Mill site approved despite conditions still not being met

	Community protesters inform ANZ customers and the public of ANZ's potential role in funding Gunns' pulp mill, Sydney - The Wilderness Society Collection (Click here for larger image

On Friday 1 February, Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett gave Gunns approval to begin clearing vegetation on the pulp mill site in Northern Tasmania, despite Gunns not having demonstrated it can meet major conditions, including the environmental impact of dumping 64,000 tonnes of toxic effluent into Bass Strait every day.

Peter Garrett’s pre-emptive approval could see Gunns clear endangered species' habitat at the pulp mill site any time now. Tragically, clearing can begin before the project even has all the approval it ultimately needs.

The people of Tasmania will need the support of all Australians to help ensure Gunns aren’t allowed to build a pulp mill that will increase our annual greenhouse gas contributions by over 2 per cent- the equivalent of putting 2.3 million new cars on the road every year.

In an age where we are coming to grips with the huge impact of climate change, adding an extra burden on our environment of this magnitude is unthinkable.

Sign the Pulp Mill Pledge

You can take action by signing The Wilderness Society's Pulp Mill Pledge. The Pledge was launched at Hobart's massive rally attended by 15,000 people in November 2007, and over 6500 people have signed it since.

If you haven’t already done so, please sign the Pulp Mill Pledge now. Those people who have taken the pledge have committed to take part in peaceful community action to stop the pulp mill, and not to invest their money in banks that fund forest destruction.

Get involved in peaceful protest workshops

In response to the overwhelming interest and engagement of community members around Australia, workshops in the important philosophies and skills of peaceful community protest are underway.

Peaceful community protest at the construction site is a last resort and we hope it will never be needed. However, we respect the growing feeling in the community that people wish to express their distress at the failure of successive government processes to properly and transparently consider a wide range of concerns about the mill, by peacefully protesting.

Download The Wilderness Society's peaceful protest Code Of Conduct

The pulp mill is still not fully approved by the Federal Government and has not yet been financed. ANZ is still deliberating the issues surrounding the project, and no doubt is considering the negative impact supporting the mill would have on their brand and market share. Peaceful community protest is one means of continuing to encourage ANZ not to fund the mill.

Workshops have already started in northern Tasmania, where local families are learning how to stand up and peacefully protect their clean, green future. The workshops are designed to empower the community to stand up for their future. Please contact Paul Oosting for more information if you would like to find out more about the workshops.