The Boycott Woodchipping Campaign offers a wide range of activities that can help save our native forests. The individual can make an enormous difference; from selling shares in companies that profit from woodchipping, to persuading workmates to use recycled paper. Why not set up a Boycott Woodchipping Campaign group? You can always contact the Campaign C/- PO Box 301 Deloraine Tasmania 7304; ph: 03 6369 5150 - or any other major environment group.

An Action Guide to Ending Woodchipping

The success of the Boycott Woodchipping Campaign depends on active involvement - on any level, large or small. It aims to unite as many different groups and individuals as possible, based around the commonly-shared belief that woodchipping of our precious forests must end.

Groups and individuals are asked to read through this Campaign Manual, and determine the companies they are prepared to concentrate on, and on what level they wish to be active.

A high degree of information sharing will be necessary to keep all groups and individuals in touch. If you are unable to contact any local environment group involved in the campaign, then contact
Boycott Woodchipping Campaign
C/- PO Box 301
Deloraine Tasmania, 7304
Ph/Fax: 003 695150
E-mail: cadwood@peg.apc.org.

Making Your Demands Clear

Make it clear that the intention of this campaign is to persuade consumers and investors not to buy, trade, sell, or invest in woodchipping companies or their associated products. This campaign is committed to persuading people to buy or invest in environmentally preferable alternatives.

The campaign does not aim to destroy the companies targeted. Rather it is seeking to persuade the companies through consumer and investment pressure that they would be much better off if they abandoned the unsustainable practice of woodchipping native forest. This difference is important, as the companies will seek to portray any attempt to force change as "anti-industry". This is not the case: participants in this Campaign are trying to help their corporate colleagues to "do the right thing".

However, it is vital that each company is fully aware of the Campaigns demands. When confronting the company, make your demands clear that it must:

• End woodchipping of native forests immediately;
• Stop clearance of native forests for plantation substitution;

Setting up a Boycott Woodchipping Campaign Group

Being involved in an action-oriented group can be very rewarding. There is a great sense of personal achievement associated with creating change. If you want to get active on woodchipping and have not been involved before, there are a number of conservation groups you could join that are now working to expose this environmental disgrace. They will put you in touch with a group near you that is involved in the Campaign.

If you are already involved with an environmental, student, or community organisation, you could consider getting a Boycott Woodchipping Campaign group going. This could focus on all of the Campaign's main target companies (Amcor, Boral, North, Wesfarmers) or just one. Alternatively, the group could focus on consumer outlets such as hardware stores, or products such as building supplies or photocopying paper. In short, whatever you can do for the campaign will make a difference, and the more small groups involved, the better.

Campaigning Tips

Letter writing, stalls and radio

Letters do have an impact, as they give a company an indication of where public opinion is at, especially if they receive a lot! If you want some tips on what to write, refer to the example letter at the end of this article. Once you have asked your friends, family, business associates and environmental colleagues, try organising a letter writing stall. You can also give out information and sell stickers, based around information in this Manual. Don't forget to write to your local newspapers, and ring talk back radio. Contact your local community radio stations, and ask them to put together a community announcement advertising the boycott, or ask them to interview members of your group.

Speak to the companies.

Organise some kind of formal or informal deputation to see the companies of your choice. Most of those we want to boycott have offices in a number of locations across Australia and internationally (see below). It will be difficult to gain access to the offices, so if the companies refuse to see you, organise an action to publicise the fact that you are willing to talk.

Stage an Action:

It is important that the public continues to be reminded that woodchipping is killing Australia's forests, water, animals and plants. You can do this any time: just state your demands. Alternatively, choose a suitable date, such as the company's AGM, a company-sponsored event or respond to any media generated by the company. Make your event as colourful and entertaining as you can.

Annual General Meetings

AGMs are usually held in the capital cities towards the end of the year. Other subsidiary companies will also have their AGMs. Organise something eye-catching outside, and prepare factually-watertight information to hand out to shareholders. Be polite - shareholders are potential activists. Make sure you liaise in advance with sympathetic shareholders and proxies, and get a person on the floor to ask those hard questions.

Speaking to the Media

Make sure anything you say is based in fact. Be clear about what you want to say and what your demands are. Don't be sidetracked by questions you don't want to answer. Be professional in your presentation, and don't waffle.

Communication with other activists

Let somebody know you have started a group, preferably the organisation you will be working with; or if on your own, contact the Native Forest Network This will enable participants in the campaign to track the growth of the campaign.

Financial Matters

Here are some relatively simple cost breakdowns for running a Boycott Woodchipping Campaign group. Don't despair: you'd be amazed what sort of money can be raised once you're rolling! Many great initiatives have taken off with very little money.

Networking:($250/500/750/1000)
The group should find one member prepared to take on or share some of the co-ordination roles. This would involve determining the needs of the group, which sections of the Manual will need to be reproduced, whether any other groups are going to be contacted and involved, and so forth.

Co-ordination Expenses: ($250/500/750/1000)
A significant proportion of the Campaign group's activities will be run out of one location Whoever is involved in the day to day running of the Campaign will need to have some money to work with.

Production Costs: ($500/1000/1500/2000)
The Manual materials can be photocopied on recycled paper. A Macintosh computer disk version of this manual is also available by contacting the Native Forest Network

Action expenses: ($500/1000/1500/2000)
Money should be put aside to develop stalls, organise events, paint banners, do posters, pay for petrol, make badges etc.

Shareholder Action

One of the most direct impacts you can have on a company is to appeal to its shareholders.

Selling your shares: If you have shares invested in companies that make money from the woodchipping industry, sell them and re-invest them in the range of ethical investments available (see below). Write to the company and tell them what you have done and why.

Ask your family, friends or business associates if they have shares invested in woodchipping. Give them a copy of the information contained in this manual and suggest that they invest their money ethically

Annual General Meetings:
Keep a minimum parcel of shares to entitle you to attend AGMs, or to send a proxy. This enables you or your proxy to ask questions at the meeting. This can be most embarrassing to the company, particularly if you ask a detailed question relating to environmental breaches. Don't be shy: you can guarantee that you will not be the only one, and there will also be people handing out information to shareholders outside.

If you are not a shareholder you can still help.
Convince your family, friends and business associates to withdraw their shares, to write to the company, and to invest their money ethically.

Superannuation Action

Wage earner actions
Your employer is obliged to invest your superannuation contributions. It is very likely that your money is going into to large superannuation funds that have shares in woodchipping companies. Changing this cycle of destruction is one of the most positive actions you can take.

Approach your employer and your fellow workers and express your concern that your contributions are clearfelling Australia. If you receive a positive response, suggest some alternative funds that are available.

If you are self-employed:
Set up your own ethical superannuation scheme (refer to the ethical investment section in this manual for further advice).

Choosing your target

Each company requires a different focus for boycott activities. For example, your group may decide to target a specific company through its hardware stores, or perhaps you will decide to focus on one particular product. Another alternative could be highlighting a particular companies environmental irresponsibility by drawing attention to their related activities such as uranium mining, poor industrial relations or cynical public relations exercises.

Legal issues

The relevant section is in the Trade Practices Act, section 45.d. This act was amended in 1944, and is aimed at preventing actions that intend to lessen competition between businesses. As the intention of the Boycott Woodchipping Campaign is to stop environmental destruction, not lessen competition, we will not be committing a crime under this act. However, we must clearly link our environmental intention to stop woodchipping with the call to boycott in order to stay in legal territory, and we will need to ensure that our environmental claims about the company are accurate or well referenced. Secondary Boycotts of outlets which sell company products are more difficult because it is not always possible to ensure complete accuracy of our claims. For instance, if we advocate a boycott of all Caltex service stations because they generally stock Boral LPG then we must be sure that all Caltex stations stock Boral always, otherwise we are making a false claim. We can get around this by noting the general connection between Caltex and Boral LPG gas and by asking consumers to "think twice" before visiting Caltex service stations. The same would apply to hardware chain stores. Recommending alternatives to boycotted products is not illegal.

Please note: This advice is not authoritative: it is always good to get a second legal opinion.

Company materials

Advocating Alternatives

There is not always an environmentally preferable alternative to certain products. By persuading consumers to change from one brand of Liquid Petroleum Gas to another, for instance, the Campaign is seeking to reinforce the message that the company will suffer as long as it continues to woodchip native forests. It is much easier when advocating recycled paper (any brand) over paper sourced from native forests. Different companies have differing products and profiles, and not one strategy will work for all. Read the specific recommended areas for action for each company in this section. Take on what feels most appropriate.

The reference sections of this Manual cover a wide range of alternatives for consumers to chose from. If a company claims it must woodchip whole ecosystems in order to provide sawn timber, point out the plantation alternative. If a company sells paper made from native forests, advocate recycled paper. At the very least, it is better that consumers buy a "recylced" brand of paper from the same company than to continue to use paper made from endangered species habitat. Informed choice is the best base for change.

International Action

There are considerable opportunities for pressuring woodchipping companies via associated businesses overseas. One strategy is to provide these businesses with the information contained in this manual.

Depending on the level of support you receive, provide the company with your list of demands and ask it to write to the parent company and express its concern that its Australian activites are having negative impacts on its subsidiaries overseas. If you live outside Australia, or travel, organise actions overseas. Associated companies are often much more susceptible to consumer and investment activity than the larger parent.

If you are interested in setting up an International Boycott Woodchipping Campaign group contact the Boycott Woodchipping Campaign.

Boycott Amcor

GO TO AMCOR CORPORATE PROFILE

"Recycled" Paper?

Any consumer activity should target Amcor's virgin fibre paper products. The Reflex brand of photocopy paper (and its various brand name alternatives) is an obvious target, sourced as it is from the native forests of Victoria's Central Highlands and the "mixed" forests (eucalypt canopy, rainforest understorey) of Tasmania's north west.

Amcor does not produce a genuine, 100% post-consumer recycled paper. The Recycle 100 and Re-Right ranges were phased out in 1993. "Pre-consumer" waste, such as printers' offcuts, is now the main ingredient in Australian Paper's "recycled" range. Renew 100, promoted as "100% recycled content" at most contains 10% post-consumer milk carton material. Renew 80, (which includes 20% virgin fibre) at most contains 5% post-consumer milk carton material.
Go to Strategic Amcor Products

Alternative products include:

Steinbeis (German) 100% post consumer, domestic waste; Cyclus, (Danish) 100% closed loop, post-consumer office and copy shop waste; and Nautilus (Austrian) 51% post consumer content 49% "wastepaper" also distributed in Australia under the name Canon 100. Canon guarantees trouble free runs of 40 copies per minute and laser suitability. Recycled stationery is available from Australian company Ecopaper, and an alternative fibre paper, Evolution (containing hemp, straw and recycled fibres) is supplied in Australia by Spicers. It is an unfortunate reflection on the Australian paper industry that Amcor's market dominance of papers in Australia has led to the recommendation that genuine post-consumer recycled papers from overseas be used.

General Tips

Spread the message: tell your family, friends and work colleagues about the paper boycott and make copies of the list above;

If you or your business owns a photocopier, use recycled paper. Most photocopiers can now handle some brands of recycled paper, and paper costs are now relatively competitive.

Write to Amcor (Southgate Tower East, 40 City Rd, South Melbourne, Vic. 3205) and Australian Paper, (685 Bourke Rd, Camberwell Vic. 3124).

Let them know that you are boycotting Reflex and other virgin-fibre paper brands, that you have told your family, friends and work mates to do so as well, and why.

Running the Boycott

There are a number of ways you can run this boycott. Here are some suggestions:

Institutional Boycotts
If you study or work in a large institution like a university or hospital, it is very likely that paper purchasing is carried out on an institutional or departmental basis. Find out which area is responsible for paper purchasing. Organise a meeting, present the material contained in this manual and argue your case. Point out that the Reflex paper they are putting through their copiers, or the unrecycled envelopes they are using, may have come from Tasmanian rainforests, or maybe even koala habitat.

Point out that there are a vast range of alternative recycled products on the market. Show them the recycled brands that AMCOR also carries. There are also other non-AMCOR recycled papers available on the market.

Contact the Boycott Woodchipping Campaign for a full list of alternative papers available (see above).

Be persistent. if you feel you are getting nowhere, get support from other organisations active in your institution, such as unions. If you are in the union, bring the issue to a meeting, argue your case and ask for support.

If you are still getting nowhere, try collecting signatures from fellow workmates, and if things continue without success stage an action or a sit in until something is done. Good luck!

Unions
Some unions can be very understanding of environmental issues and can see the link between social and environmental justice. If you are in a Boycott Woodchipping Campaign Group, you might like to consider contacting unions to see if they are prepared to change their paper purchasing policies for the good of the forests. At the very least, see if you can persuade them to stop using Reflex.

At the office
If you work in an office and are a slave to the photocopier, free yourself! Or at least, free the forests. Urge your boss to pay the few extra cents and get recycled paper. If they refuse, try another approach - suggest that one-sided copy paper be kept in a special bin, so that the back can be used for in-house copies of documents. Theoretically, you will be reducing the amount of white paper (and hence old growth forests) your business is consuming.

If you are the boss of a company - do the right thing!

Newsagents and Stationers
Getting these sorts of stores to change their product lines is going to be very hard work.

Begin by collecting the names and addresses of as many shops as you feel you and/or the Boycott Woodchipping group you are with can manage.

Start by sending them all a letter explaining who you are and that you are part of a national and international campaign to stop the woodchipping of native forests.

Ask for a meeting to argue your case, and include some of the materials contained in this manual about woodchipping and AMCOR, as well as a product list.

Visit the shop and ascertain the response. If it is favourable, get the manager to write to AMCOR and tell them the shop will no longer be stocking AMCOR products. If the manager is unresponsive to the notion of changing lots of their products, try and persuade them not to stock Reflex. Ask them to write to AMCOR to let them know what the shop has done.

Boycotting Kimberly-Clark Australia

The Boycott Woodchipping Campaign is calling for a boycott of Kimberly-Clark Australia's disposable products until it stops obtaining its fibre needs by woodchipping native forests.

Kimberly-Clark Australia manufactures Huggies, Kleenex, Ultrasorb, Kotex, Wondersoft, Medesa, Delsey, Kleenex VIP's and Snugglers. KCA also make paper towels, adult incontinence health care products, feminine pads, industrial wipes and workwear.

Disposable nappies are environmentally irresponsible in a number of ways. Most disposable nappies end up as land fill, crowding local rubbish tips. It takes a disposable nappy as long as 500 years to decompose in a landfill. Others are burnt or flushed down toilets, often clogging domestic sewage pipes or clog filters in the sewage treatment system. If parents don't wash the disposable nappies many tonnes of faeces end up in landfills along with the nappies.

Using cloth nappies is more environmentally responsible. If you use cloth nappies it is more beneficial to the environment to have them washed by nappywash services who wash their nappies in bulk and therefore use less cleaning chemicals and water.

It is important to remember that not only large amounts of trees, but also many different chemicals are used in the manufacuting of disposables. Disposables are also made of plastic, polypropylene, polyacrylate, glue and bleached pulp fluff. Who knows what effect these chemicals have on human skin?

KCA have a "Consumer Advisory Service": 1 800 028 334. Please ring this number and express your opposition to the continued destruction of native forest in the Otways to provide fibre for KCA's disposable products. Advise the company that you will be boycotting their products until they cease their involvement in the woodchipping of native forest. Tell your family, friends and business colleagues to do likewise.

Avoid the use of disposable nappies and tissues. Use cloth nappies where possible and cloth handkerchiefs. Write to both AMCOR and KCA. Tell them you will not be buying these products as KCA is profiting from the woodchipping of native forests.

Building Materials

AMCOR-owned Brown and Dureau supplies a wide range of construction timbers from both plantation and native forest sources. If you are going to be building buy your materials from elsewhere. Avoid Boral timber and Bunnings and McEwans hardware stores.

International Action

There are considerable opportunities for pressuring AMCOR via associated companies overseas. One strategy is to establish relations with these companies, and to provide them with a copy of this manual.

Boycott Boral

Join the Boralcott! While many of the products listed below are not directly associated with woodchipping, the intention is to show Boral that its woodchipping activities are hurting its other subsidiaries. If you are involved in organising boycotts of these products, let the subsidiary know, and tell them why. Ask the subsidiary to write to Borals' Managing Director, (Tony Berg,Lvl 39, AMP Centre, 50 bridge St., Sydney NSW 2000)

GO TO BORAL CORPORATE PROFILE

Sawn timber, LPG, Plasterboard, cement, Bricks, Sand and Gravel Products should be the primary focus of your boycott activities. (see Boral's Strategic Products)

Boycotts of suppliers

Service Stations
Caltex service stations frequently act as outlets for Boral LPG gas. Think twice before visiting Caltex

Building Companies
A list of the largest construction companies using Boral products is being compiled. If you are planning on building, contact your potential builders and find out their timber buying policies;

Timber Stores
A list of retail outlets stocking Boral timbers is available - contact the Boycott Woodchipping Campaign, or your nearest environment group involved in the Campaign;

Architectural firms
If you are an architect, avoid specifying Boral materials. If you are seeking to use an architect, ascertain his/her attitudes to a building specification that rules out using Boral products.

International Action
Boral operates a wide range of operations in Europe, Asia and across the US. There are considerable opportunities for pressuring Boral via associated companies overseas. One strategy is to establish relations with these companies, and to provide them with the information contained in this report. Depending on the level of support you receive, provide the company with your list of demands and ask it to write to Boral and express its concern that its Australian activities are having negative impacts on its subsidiaries overseas. Associated companies are often much more susceptible to consumer and investment activity than the larger parent.

Boycott North Forest Products

When North sold its paper-making interests to Amcor, the latter acquired the rights to continue producing the well-known brand of copy paper Reflex, previously produced by APPM (a North subsidiary). There is a direct association between white paper and clearfelled forests. By boycotting Reflex you will be helping to put pressure on both North and Amcor to change their destructive practices.

High Conservation Value forests including the Southern Forests, the Great Western Tiers and the Tarkine continue to be threatened by logging for woodchips. North Forest Products supplies Australian Paper with native forest woodchips, which are converted into the Reflex brand of copy paper.

Spread the message: tell your family, friends and work colleagues.

If you or your business owns a photocopier, use recycled paper. (see Amcor Boycott for details)

Write to North (North House Lvl 6, 476 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne, Vic. 3004) and Amcor (Southgate Tower East, 40 City Rd, South Melbourne, Vic. 3205). Let them know why you are boycotting this product and that you have told your family, friends and work mates to do so as well.

International Action

North has a number of international outlets that could be targeted overseas. There are considerable opportunities for pressuring North via associated companies overseas. One strategy is to establish relations with these companies, and to provide them with the information contained in this report. Depending on the level of support you receive, provide the company with your list of demands and ask it to write to North and express concern that its Australian activities are having negative impacts on its subsidiaries overseas. Associated companies are often much more susceptible to consumer and investment activity than the larger parent.Contact the Boycott Woodchipping Campaign if you are interested in setting up an International Boycott Woodchipping Campaign group. A full list of overseas companies is available.

North and Mining

If you also wish to get involved in Uranium issues contact the
Friends of the Earth
Anti-Uranium Collective
PO Box 222 Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065
Ph: 03 419 8700
Fax: 03 416 2081.
Email:

For further information on Cape York issues contact the
Cape York Land Council
PO Box 2496
Cairns, Queensland, 4870
Ph: 070 51 9077
Fax: 070 51 0097
Free Call: 1800 623 548

There are a wide range of groups active on uranium issues. For further details contact the Boycott Woodchipping Campaign.

Boycott Mitsubishi!

Mitsubishi, the world's largest corporation, is North Ltd's biggest purchaser of woodchips via Mitsubishi Paper Mills, and is itself the subject of a highly successful Boycott Campaign developed by the Rainforest Action Network (RAN).

Write to:

Uchiyama Shigeru
President, Mitsubishi Paper Mills
3-4-2 Marunouchi
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 100, Japan
ph: +81 3 3213 3751
fax: + 81 3 3214 4534.

Let him know that you are opposed to the export of Tasmania's forests by North Forest Products and ask him to cancel Mitsubishi's native forest woodchip contracts with North. Assure him that both North and Mitsubishi will be the targets of an ongoing Boycott Campaign unless these imports cease.

If you want to get more involved in the Boycott Mitsubishi Campaign, (now in its sixth year), contact:
Rainforest Action Network
450 Sansome St, Suite 700
San Francisco
CA 94111, USA
ph: +1 415 398 4404
fax: +1 415 398 2732
e-mail: boycottmc@igc.apc.org.

Rainforest Action Network has an excellent International Organiser's Manual available.