Media Release: Still Wild Still Threatened calls for public apology from the Premier
Still Wild Still Threatened calls on Premier Lara Giddings to make a public apology for her misleading comments about environmentalists.
“The Premier’s attacks on environmentalists is getting out of control and she exacerbating communtiy conflict through unsubstantiated claims” said Miranda Gibson, spokesperson for Still Wild Still Threatened. “Still Wild Still Threatened rejects the Premiers accusations. Conservationists from Still Wild Still Threatened have never used tree spiking tactics.”
‘”Premier Giddings is continuing to misdirect community anger towards environmental groups when it is the poor management and business decisions made by both Ta Ann and Forestry Tasmania that have led to the current crisis” said Ms Gibson.
“Still Wild Still Threatened and the Huon Valley Environment Center are committed to non-violence. Yet, conservationist are bearing the brunt of violent threats. The Premier should be publicly condemning the threats that have been made against Jenny Weber and the Huon Valley Environment Center” said Ms Gibson.
“Still Wild Still Threatened supports the work of the Huon Valley Environment Center, The Last Stand and Markets for Change. The fact that conservationists are exposing the truth about Ta Ann’s operations does not make the environment movement responsible for the crisis of an industry that has been operating on lies and misinformation ” said Ms Gibson.
Miranda’s Daily Blog: Day 66
I want to say “thank you” but the word seems so small that it cannot possibly explain how I feel. It cannot explain the deeply emotional and personal journey that the global 24 hours of action has taken me on. It cannot explain how positively overwhelming it was to receive so much support. Email after email after email rolling in to support me and support these forests. It cannot explain the realisation that I had on that day, the discovery that I’d still been carrying a layer of numbness, a defensive shield that held true hope at bay. I hadn’t even realised it was there until now, until this action cut through that layer of numbness right to my heart. As the actions rolled in from around the world, I felt for the first time in a long time a raw and honest feeling of real hope and inspiration.
Despite being exhausted from both excitement and stress (it was a big day!), I lay awake that night unable to sleep. And as I looked out across the dark silhouette of Mount Field I started to cry. It’s strange crying at times when you are happy. But it is not just happiness, it is an emotion all mixed up in happiness, relief, appreciation (and maybe a little sadness for the realisation that hope had not always been around). And I also couldn’t sleep because I was anxiously wondering how I could possibly show you all how much your actions mean to me. I want you to know how valued and appreciated your efforts are and I lay awake worrying that you wouldn’t realise that!
One of the things that is really spectacular about this action is how far and wide the support came from, and I don’t just mean geographically (though with 15 countries… that is pretty far and wide!!). Support came in from activists like the Sea Shepherd crew and the Occupy Newhaven crew, and it came from people who have probably never used the word “activist” to describe themselves, and who maybe never would. It came from old friends (including an old friend of mine from school who I haven’t seen in over 10 years) and it came from people who don’t know me, have never met me, but have been inspired by my story. It came from children and young people and elderly. It came from people who have spent time in these forests and from people who have only just found out about the forest issue from my blog. It came from big cities and tiny country towns. Support just flowed in from all across the world!!
I feel like I am the witness to something remarkable… (it is like seeing a rare orchid in the moment it comes into flower).
And so I am sitting here wondering how I can thank you all enough. How I can show you really how much it means to me and I’m sure how much it means to these forests! This is why the word “thank you” is just not enough because it cannot portray the feeling I have of hopefulness and the sense now that I am not alone. It is like I said in my blog about heroes – I wanted us to all stand together. I want to be in this WITH you, and now I feel like this is truly how it is. We are all in this together, and with so much support from around the world I really believe that together we will be able to bring about the change that we need for these forests.
Everyone who took part in this action you are an inspiration for me. You have inspired me and reinvigorated my committment to stay in this tree and to keep up the fight for these forests.
That is my personal thank you. I also want to say thank you on behalf of the trees and the animals. Because this action is going to have a big impact on the campaign and it is very well timed. There has been an awful lot going on in Tasmania over the past week and things are really heating up around the forest issue. I will write more about that in my blog soon. But for now I want to say that it is a crucial time to be able to show how many people all around the world want to see these forests protected. Your images will be delivered to the Japanese corporate customers of Ta Ann early next week. We will also be delivering them to some other key people who need to know that the world is watching.
Please help us make the most out of everyone’s amazing efforts, and spread the word about the incredible day of action. You will find an article on my blog that you can use anywhere and everywhere. It has been translated into German already also. If you haven’t checked out the slide show, take a look, I guarantee it will inspire you!!
Thanks so much everyone for the biggest and most amazing global action for Tassie forests!!!
Thanks for being my hero 😉
Media Release: Premier Giddings undermines the democratic rights of citizens
Today Premier Giddings sent a personal letter to Jenny Weber, spokesperson for the Huon Valley Environment Center, asking for the community group to stop speaking up in defence of Tasmania’s forests.
“The Premier Lara Giddings is completely out of line in calling on community group Huon Valley Environment Center to be silent on the forest issue. We live in a democracy where political dissent is a basic right.” said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Miranda Gibson. “The Premier should be defending the democratic right of Tasmanian citizens to voice their opinions and concerns.”
“The audacity of the Premier to ask the community to ‘back off’ is outrageous considering it is her broken promise of a conservation agreement that has led to the ongoing controversy. The purpose of the conservation agreement was to ensure the industry backed off from destroying the forest in order for negotiations to proceed” said Ms Gibson.
In addition the Huon Valley Environment Center is being scapegoated by the industry and blamed for the current industry crisis.
“It is unacceptable for Ta Ann to scapegoat community environmental groups for the crisis that has resulted from their own poor management and business decisions. The reality is that they have been misleadingly marketing their products. The only ones responsible for the loss of jobs are Ta Ann becuase the company has chosen to continue to entrench themselves in forest destruction despite the implications this is having on their global markets.”
Still Wild Still Threatened is 100% in support of the Huon Valley Environment Center and we will also continue our campaign until Tasmania’s forests receive protection.
“With over 70 actions across 15 countries in this weeks global action for Tasmania’s forests, it is clear that the Huon Valley Enviornment Center and Still Wild Still Threatened have support from all around the globe in calling for forest protection” said Ms Gibson.
Global action article: please share widely
Below is an article about the amazing global 24 hours of action. If you know any opportunities to get this article out and about on websites, in newspapers, any where you can think of…. please take it and distribute as widely as possible. Feel free to include additional details to focus on your local action, or a quote from you about what motivated you to take part in the action.
Download a pdf version of the below article here. You can download images from the slide show for use also. Any international crew who would like to translate the article in their local language, that would be great.
What an amazing effort from everyone around the world to make this action a huge success!! Now let’s make sure we spread the word about it!!
Over 70 actions across 15 countries in 24 hours for Tasmania’s forests.
An incredible show of world wide support saw over 70 actions across 15 countries in 24 hours calling for an end to the destruction of Tasmania’s forests.
People gathered to hold banners in snow filled streets, images of the forest were projected onto town buildings, handmade signs were held up in backyards, some stood as silent statues dressed in green, while some took the action to their local area of forest destruction in solidarity and others asked passers-by to ‘have a heart for Tassie’s forests.’
In Hobart a massive 40 meter banner was held up outside Ta Ann’s head office, in Tokyo a letter was delivered to SMKC (partner to Ta Ann) and a pair of daring conservationists’ abseiled the Black Mountain Tower in Canberra to unfurl the message on a giant banner.
This global effort builds on ongoing action of conservationist Miranda Gibson, who has spent 63 days so far at the top of an old growth tree in Tasmania’s threatened forest. Ms Gibson’s commitment to remain in the tree until the forest is protected has inspired people right across the globe. Miranda beamed the message of forest protection straight from the trees to the world, using Skype to speak at the actions and taking part in a press conference via video link up.
Despite being promised protection by the Tasmanian State and Australian Federal governments back in August 2011 the forests continue to fall. The government broke their promise of an “immediate conservation agreement” across 430,000 hectares of high conservation value forest across Tasmania. Instead the logging continues in order to supply wood to Malaysian company Ta Ann.
“It is an international disgrace that the Australian government promised the protection of these forests six months ago now. Yet due to the Ta Ann’s insatiable appetite for native forests, logging has actually increased in the areas that are ear-marked for forest reserves” said Miranda Gibson.
“Today’s action sends a clear message to Ta Ann and their corporate customers that the international community will not tolerate the destruction of these globally significant forests. We are asking Ta Ann’s customers including flooring manufacturers Panasonic and Eidai and Japan’s largest home building companies Seksui House, Daiwa House to cease purchasing from Ta Ann while the company is driving the logging of Tasmania’s native forests” said Ms Gibson.
The veneer produced by Ta Ann from Tasmania’s forests is misleadingly sold around the world as “eco” friendly. The company has told its international customers that the wood is sourced from plantations. And locally they claim to use only ‘regrowth’ forests. However, the Huon Valley Environment Centre released a report last year that detailed evidence of Ta Ann’s use of high conservation value and old growth forest. In addition the government initiated independent assessment of Forestry Tasmania’s data proved that Ta Ann is the major driver behind the continued logging of high conservation value forests. The report produced from the independent assessment showed that the majority of coupes scheduled within the area ear-marked for protection are being logged to supply Ta Ann.
“A long term vision that gives Tasmania a unique reserve system, protection for endangered species habitat and taking real action to mitigate climate change is what we are standing up for. With people around the globe and around Australia, we are calling for the protection for these treasure houses of species,” Huon Valley Environment Centre’s Jenny Weber said.
With UK company International Plywood cancelling their contract a few months ago after being given evidence of Ta Ann’s forest destruction, the campaign is now gaining global support in calling on the Japanese corporate customers of Ta Ann to do the same unless Ta Ann cease destroying native forests. A letter will be sent to those companies with that message and details of the global action. There is also a cyber action up and running, for people to sign a letter to be emailed to those companies, just go to:
Miranda Gibson continues her tree top vigil in the forests, with new inspiration and enthusiasm from the past 24 hours of action. “It has been inspiring to have such an overwhelming level of support and actions right across the globe” said Ms Gibson. “I hope my ongoing presence in the forests will continue to inspire people to take action and keep this campaign going until we achieve the conservation outcomes that are so desperately needed for these forests to survive into the future.”
Miranda’s tree sit, equipped with solar panels and internet, is bringing the forests straight from southern Tasmania to you. Check out her daily on line blog:
Check out photos from the around the world:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76527681@N03/sets/72157629320724403/
Tasmanian news coverage Feb 15th
Check out last night’s news coverage on the ABC Tasmania. Some great footage of some of the global 24 hours of action including the amazing banner drop on the Black Mountain Tower in Canberra and the Hobart community action at Parliament Lawns. And despite a few technical hiccups along the way – we managed a successful press conference with me beamed in live from the tree tops!
ABC:
WIN:
Miranda’s Daily Blog: Day 63
WOW!! What an incredible day! It has been super busy … I am exhausted, but so completely happy and inspired. The show of support has been so massive! By this afternoon’s media update, we had 48 actions. But the emails and photos have just kept rolling in!! And we now have 70 actions!!
I would like to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who took part in this action. It has definitely given me the inspiration and enthusiasm to stay up in this tree …. knowing that I am not alone, but in fact supported by hundreds of people all across the globe! Lets keep this going and let’s make sure these irreplaceable forests are protected forever!
If there was every a clear message to be sent to the industry that the time for forest destruction is up… it is now!
Although it has been so busy today, it has been so exciting… checking the email and finding more and more responses every time! There may even be a few late ones straggling into my inbox tonight.
Just a short blog from me today, because I think the images speak for themselves about what a significant day it has been… check out the slideshow!
THANK YOU for making this global 24 hours of action so successful. You are all so amazing and I so inspired be everyone who has stood up for these forests over the last two days. Lots of love to you all!
Global 24 Hours of Action Images
Make sure you check out the AMAZING photos from the past 24 hours of action!
WOW!! What an incredible collection of photos!
Media Update: 48 actions over 13 countries send a clear message of support for Tasmania’s forests
An increible world-wide action over the last 24 hours has been instrumental in demonstating the global significance of Tasmania’s forests. Hundreds of people gathered across 48 actions in 13 countries. Including one pair of daring activists who absieled the Black Mountain Tower in Canberra to display their message of support.
With street theatre, banner drops, community gatherings, and images of Tasmania’s forest projected up onto buildinngs it has been a busy 24 hours of creative and inspirational actions.
This global action builds on the action of conservationist Miranda Gibson, who has spent 65 days so far at the top of an old growth tree near the Styx Valley. Ms Gibson’s commitment to remain in the tree until the forest is protected has inspired people right across the world.Miranda beamed Tasmania’s forest protection message straight from the trees to the people of the world, using Skype to speak at action locations right across the globe. And taking part in a press conference via video link up.
“It is an international disgrace that the Australian government promised the protection of these forests six months ago now. Yet due to the Ta Ann’s insatiable appetite for native forests, logging has actually increased in the areas that are ear-marked for forest reserves” said Miranda Gibson
“Today’s action sends a clear message to Ta Ann and their corporate customers that the international community will not tolerate the destruction of these globally significant forests. We are asking Ta Ann’s customers including flooring manufacturers Panasonic and Eidai and Japan’s largest home building companies Seksui House, Daiwa House to cease purchasing from Ta Ann while the company is driving the logging of Tasmania’s native forests” said Ms Gibson.
“Globally the ancient forests of Tasmania are significant and unique. Tall eucalypt forests are threatened from logging. A long term vision that gives Tasmania a unique reserve system, protection for endangered species habitat and taking real action to mitigate climate change is what we are standing up for. With people around the globe and around Australia, we are calling for the protection for these treasure houses of species,” Huon Valley Environment Centre’s Jenny Weber said.
“The level of support that has come in from all reaches of the globe is phenonemail” said spokesperson Miranda Gibson. “From community actions in regional Aussie towns, to a massive banner drop in Canberra and from Japan to Europe to Fiji, the people of the world have really made a stand today for Tasmania’s world class forests”
“This show of global support has given me the inspiration to continue with my committment to remain at the top of this tree untill these forests receive protection” said Ms Gibson who has spent the past 2 months at the top of a tree in Tasmainia’s threatened forests.
“We will be sending a letter and images of these actions to the Japanese corporate customers of Ta Ann, to let them know that the world supports the protection of these globally significant forests. We are asking these compainies to cease buying from Ta Ann while the company is driving forest destruction” said Ms Gibson.
Video for Projecting during Global 24 Hours of Action
For those crew projecting images as part of your global action: click on the vimeo link and you can download the footage/ slideshow. Contact us if you have any dramas. And happy projecting!
T h e O b s e r v e r T r e e 