Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 15:28:31 +1200 (NZST)
From: Dean Baigent-Mercer <nikau@freemail.co.nz>
Subject: secrets and lies

Kia ora

An important book has been launched: 'Secrets and Lies - the anatomy of an
anti-environmental PR campaign', written by New Zealand writer/researcher
Nicky Hager and Australian environmental journalist Bob Burton.

'Secrets and Lies' is significant as the world's most comprehensive
dissection of an anti-environmental public relations campaign based on many
hundreds of pages of leaked confidential public relations files.

The case study shows the relationship between Timberlands West Coast Ltd
(the NZ government-owned rainforest logging company) and its PR companies
Shandwick (a global public relations company) and Head Consultants (a
Christchurch-based PR company). It reveals the obsessive lengths they have
gone to, spending millions of NZ taxpayer dollars, to keep Timberlands'
rainforest logging going.

Meticulously researched, 'Secrets and Lies' unveils Timberlands and
Shandwick systematically attacking critics, arranging the creation of an
'independent' pro-logging community group, cultivating allies in academia,
industry, Parliament and environment groups, compromising the independence
of public servants and journalists - all in the unworthy cause of keeping
native forest logging going after most New Zealanders believe it should end.

Importantly, it documents all those people who have actively assisted the
companies and those who have been unknowingly recruited in support.

Support is exposed at the highest level of political power - to the top
floor of the beehive - and includes the Prime Minister, Jenny Shipley who
must ultimately take responsibility for this debacle.

This sort of analysis often occurs many years after an event has passed;
however, this work is lethally current. Jenny Shipley's first response has
been to deny everything - unsurprisingly.

Although the politicians are ducking for cover, the forests are still
falling today. Timberlands is right now heavily logging rimu, beech and
matai in Orikaka forest, habitat of many threatened bird species.

I am hoping the exposure of these secrets and lies will help bring an
eventual end of Timberlands native forest logging.

If you know anyone concerned with this issue, please forward this email on
to them. 'Secrets and Lies' is available in most New Zealand bookshops, and
a US edition will be published shortly.

Dean Baigent-Mercer
national spokesperson
Native Forest Action                    www.nfa.org.nz