A great day for our forests and freedom of speech

I have to share this and to save time, i'm just going to take this extract directly from the Wilderness Society Website...

$3.5 million damages claim turns into $350,000 payment to The Wilderness Society (WOOHOOOOOOO!)

The tables have turned on woodchip company Gunns Ltd and its four-year long legal action in the Victorian Supreme Court against The Wilderness Society is over. Its claims for $3.5 million in damages have turned into a $350,000 payment to The Wilderness Society.
In a settlement finalised on 16 March, 2009, Gunns will pay The Wilderness Society $350,000 in costs and discontinue its legal action against The Wilderness Society and individuals either currently or formally with The Wilderness Society – Alec Marr, Leanne Minshull and Heidi Douglas.

"This is a significant win for free speech in Australia. The fact that Gunns now has to pay money to The Wilderness Society after claiming for the past four years that The Wilderness Society owed it $3.5 million demonstrates that the legal action was an empty case from the beginning," former defendant and The Wilderness Society's Executive Director Alec Marr said.

Oh no!!!

Gunns Ltd is ready to start construction on its proposed pulp mill in a matter of weeks. The Wildnerness society's challenge to the fast-tracked federal government assessment process of Gunns Ltd's proposed pulp mill has been rejected in the Federal Court.


What does this mean? (exert taken from www.wilderness.org.au)
Logging and land clearing release massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and destroy precious carbon banks that have been accumulating over centuries.

If Gunns have their way, they will build this polluting pulp mill, burn our native forests and ancient ecosystems for power generation AND continue export woodchipping.

Some consequences are irreversible, such as the extinction of our struggling wildlife. For example, scientists predict a 97% risk of extinction for the endangered Tasmanian Wedge-tailed Eagle in North East Tasmania.

The pulp mill alone would contribute more than 110 million tonnes of carbon pollution to our atmosphere every 25 years - that's equivalent to all transport on Tasmania's roads for the next 80 years!

If this pulp mill goes ahead, generations to come will be dealing with the opportunity we lost - they will be the ones to face the forest destruction, the impact on climate change, the massive air and water pollution, and be condemned to the task of repairing the damage of a poor decision made today.

If you feel the sense of loss that will occur if this mill goes ahead, please make a donation to help stop Gunns Ltd's outrageous pulp mill, and to protect our forests, wildlife and climate for today and for future generations. I have spent many months living in the Tamar, hence my passion for this cause. My friend's home 'Toad Hall' is based along the river and was one of the most special times i had spent in Tasmania over the past 3 years. To think a smelly, polluting mill may affect the tranquility of that area - well, it simply is a depressing thought!


If you are interested to learn more, please visit www.wilderness.org and help! This is a travesty for locals to the Tamar and Launceston.

'NO MILL! Shame on Gunns.'

On the 16th June 2007 more than 11,000 people came together to protest against the proposed Pulp Mill for the Tamar Valley.
Even my mum from Brisbane joined in the march from City Park to Civic Centre.

The wilderness society put up a good fight and do a great job! Read more at this link...
http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/forests/tasmania/gunns_proposed_pulp_mill/pulp-mill-rally-jun07/