02.02.2020
This is Zenani, a koala I adopted from Port Macquarie Koala Hospital for my niece as her Christmas present. A gift that supports their wonderful work to preserve and protect our native koalas. Ramped beyond belief since the bushfires which have endangered the future of our koala population, now heading towards extinction.
Meanwhile in Victoria, during the approved logging of a bluegum plantation west of Portland, hundreds of koalas have been massacred this week. The dreadful details are in my stories. The company responsible is South West Fibre, a joint operation between Midway and the Japanese company Mitsui. This horrifying scene unfolding on the watch of this government, which approved it.
This is criminal and utterly unconscionable. As far back as 2012 the Australian Koala Foundation successfully lobbied government to list koalas as a vulnerable species. National environmental laws exist to protect our native animals. But those laws are rarely, if ever, applied to logging or mining activities that decimate habitat and kill species as collateral damage.
Our government continues to put economic growth before our environment, even in the face of climate crisis and a world changing its mind about what is most important. Those responsible will only be held to account if we express our outrage and horror. Even if you have not done so before, please consider picking up the phone, penning a letter or email. We each need to be the somebody who does something or this will continue.
South West Fibre
78 Ellis Rd, Myamyn VIC 3304
(03) 5578 2264
Sussan Ley MP
Federal Environment Minister
(02) 6021 3264
Email via her website as she has her comments turned off on her socials
Lily D'Ambrosio MP
Victorian Environment Minister
(03) 9422 5171
lily.dambrosio@parliament.vic.gov.au
I have this morning written and called and will continue to do so. If you need help with a well worded missile, I will be preparing templates to help and will post them below.
Democracy is a doing word, darklings. If you want to save or support our koalas and habitat, pick up the bloody phone or a pen as you lift your jaw off the floor.
Follow Extinction Rebellion for details on marches, protests and caring for us all in a revolting world.
C. Kerrie Basha 2020