NSW:Protesters abseil off Sydney SupaCenta

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2011
NSW:Protesters abseil off Sydney SupaCenta

SYDNEY, Aug 24 AAP - Environmentalists have asbeiled off the roof of a Sydney shopping
centre and unfurled a massive banner demanding retailer Harvey Norman stop destroying
native forests.

Two people climbed onto the roof of the Moore Park SupaCenta at Kensington on Wednesday
morning and displayed the banner "No Harvey No! Break the chain of forest destruction".

Other activists went into the retailer's store to label furniture it claims is sourced
from native forest destruction.

"We are calling on Harvey Norman to break the chain of forest destruction, show some
genuine environmental leadership and stop selling our native forests," said the Last Stand
spokeswoman Ula Majewski.

"Australia's native forests are being ripped apart by industrial logging operations
every single day."

The group is campaigning against the retailer after a year-long investigation into
its timber usage, which it says is contributing to the destruction of forests.

It claims to have tracked timber from native forests in Australia through its shipment
to China for processing into furniture, and then to its final sale in Australia through
Harvey Norman stores.

Protesters gathered at four sites across Australia on Wednesday, including two in Sydney,
one at East Gippsland and another at Auswest Timbers in Bairnsdale.

"Activists are taking action at four different sites to highlight the chain of forest
destruction that Harvey Norman profits from," Ms Majewski told AAP from Dixie Cummings
distribution centre in Western Sydney.

Ms Majewski said the group blocked access to the Dixie building for several hours on
Wednesday morning after two protesters chained themselves to the front gate.

Comment was being sought from Harvey Norman.

In July, the retailer said it was being unfairly targeted and it did its best to source
timber from sustainable sources.

AAP tr

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