WA: Japanese consumers seek woodchipping halt

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2000
WA: Japanese consumers seek woodchipping halt

A group claiming to represent 30 million Japanese consumers has written to West Australian
government and industrial giant Wesfarmers seeking the immediate halt of woodchipping
of WA's old-growth forests.

The Japanese Consumer Union, which says it represents consumers on environmental and
food safety matters, has expressed concern about environmental impacts of woodchipping,
particularly its contribution to global warming.

The Wilderness Society of WA says the strongly-worded letter from the Tokyo-based organisation
is a major step forward in a growing international consumer movement aimed at protecting
WA's old growth forests.

In the letter, JCU secretary general NOBUKO HIWASA says the group has talked to experts
who've indicated plantation woodchips could replace primary forest woodchips with no adverse
impact on export volumes.

The letter says Australian state governments have a vital role to play in creating
an economic climate suitable for such a transition to take place.

AAP RTV sd/et/jn

KEYWORD: WOODCHIPS (PERTH)

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