A recent letter in Bega District News about this reads as follows:

Burning issue.

 

The response from SEFE [South East Fibre Exports, formerly Daishowa Woodchip Mill at Eden] to being denied exhibition space in the Clean Energy Expo highlights some interesting points.

It is clearly beyond the scope of the Corporate Affairs Manager to understand that burning native forests to create electricity is neither clean, green, or alternative.

Rather, it shows a lack of understanding for ecology and the basic life systems of this world in which we live.

Explained simply, cutting down forests has a negative impact on our soils and on water quality and availability.

It releases carbon into the atmosphere and destroys the habitats and therefore lives of numerous species.

The unmanaged regrowth forests further suck up vast quantities of our limited ground water supplies, robbing streams, rivers and catchments of the water needed to sustain life.

The current practice of chipping 90 per cent of these forests and exporting them as woodchips is another big carbon footprint.

But the proposal to burn these forests as waste wood and produce electricity somehow makes the industry see it as an alternative energy source.

Vince Phillips and others may try and wear a green hat, but I don’t think so and congratulations to the Clean Energy committee for drawing the line.

(Even knowing the change of mind) my comments stand, but my question is where do we stand on forests, what value do we place on our ecological systems?

Maybe SEFE should set up in the street with their information for direct questioning and feedback from the community.

I think the discussion about this issue needs to be had and has only just begun.

The Forest Forum on Saturday afternoon at 1pm might provide a starting point for some directions into our common forested future.

Skye Etherington

Wallagoot

* In Tasmania

Tasmania Updates - The Wilderness Society Dear Tom, Walk Against Warming Timbs Track, Upper Florentine Valley 12 noon Saturday 12 December I am writing to you from Copenhagen, where I am representing Tasmania's ancient forests at the international climate talks. I will show images and video of the Walk Against Warming to world leaders attending the climate talks. By being part of the Walk, you will be showing them that you want strong urgent action and the protection of the world's forests. Come along and join the call for a strong international deal at the Copenhagen climate talks. Walk Against Warming Timbs Track, Upper Florentine Valley 12 noon Saturday 12 December Special guest: Peter Cundall I've just heard that Australian folk-music legend Xavier Rudd will be attending the Walk Against Warming. I'm sure he'll be inspired to sing you a song or two. Timbs Track in the Upper Florentine is off the Gordon River Road, about 90 minutes drive from Hobart. Click here for driving directions to Timbs Track. We are encouraging everyone to use sustainable transport to go to the Walk Against Warming. Buses from Hobart - tickets are $20 return. Buy your tickets from the Wilderness Society Shop in Salamanca, phone 03 6234 9370. Carpool - don't travel with empty seats in your car. Register as a driver or a passenger at www.coolpooltas.com.au  First-time users should read 'How it works' under the 'About the Cool Pool' tab. Thank you for your support of Tasmania's ancient forests. Please help me convince world leaders to protect the world's forests and secure a safe climate for our future. Gemma Tillack Climate Change and Forests Campaigner PS: Keep up-to-date with what's going on in Copenhagen through my twitter feeds and daily blog. Go to wilderness.org.au/copenhagen

 * In Copenhagen

Dear Tom, Forest Campaigner Luke Chamberlain gives an update on what we'll be doing at the Copenhagen climate summit The Copenhagen climate summit, from 7 - 18 December, is the deadline for committing to a successor to the Kyoto protocol - which Australia joined in late 2007. Those present will be discussing the degree to which developed and developing countries should reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Wilderness Society has been at the forefront promoting the role nature can play in safeguarding our climate. Find out more about the role we'll be playing in Copenhagen » 25% of greenhouse gas emissions are caused by logging and degrading forests and bushland - so protecting forests makes climate sense. Stopping deforestation is, in principle, cheap and simple - don’t cut them down. But it gets more complex when countries are asked to regulate the problem. Finding a solution to these issues is one of the strongest hopes for the Copenhagen summit. Our special Copenhagen page has the latest from our Climate Change Campaigner Gemma Tillack via daily blogs from the climate summit, and you'll be able to get the latest climate tweets on our Twitter page. Get the latest at our special Copenhagen page » Thanks for your support - stay tuned in the coming days for more updates. The team at the Wilderness Society