Two young women have halted logging operations in Newry State Forest this morning, according to the The Bellingen Activist Network (BAN).
Ishka (18) and Hannah (24) locked themselves to a harvester in the forest.
Hannah and Ishka have locked themselves onto a harvester in the Newly State Forest. Image: Belingen Activist Network
‘I’m doing this because I’m angry that this forest is being decimated, this is my way of making a stand against that,’ Ishka said.
‘I care deeply about this place and I want it to still be standing when my sisters grow up, as well as my children and my children’s children.’
This action followed a passionate gathering called by Gumbaynggirr elders was attended by over 60 concerned community members on Monday, with Elders demanding the protection of the forest.
BAN says that surveys undertaken for the North East Forest Alliance have identified numerous threatened species within an area now being logged in Newry State Forest, within the proposed Great Koala National Park, including confirming the ongoing occupation of a Koala Hub identified by the Government in 2017 as one of the most important areas to protect for Koalas.
This also comes after the Trees Scorecard report released yesterday has ranked NSW last for forest protection and restoration.
‘I believe that humans should be the custodians of the Earth, that it is our greatest purpose to care for this planet,’ Hannah said.
‘We are part of a growing forest movement taking action to defend what’s left of our life-support systems.’
The community has set up a camp in the forest on the corner of Martells and Bryces Rd and is welcoming visitors.
More information on upcoming local actions and events can be found at facebook.com/
Our environment heroines, fighting the good fight.
Ishka (18) and Hannah (24) Are remarkable young concerned citizens.
I can only commend their actions and wish I was Fifty years younger so I could join their selfless and desperate attempts to shake Australia out of it’s somnambulistic march to self-extinction.
Why are people so stupid? The very last action to be pursued at this time of imminent global catastrophe due to this type of government-encouraged environmental vandalism.
If you have a brain in your head, and the ability to disrupt our military/industrial system by any means at your disposal, and fail to act as these beacons of hope are attempting to do, then you are certifiable insane, suicidal and have no regard for the fact that your action and inaction precludes the survival or any hope of a next generation.
Wait for this summer ! G”)
Way to go berating every person in the country who doesn’t glue themselves to heavy machinary. It’s the sort of rhetoric that makes otherwise caring people glaze over.