Australia: 2nd week of direct action in Stony Creek, E. Gippsland

Protesters have started a second week of action to block logging
operations in Victoria’s East Gippsland forests. Three activists
occupied two 30-metre-high tree platforms in an old growth forest near
Stony Creek in East Gippsland, supported by another 15 protesters on
the ground, spokeswoman Lauren Caulfield said on Monday.

Machinery has
also been locked to tree platforms, forming a road block to stop
access to the logging area, Ms Caulfield said. The protest group says
the forest is being logged despite promises by the Labor government in
2006 to protect the last remaining significant old-growth forest in
East Gippsland.

“This irreplaceable old growth Ash forest is a rich
carbon store, and has valuable ecotourism potential to the community
if left standing,” Ms Caulfield said. “Clearly our forest heritage is
not safe under (Premier) John Brumby’s watch.”

Monday’s action follows
a week of protests last week that stopped logging in forests at Stony
Creek and Brown Mountain in East Gippsland.
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/protesters-dig-in-at-victorian-forests-20090119-7k8g.html