I am one of the parties being sued by Gunns, the woodchipper!

For further information have a look at the links below

Suresh
http://www.indymedia.org/en/2004/12/112561.shtml
http://mcgunns.com/
http://www.theage.com.au/news/Opinio...787142527.html

:mad: The bastards!

They stuff the forest, use the timber in the most uneconomical way possible, and since they have the tassie government by the goolies they can get away with anything they like.
Don't know what we can do to support you other than write to the second raters in Canberra and Hobart, & financially support the various organisations that protest.

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maybe you could contact the editor at crikey.com.au boss@crikey.com.au as they have been following this story lately

**** happens ... I guess whether its right or wrong its now their turn to take a stand.
Surely if one side can hinder a company that aggreived party can attempt to stop the hinderance. There is no law that says companys cant sue those that hinder their work.
the company whether right or wrong is not doing something illegal...the government in Tassie is permitting them to do this. Maybe thats where the protesters should be aiming.
Going by the election results in Tassie the majority there back the company?
Pete (the chainsaw man)

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Suresh

Despite my forum name and the fact that I have been involved in the past with sawmilling, albeit in an extremely small way, this is my first awareness of this situation.

What a diabolical state of affairs! I find it particularly reprehensible that a large corporation should use it's political and corporate clout to repress public opinion particularly in area that affects so many.

Without knowing the details, I can surmise the sequence of events. A hypothetical company takes control of a particular industry with huge purchases and vast capital investment.

It then wooes the government of the day and other influential persons until it has a position of standing. Then it begins to abuse that position and the people with which ingratiated itself, feel compromised because of their tacit complicity. As a consequence they are reluctant to admit to being duped because it reflects badly on them. The rape of the marketplace continues from there.

I seem to recall analogies in the Brazilian forests. Is Tasmania like Brazil? Please no!

Needless to say this is a hypothetical situation. Many people in this forum have a little ditty that follows their posts and when I work out the mechanics of doing this I will include mine. It runs like this

"Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"

Doesn't Tasmania have a monopolies commission or something?

Lastly, such companies as the hypothetical one described above take legal action, because they have the money to do it and because they know their opponents do not have such monies. My understanding is that the only way to combat such financial and legal power is to mount "class action." This was told to me by a man who had experience in such situations.

However, I don't know if it can be used as a defence strategy. Morally it certainly would, but of course the law is rarely fair and certainly not for those without huge financial resource.

Good luck to you. I am not against logging per se, but it must be sustainable. As for $15 / ton....... Pah!!!! Disgraceful!!!!

Regards

Paul

I don't think a class action can be used as a defence but it could be used as a counter attack to seek damages from your adversary.

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Bob Thomas

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Even if I am mistaken, and Gunns are not actually destroying forrests etc, I support you. To use corporate wealth to supress public discussion is reprehensible. If Gunns think that their business is being affected by public statements they should reply and put the opposite argument. This is what democratic societies do. The other mob stiffle discussion.

I have a feeling that this will be a landmark case in Australia and that Gunns may have bitten off a lot more than they can chew. At least they have one more problem now. Me. Hang in there Suresh. True Australians will support you.

Yeah right, trouble is that's the fundamental problem, the Government in Tasmania is bent, that's why its legal to do what they do, like chopping down the old growth under the mantra of sawlogs and jobs and then chipping the lot. It's actually ILLEGAL to do that.

There is no way protestors will have any impact on a bent Government, it's like trying to change the ways of the Mafia.

Stick it to them protestors you are only protecting what is your right to protect, I am sure there will be some smart lawyers coming to your side.

Like someone recently said, if it wasn't for protestors against government endorsed products such as tobacco where would we be in this world...... a bunch of controlled whimps or dills wheezing to death.

I'm no tree hugger but I'll be bu@@ered if I can understand why you would want to cut down old growth trees and turn them into chips. :eek: Surely you would use pest trees like Camphor Laurel up here which is considered a noxious weed. Would that not be more respectful of the environment? :confused:

I've stated my thoughts on this before but this whole situation seems to need a visionary to direct the position. Now who do we have in the government? :confused:

Hmm - who else do we have :confused:

Hmmmm - guess we just let the bast@#$s rape & pillage the land and we won't have to worry about environmental issues it will just be f@#$%d and we'll all perish.

Jeez - did I tell you I had the strangest dream last night

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Its all about a land grab barnsey. See for yourself at http://www.BusinessTasmania.com

FWIW, Mitre 10 is owned by Gunns.
Ah well, that's another hardware chain to avoid. :mad:

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Most Mitre 10 stores are generally individually owned.

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Bob Thomas

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results
==================================
The Wombat Sawmill

Ebooks For Sale

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Unfortunatley the greens are using this to further their political fortunes. Just look at Bob Brown, he is gloating ( in fact I could swear he almost cracked a smile) about the up comming court case which will give him exposure and attention. They don't give a rats about the logging, they just want to fight big companies and governments. It has very little to do with what the average caring citizen wants. Emotional blackmail inveriably works most of the time.
I want trees to be harvested so I can do some woodwork. I don't necessarily want these same trees to be chipped, contaminated with whatever and sent back to us as "wood". There needs to be a balance, at present the issue is too black and white with no grey middle ground. Hence all the aggro. Please note, more trees are knocked over by lightning, wind, as a result of waterlogged ground, wombats, termites, age, bush fires etc. etc. THEY WILL ALL FALL OVER EVENTUALLY.
I have had my say and no correspondence will be entered into.

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Compared to what??

Al :confused:

Than woodchippers take? I doubt that. I live 20kms from Eden and I've seen the difference between bush with trees falling over naturally and bush that has been clear-felled so that Harris Daishowa can send another few boatloads of woodchip to Japan.