14/3/02
Hi!

Our Government is currently misrepresenting strong protests - even in the media, regarding the logging activities & associated protests in Northern Victoria.

I remember Peter Garrett, No Dams & many other similar ideals, protests & people - good Australians - that gave us an identity as a nation. The media gave it focus - it made us feel positive as a people.

Where has the Government representation of this sentiment gone?

Protests occur in Northern Australia regarding mining, so the mining is moved just outside the National Park, and subsequent protests ignored - is this representation?

Forests are logged in Northern Victoria, and the loggers are represented... not the masses, who are all screaming no - This is happening now - the media is relatively silent on the matter - strange - is this representation?

No... but this is what's happening instead....

Police & Department of Natural Resources are helping the loggers "clean out the greenies" - with the help of the local logging communities as a whole.

Is this what the people of our nation share & want as a whole?

What ever happened to the referendum when an issue may be subject to bias?

Senator Bob Brown was even arrested trying protest logging in these areas, but later acquitted. That time, logging was found to be illegal... yet the twisting continues - just like with the mining in Northern Australia...

Old growth forests acclaimed in literature worldwide are being clear-felled right now - despite ongoing protests by masses of Australians in all sections of the community.

Is this what the people of our nation share & want as a whole?

We have the best spot on the planet - why are we raping it?

I thought Aussies cared about their bush, cared about their planet, and most of all, our Government helped us share then live the dream... Clearly this is not happening - do we have to go back to the days of aggressive news reporting to get things back into line?!

If you know anyone that can help change this.... Please, get them to help! Our nation needs it more than ever - Northern Victoria's last old growth rainforest needs them too.

Nik Trathen
Concerned citizen inspired by the outlines you can find at http://www.geco.org.au/