tasadam wrote:Yes, I'm sure there's much to learn there, when time permits.
Regardless of the outcome, there will always be people that drink coffee, and there will always be people that use paper.
I'm one of both.
Doesn't stop me from having views on things like the pulp mill though.
I too am one of both, and it doesn't stop me either. The trick is to consider where the paper and coffee come from and to be more thoughtful about what we support and what we don't support (which is not a shot at you personally, I include myself in the "we', it is a general comment).
I use paper, so whether I publicly make statements about my preferences or not, by using paper I am supporting the pulp and paper industry. If I unknowingly use paper (or other products) sourced through the destruction of rain forests then that is probably ignorance. If I knowingly and/or uncaringly use paper or other products sourced from rain forests, while protesting about the destruction of those forest, then that is hypocrisy. It is akin to complaining about the destruction of elephants while collecting ivory.
For me, the issue in Tasmania is not to stop the pulp and paper industry. Rather the issue is to stop the unnecessary destruction of old growth forests. The forestry industry will not flounder if we immediately stop harvesting old growth forests. It is an opportunistic resource, not a necessary or essential resource. Harvesting native forest was once the only choice, but 40 years of plantation establishment and management mean that the harvesting of old growth forests in the Styx, Weld, Tarkine and other forests is now only opportunistic.
People can make a difference. At the next election we should demand that each party and each candidate declare their position on old growth forests. We should only vote for those who will immediately stop the harvest. It is that simple - either enough people in this state care or there is not enough who care - if enough care them we should be able to stop old growth harvesting with one vote. The problem with the forest debate is that everyone is confused by a hundred different claims about a thousand spurious facts, and meanwhile little changes.
Focus on one issue! Stop old growth harvest now.
Then with the remaining forest practices we can look to getting a sustainable, viable, clean timber and pulp industry for Tasmania. It won't every be pristine or perfect, but I'd rather have a sustainable forest industry in Tasmania than see the waste and destruction in places like
Indonesia. If the current forest practices, including the proposed pulp mill, can't be sustained without harvesting old growth forests, then they are simply the wrong forest practices. Change them to sustainable practices. Support and build a pulp mill that only uses plantation timber. Support and build a sustainable forest industry that will grow our future rather than destroying it.
People
will always use paper, and people
will always drink coffee. The trick is to do it in a sustainable manor. So I support sustainable forest practice. There is nothing, absolutely nothing about the harvesting old growth forests that is the least bit sustainable.