Clothing brand Patagonia launches campaign to save Tasmania’s Tarkine
Outdoor clothing brand Patagonia has launched a campaign to protect the Tarkine forest in Tasmania’s north west.
Leading the campaign is a feature film, Takayna, telling the story of a trail running doctor exploring the area while weaving together the narratives of activists and local Aboriginal communities.
Dane O’Shanassy, country director for Patagonia Australia, said he is proud to extend Patagonia’s global environmental campaigns to local conservation issues: “Wild places continue to decline worldwide. Throughout our company’s 45-year history, we have fought for the protection of wild places to preserve environmental and cultural heritage values for future generations
“The campaign to protect takayna / Tarkine has been running for more than 40 years. At present, neither the Tasmanian government nor the Australian government support the nomination of takayna / Tarkine as a World Heritage Area, but pressure from a global community of supporters may be a catalyst for them to reconsider this approach and demonstrate the desire to see the region protected”.
Patagonia’s global vice president of public engagement, Rick Ridgeway, added: “Patagonia uses business to achieve what government won’t. We use our brand to inspire change and to encourage people and business to act different. Our aim is to lead the way in promoting long-term solutions to environmental problems and gaining World Heritage protection of takayna / Tarkine is just that.”
As part of the campaign, the brand has prepared a petition calling for signatures from around the globe to deliver to the Tasmanian state premier and Australian national government urging them to nominate the Tarkine as a World Heritage Area.
The film will be shown at various venues in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart.
