Hi We Byron Shire Community Exchange have been offered a stall for the CSG free Byron Declaration Day on 21st July. Anyone who would like to help me please contact Sarah 0401 551 009 Dear friends It’s now nearly four months since we initiated out town survey to measure the support of Byron Bay residents for a gasfield free shire. Our campaign reaches A MAJOR LANDMARK ON SUNDAY, JULY 21 when we will hold our Declaration Day. There will be a formal handover of declarations from 15 areas in and around Byron Bay to Mayor Simon Richardson, notifying him of our almost unanimous opposition to coal seam gas mining. The actual number, and it is virtually 100% of those surveyed, will be revealed – and celebrated! – on the day. First of all, I want to thank you personally for your contribution. For all of us who took part, it has been an amazing experience, meeting neighbours we might never have had contact with otherwise and discovering how engaged people in the Byron shire are with the challenge of creating a sustainable future. Some of you have stayed connected with the ongoing work of finalizing the survey and executing the Declaration Day. Special thanks to you. But we are going to need a big final push from everyone who can spare the time to make the day successful. Some mischief-makers around town have been trying to discredit the Lock the Gate and CSG Free Byron Bay campaigns, saying that the Shire has nothing to fear and that Council is wasting time and money on the issue. Don’t believe it. There is gas under us in the form of so-called tight sands which can only be extracted by fracking and, anyway, NONE OF THE EXPLORATION LICENCES has been revoked. The mining companies are just waiting for us to shut up and get back in our holes. But, in any case, this is not a NIMBY issue. Our own backyards may not be under immediate threat but many of our fellow Australians are already living with the reality of CSG mining: the ruination of agricultural land, the destruction of communities and the decimation of property values. And perhaps the biggest issue of all: the threat to our WATER SECURITY and, consequently, the threat to our farmers and our food supply. So we need to demonstrate our solidarity and our commitment, don’t we? THE BIG DAY, SUNDAY JULY 21 …will start with yoga and meditation for those so inclined and, by 10.00 am, there will be a stage and market stalls erected around Denning Park which is the space along from the surf club where the “Stonehenge-y” sculpture is. The stalls will include information and community activists and there will also be food and coffee, drinks, etc, on sale. And there will be some carefully selected artisans as well. The guiding principle is to have as many people magnets as possible, including things for kids to do. We want to attract as many people and as wide a cross section of townsfolk as possible. It is going to be a really fun day, a huge celebration! At 10.50, Nigel Stuart and his entire Arakwal dance group will perform an extended Welcome to Country which will start things off with a bang. The Raise the Roof Gospel Choir then sing their wonderful water song. At 11.30, the presentation of our declarations to Simon Richardson will take place on stage, assisted by MC Mick O’Regan and young Holley Kroft. Immediately following, Shane Howard will Connect us with his iconic “Solid Rock” and then all of us will gather on the beach to form a living human PERCENTAGE figure representing the outcome of the survey -- and it will be photographed from the air! We’re going to need lots of help to get the numbers organized quickly and efficiently. After that, there will be more music and all sorts of good things to surprise and delight us. If you can share in the planning, preparation and organizing involved, it would be wonderful. If not, don’t miss coming along and joining us on the day – and bring your friends!
Posted on: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 04:23:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015