I would like to offer the following comments on the discussion of Dr Dean's piece on the Tasmanian forest operations. 1. The statements that Tasmania has improved the environmental prescriptions for its forest operations and that those observed by Dr Dean are as he described are not necessarily contradictory. They highlight the problems of moving from good policies to good practices. 2. Dr Dean's piece was emotionally charged, but the notion that we can separate our emotional from our rational selves is psychologically harmful. The greatest advances are made when we can marry them. Hence, one would hope that he will drive home his concerns with detailed analysis. 3. The notion that scientific work can be separated from ethical and social issues is pernicious. It is essential to disrupt scientific work sometimes and force it to acknowledge the interests it serves and confront wider concerns. "Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral." Friere John Dargavel Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies The Australian National University Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
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