Huge public response - over $240,000 raised
Blog Post | Blog of Bob Brown
Saturday 13th June 2009, 11:18am
by TimNorton in
Donations from more than 1000 members of the public have poured in to help pay the $240,000 legal costs bill for Forestry Tasmania.
Most of the donations are modest but they range from $7.20 to $20,000 (for the purchase of a Wedge-tail eagle painting). Bob would like to pass on that he is extremely grateful and sends his heartfelt thanks to everyone who offered support.
It shows how strongly people feel about the fate of Tasmania's wild forests and their wildlife. There were many more offers to raise money.
If we get extra money, we will put it into the campaign to save Australia's forests. Some of the other legal battles to protect our forests are still on foot, including the Gunns 20 and the Triabunna 13 (whose case continues in the Tasmanian Supreme Court today).
You can donate on their site: http://www.gunns20.org
A survey last week, by a Wilderness Society consultant, showed that Forestry Tasmania has been given $630 million in public subsidies over the past 11 years. Perhaps the $240,000 payment could be put to a good public conservation cause by Forestry Tasmania.
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$240,000 raised
"It shows how strongly people feel about the fate of Tasmania's wild forests and their wildlife."
A bit of a stretch Bob, more likely they felt sorry for you... the person, as did I.
So, I hope additional donations in excess of the required $240,000 were donated with the knowledge that it may be used elswhere?
A Rort?
I think its great that we have all chipped in & got Bob Brown out of the hot water. What concerns me is the fact that really Forestry Tasmania didnt need the money and they will try anything to get rid of Senator Brown to shut him up about the disgraceful things they re doing to the Tasmanian wilderness.
They need to hang their heads in shame I think.
Good advocacy.Surely people
Good advocacy.Surely people will get involved with this type of fund raising program that will boost for a sustainable environment. Environmentalists are rightly concerned with the impact on the earth is from all the cars that aren't being used. Still, it is definitely going to take some big installment loans to find something to do with all these unsold brand new cars.We have to perform our social responsibility toward forest restoration
The principle behind the "no
The principle behind the "no bankrupts in Parliament" rule is fair enough, if that bankruptcy is brought about by the member's own personal mismanagement. In Bob's case, while it may be argued that he shouldn't have taken FT on if he couldn't afford to lose, it is equally true that he was doing so on behalf of a wider interest than his own. This is called 'visionary civic-minded self-sacrifice' in other realms. In reality he could afford to risk losing because many people were standing behind him - he just didn't know it at the time.
So much for the dispassionate analysis. Personally, I say 'Good on you Bob, keep it up mate, we will continue to stand behind you while ever you stick your neck out on issues of principle.'
Good news
I was very relieved to hear this news. Congratulations Bob and The Greens. I was investigating where to send my $5 for this cause only to find out that the money had already been raised. It's demonstartions of power such as this that should have these evil forest destroying corporations very worried. Power to the People!
$5
So long as you know the $240,000 is already covered... send it anyway... assuming you believe in what Mr Brown then does with it?
As I said in another thread, I hope the folk that baled out Mr Brown (beyond his recent media coverage about the $240,000 bankrupcy deal) knew their money might go elsewhere... I for one wouldn't have and I too was going to send him some $?
But for him... not for what he stands for & endorses!
Hi Senator Brown, I was just
Hi Senator Brown,
I was just wondering - what is (former) Senator Kerry Nettle up to these days? Does she still work in any of the fields of her passions?
Thanks!
Short-sighted and greedy
I recently watched Peter Lloyd's documentary, "Peak Oil meets Climate Change." He recommends taking the "Power Down" approach, which includes tree planting on a scale we've never yet attempted. Unfortunately, we humans still think it's sensible to be buying new wood, instead of old or recycled. Until we humans stop behaving so shortsightedly and greedily on all fronts, how will companies like Gunns get the message that forestry is not a profitable business but a stewardship responsibility?
It rather ticks me off that people like Brown, trying to spread this message of "live within your means", have to use saccharine arguments like, "the survival of the Wielangta wedge-tailed eagle is being threatened by our greediness" - instead of, "the survival of every species is being threatened." And then his attempts are not only rejected by our legal authorities, but he is penalised for not shutting-up and compromising like the other greed-mongerers.
Lloyd mentioned our attempts to power-down will be blocked by those in positions of authority - and the very wealthy - because they have, in their wealth and power, a buffer against the discomforts of climate change. That the legal fees will now only support the furtherance of their short-sightedness and greed diminishes greatly any good-will or tolerance one might offer them.
It reminds me of the song "Pidigori", that Thomas Mapfumo sang about Mugabe: a song of relief sung by villagers when the the most unfriendly, argumentative, unhelpful man of the village finally dies.
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