[Greens-Media] Greens MP Lee Rhiannon backs no wood chipping protest

[Lee Rhiannon]

MEDIA RELEASE
9 July 2007

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon backs no wood chipping protest

Greens MP and spokesperson for southeast NSW today congratulated the
protesters who last week sent a clear message to Prime Minister John
Howard to stop wood chipping native forests and to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.

"The people involved in last Friday's protest in Bega took a
courageous stand that would be appreciated by the large number of
Australians who don't want native forests wood chipped and want
meaningful solutions to climate change," Ms Rhiannon said.

"I congratulate Greens councillor Keith Hughes, Scott Daines, Josh
Brown and all those involved in the Bega protests.

"The Greens have a proud history of involvement in peaceful direct action.

"History is rich with examples of decision makers only passing
progressive laws when people have broken the law to highlight
injustice.

"From the abolition of slavery, women winning the vote, ending whaling
and the protection of rainforests in NSW non-violent protests have
played a key role.

"These protesters have done nothing wrong or wasted tax payers money.

"The vandals and the criminals are those that continue to log and
woodchip our native forests causing irreparable damage to local
biodiversity and contributing to the burden of greenhouse gas
emissions.

"Liberal MP Andrew Constance is the one who is acting irresponsibly
and is failing to look after the short and long term interests of his
constituents,

"His support for wood chipping and failure to address climate change
is bad news for local jobs and the environment.

"The projected climate change induced sea level rise will wreck havoc
with the local economy. And in the short term the continuation of
native forest logging backed by Mr Constance is reducing biodiversity
and polluting local waterways. This impacts on jobs in the tourism
industries and local marine industries.

"Mr Constance should take a stand for his community and work to stop
businesses that impose costs on the whole society by logging native
forests and increasing greenhouse gas emissions," Ms Rhiannon said.

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