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WORLDWIDE
FOREST/BIODIVERSITY CAMPAIGN NEWS
Australia
Promotes Native Old-Growth Woodchipping as Renewable Energy
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Forest Networking a Project of Forests.org
http://forests.org/ -- Forest
Conservation Archives & Portal
10/08/00
OVERVIEW
& COMMENTARY
There
is an unbelievably stupid move afoot down under as the
Australian
government is debating a scheme that promotes electricity
generation
by chipping old growth forests, a supposed "renewable
energy
source", to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Aussie
government
must be a bit punch drunk still after the Olympics to
think
that liquidating ancient forest ecosystems is sustainable or
renewable. Given the relatively small forested land
base in
Australia,
and real concerns regarding continental ecosystem
sustainability,
the attempted action would be laughable, if it were
not
likely to prove so tragic for the long-term well being of
Australians. It is time for Australia to practice what it
preaches,
and
commit to real policy to sustain their ancient forests and reduce
their
greenhouse gas emissions.
g.b.
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RELAYED
TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: Aust Greens say government, Labor in pockets
of woodchippers
Source: Copyright 2000 AAP Information Services Pty
Ltd
Date: October 4, 2000
CANBERRA,
Oct 4 AAP - Greens Senator Bob Brown today accused the
government
and opposition of being in the pockets of woodchip
companies
on the issue of classing native forest woodchips as a
renewable
energy source.
Senator
Brown said woodchip companies needed new outlets as they were
facing
stiff competition from South American plantations for the
Japanese
paper market.
He said
Labor, which refused to back amendments barring use of
woodchips
for renewable energy, had an unenviable record of
protecting
native forests but had now hit a new low.
"Let
every voter at the next federal elections know that the Labor
Party
... has voted to support the burning of woodchips from native
forests
and woodlands in Australia as so-called green power," he
said.
"What
the Labor Party is saying is that they are going to allow this
legislation
to pass, validating the burning of woodchips as a green
form of
energy and after they come into government they are going to
review
it.
"The
Labor Party has no intention of doing anything of the sort ...
because
it's as much in the thrall of the big woodchip corporations
as the
government is."
The
Senate was debating the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Bill which
establishes
a scheme to promote electricity generation from renewable
energy
sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Amendments
proposed by Senator Brown and the Australians Democrats
list
acceptable sources of renewable energy such as solar, wind and
biomass.
But
they specifically bar use of native forest wastes which could be
woodchipped
and burned to produce electricity.
Labor
sided with the government against the proposals.
Opposition
environment spokesman Nick Bolkus said the legislation was
worth
giving a chance.
He said
the only certainty was amendments barring use of forest
wastes
would be rejected in the House of Representatives.
"We
want to see the legislation implemented," Senator Bolkus said.
"Senator
Brown has cause for concern.
"From
the evidence ... it is not overwhelming cause for concern.
There
are mechanisms in place for ongoing monitoring of what waste
from
native forests could be affected."
Debate
is continuing.
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TEXT ENDS###
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