Author, businessman, and Telstra board member Geoffrey Cousins addresses the anti-pulp mill rally at Franklin Square. Sign the Pledge today.
An estimated 15,000 people marched through the streets of Hobart on Saturday 17th November in a clear message to the next elected government and major financial institutions that community opposition to the pulp mill project is building despite the inadequate and fast-tracked government approvals.
At the rally, Alec Marr, Executive Director of The Wilderness Society, launched the Community Pulp Mill Pledge. This pledge commits signatories to not support financial institutions who fund the destruction of native forests or the proposed pulp mill. Thousands of people signed the pledge at the rally, sending a clear message to financial institutions such as ANZ and Perpetual that if they fund socially and environmentally irresponsible project activities like Gunns pulp mill, they will bear the brunt of community outrage and opposition.
Please take action by making the Community Pulp Mill Pledge today.
Welcome to The Wilderness Society Tasmania. The Wilderness Society began in Tasmania in 1976; since then our rambling building on Davey St in Hobart has been the heart of activist enthusiasm and activity. The Wilderness Society Tasmania is campaigning to protect Tasmania's old growth forests.
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The proposed Tamar Valley pulp mill would be a disaster for our forests; our oceans and beaches; our marine life and fisheries; our wildlife; our water; the air of the Tamar Valley; our climate; and our economy.
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The Wilderness Society Tasmania's Campaign Centres in Hobart and Launceston rely on committed volunteers who help out with campaigns by volunteering their time and skills.
There are many ways you can contribute. These can include working on creative community actions, research, helping in the office, reception, banner painting, odd jobs, participating in education and community outreach programs, and much, much more.
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Community members unveil a banner protesting ANZ's potential involvement with Gunns' proposed pulp mill outside ANZ Stadium, Sydney - The Wilderness Society Collection
Since 1995, ANZ bank has provided crucial financial services to Gunns Ltd, Australia’s largest native forest woodchipping company. In February 2007, the ANZ extended a $1.5 billion line of credit to Gunns.
At a time when banks are promoting their environmental and social responsibility policies, being involved with a project like Gunns' Tamar Valley pulp mill could seriously undermine ANZ's credibility and damage its brand.
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
The Wilderness Society is encouraging shareholders of Gunns Ltd’s banker, ANZ Bank, to get in touch and form a syndicate of concerned shareholders who have the power to call an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) should ANZ fund Gunns’ pulp mill in Tasmania.
Australia’s Corporations Act 2001 has provisions aimed at ensuring that the will of shareholders is reflected in the running of their company. EGMs give shareholders the opportunity to express their will and to obtain critical information. To force an EGM, the commitment of 100 shareholders is needed.
If you own shares in ANZ, you have a critical role to play in deciding on the future of our forests, climate and economy.
Click here to download the open letter to ANZ shareholders.
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 version)
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.
At a time 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.
From the steps of Hobart's Federal Court on August 9, 2007.
On November 22, The Wilderness Society issued a call for law reform in response to the dismissal of its Federal Court challenge to the assessment process for the Tamar Valley pulp mill. media release | Summary of Appeal (PDF)
On August 14, The Wilderness Society lodged an Appeal against the recent Federal Court decision endorsing the fast track assessment process for Gunns proposed pulp mill. media release | Notice of Appeal (PDF)
On August 9, The Wilderness Society's court case against the Federal Government and Gunns Ltd was dismissed on all grounds.
Speaking on the steps of Hobart's Federal Court, having just emerged from the hearing, The Wilderness Society Tasmania's Campaign Coordinator Geoff Law said the eyes of the world would now be on Federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull to make a decision on whether or not to approve the pulp mill.
The Wilderness Society took the Federal Government and Gunns Ltd to court to challenge the approval process for the pulp mill. Read more about the background leading up to the court challenge »
The sovereign risk agreement announced by Tasmanian Treasurer Michael Aird represents a confirmation that forests of high conservation value, forests that should be protected, will be fed into the Tasmanian pulp mill.
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If the Tasmanian pulp mill goes ahead it will destroy an area of native forest equivalent to 100,000 MCGs and increase Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. The day after a sovereign risk deal to protect wood supply was released, reportedly requested by potential financier ANZ; The Wilderness Society launched a campaign to urge the ANZ not to fund the pulp mill.
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The Wilderness Society welcomes the Federal Court decision to give the green light for a legal challenge to the Federal government approval of Gunns’ controversial pulp mill. The challenge was launched by the group Lawyers for Forests in December last year, but Gunns had sought an order for the lawyers’ group to pay a substantial bond before it could proceed with the case.
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Lead singer of multi-award winning Australian band Borne, Tasmanian born Cameron Tapp, will be performing in the Upper Florentine forest this Saturday 19th April. Cameron will be helping to launch 'Forests Forever', a powerful compilation CD recently produced by the Huon Valley Environment Centre and The Wilderness Society (Tasmania) as a fundraiser for Tasmanian forest protection campaigns.
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The Wilderness Society Australia
57E Brisbane St, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
Phone: (03) 6270 1701 | Fax: (03) 6231 6533 | Email: info@wilderness.org.au
Membership enquiries, donations: Freecall 1800 030 641 | Email:members@wilderness.org.au
ABN: 21147806133
Except where otherwise explicitly authorised, any material on this website which may be construed as electoral material
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any State or Commonwealth Law is authorised by Greg Ogle on behalf of The Wilderness Society Australia Inc, 57E Brisbane St, Hobart Tas 7000.
On November 22, The Wilderness Society issued a call for law reform in response to the dismissal of its Federal Court challenge to the assessment process for the Tamar Valley pulp mill. 