THE BYRON SHIRE ECHO nvironme Advertising & news enquiries: E n d t D Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 rl o a Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 y W Fax 02 6684 1719 • • [email protected] [email protected] Available early Tuesday at: http://www.echo.net.au • VOLUME 21 #51 T • o 0 d 2 TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2007 ay e , J ag 22,300 copies every week BEST BEFORE JUNE 12 une 5, see p Learning a new way of living lightly Art of war Celebrated Archibald-winning art- Lou Beaumont Forum as an annual event in the ist Wendy Sharpe will be a guest Forty-three students and eleven region to maintain an ongoing speaker at FEHVA this year. Wendy teachers from eleven regional high commitment to educating our kids was the fi rst woman war artist in schools took part in the fi rst Stu- about sustainability, it’s importance Australian history. In 1999 she was dents Using Sustainable Strategies and relevance to us all, and to pro- sent to East Timor to document (SUSS) Forum held over two days vide them with the right tools, the part the Australian troops last week at the Linneaus Estate, information and networks so that played in bringing independence to Broken Head. they can take action and make a this new nation. Students and teachers partici- real difference. Wendy Sharpe describes her pated in a series of workshops ‘We had many great sponsors experience in Timor as incredibly which provided them with informa- helping to make this happen. The intense, drawing from morning to tion and resources on waste, water, venue itself, Linneaus Estate, was night. Her sketchbooks, of around energy and biodiversity practice offered as part of Linneaus’ contri- 500 drawings are now in the War management. It is hoped that bution to environmental education. Memorial in Canberra. Like a diary attendees of the forum will then Trust member Phil McMaster was they document getting up in the take this back to their schools and very pleased with the outcome and morning, doing drawings at break- develop action plans that can be how it ran and they are eager to fast and right through the day. implemented through the School support it again in the future.’ Some of the drawings are quick, Environmental Management Plans The forum was a partnership charcoal sketches which Wendy (SEMP) and create a more sustain- program between Rous Water, later developed some into large able school. North East Waste Forum, Parks paintings. Workshops were conducted and Wildlife Division, Dorroughby Her experiences will be high- around such subjects as NPWS Environmental Education Centre, lighted in a panel discussion on biodiversity, marine biodiversity, Cape Byron Marine Park, North- Sunday July 1 at 1.45pm with fel- greenhouse, waste and water audits, ern Rivers Catchment Manage- low artists Fiona Hall and Anne catchments, bio-diesel, sustainable ment Authority and Linnaeus. Zahalka. The three will reveal how architecture, plants biodiversity, Corporate sponsors were Geolink, a commissioned artist balances drama and many more. Also, spe- Country Energy, SCU Environ- political, social and personal cifi c workshops were run for teach- mental Analysis Labs, and responses. Steven Alderton, direc- ers to introduce them to regional Conacher Travers. continued on page 3 environmental educators and the possibility of introduction of SEMP’s into their schools if there Homeless benefi t from new centre were not already environmental Much excitement was generated at Paul Spooner told The Echo, ‘The management plans in place. last Wednesday’s homeless break- event was collaboration between With its diversity of activities and fast when the remaining goods existing community services, which mix of students and teachers from donated to last year’s successful included Byron Youth Service, so many schools, the forum offered Beggars Banquet were distributed. Byron Shire Council, St. Vincent’s a multitude of learning opportuni- A team effort, with Neil Armstrong, Maths teacher from Byron Bay High, assist- The weekly homeless breakfast, de Paul, Byron Emergency Accom- ties within a fun, social structure. ing Stephanie Payne, a Year 11 student from Alstonville High, in a beachside hosted by Byron Bay Community continued on page 3 Forum goers stayed at Camp tree planting to mark the end of the first Schools Using Sustainable Strategies Centre, provided a backdrop for Drewe in Lennox Head overnight (SUSS) Forum last week. the offering of blankets, towels, and engaged in social activities clothes, toiletries and food items to including watching the DVD An away with an abundance of sustain- ing committee members. The breakfast participants. Beggars Inconvenient Truth, spotlighting with able ideas. workshop content was broad and Banquet organisers had decided to NPWS, and making up a sustain- Students and teachers planted diverse and I think the students got save these items for distribution as able rap with Lismore rappers trees together on the last day at two heaps out of it. One of the main the weather grew colder. Nadine and Zara. The chorus of sites on the Linneaus Estate, one a comments at the open discussion The Beggars Banquet provided a which went something like this... rainforest area and the other a site on the last day was “I feel really free feast and entertainment to all ‘the ice is melting way too fast, at adjacent to the beach. inspired to go back to school and members of Byron Shire last this rate we just can’t last.’ Kate Adams, Discovery Coordi- make some real changes now” and December, and its aim was to bring The organisers of the forum nator for the Northern Rivers “I realise now that it’s not just a community together in a spirit of clearly have a mind to what is the Region Parks and Wildlife Division, problem for schools but for home equality, friendship and celebra- most appropriate form of learning said, ‘I very much hope the SUSS life as well and I have learnt that we tion. Of particular focus were mar- for teenagers, so it was no wonder Forum 2007 was the fi rst of many can all do something as individuals ginalised and disadvantaged sec- all students were observed to be as it was a huge success with posi- as well as part of a school and/or tions of the community, including Afghanistani refugee Quarsim Alum- not only genuinely enjoying them- tive feedback from students, teach- community”. the homeless. Zadah with bed sheets from the Byron selves, but coming up and going ers, workshop presenters and steer- ‘We hope to run the SUSS Byron Youth Service Director Neighbourhood Resource Centre. 2 June 5, 2007 Byron Shire Echo www.echo.net.au Local News
ALL SCRAP METAL WANTED Be careful where your palm oil comes from , Ê* Ê1*Ê- ,6 Ê Australian environmentalists moment palm oil is often carefully’, Rosenhek said. at Durrumbul Hall this Fri- are adding their voices to a labelled only as vegetable oil. The Palm Oil Action day June 8 from 6:30pm with 7 Ê 19Ê/ Ê"/ global campaign to prevent Consumers should have a Group is calling on the Aus- a music concert featuring UÊ, Ê +1* / tropical forests in South East right to know exactly what tralian government to ban Spoonbill and Mystic Beats. UÊ ,Ê " - UÊ/,1 Ê " - Asia being destroyed to make they are buying when they the import of palm oil for The evening will include a UÊ,"" way for palm oil plantations. purchase chips, biscuits, biofuel until an environmen- short talk by Ruth Rosenhek UÊ "** , A consumer campaign will margarine, shampoo and tally sound source can be about the Palm Oil campaign UÊ ,-- UÊ1 1 be launched on World Envi- many other products that guaranteed by suppliers. as well as brochures and UÊ ronment Day, and locally at contain palm oil.’ The Palm Oil Consumer video footage of the beautiful UÊ-/ -- Durrumbul Hall this Friday. Some companies involved Campaign will be launched and endangered Borneo UÊ9Ê - The Palm Oil Action in using or importing palm in the Northern Rivers area orangutan. UÊ /, Ê "/",-ÊUÊ, /",-ÊUÊ Ê7 -Ê UÊ // , -UÊÊ7 Ê "7 ,-ÊUÊÊ ,Ê "8 - Group says that up to fi fty oil are members of the endangered orangutans are Roundtable on Sustainable Byron shows the fl ag for whales " 9Ê"7 Ê Ê"* ,/ dying each week from planta- Palm Oil (RSPO), a multi -/Ê "-/Ê tion related incidents. The stakeholder organisation /Ê, 9 ,- burning of former peat based in Malaysia, but swamp forest lands is fuelling Rosenhek points out that as global warming and human yet there is no certifi cation 1300 788 412 rights abuses are rife as tra- system in place and member- ditionally owned land is ship is voluntary. acquired for the plantation Rosenhak continues, ‘The expansion process. RSPO intention is com- BAMBOO FLOORING Director of the Rainforest mendable but we are yet to Information Centre, Ruth be convinced that there will Rosenhek, says, ‘Our aim is be an adequate and transpar- to stop the clearing of critical ent process for the control of rainforest ecosystems for use claims of sustainability. There as palm oil plantations in is a corporate responsibility Indonesia, Malaysia and issue here and we believe that Papua New Guinea. We are if companies had strong envi- not anti palm oil and we are ronmental ethics they could certainly not calling for a verify their sources fairly • The most stable, exotic, environmentally friendly boycott, we simply want con- easily, probably bypassing & second strongest hardwood in the world! sumers to be aware of this the RSPO process.’ • Termite resistant issue and send a message This year Indonesia will be • Free from toxic fumes back down the supply chain included in the Guinness • Affordable with an added value to your investment – via retailers, manufacturers Book of Records as the coun- • 25 year residential warranty and importers – that sustain- try which pursues the highest • Free measure & quote ably sourced palm oil is the annual rate of deforestation. (54#()3/.3 only acceptable palm oil.’ Currently an area of forest 7OLLUMBIN 3T -URWILLUMBAH The Palm Oil Action equal to 300 soccer fi elds is Group is asking people to being destroyed every hour write to supermarkets, food in the country. manufacturers, including ‘The explosion of the 26*5 KFC, politicians and ambas- renewable energy market, sadors, urging fast action, where palm oil is supplied for Howie Cooke with Californian artist Peggy Oki and friend at the and specifi cally, a labelling use as a biofuel, is a major Whale tipi 4.0,*/( system. concern and we are monitor- Story Howie Cook, photo Hanna Mermaid "GUFSPOFUSFBUNFOU Ms Rosenhak says, ‘At the ing the Australian situation With the banners and the ceans and the newly targeted Whale tipi the Byron contin- Australian Humpbacks. $3&"5*7&-*()5*/(40-65*0/4 gent made a colourful pres- Just getting a place and a -04& ence at the International permit for the Whale tipi, let Whaling Commission meet- alone the poles and trans- 8&*()5 ing in Anchorage, Alaska. portation in the heavily "GUFSPOFUSFBUNFOU Dave Rastovich and Howie policed town of Anchorage, t5IFRVJFUFTUBOENPTUFGmDJFOUGBOPO'"/4"-& t/PGVSUIFSUSFBUNFOUTSFRVJSFE Cooke of Surfers for Ceta- was a mission in itself but UIF"VTUSBMJBONBSLFU ceans, along with Hannah well worth the effort as all t#FUUFSCFBSJOHTUIFSFGPSFNJOJNBM t(6"3"/5&&%1"*/-&44 XPCCMFGSPNPVSGBOT Mermaid from Byron Bay, sorts of people, from fami- /0/*/7"4*7& t%FTJHOFEJO"VTUSBMJBGPSUIF and the Port Stephens lies, tourists, delegates and "VTUSBMJBODMJNBUF ‘Teens Against Whaling’ indigenous people including -"4&35)&3"1:46$$&44 tZFBSJOIPNFXBSSBOUZ whale watchers brought whale hunters, visited and t"SDIJUFDUVSBMMZEFTJHOFEoTMFFL some fresh perspective to the spoke at this dedicated space 5XFFE)FBETt3PCJOBt#BMMJOB DPOUFNQPSBSZGFBUVSFT t"WBJMBCMFXJUIPSXJUIPVUMJHIUT NGO efforts to defend for the whales and dol-
#& t3FNPUFDPOUSPMoPQUJPOBM whales, including small ceta- phins. t.BSJOFHSBEFTUBJOMFTTTUFFMPQUJPO (SFFO&DPFOFSHZFGmDJFOUMJHIUJOH t8FTUPDLUIFMBSHFTUSBOHFPGFOFSHZFGmDJFOU MBNQTJOBMMCBTFT TUZMFTBOEXBUUBHFT t IPVSMBNQTGSPN &4PS#$ CBTFTDPPMXIJUFPSXBSNXIJUF t3FQMBDFZPVSJODBOEFTDFOUPS IBMPHFOMBNQTBOEVTFVQUP OCEAN SHORES MFTTFOFSHZ t)FBUJTHSFBUMZSFEVDFEUIFSFGPSF DENTAL SURGERY NPSFQMFBTBOUMJWJOHDPOEJUJPOT t'BSMFTTNBJOUFOBODF "SDIJUFDUVSBMMBOETDBQF À>Ê i>ÊEÊÃÃV>ÌiÃÊÊ t4PNFEJNNBCMFWFSTJPOT MJHIUJOHTQFDJBMJTUT BWBJMBCMF iÌ>Ê-ÕÀ}ià 'SFFPOTJUFDPOTVMUBODZTFSWJDF 6OJU 5BTNBO8BZ ÞiÊ7>ÃÊ iÌ>ÊÞ}iÃÌ #ZSPO"SUT*OE&TU &OUFSWJB8PMMPOHCBS4U ÜÊ«iÊ ÀÊ>`Ê>ÌiÀ>ÌiÊÊ 4IPXSPPNPQFO5VFTEBZ ->ÌÕÀ`>ÞÃÊLÞÊ>««ÌiÌ 8FEOFTEBZ 5IVSTEBZQN .POEBZ'SJEBZCZBQQPJOUNFOU ¸ " *, -6 Ê /-/,9¸ XXXDSFBUJWFMJHIUJOHTPMVUJPOTDPNBV " Ê-", -Ê Ê /, Ê,Ê, ]ÊÊ " Ê-", -Ê*\ÊÈÈnäÊÎ{ÇÇ 1IPOF www.echo.net.au Byron Shire Echo June 5, 2007 3 Local News
Merry launch for Writers Festival Byron schools score federal funding -/ Two Byron Bay schools, -7- Byron Community Primary School and Cape Byron Rudolf Steiner School have received federal funding to Ài>ÌÊ7ÌiÀÊ the value of $58,500 and $60,000 respectively. The funding was provided -«iV>Ãt under the Federal Govern- ment’s Investing in Our Schools Program. Byron Community Pri- mary School received fund- ing for a project to network the school’s computer system including cabling and a soft- ware upgrade for the admin- istration area, the library and the design and technology Byron Bay Writers Festival director Jeni Caffin welcomes Lindy Lee to the 2007 festival program room. launch at Becton’s Byron Bay Beach Resort on Thursday night. The $60,000 for the Cape Rather than go the more formal route of speeches and introductions, festival chairperson Chris Byron Rudolf Steiner School /.,9 Hanley conducted a rapid fire literary quiz, fought by two teams of festival guests. will purchase a range of items Festival director Jeni Caffin announced that ticket sales were $20,000 ahead of 2006 and that the including an all weather roof. program contained a smorgasbord of literary luxury with the odd Byronic twist of inspired lunacy. ‘This is a festival to love and to inspire,’ she said. ‘I invite you all to come and enjoy.’ Construction will include Full program on sale now at Jetset 6685 6262 or www.byronbaywritersfestival.com. the installation of access Caption and photo Jeff ‘Rejection Slip’ Dawson ramps to buildings, and the 4HE POPULAR CC INCH BAR funding will cover the pur- 3!6% chase of a piano, pottery Homeless helped FEHVA features the art of war wheels, the installation of from page 1 from page 1 environmentally friendly /.,9 sinks in the art room and an modation Project, the Anglican tor of the Lismore environmentally friendly Church, Community Incuba- Regional Gallery, tor Youth Crew, Byron Com- will facilitate dis- water play area in the kinder- munity Homeless Breakfast, cussion. garten. Byron Environment Centre, On Saturday Local federal MP Justine ACE Byron Shire, YWAM June 30 Wendy Elliot said, ‘This is wonderful (Youth with a Mission) and news for the staff and stu- will join Peter -3 -INI "OSS CC INCH BAR Byron Peace Group.’ dents at the schools. The Powditch and 3!6% According to Mr Spooner, Bernard Ollis for Investing in Our Schools the wonderful spirit generated a FEHVA session Program is designed to help by this event has produced a at 4.15pm titled establish strong and effective new organisation. ‘It is envis- ‘Exuberance and school systems which max- /.,9 aged that Byron Neighbour- Sensuality: the imise opportunities for our hood Resource Centre, which fi gure as the cen- local children. has emerged directly from the tral theme in art’. ‘Grants are available to wellspring of the Beggars Ban- Together these help repair, replace or install quet, will provide an interface three prominent new items critical to a school’s for existing organisations while needs. This includes improve- artists will discuss FEHVA guest Wendy Sharpe resourcing individuals, groups the subject of the ments to classrooms, compu- and organisations in the Byron fi gure in their work. They will explore what the fi gure ter facilities, furniture, out- -3 7OOD "OSS community.’ represents to them as artists and how they have used both door play equipment, air &2%% EXTRA CHAIN 3, FUEL CAN 3TIHL Funds generated from the drawing and painting to capture the fi gure. conditioning and heating or GLASSES , BAR OIL GLOVES n 6ALUE Beggars Banquet plus ongoing The FEHVA week long festival will open with Grace security systems.’ donations will be administered Knight in Concert on Sun- by the Byron Neighbourhood day June 24. Program and -3 Resource Centre (BNRC) to booking details: www. -3 aid in resolving issues sur- fehva.com, email jan rounding homeless in our @buttery.org.au or pick up town. For info contact BNRC’s tickets at Barebones art- Ajanta on 0431 905 741. space, Bangalow.
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