The island of Tasmania has an interesting landscape, both geographically and politically.

More like Scotland than Continental Australia geographically and more like Berkely, California than Canberra ACT politically.

In Tasmania, the politicals of environment collide with the politics of business every day.

One fine example is the recent law suit by timber giant Gunn's against local activists for complaining, publicy, about Gunns cutting down old growth forests to turn into paper pulp for consumption by Japanesse newspaper readers. Not surprisingly, almost every environmental group in the world has been outraged by Gunns' action, which is seen as simply suing people for excising their right to free speech. Gunns complaint? Complains "hurt business".

The environmentalists in Tasmania can be both admired for their steadfast adherence to their beliefs as well as criticised for their seeing a "toxic dump" under every rock they pick up.

It is the latter observation which may prove to be fatal, at least for the Tasmanian Devil, currently facing a rapid extinction. That's the marsupial , not the cartoon character.

The disease has spread rapidly since first being recognized 2 years ago.

Local environmental groups jumped rapidly to the completely unsubstantiated conclusion that the disease must be either-

1) The (illegal) introduction of wild foxes (tasty snacks for the devils) into Tasmania

or

2) The (illegal) use of pesticides near reserve areas.

or

3) SOMETHING Gunns was doing, secretly, (which was considered to be most likely cause by many.)

Initial animal forensic results focused on possible toxin centric causes to appease the environmentalists concerns. That ended up delaying discovery of the true, natural cause.

The disease and threat of extinction comes not from human induced environmental damage but rather from an odd and extremely rare form of communicable cancer spread through direct animal to animal contact. Apparently only one other similar cancer is known, an extremely rare canine form transmitted during mating.

Now, professional widelife workers are racing to save the devil, a race they may well lose.

Interestingly, after confrimation that the mass but "natural" deaths of the the Tasmanian Devil was a result of natural forces, rather than man-induced, the animals plight has slipped off of the Tasmanian environmentalist groups agendas.

Note to self-

In God We Trust, all others need to show the data.