Author Archives: lilia
Miranda’s Daily Blog: Day 315
Celebration of Forestry Tasmania’s corporate relations executive resigning a few days ago have been short lived. Yesterday the shocking news hit that Managing Director Bob Gordon has remarkably been reappointed for a further five years. At the same time it was revealed that the Government Business Enterprise made a loss of $27.6 million over the past year. How can it be that Bob Gordon has been put in charge for another five years, when it has been on his watch that so many millions of tax payers money has been lost? Read the rest of this entry
Miranda’s Daily Blog: Day 312
I had a great start to the day… reading the news that Corporate Relations executive of Forestry Tasmania, Ken Jeffreys, is resigning. And his role will not be replaced. Considering that the role of corporate relations has often been one of publicly defending the indefensible, attempting to persuade the public that the destruction of our forests is a good idea… then I think this is a job that tax payers can certainly do without having to foot the bill for.
It seems that Ken Jeffreys’ decision to leave has come about from the now unstable relationship he has with the Tasmanian government, after recently attacking the government over their decision to restructure Forestry Tasmania.
An independent review of Forestry Tasmania released in 2012 provided the government with a range of suggested options for restructuring the Government Business Enterprise, based on the findings. The review found that Forestry Tasmania was “unable to fulfil its obligations under the Government Business Enterprise Act 1995, to operate as a successful business.”
The government is approaching the restructure option of number two. This involves a split between the commercial and non-commercial functions of FT. With the latter being handed over to the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment. The model also involves the wood production land being controlled by the Department, and leased back to FT. The government’s decision came to light through a leaked email written by Ken Jeffreys to FT staff, scathing of the government. Read the rest of this entry
Media Release: Tasmania stands in solidarity with Sarawak.
Members of environment groups Huon Valley Environment Centre and Still Wild Still Threatened, are gathering outside Hydro Tasmania’s Davey Street offices in Hobart to stand in solidarity with native Sarawakians protesting against the construction of the Murum dam in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Ten members have stationed themselves outside the building and are displaying a banner that reads “Hydro Tas: Damning Sarawak”.
The Murum dam will flood nearly 250 sq. km and will displace at least 1400 native people from their traditional lands. The dam construction, overseen by Sarawak Energy, is being facilitated by Hydro Tasmania, which is providing assistance to Sarawak Energy in the form of knowledge and expertise.
“Approximately three hundred native Sarawakians have been blocking the construction works at the Murum dam in the Malaysian rainforest for three weeks. They decided to blockade the routes to the construction site after they learnt they faced forced resettlement, the terms of which they are still in the dark about. They have vowed to remain at the blockade until they are properly consulted and their concerns are addressed in full,” said Ali Alishah, spokesperson for Huon Valley Environment Centre. Read the rest of this entry
Guest Blog: Taya Iverach (8 years old)
Hello, I’m known as the Observer Tree. I’m a Eucalyptus, the tallest flowering trees on earth. And I live in the heart of Tasmania’s southern forest. I live with my brothers, sisters, cousins and friends. We have lived here together for hundreds of years.Over the years all different animals have stopped by to rest for a while and eat my leaves which I am happy to share, because I am an evergreen tree so I always have plenty to go around.
My favourite animal that comes to visit is the brush tail possum. During the day they tend to sleep a lot in the hollows of my branches and they tell me that they really love the taste of the oil that comes out of my leaves. The brush tail possums are good friends because they also eat the insects that try to bug me.
Every now and then, I throw out my old leaves and twigs and they gather around my base on the ground making a whole new habitat for insects and plants to live in…… I am pretty considerate when you think about it!
Let me tell you a story about a human named Miranda Gibson that has also come to live with me. Read the rest of this entry
Miranda’s Daily Blog: Day 304
“We will not remove the blockade or move out of here until our demands are resolved and fulfilled by the government” These are the inspiring words of Labang Paneh, from Long Wat village, Sarawak.
Today I want to share with you this story that has reignited my committment and inspiration by reminding me of the power of collective action, of the human spirit, of courage and resistance.
It was early in the morning a few weeks ago, on Sept 26th when about two hundred people gathered on the road leading to the construction site of the Murum dam project. The group set up a blockade, stopping access to the site and halting construction on the controversial dam project. The blockade has now grown to over 300, with more expected to arrive.
The blockaders are taking direct action to protect their ancestral homelands and their livelihoods.
The 275,000 hectare catchment of the dam includes the ancestral land of Sarawak’s indigenous communities. The Murum Dam project, if completed, will flood around 24,500 hectares, resulting in the forced relocation of around 1,500 indigenous Penan and 18 Kenyah-Badeng families, according to the NGO Bruno Manser Fonds. Yet, the communities affected were not even informed about the plans for their resettlement, until a secret document was leaked. This document outlined the compensation that would be given. They would lose: homelands, livelihoods, the forests they depend on for survival and the destruction of sacred and historical sites without their consent. To be replaced by a monthly payment that does not even meet the poverty line and which would cease after four years. In addition, the new farmlands designated as part of the resettlement plan are already occupied by palm plantations run by big companies, leaving very limited forest for traditional livelihoods for the Penan. Read the rest of this entry
Miranda’s Daily Blog: 297
On this day last year, myself and two other conservationists scaled up the side of the Sydney Opera House and unfurled a banner from the top of one of Australia’s most iconic structure. The banner read “No Harvey Norman No- Stop selling Aussie forest destruction.” It was part of a global day of action targeting the company for selling furniture made from the destruction of native forests around Australia, including in Tasmania. There were over 40 actions around the world.
A year later and Harvey Norman are still selling timber products that were once precious ecosystems. A year later and we continue to campaign for the protection of those ecosystems. Today is a good day to remember the role that retail outlets have in the cycle of destruction. Today is a good day to remind those companies that people do not want to buy forest destruction.
For those who haven’t seen it, check out this great video clip of last years successful action.
I’m sure actions like these will continue to happen, raising awareness about the forests, untill Australian native forests receive the protection they need.
Miranda
Miranda’s Daily Blog: Day 291
Yesterday I had a visit from a group of members and friends of the Florentine Protection Society. This Tasmanian community group consists of committed people dedicated to the protection of Tasmania’s unique environment and wildlife, In particular through educating the public about the values of the forests, communicating with others and also appreciating the beauty and diversity of Tasmania’s native flora and fauna. They have been great supporters of Observer Tree over the past nine months. Including organising a large banner to be displayed in a prominent position in Hobart for seven months, online ads on Tasmanian Times, technical support, and donations. It was great for a group of their members to make it out to the tree. Hope you enjoy th e short video about their visit:
So thank you to the Florentine Protection Society for your support! Another organisation that has been a great support is the Huon Valley Environment Centre. I spoke a little the other day about Jenny Weber, winner of the 2012 Bob Brown Environmentalist of the Year award. Jenny has run the HVEC without pay for the past decade. Through this role she has been instrumental in providing a voice for the forests. She has provided support for front-line direct action volunteers through helping raise money for legal costs for activists, as well as being a inspiration and personal support for so many activists in Tasmania. She has taken action on the front lines, helping co-ordinate the long running Weld Valley blockade and has been arrested several times in her efforts to defend the forests. She has continuously provided a strong stance against Ta Ann’s role in forest destruction here and in Sarawak. I can’t imagine the Tasmanian forest campaign without Jenny and the Environment Centre. Over the years that I have been involved in Still Wild Still Threatened we have worked very closely with the Huon Valley Environment Centre. Our two groups have stood in solidarity with one another through many challenging and many inspiring times, bringing together an amazing array of committed and courageous activists. Both our groups continue to provide a voice for Tasmania’s forests and the species that rely on these forests. A voice that refuses to be silenced. And now the Huon Valley Environment Centre needs our help. They are trying to raise $25,000 in order to provide a wage for Jenny so that she can continue to run the centre. After a decade of unpaid service, this would be a well-deserved wage for Jenny, and would enable her to continue doing the important work she is doing for our community and environment. Please consider making a donation, or find out more by clicking HERE.
Miranda’s Daily Blog: Day 288
Today the Bob Brown Foundation announced the recipients of their first annual Environmental Awards. It must have been a difficult choice, with so many inspiring, courageous and outstanding environmentalists right across this country. I feel so honoured to be chosen as the recipient of the Environmental Courage Award, for my efforts in the Observer Tree. Thank you to the Foundation for their generosity and for the acknowledgment and recognition of the work of environmentalists. It was a great day, too, for a wonderful and awe-inspiring fellow Tasmanian forest campaigner; Jenny Weber. No one could be more deserving than Jenny of the 2012 Environmentalist of the Year Award. She is one of the most committed and hard-working people I have ever met and her relentless efforts over the past decade of running the Huon Valley Environment Centre and fighting for our forests is incredible. If I had a hero, it would be Jenny Weber! It has been so inspirational to work with her on the forest campaign over the years. And in particular this past nine months while I have been in the Observer Tree, Jenny has continued to inspire me to keep going despite the increasing uncertainty facing the forests. And I would like to also acknowledge the many, many courageous and passionate people who stand with us in fighting for Tasmania’s precious forests. And the people all around the world who stand with us in solidarity. Together we will continue to take action and stand strong for the forests.
Today’s award presentations also awarded a Young Environmentalist of the Year to Dan Spencer of South Australia, a member of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition. The Foundation recognised Dan’s efforts saying that, among other things he led “a widely publicised youth action at this years UN Climate Conference in Mexico and has been instrumental in the current walk from Port Augusta to Adelaide in support of solar power replacing two decrepit coal-fired power stations”
Bob Brown had this to say about the awards: “We are delighted to honour these three wonderful Australian environmentalists and, in doing so, also honour the thousands more in this environment-loving nation and it’s region who work so hard, often unrecognized, for our terrestrial and marine ecosystems.”
T h e O b s e r v e r T r e e 