With ministers from 174 countries packing their bags for the Johannesburg sustainability summit (including UK environment minister Michael Meacher, provided he can find a cheap B&B) the article penned by Greenpeace forest campaigner Andy Tait is quite timely.
Having said that, we appreciate that his piece may raise a few hackles. Understandably some readers, particularly those who have been the target of environmentalist ‘actions’ themselves, may feel that groups like Greenpeace should be deprived the oxygen of TTJ publicity. Moreover, many in the industry will take serious issue with some of Mr Tait’s statements, notably about the degree to which illegally felled timber is finding its way into the UK.
But, taking everything into account, we still thought it was worthwhile giving Greenpeace the opportunity to talk direct to the trade. With protests like the recent ‘invasion’ of the Cabinet Office in London, where it was claimed uncertified hardwood was being used, they and groups like them are still seizing the media spotlight on timber and forestry issues. Consequently, they continue to set the agenda to a large degree.
TTJ is not about to take on the mantle of ‘honest broker’ between greens and the timber trade. That would not just be presumptuous and pompous, as the industry’s magazine it’s also not our role. But allowing Greenpeace to tell us where they stand may help the industry know how to respond. And, as Mr Tait’s e-mail address is at the bottom of the article, you can respond direct!
TTJ takes the view that certain green activists still resort too readily to over-the-top publicity-seeking protest when sitting round a table and talking things through with individual companies, or the representatives of the wider timber industry, would be far more constructive. That said, there are signs that other environmentalists do want a greater meeting of minds. Indeed, Mr Tait himself agreed to moderate the tone of his original piece, which we felt might have come across as confrontational.
And once we’ve listened to what the environmentalists have to say, hopefully they’ll return the favour. They need to understand that the vast bulk of the industry is committed to sustainability and wants to source its material from well-managed forestry. As the comments of John Pickford of Mendip Plywood highlight (p3 TTJ August 17/24/ttjonline), the timber sector also acknowledges the positive impact the greens have had in many areas and is prepared to front up to the eco-problems it still faces and enter dialogue to resolve them.
