Help to Protect Goolengook

As you would be aware, Australias longest running blockade at Goolengook has been busted. Logging has started, with four coupes scheduled immediately. We need help now to save this precious area.

If you can make it out to the blockade, please come we need all the help that we can get. Friends of the Earth (foe) are coordinating lifts (9419 8700) from Melbourne. Call GECO for directions 0351 540 156.

This blockade and campaign has the potential to be bigger than Texas. This precious old growth area is the last remaining intact unlogged catchment, outside of reserves on the East Coast of Australia. IT MUST NOT BE LOGGED.

DONATIONS NEEDED

We desperately need the following:

• Tarpaulins
• UHF Radios
• Camping Gear
• Dried food Nuts/Fruit/Seeds etc
• Canned food
• Fresh fruit
• Small lightweight Backpacks
• Compasses
• Polyprop rope
• Climbing gear- Harnesses, Carrabinas, Climbing Rope
• Rain gear- Coats, Pants
• Camping Gear- Thermarests, Camp cooking and
• Lightweight tents

You can also help by donating money to purchase these things and to help meet the considerable costs of running this campaign.

Please deposit to Commonwealth Bank Account 373110036997 or send cheques to

GECO
Rsd Bonang Road
Goongerah 3888

CITY STUFF

RALLY FOR GOOK EVERY FRIDAY AND WEDNESDAY AT DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

every wednesday @ midday.

every friday @ 4pm.

the focus of these actions is 8 nicholson street, the ugly silver axa bldg. we meet in the exhibition gardens near the fountain b4 hand.

banners, musik & colourful energy gets a warm response from the general publik off 2 another day of corporate boredom. we've got flyers & other materials, but most of all need YOU! the kidz in the forest risking life & limb deserve our solidarity.

Let the Government know how you feel.

Raise hell in the media

Call talkback radio 3AW on (03) 9696 1278 or 3LO on (03) 9414 1774

Radio National Australia Talks Back on 1800 802 341

JJJ Talkback 1800 055 536

Fax The Age on (03) 9601 2414 or email on letters@theage.fairfax.com.au

Fax the Herald Sun on (03) 92922944 or email on hsletters@heraldsun.com.au
Note: Letters to The Age and Herald Sun require your name address and a phone number.

SOME POINTS TO RAISE IN YOUR LETTERS

• Goolengook is old growth forest, an ancient place which survived the last ice age.
• This is the site of Australia's longest running forest blockade. For over five years people have campaigned to protect this precious area. It has become an icon for the conservation movement.
• Goolengook is part of the traditional lands of the Bidwali people, Bidwali elders have called for the preservation of the area, describing it as sacred.
• Goolengook contains a rare overlap of warm and cool temperate rainforest, this rare rainforest is currently being logged.
• Goolengook is home to many endangered fauna species, including the Long-Footed Potoroo, Powerful Owl, Sooty Owl, Yellow-bellied Glider, Tiger Quoll.
• Rare flora species are also present including the Slender Tree Fern and Yellow Elderberry.
• The area is of international biological significance.
• The Government's own scientists recommended that Goolengook should not be logged. They recommnded seven sites of significance as a minimum necessary to maintain the ecological integrity of the entire Goolengook catchment. These areas are now being logged.
• The NRE and Police have set up an exclusion zone with a 25km radius around the logging site, totally locking out community scrutiny in our publically owned forests.
• The NRE and Police are using heavy handed tactics with protesters and media. They are endangering lives of protesters by allowing tree felling while people are in the area.
• The cost involved in busting Goolengook must be running into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, with hundreds of NRE officers and police in the area operating a 24 hour guard on four gates and around the logging area. It appears they have been given an open cheque book to run rough shod over public concern.

For more information call GECO on 03 51540156