[Huon Forests] Florentine Exclution Zone Bungle Update

[jenny weber]

MASSIVE FORESTRY TAS UPPER FLORENTINE EXCLUTION ZONE BUNGLE!

Hi Everyone! Astounding News! The 'exclusion zone' that Forestry 
Tasmania has had in place since April 2006 in the Upper Florentine is so 
far off mark that Camp Flozza has never ever even been in an exclusion 
zone! We estimate that there are over 90 amazing dedicated people who 
have been charged with trespass from being on the nasty scar of a 
forestry road (Bartlett's Way!), in the beautiful bush either side of 
that road and along Gordon River Rd to Timbs Track may in fact be 
invalid. The first of 35 trespass charges against community members from 
recent protests will be dropped in Hobart Magistrates Court tomorrow 
according to the Police Prosecution. We moved into the forest of the 
Upper Florentine in October 2007 to work together to save this precious 
ecysystem. Over the last 2.5 years many, many dedicated people have been 
arrested for trespass in this area and we are urging you to seek legal 
advice and to contact the Hobart Magistrates Court to have this charge 
removed from your record and fines reimbursed. We always said it was our 
forest! Please get in touch with us via email, stillwildstillthreatened 
at gmail.com <http://gmail.com>

Here's today's media release! Please lend a hand how ever you can to our 
cause...now's a great time to send a letter to Tassie politicians and to 
the editor of major newspapers.


Love and apologies for cross postings, we gotta get this far and wide!!


Natalie Keene, on behalf of Still Wild Still threatened, working to save 
Tasmania's forests.

www.stillwildstillthreatened.org <http://www.stillwildstillthreatened.org>


*MEDIA RELEASE*

*20.9.2009*


*WRONGLY CONVICTED UPPER FLORENTINE PROTESTERS URGED TO APPEAL*

*Over 90 former defendants to be contacted*


Conservationists convicted of trespass in the Upper Florentine valley 
will be contacted and urged to appeal against their convictions, 
according to Still Wild Still Threatened.


The organisation that spearheaded protests in the old growth forests of 
the Upper Florentine said that more than 90 charges of trespass have 
been laid and gone before the courts since February, 2007. Still Wild 
Still Threatened will put a call out via the internet sites Facebook and 
Myspace, as well as email contact lists, to the 90 plus people arrested 
in the Upper Florentine for trespass, including many international 
visitors, urging them to get legal advice to appeal against their 
convictions.


This follows the revelation that Forestry Tasmania bungled the exclusion 
zone boundary and gave wrong information to the police, resulting in the 
trespass charge against Derwent Valley grandmother Lynda Blyth being 
dropped. The police have also communicated that trespass charges against 
others accused of trespass would also be dropped if they fall into the 
same category as that of Ms Blyth, who was arrested over 200 metres from 
the exclusion zone.


“Dozens of people have stood up to the Government, Forestry Tasmania and 
the logging industry to defend the ancient forests of the Upper 
Florentine and they have been wrongly accused of breaking the law,” said 
Natalie Keene, Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson. “Many have been 
wrongfully convicted because the police blindly accepted the word of 
Forestry Tasmania.”


"Those wrongly convicted should have legal and other costs incurred 
through their arrests and trials reimbursed by Forestry Tasmania," Ms 
Keene said.


The Upper Florentine exclusion zone has been in place off and on 
according to the bungled boundaries since April 2006. Since then, there 
have been a constant community presence and numerous protests resulting 
in over 90 charges of trespass.


"Forestry Tasmania should apologise to all the members of our community 
they have wrongly accused of breaking the law," said Ms Keene. "We 
demand that the Tasmanian Government put in place a more effective 
watchdog for Forestry Tas, whose incompetence continues to be exposed." 
Ms Keene said.


"Premier Bartlett has egg on his face because he blindly accepted 
Forestry Tasmania's claims that people were breaking the law. We hope 
this development will encourage him to be less gullible - and more 
clever - in his approach to the forest issue." said Ms Keene.


-- 
Still Wild Still Threatened is a grassroots community organisation 
campaigning for the immediate protection of Tasmania's ancient forests 
and the creation of an equitable and environmentally sustainable 
forestry industry in Tasmania.

www.stillwildstillthreatened.org <http://www.stillwildstillthreatened.org>
stillwildstillthreatened at gmail.com 
<mailto:stillwildstillthreatened at gmail.com> 
www.myspace.com/stillwildstillthreatened 
<http://www.myspace.com/stillwildstillthreatened>
PO Box 295. South Hobart TAS 7004