Taking our 350.org forest protection message to the world

On Sunday, 18 October, the Wilderness Society joined with the local Warburton community to form a giant sign in our forests showing how logging contributes to climate change.

As part of the lead up to 350.org's International Day of Climate Change Action, we came together in the Central Highlands of Victoria to show our support for the protection of Victoria's native forests.

In a logging coupe that was logged for woodchips earlier this year, we formed a giant "THIS ≠ 350" sign showing that in order to get back to a safe level of 350 parts per million of carbon in the atmosphere, we must protect our native forests.

This action is part of the Wilderness Society's push to get the Australian Government to acknowledge that what is good for the goose is good for the gander. While the Rudd Government is telling the rest of the world to protect their forests, we are destroying our own native forests just outside Melbourne.

The Australian state and federal governments must practice what they preach and protect our own native forests from industrial woodchipping.

Celebrating the 350 solution - protecting our intact native forests. Photo: Ben Liquete

One of the most effective ways to immediately reduce emissions is to stop the logging and clearing of forests. In the lead up to Copenhagen, Australia must begin to play a leadership role in pushing to protect the world's forests.

Our creative action was admired by 350.org founder Bill McKibben who hopes to take our images to Times Square in New York and then deliver them to the United Nations.

A slide show of all images from the day will soon be uploaded here, and more images can be viewed on 350.org's Flickr site here.

This action was supported by the following wonderful forest friends:

Adam Menary, Amelia Young, Amy Butcher, Andrew Keall, Angela White, Andy Wright, Asher Bobele, Bechet, Ben Aldridge, Bianca Rich, Bob West, Bodhi Harper Lamont, Brendan Nugent, C Lawry- Noke, Campbell Macknight, Catherine Kingshott, Chris Palmer, Chrissy Gant, Claire Black, Clara Davies, Damien Flynn, Darren Aurisch, David Chamberlain, Davin Richardson, Erin Downie, Felicity Robinson, Frank Gehrke, Gabriel Bobel, Genevieve O'Connell, Georgina Read, Geraldine Ryan, Grace Bariola, Hannah Deans, Harry Dentry, Jane Whitehead, Janet Bariola, Jarrah Kingshott Small, Jason Hodge, Jaxon Barnes, Jeff White, Jennifer Self, Jessica Gartlan, Jill Whitehead, Joy Elizabeth Lea, Joye Dinome Oakshott, Judy Ann Steed, Julia Berta, Karina Doherty, Keith Sarah, Kylie Hodge, Libby Mitchell, Lisa Hoebartner, Lizzie Collett, Loredana Dinome, Lucy McDougall, Luke Chamberlain, Maggie Collett, Margaret Clark, Maria Kear, Mark Nole, Marney Hradsky, Matt Small, Maxine Dentry, Melissa Donchi, Meredith Kerr, Michael Bobele, Michael Palmer, Michelle Fisher, Mirakye Barnes, Narat Dentry, Nathanielle White, Peter Charles Downey, Peter Collins, Peter Cook, Peter Robinson, Phoenix Arrien, Ruby Palmer, Ruth Aldridge, Ruth Chamberlain, Roisin Mortimer, Sage Oats, Sarah Margaret Keltie, Sarah Rees, Sharon Matthews, Sharon Rossi, Simon Oakshott, Simon Oats, Sophie Palmer, Steve Meacher, Stevie Bobele, Stewart Kerr, Susan Palmer, Tanya Bowman , Tim Forcey, Tracey Callander, Vince De Simone, Bradley Jarvis, River Jarvis, Jasper Jarvis, Coni Forcey, Fulvia Inserra, Renee, Charly, Banjo, Jasper.