Ruth Langford Tipruthanna, Aboriginal community leader, Yorta Yorta Aboriginal woman with Cultural responsibility within Palawa Country is today standing up against this logging on country, refusing to leave the forests that are being logged.

“Palawa Elder Uncle Jim Everett Puralia Meenamatta has asked everyone to stand with him. To accept his call to defend and protect Palawa Country.”

“Native forest logging is destroying the relationship ecosystems that sustain all life. Under Palawa Law, we ask the question, who are the real criminals? When colonial government agencies, such as Forestry Tasmania, allow the destruction of important water catchments and increase our vulnerability to potential catastrophic fire events then we, the people, must act,” said Ruth Langford, who along with Pakana people Carleeta Rose Helen Thomas and Cody Gangell, are protecting Country today in the heart of Eastern Tiers forest, Lutruwita / Tasmania.

“We are standing here today on land that was stolen, alongside the Palawa Aboriginal people of Lutruwita/ Tasmania. We are together in solidarity taking action to preserve and defend this wild country, as people have done so for thousands of generations prior to invasion“ said Erik Hayward, Bob Brown Foundation Campaigner.

“We stand with Jim Everett Puralia Meenamatta, Pakana Aboriginal Elder, to prevent these forests from being destroyed. We have been invited to support his cultural obligation to protect Palawa Country and we will stand tall and strong,” Erik Hayward said.

“Globally we are in a crisis of extinction and global heating. Our natural world is suffering the brunt of human-induced climate change and our forests are vital for the preservation of life.”

“Forestry Tasmania and the Rockliff government are refusing to acknowledge their role in this catastrophe. Jeremy Rockliff is sanctioning the decimation of the only Swift Parrot breeding grounds on our planet.”

“Without this Non-Violent Peaceful direct intervention this week, these critically important forests would be logged unimpeded, people need to know this atrocity is happening ” Erik Hayward said.

“We will stand up for these wild areas alongside the Aboriginal custodians until there is permanent and secure protection for these forests,” Erik Hayward said.