TIE ME KANGAROO DOWN CORP

Hot on the heels of the Barclay Brothers Scotsman campaign to stop sustainable transport in Scotland’s capital, here’s news of another attempt by private operators blocking environmental sanity.

A statement from Friends of the Earth International stated: “On 13th December 2004 Gunns, the world¹s biggest exporter of hardwood woodchips, served a writ against 20 organisations and individuals, including The Wilderness Society of Australia and Senator Bob Brown, the leader of the Australian Green Party. Gunns is accusing them of interfering in its business interests and is seeking $6.3 million in damages.

The future of Tasmania's old growth forests was at the centre of the election battle in Australia in 2004 when both the Coalition Government and Labor Opposition made election pledges to protect more of Tasmania¹s threatened old growth forests from the woodchip industry. These iconic forests contain some of the tallest hardwood trees in the world and are home to many endangered species. Public opinion polls show that 80% of the Australian public want all of Tasmania¹s old growth forests fully protected.

Gunns is by far the biggest exporter of woodchips sourced from old growth forests in Tasmania and its actions are massively environmentally damaging. Having lost the public debate in Australia on old growth forest protection Gunns is now using its wealth and power in an attempt to crush dissent and silence its critics through the courts.

It is a classic example of a corporation deliberately attempting to intimidate members of civil society engaged in peaceful opposition to environmental abuse. As such, this law suit represents nothing less than a direct assault on democracy and free speech which is of great concern to civil society movements worldwide.”

Gunns Timber Co here.