Regarding article "Celebrity Gardener Arrested at Pulp Mill Protest."
I was one of those 57 arrested today (Nov. 18) along with Peter in your article. I live 3km from the proposed pulp mill site in an area that is NOT heavy industrial, as the government and Gunns would have you believe, but rural/residential. I am surrounded by vineyards, orchards, organic farms, livestock farming and many tourist ventures. This mill will produce some of the most revolting odors, let alone the pollution of our air, sea, and groundwater.
Over the last 5 years I and others have tried many ways to make ourselves heard. We have rung talk-back radio, written letters to newspapers and politicians, spoken to politicians face to face. Filed submissions to the Regional Planning and Development Commission, held rallies, etc., etc., all to no avail.
Last year a group of us even tried talking to the Tasmanian Government Supreme Court, looking for answers as to why they rushed the Pulp Mill Assessment Act through parliament. We were told that we had no right to ask, due to Section 11 of the act, and were even threatened with contempt and jail for asking.
So today dozens stood on the steps of parliament to ask for answers and 57 of us were arrested for doing so. The police were very polite, some even apologetic, they are just "doing their job."
By Stephani Taylor
Rowella, Tasmania, Australia
