Rainforest timber unwelcome

Issue 

Rainforest timber unwelcome

SYDNEY — Sydney Rainforest Action Group, Greenpeace and Paddlers for Peace held the year's first rainforest timber ship protest on April 1.

The Eastern Ruby, carrying tropical timber from Malaysia, was met by inflatables and kayaks as it docked at the White Bay Container Terminal. The ship was then subject to 24-hour unloading ban by the Waterside Workers Federation and the Seamen's Union.

Alexandra Ryan, Spokesperson for SRAG, told Green Left, "We and the waterside workers are now entering our fifth year of actions against tropical timber imports. The message is simple. The timber we buy is costing lives, and we are asking the Australian public not to buy it."

Australia imports approximately 220,000 cubic metres of timber each year. About 70% of this comes from Malaysia. Ryan points out that "the culture and livelihood of indigenous peoples in Sarawak are literally being wiped out while we use their forest homes to build our own. The logging operations in Sarawak are happening without prior consultation with the people who depend on the forest for their survival."

The Penan people of Sarawak have been defending their land since commercial logging started in the 1960s. At present around 1000 Penan are blockading against the logging of their forest by the Samling Timber Company.

SRAG has evidence that the efforts to expose the industry in Australia have been effective. "Imports of rainforest timbers have been reduced by 28%.", says Ryan. "One of Australia's largest producers of building materials, Porta Mouldings, have stated that demand for Australian plantation timbers has skyrocketed. Consumers are now seeking alternatives to timber products they know are destroying the environment and indigenous cultures."

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