MEDIA ALERT January 15, 1999 Otway Forest Protests Intensify Tensions increase as residents and conservationists place further pressure on struggling native forest logging industry. Otways residents with the support of conservationists from around Victoria will today block all access to the Riley�s Ridge Logging Coupe in the Otway State Forests. A core group of 50 protesters have blocked access to Riley�s ridge with huge tripod structures and a car body cemented to the road. This follows a week of intense protesting which has lead to 3 arrests and the complete cessation of logging in one coupe. The week long campaign of direct action is a further blow to the local native forest logging industry already suffering from the recent collapse of the Asian export woodchip market, and the pull out of �Kleenex� tissue manufacturer Kimberly-Clark Australia. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources activities are also under scrutiny following the recent court acquittal of protesters who had blockaded illegal logging activities authorised by the department. �It is not looking good for native forest logging in the Otways�, said Mr Simon Birrell, spokesperson for the Otway Ranges Environment Network. �The industry cannot survive on just sawlog sales. The fall in the pulp and woodchip markets, plus the loss of production due to protests must be hurting them. Recent acts of violence and intimidation against local conservationists has only served to swell our numbers and make us stronger. The situation here is ready to explode.� What: Large scale forest blockade. When: Friday January 15, 1999 Where: Riley�s Ridge in the Otway State Forest. 20 min drive from Apollo Bay Contact OREN 03 5237 516 or 03 5237 7413 O t w a y s R a n g e s E n v i r o n m e n t N e t w o r k An affilliation of Otway's residents, regional and Victorian conservation groups, Community groups and campus conservation networks [EMAIL PROTECTED] (OREN Propaganda) WEB SITE http://www.oren.org.au DO NOT assume that any act of damage to logging equipment or logging infrastructure is done by conservationists or members of anti - logging groups. - Victorian Police (internal memo) Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html The Year 2000 Bug - An Urgent Sustainability Issue http://www.peg.apc.org/~psutton/grin-y2k.htm
