End woodchipping
The "Independent Environment Coalition" has sprung up in Byron Bay, with local action on major environmental policy.
Convenor and film-maker, Bob Cummins, wants to see big changes in economic policies to rescue farmland and preserve the natural environment. He is standing for the NSW Upper House.
Under the slogan of "Conservation, Preservation, Restoration" the IEC seeks sound economic solutions to the pollution of soils, rivers and farm products.
"Industrial hemp (0.3% resin) is now legislated to grow commercially in Britain, France, Holland and Canada. It will replace forests for woodchip. Hemp produces 4 times the amount of woodchip per hectare than forests, and up to 3000 products. It could create ten times the forestry workers' jobs, and a $10 billion industry over five years", Cummins says.
He has won financial support from groups of farmers who are sick of being made sick by herbicides, insecticides and fertilisers.
Bob Cummins says he has founded six inland and coastal environment groups. He has made 6 films like Rotten Cotton, and Tripod Soldiers. Tea-tree oil farmers have supported his call for an EIS on all future tea-tree clearances. Tea-tree oil is now a $50 million p.a. export industry. Bob Cummins will present his policies to Sydney voters in February.
Denis Kevans
Wentworth Falls NSW
Soybeans and celery
In GLW #173 Neville Spencer attacks David Nicholls' "compassionate umbrella" of Animal Liberation because David and his ilk are "strangely silent on the inhumane exploitation of soybeans (and massacres of celery plants)" — seems Neville's upset because David isn't in the socialist mainstream.
Whilst not being an Animal Liberation activist myself, I'm bloody glad of the David Nicholls of this planet; not because he's not active (?) on strictly human "real issues and causes", but because he cares and is aware.
Humans aren't on this earth to exploit and destroy it — more to nurture and care for it and celebrate it, and to carte blanche deny "non-human animals" consciousness is ridiculous. All animals have brains (minds) and are aware of death, especially their own kind — just like humans.
Soybeans and celery react to earth cycles, seasons etc — but don't feel exploited; and Neville's logic has nothing to do with anything; it's just a sterile model used to narrow our minds.
Robert Wood
Surry Hills NSW
Free speech and students
Lambton High School administration has banned students from signing petitions against woodchipping and denied students their rights to talk, ask questions or take information about the issue while at school.
The socialist youth organisation, Resistance, set up a petition stall outside the school grounds on February 10 to build support for the anti-woodchipping rally on February 18. In what students described as a clear infringement of their freedom of speech, Vice-Principal Ian Martin directed students not to go near the stall and confiscated leaflets for the rally that were being distributed by students from the school. This was for the students' "protection" as part of the school's policy of being "non-political".
Student Jasmine Van-Aalst scoffed at the notion that school was "non-political". "Everything they teach us is political. How could it not be? We learn history, legal studies, economics, even English. All of these are influenced by politics. Now they tell us we can't protest for our rights."
Students were particularly angry that they were even denied information about the rally. They were threatened with punishment and several were sent to the Vice-Principal's office for taking the rally leaflets or joining Resistance. Only students with written permission from their parents were allowed to sign the petition.
The principal, Terry Franklin, said later that it would not be possible "in any circumstances" to allow students to sign the petition while at school. Nevertheless, he said he was "sympathetic".
Scores of students expressed interest in the issue; as a result of the Vice-Principal's reaction six joined Resistance. Students are now planning to organise a petition campaign for free speech at school.
Alex Bainbridge and Jill Morris
Newcastle