for timber demands in our Japanese flooring markets. I hope many Japanese consumers will listen to the voices from the killing fields” said Akira Harada, director of Japan Tropical Forest Action Network (JATAN).

“Today I have been at the top of a tree for 90 days, in a forest that is due to be logged to supply Ta Ann. I want to share my story and the story of this forest with people in Japan” said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Miranda Gibson.

“The high conservation value forests that are being destroyed to supply Ta Ann are ending up as veneer products in Japan. This new campaign is aimed at raising awareness throughout Japan to expose the truth behind Ta Ann’s lies ” said Ms Gibson.

“This campaign is encouraging people in Japan to contact the Japanese corporate customers of Ta Ann and ask them to stop sourcing wood from Tasmanian forest destruction”

“I have also personally written to Ta Ann’s customers letting them know that people right across the world support the protection of Tasmania’s forests. I have sent them images of over 70 actions that took place in 15 countries during the global 24 hours of action on February 15”

“Still Wild Still Threatened is committed to continue this markets-focused campaign, in order to expose Ta Ann’s lies and to call on Ta Ann to stop sourcing wood from Tasmania’s native forests” said Ms Gibson.