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We've stopped a ship loading rainforest timber from the Paradise Forests
Activists from the Esperanza prepare to stop the loading of timber onto the Harbour Gemini.
Enlarge imageOur peaceful action was greeted joyously by local people who watched from boats, singing and dancing.
The ship, Harbour Gemini, was loading timber in Papua New Guinea, at Paia Inlet, Gulf Province, and was bound for China. Four activists from the Greenpeace ship, Esperanza, climbed a loading crane to hang a huge banner reading 'Protect Forests, Save Our Climate'.
We are taking peaceful action in the Paradise Forests at the invitation of local resource owners.
Pressure the Australian government to stop illegal timber exports
Four other activists remain with their “Protect Forests, Save our Climate” banner after over 24 hours atop the loading crane of the Harbour Gemini ship.
Why are we doing this?
Protecting forests saves our climate. Forest destruction accounts for around 20% of the world’s global greenhouse gas emissions every year. Logging in Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) rainforests is out of control.
"We’ve stopped the loading of this shipment with support from resource owners whose rainforest, which they depend upon for survival, is being destroyed."
Sam Moko, Greenpeace forest campaigner, on board the Harbour Gemini logging ship
Says Greenpeace forest campaigner, Sam Moko, who is occupying the Harbour Gemini, "We need to urgently protect these ancient forests to save our climate. Greenpeace is asking the Papua New Guinea government to establish a moratorium on any new large-scale logging concessions or extensions."
PNG's record of corruption and lies
The PNG government has been asking for international money to protect its forests and benefit the global climate. But still illegal and destructive logging continues.
The government has a very poor forest management record, wrapped in accusations of corruption and misappropriation of funds. Recently, logging companies allegedly paid $78 million (US$67 million) into a government minister’s private Singapore bank account. If Papua New Guinea is seeking carbon financing support to save their forest, there must be an investigation into these allegations
Locals demand an investigation
Local resource owners in the Turama Extension concession area have repeatedly asked the government for 13 years to investigate documented breaches of forestry laws by Turama Forest Industries, a Rimbunan Hijau Group company. Nothing has been done.
Read a portrait of illegal logger, Rimbunan Hijau
Kemaru Garry Bissue, is Chairman of the Kikori Environmental Association and a landowner from the Kibiri tribe. His tribe has asked the PNG government to act on recommendations of a 2004 World Bank review of logging concessions granted on their land.
Says Kemaru, "We are here to protest the total disrespect of Turama Forest Industries and their logging agreement with our people. The company has abused our sacred sites, polluted our river, logged too close to our villages, made our food resources scarce and is withholding payments of royalties."
Australia can share the blame
Australia imports around $400 million worth of illegal timber products annually. Illegal rainforest timber imports fuel climate change, rainforest destruction and corruption. The Rudd Government must live up to its election promise and urgently restrict illegal and destructive timber imports.
