Tim Lambert (deltoidblog AT gmail.com) is a computer scientist at the University of New South Wales.
The Australian Environmental Foundation is a brand new environmental organization. Unfortunately they have chosen a very similar name to the long established Australian Conservation Foundation, so similar that the ACF has sued for trademark infringement. Probably the best way to keep them apart is to remember that the Australian Conservation Foundation is a grass roots organization with a goal of preserving forests, while the Australian Environmental Foundation is an astroturf organization with a goal of preserving logging companies.
The AEF's spokesperson is Kersten Gentle, Victorian State Manager of Timber Communities Australia, another astroturf organization. According to the group's chairwoman, Jennifer Marohasy from the IPA, the group received no funding from the IPA, so I guess that means that they were directly funded by logging and irrigation companies.
The AEF claims to support an evidence based scientific approach to the enviroment, but their reaction to the ACF's trademark suit belies this. The AEF ran an on-line poll asking whether the AEF's logo of a gum tree was similar to the ACF's logo of three gum leaves. 88% of those responding said that gum leaves were "extremely different" from a gum tree. Now, their logo may be different enough from the ACF's one that it is not a trademark infringement, but I don't think most people would find gum leaves "extremely different" from a gum tree, so what happened? It seems that Tim Blair linked to the poll and his anti-green readers naturally voted against the ACF. This sort of thing is the reason why on-line opinion polls are not scientific evidence for anything.
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Take a look: the two logos are completely different. ACF's is stylized whereas the AEF's is a literal silhouette (a pretty lame logo).
Based on the logos the case would appear to be almost completely without merit.
And the name? What exactly is the ACF trademarking in their name - using a prefix of "Australian" and a suffix of "Foundation"? How many organizations use such a moniker: "Australian XXX Foundation". A trademark can't be substantially descriptive.
Validity of the poll or otherwise, the ACF's suit seems to be entirely without merit.
Posted by: anon | June 13, 2005 6:06 PM
It's more likely that AEF is directly operated by NAFI (National Association of Forest Industries). Their websites have the same IP address 61.9.208.14 and both mailing addresses are PO Boxes in Deakin West.
Posted by: John Quiggin | June 13, 2005 6:39 PM
My My. You lefties do have problems.
Posted by: Louis Hissink | June 14, 2005 10:01 AM
What is it about right wing lobby groups trying to cover up their ideological bent with misleading titles? I don't think ACF will succeed in its legal action, but this clearly misleading choice of name gives an insight into the awareness the right have of their own moral low ground, and how unappealing it sounds if it isn't dressed up in more civilised language.
Why weren't they drawn to a simple, clear, honest name like 'Australian pro-development organisation', 'Logging society', or 'Australians against unprofitable wilderness preservation'?
Posted by: mp | June 15, 2005 1:18 AM
New environment group (AEF) to protect rural communities at the expense of the truth?
For example Louis Hissink if the AEF don't have problems with the truth.
Why doesn't the AEF call themselves Australian Logging Foundation?
Because aren't they a front for the logging Industry?
Posted by: Kenneth | June 15, 2005 2:31 AM
BROKEN LINK: The on-line poll link needs a u after the domain name name.
Posted by: Aaron Swartz | June 15, 2005 4:42 PM
Link fixed. Thanks.
Posted by: Tim Lambert | June 15, 2005 6:56 PM
I can't help wondering how thin on the ground the envirovandals really are when, despite throwing around endless cash they still need to have that ugly-natured Gentle creature fronting several of their campaigns. Perhaps it's because, when Kersten is in focus there's not enough room left for anyone else to get into the picture. Even on a billboard!....(Don't suppose she's related to Vanstone?....Looks and sounds like her....
Posted by: Dave Phillips | July 29, 2005 7:52 PM