MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday, 27th January 2009
Upper Florentine Protests Mark Australia Day In London
Norman Baker Decides To Table An Early Motion in British Parliament And Camp Florentine Is Launched Once Again
British activists marked Australia Day by climbing trees and hanging banners in front of the Australian High Commission
in London to highlight the continued destruction of Tasmania's old growth and high conservation value forests. This
action has coincided with British MP Norman Baker's decision to table an early motion in parliament regarding recent
roading operations in the Upper Florentine Valley.
In Tasmania, forest activists and community members have re-launched Camp Florentine, with a number of new tree-sits and
road blockading structures set up over the weekend.
"The devastation of some Tasmania's ancient forests is a critical global issue. Once again, the Tasmanian and Australian
Governments' continued support of Forestry Tasmania and Gunns Limited's environmentally criminal operations is being
shown up as an international disgrace" said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Ula Majewski.
"The World Heritage Centre, the IUCN and now members of the British Parliament have expressed their interest and
concerns regarding Forestry Tasmania's atrocious roading operations in the Upper Florentine Valley. We once again call
on Minister Garrett, who will be visiting Tasmania this week, to show some real leadership and put a halt to the
destruction of these World Heritage-valued forests" said Miss Majewski.
ends