tasmedia.org

Events in the Forest

Nine machines are smashing wilderness forest at the end of the new logging road in the lower Weld Valley. Peaceful activists are defending these ancient forests.
In the lower Weld Valley today, a tree sitter was watching while a contractor
moved the excavator that he had his tree sit line attached to. Fraying
the ropes on his tree sit.
Then the 12 contractors present in the logging coupe tormented and
ridiculed the persom locked on to machinery. A peaceful activist was
locked on from 6am to 2pm today in the coupe.
Contractors antics included obcenities, throwing stink bombs, pulling
hair, placing honey for attracting march flies close to the person,
violently threatened the activists present.
In the Florentine Valley yesterday, contractors and a police office held
the piece of rope that was attaching the tree sit to the machine and cut
the rope.

WELD Walk In This Sunday 18TH Feb, Meet at HVEC at 9:30am.
Walk in to the logging area,
Bring all weather gear, walking or bikes 10km, food, water,

Your support is needed.
Donate to the campaign
TIME come to the Weld or Florentine, join the community campaign
VISIT www.huon.org or www.forestdefenceunit.org
POSTER your local town with our posters, call us
DONATE your funds online check it out at www.huon.org
DANCE with a fundraiser and donate the monies to our campaign
OFFER your old camping gear, a box of food, medical supplies, climbing
equipment, call 0427 366 929
CALL talkback spread the WELD and FLORENTINE message
WRITE to the papers
WATCH our films, we have a dvd of 5 films, have a film night,
PASS this on to friends, family

CONTACT Huon Valley Environment Centre 6264 1286
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14th February 2007
Media Release

Loggers endangered forest defender’s lives and threatened one with sexual assault

During yesterday's two non-violent actions in the Florentine and Weld valley, one forest defender was threatened with sexual assault and two others were endangered when unsafe work practices were used, interfering with their tree-sits.

"The police and logger's attitude to forest defenders were clearly stated yesterday by a Forestry Tasmania employee, who said that protestors have to expect their lives to be endangered if they want to protect the forests," said Huon Valley Environment Centre Jenny Weber

"One forest defender in the Weld Valley was locked on to a piece of machinery for eight hours. During that time loggers threatened to sexual assault him, pouring honey near him to attract March Flies, stink bombs were also thrown at him, the machine he was attached to was started. Another two protestors, had their lives threatened when ropes connected to a tree sit, in the Florentine were cut, and in the Weld Valley machinery was moved,” said Jenny Weber

"Not only is Forestry Tasmania allowing these illegal operations to occur in the world heritage valued forests of the Weld valley and Florentine, but they are also allowing a culture of violence and intimidation to occur against peaceful protestors," said Jenny Weber

“Activists never have and never will endanger the safety of contractors or police. Baseless claims made by the forest industry front groups, are simply an attempt to distract from the illegal destruction of Tasmania’s forests, and contractors own behavior,” Jenny Weber said.

Jenny Weber
0427 366 929
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Media Release
14th Feb 2007

Forestry Tasmania accelerates illegal destruction in Tasmania's Ancient
Southern Forests
Forest Defenders maintain vigil

"A forest activist was yesterday arrested whilst defending ancient
forest in the Lower Weld Valley. Forestry Tasmania is currently logging
in two high conservation value forests in the Lower Weld Valley.
Illegal destruction of these ancient forests has accelerated, nine
machines are destroying the ancient forest with alarming rate,"
Spokesperson Jenny Weber said.

"This second arrest in two days in Tasmania's wild southern forests
highlights community resistance to the logging of these wildlife
habitats. World Heritage value forest in the Lower Weld and Upper
Florentine Valleys deserve immediate protection. And forest defenders
are maintaining their vigil in the Weld and Upper Florentine, to
highlight senseless destruction by Lennon's State and Howard's Federal
Governments intention to plunder a globally significant wilderness
area," Jenny Weber said.
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13th February 2007

Media Release

Peaceful Protestor Arrested in Tasmania's Forests as Illegal Onslaught
by Forestry Tasmania Continues in Ancient Forest

"A forest protestor was yesterday arrested in the Upper Florentine
Valley, whilst protesting about the continued destruction of Ancient
World Heritage value forests.
One arrest was made, after the protester perched in a tree sit had
halted logging operations for most of the day," Huon Valley Environment
Centre Spokesperson Jenny Weber said.

"Forest activists remain in the Upper Florentine and Lower Weld Valleys,
their brave actions continue to highlight the ongoing destruction of
threatened species habitat and wild ancient forests. Despite a Federal
Court ruling, Forestry Tasmania and the State Government have ignored
the ruling and continue their relentless push to destroy wilderness
forest in Tasmania," Jenny Weber said.
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