#2 Where did the Bad News come from?
#3 Did Local, State or Federal Govt drop the Bombshell?
#5 Is Today's economic solution, Tomorrow's long term disaster?
#6 Are there Alternative Solutions?
#7 What are the Hazards of the Proposed Threat?
#8 Staying Light on your Feet.
#9 Changing the Habits of the Outside Community.
#10 How to beat the Burn-out Syndrome.
#12 How to write successful letters.
#14 How to organize an Art Show.
#15 How to organize a Seminar.
#16 How to plan and motivate a Demonstration.
#18 What to do when you think you've won!
#1: What do you do when the sky falls in?
Suddenly your community is under threat! Maybe it's a Toxic Dump, a Dam, a new 8 lane Highway, a proposed Airfield? Or there's chronic sickness, a bout of birth defects that you suspect is caused by fertilizers or aerial spraying of insecticides? Perhaps its a multi-national Feed Lot that you know is toxifying rivers and ground-water? Even when Government wants to close the local School, or the Police Station...or Council decides to cancel the country Library Bus, REMEMBER YOU CAN DO SOMETHING!
The secret is `People Power'. On Day One, you'll feel stunned! Overwhelmed by the gigantic size of the problem. Depressed and finally angry. Very, very angry! That's a great way to start the battle.
Talk to your neighbours and friends. Stir up a meeting. There'll be a lot of shouting, but out of that, the yeast will rise. A few leaders will emerge along with a few dedicated active Do-ers. It's important that they have reading and communicating skills, typewriters and phones. Ideal if at least one in the group has a word processing computer and Fax. You'll need the use of a Xerox too, but often the local school will help out on the last three vital pieces of fire power.
Personally, I don't have great faith in the Committee procedure. Meetings, minutes, motions and ammendments seem to become an end in themselves. There's a good chance political in-fighting will occur. And as someone once said, `a camel is a horse designed by a committee'.
The `Save the Valleys' Support Group was formed by dedicated individuals, about eleven in all. We had a surprising breadth of skills, not expected in a farming community. Most of our experience had come from previous life-styles and we developed more skills as we progressed. Our ages ranged from about 35 to 70, with about 70% women. It would seem that women are fundamentally the `Carers of the Planet', and become raging lionesses when aroused. The men in our group were excellent researchers and commun< It's important to know that the time will come, down the track, when your Group will have to have meetings with Local, State and perhaps Federal Government. Usually a limit of three people are invited. At least one of these should be a woman. Image is important here. Bureaucrats and politicians tend to reject anything presented by hippies and scruff-balls. This doesn't mean you have to go dressed in a three-piece suit or a cocktail frock. Clean, spruce, neat and well-groomed is OK. With a briefcase!
`Save the Valleys' Support Group rarely got together for a meeting. We kept in touch by phone and Fax to share new information and to plan our joint strategies. However, every week and sometimes more often, cells within the Group would have working bees and brain-storming sessions. However, we never launched into a new strategy attack without first talking it over with all other members of the Group or at least the Cell Leaders.
Fund raising, in our case was ignored, because most of us had sufficient income to pay enormous phone bills, xerox copies and petrol. However, towards the end of our campaign we needed instant cash to fund advertisements and information booths. We held a BYO food-&-drink barbeque in a local park and folk brought along a vast assortment of things to sell or *raffle on the spot. A $20 box of fruit and vegs raised $280.
A $25 meat tray raised $210. Second hand books and plants sold at $2 each. Craftsmen, potters, dressmakers and artists donated their work for sale. It was a fun day and within two hours we had raised $965. Weekly handicraft and cake stalls work well. Local dances, fashion shows, plays and folk-music BYO barbeques with a $5 entrance fee are a good way to get community involvement and keep the fighting fund up.
* RAFFLES need an Official Govt Permit, which often takes weeks to get. To save precious time and hassle, it's a good idea to affiliate your Group with the local Environmental Council. They will have a permanent Raffle Number which you can probably use.
Environmental Councils are set up all over Queensland, and there will be similar organizations in other states. They have extensive files that you can refer to. They know the Good Guys and the Bad guys in the area, which can be enormous help. You can also expect sound advice and enthusiasum from their Leader.
When you finally get to planning a Demonstration, they will be sure to rustle up more Troops...and help with Banners. Environment Councils are also recognised by Local and State Governments, so you'll get the added benefit of a powerful organisation behind you.
On some local issues, such as Toxic Waste Dumps and Pollution, you may find that Greenpeace are involved in an active policy on the subject. In Australia, Greenpeace now work state-by-state from each Capital city, so give them a phone call.
#2: Where did the Bad News come from?
Did you read about it in the press, hear it on Radio or see it on TV? Phone up and talk to the reporter or the producer who did the story. Did they reveal ALL the story or is there extra research you can get your hands on? Get all the details: WHO? WHAT? WHERE? WHEN? and WHY?
It's more effective if you can make an appointment and talk to the person face-to-face. Remember, if you can make good friends with the media, you'll get a lot of mileage for your cause as things hot up.
The journalist who had the guts to unearth the story is probably an idealist like you. The story is his baby, and he'll want to see it develop. The media love a good fight. It's great for circulation and ratings. So keep them up-to-date on your every move.
#3: Did Local, State or Federal Government drop the Bombshell?
Send off letters and Fax's immediately to the Bunny in Charge. Reject the proposal and ask for a complete report on the proposed action or `change of usage' to the land. Draft a sample letter and get as many people as possible to write. Don't waste time with a Petition. Government bodies, Ministers and even Prime Ministers have a habit of losing them. In our experience they never once saw the light of day. Even the one we sent to the Speaker of the House while Parliament was in session.
To make your Fax's and letters more effective, send copies to all the media. The sight of `c.c: and a list of media' at the foot of a letter sends nervous shivers down the spine of the most thick skinned bureaucrat or politician. They hate bad publicity. It could eventually cost them promotion or votes.
Who stands to benefit financially from this Big New Threat? What organization or company stands to make a whacking great profit out of this project? Who's behind the Big Cover-up that may have to pay out compensation? Make a list of all suspects. But be warned! Years ago, in the rich, export Cotton Growing District of NSW, five babies were born without brains in one twelve month period. All medical reports were destroyed by the Government. So its important for a community to get and file away personal documentation.
For instance in the case of the Dam, we finally, after months of research found our Prime Suspects:
The Civil Engineering Company who got 6% of the cost and paid the wages of all engineers employed by Local Councils. So THEY, in fact controlled Council decisions on Dams.
The multi-national company who supplied all chemicals used in water purification. The more dams, the more profit for them. And the more water, the more sewage that had to be treated by chemicals. Were some of the politicians and bureaucrats directors or share-holders?
Surveyors/Developers on the Sunshine Coast, some of whom were Aldermen on the Council. Water and Sewerage cost Council $17,000 to connect to each new block, yet Developers got a rebate of $12,000 and only paid $5000 a block. Worse still, the minute Water & Sewerage was connected, the sale value of each block skyrocketed $20,000. So ratepayers were in fact subsidising this Giant Rip Off. In one Council alone there were 10,000 new blocks approved in a month. $15,000 x 10,000 was making someone a multi-millionaire in one month! Who?
Who owned the Cement Company that would supply construction material for the Dam Wall? Who were the Directors and major share-holders? Were some of them the Government Decision Makers?
THE PLOT WAS THICKENING!
Who in Government or Government Departments stood to benefit?
The more dams built, the more power to that Department, the more clout
to be wielded by that Department Head. Who actually was the Power behind the Minister for the Water Resources Commission. Who pulled the strings?
As we unearthed each *new revelation, we wrote masses of `Letters to the Editor', and phoned our local Talk Back Shows. Then we chatted to our friendly Media Folk and inspired them to do articles.
We are still trying to find the `True' cost of supplying potable water. Dams, debts, maintenance, pumping stations, chemicals, water-meters & staff, etc, etc. Sydney says its 69c a kilolitre, another interstate council claims 75c, a council water engineer says it's more like $1.45 and a retired expert did the sums and came up with $2.30. Then consider on top of this, Sewage Disposal costs and the 30-40% potable water that is flushed away every day! It's time to re-plan!
*LEGAL DANGERS!
Libel Laws are very strict and Court Cases very expensive. So you must never name names or make accusations. Even if you think you can prove them. The trick is to ASK QUESTIONS!
Raise doubts! Destabilize the establishment! For instance, in the case of the Birth Defects cover-up: "Does the Minister for Health know that certain medical documents relating to Birth Defects in NSW (19??) seem to be missing? Could there be certain chemicals in fertilizers used to crop-dust cotton that affect the unborn foetus? World Health Organization discovered that in India in 1967 that bla-bla-bla. Why has the Australian Government apparently ignored this fact?
What multi-national company supplies the chemicals? Did they supply the same chemicals in India? Is so, why did they not warn Australian farmers of the risk to pregnant mothers?"
#5: Is today's economic solution, tomorrow's long term disaster?
The Profit Motive is seldom the correct reason for doing something intrinsically bad to a community or to the planet. Remember, the politician who makes the decision is seldom around ten or twenty years later, when the basic mistake becomes obvious. As Dr. Susuki says: `Are we destroying the future for our children's children?'
Make a list of what `The Bad Guys' say are the `positive goals' to be achieved. In the case of the Dam, the goal was to be a huge population growth on the Sunshine Coast. Yet the many people who had moved into the area, had chosen a life-style that was quite the opposite to The Gold Coast, Los Angeles or the high density city living they had escaped from. They certainly didn't want the unemployment, crime and drug problems that go with huge populations. Nor did they want the polluted beaches that go wi< So we talked to our friends down on the Sunshine Coast and got them all stirred up. They wrote letters to their local Councillors, letters to the editors and so did we. Soon we had a nice ground swell of unrest that got the Councils thinking.
Next make a list of the long-term `negative results'. We felt it was essential to `Save the Valleys' because they were the only rich, fertile farmland between the urban coastal plain and the drought-plagued plains beyond. Everyone knew from TV News that farmers out there, were either suffering from stock and crop losses due to too little rain...or too much. If bureaucrats drowned our `Food Bowl', it was an easy step to relate the TV pictures of Famine in Africa, to what future generations in Queenslan< We had about twelve people working on this type of stuff constantly. Writing letters is a thing that can be done by older people, who although they are house-bound, feel they want to get involved. Get Church Groups and Retirement Villages involved. Just give them stamped and addressed envelopes and a draft of the letters you want sent.
Its a good idea to vary the tone of the letters. Some factual, asking all those embarrassing questions...or stating exactly what the writer saw and smelt on the beach, etc, etc. Newspaper editors also like to publish emotional letters, so get people to write from the heart.
#6: Are there Alternative solutions?
Politicians and bureaucrats are famous for tunnel vision, even if it's taking them to the cliff edge. By researching and submitting alternative action, what we like to call `Face Savers', it is sometimes possible to get them on side. Working with you instead of against. But never, never put your trust in them! They may walk with you down the track, and at the end you'll find that they were just using it as a smoke-screen.
Use the `Alternatives' as the carrot for the donkey, but keep using the Big Stick of Bad PR to keep them on the move. Once a Government Decision is made, it's mighty hard to change.
Faced with the problem of a Dam, we had to investigate alternative Water Supply Resources...and also how to stop the urban coastal dwellers from using 2000 litres of water a day. Households in Melbourne, Adelaide and NSW were only using between 300 to 450 litres a day. But details of our `Water Save' action will be dealt with later.
You have to realise that Governments hate to lose control of a supply. Once you are hooked up to Electricity, Gas, Water and Sewerage they have you by the short hairs. They have fought tooth and nail in the past, to prevent people installing Solar Hot Water Systems, Solar Power, or staying with LP Gas cylinders, Rainwater tanks and Septic Systems.
However, now that the world is realising that water is our most precious, non renewable commodity, the game is changing. We raided the Local Council Library for books. We found they had a file on Documents from a previous Dam Battle. We phoned Universities known for their courses in Environmental Sciences. We contacted the Water Boards of the interstate cities we knew were using up-dated technologies. We talked with CSIRO and many Australian manufacturers of new re-cycling systems.
Here's our list of viable alternatives for water supply:
RAINWATER TANKS, to be used for gardens and toilets if local Health Laws are doubtful of the drinking quality. A 5000 gallon tank saves all water falling on the domestic roof area. This is at present lost forever
down storm-water drains. (It is important to know that we only use 1% of water for drinking and cooking. 50% of it goes onto the garden, lawn and
pathways. 49% goes down the plug-holes and toilet, to be flushed out to
sea along with a lot of chlorine...to destroy marine life.)
HOUSEHOLD RE-CYCLING UNITS for bath and laundry water, to be used per sprinkler-hose direct onto gardens. Or a more complex Unit that stores `grey water' for toilet and out-door taps. This will save each household about 60-70% of the water normally used.
DE-SALINATION OF SEA-WATER by solar-power. Chile has been doing this for over 100 years. Israel and Middle East countries are experts in the game. In Australia, Melbourne University has done over 10 years research into this solution for water supply.
GREY-WATER RE-CYCLING INSTALLATIONS supported by Council, using the multiple urban block system. Cleaned water is then piped back to outdoor garden taps.
GROUND WATER: This means tapping into the underground river flow that often seeps or gushes out to sea or into river/lake systems. However as this source is the mother of most Wetland Sancturaries or rich forest areas, it is not environmentally sound.
SEWAGE RE-CYCLING is by far the most effective water resource and has been used in England, America and Europe for many decades. It has the simple benefit that the bigger the population, the more pure, drinkable, re-cycled water is available. Sound reasoning, when you realise that a million litres of drinking water is used to transport 200 litres of `solid brown stuff' out to sea! What a waste! Especially when we now have the technology to completely de-toxify and purify the effluent to 100% pure crystal clear drinking water. Whereas now, many of the viruses immune to chlorine treatment, are being flushed into rivers and ocean and end up in swimming holes, lakes or on our beaches. Causing ear, nose a< Once you have done your research and marshalled your friendly band of Government approved experts, it may be possible to put on a One Day Seminar. It's no easy task and certainly not for the fainthearted. Jenifer Simpson and her work-mate, organized a Water Management Conferance called, `Are we going up the Spout or Down the Drain?' It was an enormous success, attended by almost 200 people from State & Local Councils' engineers, Water Board top brass from Brisbane and 4 local areas, Councillors and Aldermen from four councils, 30 High School science students who reported back to 15 schools, Property developers, the Minister for Enviroment & Heritage< At the end of the day 98% attending, voted and approved 10 Resolutions on a revised system of water management. I believe that it was no mere coincidence, that six weeks later our `Minister for Dams' decided that dams were not the way to go, and ecologically sustainable alternatives would be looked into.
#7: What are the Hazards of the Proposed Threat? Fear is a very good motivator. The ripples go out to other communities, not initially affected by the problem. So you can get more people on side to fight the battle. In the case of the Dam Battle, we researched the libraries in Brisbane and locally, checked out school libraries and old newspaper records stored in Brisbane. We phoned friends and experts interstate and they sent up xerox documents, TV documentaries and Radio tapes. We asked our Good Guys in the Water Board and the Councils what hazardsM Here's a summary of what we unearthed:
BLUE-GREEN ALGAE is a regular symptom of tropic dams. The cost of fixing the recurring problem runs into $billions nationwide.
DAM BURST is happening at regular intervals all round the world, and people living downstream are always at risk. Especially in wartime, during terrorist epidemics, flood time and when earth quakes and earth tremors occur. If there is already a dam in your area that may threaten a local city, ask to see the Dam Burst Study. We discovered that engineers here only produced a Report four years AFTER a dam was built, not before! It was highly suspect, because they did the Study as if the dam burst on a sunny, dry day...not at flood time when most dams burst!
EARTH QUAKE AREAS. We checked with the Seismologist at the Department of Minerals and discovered that both of Brisbane's dams are set in a Geological Fault Area, the last two major tremors in our area occurred under a dam in our river system and that there is an active Fault about 60 ks off the coast between Caloundra and Noosa. On 26.4.93 The Sydney Morning Herald reported on 21 `hazardous' dams in NSW, some on Quake Zones, others at risk by floods. There is a Dams Safety Committee in NSW but at MAINTENANCE of dams is extremely costly, and it would seem that money is not sufficient at the moment to do this at high standard.
PUMPING STATION BREAKDOWN can occur and the urban population is then totally bereft of water. During our Save the Valleys Campaign we were delighted, when on Friday 13th November 1992, the Sunshine Coast pumping station had a blowout. The sprawling city was waterless for a whole day! It brought our point home loud and clear. Shortly after that Councils allowed residents to install rainwater tanks.
SILT BUILD-UP is intensified in tropic areas of heavy rainfall. The capacity of the dam is drastically reduced within 10/20 years and the strength of the dam wall reduced. Pressure of the silt, which is heavier than water, pushes against the base of the wall, and leaves the thinner top structure to take the strain of the water. In sandy, weathered granite country or volcanic slip country the build-up is extreme. Egypt's High Aswan Dam is a prime example. Built in the 1960's by the Russians to supply Cairo's hydro-electric power as well as water for Egypt's sugar crops, it was failing to supply electricity by 1989. Experts give it a lifespan of 60 years for irrigation. By 2020 the High Aswan Dam will be as dead as the Pyramids.
TOXIC DUMPS AND NATURAL HIGH MINERAL CONTENT: This should be investigated thoroughly, although cattle dips and dieldrin under house slabs would be diluted to what is considered a `harmless' percentage. Toxic Dumps are quite another thing. You'll need some detective work to find where they are. Talk to the Old Timers. We have a dam nearby that is built over a a large naturally occurring arsenic load, which politicians and bureaucrats ignored. Why? Because if a problem did eventually occur, they would be long gone. It's worth calling in an independent geology expert to analyse the mining maps....and the soil. We have another unused local dam that was built on an area, where the water poisoned cattle ... yet another that has a manganese content that is far above the World Standard. The cost of purification is astronomical.
DESTRUCTION OF FISH HABITATS downstream is caused by extreme temperature fluctuation of water, when dam waters are released from the cold bottom strata of the dam.
ENDANGERED & PROTECTED SPECIES: If you are lucky enough to have rare, endangered species or protected animals like platypus, you should get them logged and notated by officials from the Wildlife Organizations. If habitats of koalas, pigmy possums, rare birds, etc, are to be threatened by rising waters, get all that documented too.
FLOOD MITIGATION is often espoused as a benefit of dams, but all over the world, the opposite is quite often the case. During exceptionally long and heavy rain periods, huge amounts of water have to be released to protect the dam wall. This goes downstream in one gigantic gush over a relatively short space of time. The Brisbane Flood of 1974 was a prime example. Dam waters reached the city at hightide, the worst time possible. People living on the Hawkesbury report that they experience a larger number of short, but high floods, since the dam was built in the headwaters of their river. Excellent reference book on the subject is `The Dammed' by Fred Pearce, Bodley Head Press 1993. One fact he reported happened in Canada, where 18,000 deer, drowned, were flushed into Hudson's Bay. But it could easily happen to people! As happens in India.
DESTRUCTION OF LAND & RIVER BANKS DOWNSTREAM is caused by the unnatural flow of water from dams. The river becomes slower flowing, less deep. Vegetation and trees that support the banks die off and erosion occurs. As the banks gradually fall away, more good rich farm country is lost in the next dam-controlled flood. You can measure the lost farmland in many valuable hectares along the length of the river.
All this kind of research takes months to compile and the Group should divide up the various aspects, so there is no duplicating of work. Once the facts are gathered, they make wonderful fuel for letters and Fax's to Government bodies and the media. They are just the irritating things to keep the pot boiling. Remember, you are fighting for time! Get various Government Departments and Councils fighting amongst themselves. Get your Opposition Politicians, State and Federal Members asking questions on you< Use the Department of Environment & Heritage and Parks and Wildlife to put their spoke in. Stir up the Shadow Opposition Ministers! They love to catch the other Guy out!
Remember, Politicians are very reluctant to make a decision while there is anger and noise in the community...in the media...and in Parliament.
There were times when I was losing heart, but I always remembered the man I met at Finch Hatton Gorge. It is an exquisite misted valley, all moss, ferns, lichens and marvellous rainforest trees. About 30ks east of Eungella National Park, Finch Hatton sends a river through about two hundred square kilometers of thirsty sugar plantations.
CSR and the Sugar farmers wanted to dam the gorge for water. It was a high rainfall area, but they were greedy. This man and three other families who lived in Finch Hatton Gorge battled and won! They found many rare species of frogs, reptiles and other wildlife and persuaded Parks and Wildlife to take over the area. They used the Old Inter-departmental Strategy.
Many world dominated mono-crops, such as cotton, sugar and rice, need huge amounts of water. Instead of limiting their cultivation to suitable high rainfall areas, dams are built. Not necessarily for the good of the existing population, who previously used the land for their own food crops. But for the economic benefit of giant multi-national companies. Along with many third world countries, Australia is now in the grip of this octopus. Tasmania, once our Stone fruit, Berry and Apple Isle, now grows opium
#8: Staying Light on Your Feet:
Once the campaign starts to get momentum, its vital that all your information can be easily accessed. Its also vital you are updated daily on what is getting into the press, what's said on radio and TV. This is where the best intentions and excess of enthusiasm can miss the plot. It's a constantly emerging plot! With wonderful opportunities for thrusts and parries if you get the information in time. If two days or a week goes by, its often too late. The right moment has passed.
Here's how we organized things:
ADDRESS BOOKS for phones & fax's, names not necessarily listed
alphabetically, but in groups. For instance, all newspaper contacts were
on one page, TV on another and Radio personalities on another. All Government Ministers together, Local Council contacts, Water Board
people, etc, etc.
This meant it was easy to send off a batch of Fax's to any group.
We regularly up-dated our individual books to catch up with other member's contacts. Names were marked in red for Bad Guys and green for Good Guys.
THE PHONE TREE: This was a list of locals outside the main group, who offered help ... in letterwriting or for demonstrations, fund raising, etc. It was organized so that one person would automatically contact six more on their list.
FILES: At the beginning we started with a few manilla folders, then as the information came pouring in, we bought a dozen compact filing envelopes. Finally, as for instance `ALTERNATIVES' branched off into six segments, we ended up with two big filing boxes each. All important facts were xerox'd and passed on to other members of the group.
MEDIA WATCH & PRESS CLIPPINGS: Probably our most important member was Irene, a rather shy widow who spent a lot of time reading papers and listening to the radio, watching TV News. She had her video and tape recorder on `pause' at all times. This way we had a record of everything we managed to get on Talk Back, and certainly evidence of exactly what the `Minister for Dams' said...or promised. If we missed a TV News item, we got a copy from the station. Within a day of appearance, Irene delivered every letter and article relating to dams, population explosion, excess water usage or pollution.
When a subject was `Hot News' we followed it up immediately with a comment to the local radio New Reader or a story to all newspapers. Of special interest are the interstate papers! Friends in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide mailed cuttings too.
TARGET ATTACKS: These seemed to change about every fortnight. The Media Watch focussed our attention on the constantly changing
patterns, without losing sight of our main goal. This meant that we were never a `Boring Subject', jumping up and down on one dreary message. So we generated excellent PR. It even got to the stage that TV, radio stations and journalists phoned us for comments, whenever a Politician made a statement.
DEMONSTRATIONS AND STUNTS: Television is the Giant Communicator, so its vital to dream up things that will titillate TV to tell your story. We planned quiet but showy and sincere demonstrations to co
-ordinate with politicians opening Council Chambers, new bridges and swimming pools. The two art exhibitions and the Water Management Conference were spectacular and news-worthy enough to make TV News
as well.
SIGNS AND BANNERS: Early in the piece, before things get too hectic, work out your slogans and plan a painting bee. Get about twenty banners
and signs lettered and nailed to broom handles. Keep them safe for the
great demonstration day. Maybe you can get signs up along main roads or tourist routes, so lots of outsiders will know the threat to your community. Electricity poles, Council and Road signs can't be used. The signs will just
get ripped down. Legally. So talk to property owners, garages and shops
to get permission to put the signs up on their land. Bumper Stickers are
excellent! The yellow NO DAM triangle is a world classic. It was actually
designed by the Franklin River defenders. Limit the message to two or
three short words and use bright primary colors. For readability, the
best combinations are Black type on yellow, white on red, white on blue.
INFORMATION STALLS & TALKS: Your full-on Working Group will probably be too busy to take this on. However, there's sure to be two people in the community who could give a day-a-week at big shopping centres, handing out literature and chatting to people. Face-to-face word of mouth is excellent. Retirement Villages and Schools are often delighted to have someone fresh to give a short talk and hold a discussion session. Whenever there is a local event, like a Rodeo, a Show, a Farmfest, etc...make sure you have an Information Stall in a good busy position.
THE SATIRICAL BOOK: If there's a cartoonist and a writer in the area, this is a great way to get more exposure, more publicity. If you're clever, the sales will cover the printing cost. All creative work is a labor of love. We did a send-up of the one-eyed, short-sighted, deaf Dam Engineer. The book also had facts about Dam Disasters and a lot of hints on how to save water. Our second book was an amusing, but acid comment on Dinosaur Technology and the Bureaucratasaurus who dominate Australia's policies.
INVOLVE THE CHILDREN:
As the finding of the Rare Conondale Frog may certainly have saved our Valley, we launched a Frog Hunt with
a prize of $50. Greg Czechura of the Queensland Museum gave a lecture
at the local school and investigated all the wet, slobby things in jam jars.
Then we got the whole school, whose headmaster is a gem, to paint `NO
DAM' posters, which went on show in various towns and in the Council
Chambers.
We also produced the artwork for a Save Water Color-in Poster for our Council to distribute to Primary Schools.
# 9: The Big Alternative! Changing the habits of the Outside Community.
In a crop-dusting health problem, you'll have to convince farmers. If it's Toxic Waste, perhaps you have to convert the employees and the Unions to force a change. In our effort to `Save the Valleys', we realized that it would help if we could persuade urban dwellers on the Sunshine Coast to use less water...or convince Councils to use pressure to prevent gross wastage of water.
Three months after our Book was released, and six weeks after we were supplying a regular illustrated editorial column to the Sunshine Coast Daily, the Government launched their `Water Wise' Campaign. But I feel if you apply basic common-sense ideas to everyday situations, you'll communicate better on a one-to-one basis. Use a bit of humour ... and talk in people-speak ...not Govt-speak.
Such as:
IF WE ONLY DRINK 1% OF THE WATER WE USE, WHERE DOES THE REST OF IT GET SQUANDERED?
IF YOU SAVE ON WATER RATES, YOU'LL SAVE A VALLEY FROM BEING DAMMED TOO!
TOILETS: If it's yellow, let it mellow...if it's brown, flush it down!
Put a brick in it! If you can't afford a new dual-flush toilet wrap one or two bricks in a thick plastic bag and place in the cistern. Halves the water that's wasted every time you flush.
The toilet's not a rubbish bin! Don't flush away the tissues every time you blow your nose. Hair combings belong in the kitchen tidy.
Dribbling toilet? Call a handyman or call your landlord. Someone has to pay the Excess Charge for all that wasted water.
BATHROOMS: Put more fun in your life! Shower with a friend and save water! Baths use five times as much as a 4 minute shower. So sing a short duet.
Economy conscious? The new Economy Shower Heads save hot water bills and costly water too. Ever thought of spring-loaded taps?
Taps off when you clean your teeth. Use a glass of water instead.
LAUNDRY: Do your `smalls' by hand, darling! It's a wicked waste of water to throw a few little intimates in that big washing machine.
Extra dirty work clothes? Drain the sudsy water from your first wash into the laundry tub and leave them soaking overnight. That will save 16 to 20 litres of water.
KITCHEN: Dripping taps, running taps waste water. Clean your veges in half a sink of water. Wipe extra dirty plates with a paper towel, put all cutlery in a saucepan and do the first soupy, sudsy wash-up in half a bowl of water. Then rinse in a half bowl of clean hot water. That's how the multi-millionaires do it on their yachts, where fresh water is REALLY scarce.
CLEANING THE CAR: Put a bucket in your laundry tub and let the washing machine fill it with hot, sudsy water. Great trick for washing the poodle or cleaning down the patio, too.
GARDENING: Install a Tank! Your precious garden will thank you for saving all that fresh God-given rain. And what a beautiful old fashioned fernery you'll be able to build in it's shade!
Plant a climate-wise garden! There's lots of wonderful flowering plants that thrive on minimum water. Australian Natives bring a host of birds to your garden, too.
Do you feel the Lawn Cult is a bit crass, in this, the driest Continent on earth? A paved area needs no mowing, no watering! Potted palms and shrubs look great, need mega-litres less water every year. If your Excess Water Rates are a killer, maybe it's time to re-think? Environmentally.
Hose your garden in the cool of the evening. The water has time to sink into the soil overnight. That way, you won't be paying for water that just evaporates away in the hot sun. SAVE! It's the clever word this decade.
During a hot dry spell, 90% of water on the Sunshine Coast is lost forever on gardens! In Sydney, it's about 60% and in Melbourne
50%. Makes you think?
DEMAND MANAGEMENT:
Some households in Melbourne and Adelaide are rationed (pre
-excess charges) to 280/300 litres a day. In NSW many are on a
limit of 350/400 litres a day. Before our Campaign started the
average on the Sunshine Coast/Noosa was 1850/2250 litres a day.
Obscene wastage! When you realise that the people who live on
Rainwater Tanks, do very nicely thank you, on 200/250 litres a
day. Why? Because they are experts on re-cycling.
This is just an example of how you can analyse the problem into daily human terms. Whatever the Big Threat your community is facing, sit down and work out the Initial Stage at which you may be able to change existing habits and policies.
#10: How to beat the BURN-OUT syndrome!
Let's look at the facts. You are a small Guerrilla Force of maybe 10 or 12 people fighting a monstrous army of thousands! Every few weeks, one or two of the troops are going to feel shell-shocked, exhausted, plain fed-up! Your flame's gone out! That's the dreaded BURN-OUT SYNDROME!
Just know that it happens to everyone. You're not a failure. You're not weak. You're not getting old and past it! You just need a week off sitting in the sun, reading a good sexy novel, watching a heap of frivolous videos. Your batteries need to be recharged. Suddenly you need to mix with people who are not engrossed in the Dreaded Battle.
First thing, in BURN-OUT is to ring the Group, and tell them where you're at! It's nothing to be ashamed of. Tell them you're going to be off the air for a while. It's up to them to rally round. Take the load off you for a while. They won't mind, because you'll be there to support them when they need it.
What sort of support will they need? Well, I know it's nice to be appreciated for what you've already done. Nice to be pampered with a freshly home-baked cake, an invite to dinner, a bunch of garden flowers, a basket of home-grown fruit. A funny card in the mailbox gives anyone a lift. But best of all, it's a great help to have someone with whom you can talk it out, who understands what you've been through. Someone who'll build up your courage, light your flame again. Someone who'll maybe come in and < My daughter Penny, the computer whiz-kid, swooped in and saved me with hands-on help, many a time. She injected fresh ideas, new approaches. Her phone calls, and phone calls with Phyllis of Greenpeace rebuilt my tattered ego. They'd been in that egg-whisked state and knew how I was feeling. They assured me I'd be on top of the world again in a week or so. Most important, the world wouldn't stop if I stepped off for a while.
One afternoon, when I had been stone-walled by four different bureaucrats within four hours, I felt like sitting down and having a good cry. I didn't know where to turn. On the pin-board in front of me were all the outstanding notes, messages and contacts. One small name blazed out at me. It was Steve Lamble, a reporter whom I'd never met or spoken to. For some reason I picked up the phone, and when he answered I just said: "You don't know me, but I'm in desperate need of help!" Next morning he was sitti< Someone in the Group says: "I'm in a corner. I don't know what to do next!" Move right in and help...immediately. But tell them what a great job they've done.
John Braby from our team, is big on giving approval: "Good one! That's an absolutely marvellous effort!" That pat-on-the-back is like an injection of energy. Jenifer and I get a buzz out of reading our latest Government Attack over the phone, before faxing. It irons out any mis-meanings and we respect each other's sincere comments and approval. Then of course, whenever a letter-to-the-editor is published, phone up and congratulate the writer. It will stir them on to greater efforts...and push back the
Somewhere along the line you will have to have to set up discussions with politicians, bureaucrats or local councillors. It is most important to know exactly what you want to achieve from the meeting. It is best to limit the goal to one or two points.
Prepare for the meeting by typing out an agenda and giving everyone at the meeting a copy. The page should have the names and phone numbers of each of the people from your group who are attending... as well as the title, name and address of the person who is giving the interview. The date and time should also be listed.
Next make a heading of the Problem/area/location of the subject under discussion. Then list the solutions you want achieved, as
POINT ONE:
POINT TWO:
For some reason, people in government seem to like no more than three visitors at a time. If you turn up with four or five people, their protective secretary will probably make a fuss and try to break down the numbers. An effective trick is to look stunned and ask her: `Why? Don't you have enough coffee cups or chairs for more than three visitors?' She will have to defend the status of her department and it's coffee cup & chair quota...and the barrier is broken down.
As the meeting gets under way, do not deviate from your points. If it seems you are being side-tracked, bring the conversation back to the point as quickly and smoothly as possible. Never lose your cool! If you feel emotion and anger rising, break off and let another of your group take over. Stay calm and use logic. Have all your arguments well rehearsed and know all your facts. Keep asking very direct and pertinent questions in a way that `sheep dogs' his answers towards the goal you are trying to ach< If possible leave him with a question or two that he will have to look into and get back to you with the answer. Have someone taking notes of the meeting, who asked the question, who said what...and in particular exactly what the bureaucrat said.
Type up a dated Report of the Meeting, where it was held and who was present. Get the rough draft double checked by all members of the group who were present. Maybe they heard something you missed. Then mail or Fax the Report within two days to your host. All Reports should have details at the end of: ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN.
Choose from your group for the meeting, an even mixture of men and women...or one woman to two men. Dress should be crisp and businesslike, so you are visually on an equal footing with your host. Make sure everyone's finger nails are clean! Have all your documents in a briefcase, and make sure you each have a biro and notebook to jot down notes.
Be just five minutes early for the appointment. Allow plenty of time to find a parking space. You don't want to turn up hot and flustered. It's a good morale booster to arrive 35 minutes ahead of time, and relax in a nearby coffee-shop going over your plans.
If you believe in the Power of Positive Thinking and Visualization, send out strong vibes of love towards your host. He may then feel more open and amenable towards your suggestions.
Remember! Don't be side-tracked! Stick to YOUR agenda! Try to negotiate to achieve your goals! Never lose your cool! Keep the meeting under YOUR control. It won't be easy but best of British Luck!
#12 How to write Successful Letters.
We have found great relief in writing emotional people-talk letters to Politicians, but they always MUST have a final paragraph (clearly * with a demand for an answer by a specified date) so the Dumb Bunnies know they have to take the letter/Fax seriously.
It also seems to activate immediate action, when they realise that copies of the fax/letters are:
- 1) Going to their superiors.
2) Going to the Government Opposion Ministers
3) going to specified Media, as listed below your signature as `c.c.'
- Be absolutely certain all the facts you quote are able to substantiated. If necessary include the details of the source. If they can shoot one claim down in flames, you will lose most of your credibility.
Use the technique of asking questions as suggested at the end of chapter #4.
Following are examples of a few successful darts. On the Final Sunday
18/4/93 we heard by chance that our `Minister for Dams' was planning to present his Report to Cabinet on Monday. We froze! Too late to make a last effort? Never! We drafted a quick summary and fax'd it within the hour, to every Cabinet Minister who was due at that Meeting, even to the Premier. Monday was the day we heard that we had WON! The lesson? Never give up!
It's always a nice touch, when you have achieved positive action, to write or phone to thank the person responsible. Just to let them know their good efforts do not go unnoticed. For instance our Lord Mayor set up six houses with total water/sewerage recycling systems for garden use, low pressure shower-heads and spring loaded basin taps. We were greatly heartened to know they cut down each householders' water usage by 30%. So when we said Thank You, we really meant it.
Although we often wrote letters and sent most PR out on `Save the Valleys' letterhead, we also kept up a barrage of personal letters. It must have been most impressive for the Minister to regularly get 14 specifically different anti-dam letters on his desk. Beyond the actual Group, were many friends who were quite willing to sign letters with their own address on top. All these letters were demanding exact information on various dam issues. They HAD to be answered.
Word got back from the Minister to the Officially Elected Committe, who were more into discussions than writing letters. We were then accused of causing trouble and splitting the community. It seemed that the only split was between the Do-ers and the Non Do-ers. Surely no one wanted a dam? So we continued on regardless. Remember, in this sort of Battle, the momentum must never be stopped.
First you need an experienced writer with a good satirical idea. If the `Mega Mad' character from a Far Distant Planet can be adapted to suit your cause, you are free to use him, with our compliments. Then you need a clever cartoonist, who is dedicated enough to give his creative talents for free. Next, you need someone who has Desk Top Publishing equipment, who will donate their skills to the Cause. And if you are lucky, a printer who will give his time...and only charge you for plates/paper/ink/collat< The ideal size is 20 pages (as printing presses produce 2 pages to a f'cap sheet: trimmed size 16.25 cm x 22.25 cm) plus a two or three color cover. There's room for the 21st page of the book on the inside back-cover. Use the inside front cover for contact names and phone/fax numbers for supply ordering or an information network.
It's very tempting to use environmentally friendly re-cycled paper, but the cost is higher. Get a quote for 1000 to start with. Try a couple of printers. Ask for and get samples of paper that has no `show-through', and a cover card that will give a bright glossy image. Ask your artist to choose the colors. You'll be using black for one color. So choose a strong light color that will emphasise the black, and a second color that will carry white lettering to good effect. Remember if you print in two colors< Don't forget that there is Sales Tax to be added to the quote. Get a full break-up of the costing, because if you want to reprint, the plate costs (and typesetting/make-up if you didn't do it yourselves) should be deducted next time.
When the books are put up for sale, they should be in a display container. We found very suitable mini-bins of bright plastic at K Mart for about $3. They held 20 books very nicely and we taped `slogans & price' on the sides. We were able to wholesale the books at about $1.60 each including display unit, and they retailed for $2.50 each.
You'll need a receipt book for all sales, and as many people will only want to take them on consignment, there is a bit of chasing up to be done. We found that local banks and building societies, real estate agents, chemists and gift/novelty shops were good outlets. Also the local libraries and schools took some. If you are in an urban area, it's a clever way to get your message across door-to-door selling. Great too, for the Shopping Centre Information stalls. Scouts, Guides, P&C's and Church Groups
#14 How to organize an Art Show.
You will need about three months from Idea to Opening. Remember, the end result is vital TV and Press Coverage for your Cause. You'll need a stable of top sculptors and contemporary artists...not the Craftshop Set, who paint sunsets, little bush huts and gumtrees. Start by talking to the leading gallery and top artists in your area.
1) Build up a list (names, addresses & phone numbers) of 20/25 artists.
2) Find a good venue, plenty of natural light and space, in a busy shopping area.
Maybe a Gallery will accomodate you, rent free for the expected TV publicity.
3) You'll need the Show to run over two weekends, opening on a Friday night, closing at 5pm on Sunday week. Allow Thursday AM for artists to deliver work, Thursday and Friday for hanging...and Monday-week for artists to collect their work. Confirm the dates.
4) If the Gallery wall space is equivalent to three large rooms, you'll be able to hang about 75/80 paintings of medium size. However to get a dramatic effect, it's advisable to have about 10 large ones. If the average price of paintings is $300, you'll have about $32,000 worth on the premises. If the building is wood, it's wise to insure contents against fire. However Insurance costs have skyrocketed for theft/comprensive cover, so you will have to notify artists on this.
5) Week One: Phone all artists and discuss the Show. It must have a name that clearly states your Cause in all free publicity. Our first was called `Save the Valleys', the second was `Water Save'.
6) Week Two: Mail Information Details and Entry Form to all artists. See example.
7) Week Three: Organize the personality to open the Show. Theatrical folk are good draw-cards for the Media. An environmental singer like John Williamson is perfect. A TV star, an author or a well-known actor? Great! We invited Phyllis Campbell of Greenpeace, because she was a known Brisbane Radio & TV identity and her gift of promoting an emotional response was brilliant.
8) Week Four: Design the Private Invitations for the openings and get a quote on printing 200. A send-out of this size will bring in a crowd of about 80/100. Design a smaller variation for the Letterbox drop and get a quote on 2500. You'll want delivery at the latest 5 weeks before the Opening. Ask your local Gallery to see some previous invitations for all necessary wording: Name of show, what its in aid of, where it's held, who's opening it, at what time, food/drink to be served...and how long the show runs, dates and times. #7: Sugar Glider Sleeping $135 ANN BOCK
9) Week Five: Phone all artists and chase them for their Entry forms and Entry Fee. You'll be needing funds for postage and printer's bills. You may need a Donation Entry Box at the Gallery Door, or a raffle to raise extra funds.
10) Week Six: Make out the Invitation List and address envelopes. Double check that they fit the invitations easily. Be sure to send invitations to all media and journalists, local Councillors, State Politicians and the bureaucrats you've been hounding, as well as all the Social Set, doctors, solicitors and good friends in the Community. Keep in a safe place for mailing on Week Ten: Plan to hand deliver as many as possible to save postage.
11) Week Seven: Write your PR Articles and send out the first announcement about the the Art Show, listing a few of the artists and inviting any others who may be interested. It's a good idea to include a photo of someone painting their picture at this stage. A postcard size color shot will do.
12) Week Eight: To get the most mileage out of the Show, you'll need a roster of presentable arty people to talk to visitors about the pictures and especially about the Threatened Problem. Two people a day works well, with perhaps three on the weekends. You'll also need about three experienced people to hang the show. Rule up a Roster Sheet, phone up and sort out the Helpers. Be sure to include all their names and phone numbers in case of emergencies later. Give everyone on the list a copy, so they can plan ahead. Invitations should be delivered from printer by now.
13) Week Nine: By now you MUST have all the entry forms back. Chase up any latecomers. If it looks like you are going to be short of paintings, get extras from local artists. Now is the time to type up your Check-in/Check-out List in alphabetical order. It works best if you can do this on a Word Processor, so that last minute changes can be made on the Thursday night after all the pictures have been delivered. (Sample for reference.) 14) Week Ten: Invitations to be mailed on Friday, so they arrive early in the week. Phone the Television Stations and advise their Programme Producer to mark the time and date of the opening, so they can film the Celebrity. Make sure the Producer gets an invitation. Now is the time for designing the Art Show posters. Do it in Black and white, so 20/30 can be Xerox'd and colored in. Information should include: Name of Show, `to save what', venue address, from when-to-when and daily opening times<15) Week Eleven: Send out first series of PR stories. Don't forget the Art Editors or Reporters on regional Radio and Press. Phone up any Social Page Journalists and tell them the EXCITING personality, the BIG NAME artist, the INTERSTATE visitor you expect at the Opening. Invite them to bring a photographer.
16) Week Twelve: Organise who and how you are going to do the Mailbox drop. This can be done during end of Week Twelve, Thirteen and on Monday of Week Fourteen. Buy Receipt Book, Red Stickers, Drawing pins, Picture hooks & strong fishing line for hanging if needed. Organize Donation Box, Raffle & tickets, and a Petty Cash Box for takings. Send off more PR stories about the wonderful paintings available for sale, priced from as little as $?? from such famous artists as Bla-bla-bla. Make final plans for the Wine and Nibbles for the Opening. Confirm with your Celebrity that they will be on time for the Opening. Record 90min background music and organ<17) Week Thirteen: Monday AM: Phone all artists and remind them that paintings/sculptures have to be delivered at Gallery between 9 and 10am on Thursday. Ask if there any changes to their works or prices listed on the Entry Form. Mark these on the Check-in/Check-out List. Now you can type up the Sales List (Example) and a duplicate set of the Picture Price Tags (Example)
Thursday AM: One tag will go on the back (or on the glass) of every painting as it is delivered. Make sure the artist does this, so there is no mix-up with names and prices. Mark every piece of art on the Check-in List and confirm Net Price with artist.
Thursday Noon & PM: Place pictures on the floor and around the walls, so you develop a pleasing color theme. Stand at the entrance of each room and make sure there is a good dramatic piece on the opposite wall to give a stunning effect.
When the Hanging is completed before mid-afternoon Friday, place the Picture Price Tag below each painting. By having these you'll not need a Catalogue.
Sales System: Red Spot goes on picture, placed there by purchaser. Receipt is written, and Deposit or Full Payment marked on Sales Sheet. Paintings may be collected on final Sunday afternoon of Show. Pottery and hand-blown glassware is an excellent money spinner, these items are usually taken immediately they are paid for.
Commission: Galleries take a third of the Sale Price, which in fact means 50% is added to the Artist's Net Price.
18) Week Fourteen: Monday you should get on Talk Back Radio Shows to spread the word. If TV didn't turn up for the opening, now is your second chance. Tee up a personality artist or children & their posters to supply interesting footage.
Serve lots of coffee or wine and get talking face-to-face with all the people who come to see the show. Maybe a poetry reading on Friday Night would give the Show another kick-along...for more PR and greater attendance. Our two Art Shows generated three x 1 Minute TV News items, 5 Talk Back Radio interviews of about 10 min each, 3 Front Page News stories and about 26 other short stories.
19) Week Fifteen: Monday: When pictures are returned to artists, make sure they sign for each one. If they are picked up by someone else, be sure to get that person's name and phone number. Slip-ups can happen.
Tuesday: Do your accounts immediately and send payment cheques to the Artists. They'll be delighted and impressed. It's a sure way to get them to support your next effort.
Wednesday: Write or phone the Journalists, the Celebrities and the Gallery Owner who helped make the Show a success.
#15: How to organize a Seminar.
We expected the Official Elected Committee to do something of this nature, but after ten months it became obvious they were very inactive. Some positive action was needed to show what engineers of Alternative Water Management had already achieved in Australia. The original aim was to educate the man-in-the-street. However we failed in that, but won a much more important and useful audience: journalists, teachers, environment groups, civil & sewage engineers, surveyors, plumbers, builders, developers, pr<1) TIMING: A seminar takes three months to organise. It is important to involve High School science students (2 from each school) as they report back to their classes...and parents too. So the ripple effect is increased. Because of this, the seminar should be early in the year avoiding exam times, and preferably at beginning of term. We held ours on a Saturday, although afterwards we discovered bureaucrats would have preferred Friday, during normal working hours.
2) VENUE: Our local Environment Council had researched the scene and had past experience, so we took their advice. Stewarts Hotel was a good central location. It had a Conference Room (with stage) that would accommodate 200, and they could do all the catering. Their experience greatly eased the worry of working the sound, lighting and overhead projector systems which we had to hire. They charged $200 basic fee and $16.50 a head for morning/afternoon tea and buffet lunch. It is vital they plan the B
7) PUBLICITY: TWO WEEKS TO D-DAY - contact all TV Production Managers to make sure they have listed the opening date and time on their schedule. Talk personalities to stir their interest. Then fax PR and talk to Radio and Press.
If attendance figures seem low, check your Mailing List. Reply Forms should have been
ticked off as they came in. Now is the time to phone the Late Starters.
8) ONE WEEK TO D-DAY: Write out Name Tags for all those attending. Check on Speakers' Papers. Notify Venue of final numbers for catering. In spite of all our efforts, we had many last minute Registrations. Probably about 15%. But caterers can always pad out a Buffet with more salads and ham.
9) ACCOMMODATION FOR SPEAKERS: Confirm what overnight accommodation is needed and notify the Venue/hotel one week before D-Day.
10) RESOLUTIONS: We knew what we wanted to achieve from the Seminar, and we were determined to bring the facts to everyone's attention. But how? So two days before D-Day, we got the idea of a list of resolutions that could be voted on, point by point, at the end of the conference. This was a great success and got much positive input.
11) COSTS AND CHARGES: Apart from the hire of the venue, you may have to spend money on hiring overhead projectors. Out of 15 speakers, we only had to pay the expenses for three. Other costs include printing, postage, phone/fax, xerox and advertising. Our local Environment Council, under whose banner we worked, met the heavy costs of photocoping 170 sets of the Speakers' Papers and the advertising.
We opened a separate Seminar Bank Account. Happily we made a small profit, mainly because the Councils agreed to sponsor the 30 High School students, and SCEC paid for the Papers and advertisements.
#16: How to plan and motivate a Demonstration.
Demonstrations are a waste of time and effort, unless you are assured of good TV coverage. One minute on television is worth thousands of dollars in a PR campaign.
The easiest way is to move in on another scheduled event, such as the Opening of a new council building by a Politician, the start of a big sporting event or the ribbon-cutting of a new bridge. Confirm with your local TV station and newspapers that they will be covering the event as a News Item. Advise them that there will be a surprise action by your Group. However it's best if the Community Organizers are not aware of your plans until the last minute.
Timing is important. Vital! To get on TV Evening News, the demonstration should happen in the morning after 11am and before 2pm, so that the Station Producer has time to edit it into the 6 o'clock news.
Don't plan it for a Friday, because it will be too late to be assured of space in the weekend papers. Most of the Sunday editorial space is already scheduled by Thursday. Monday and Tuesday's news is `old hat' by the following weekend. So Wednesday is an ideal day. TV stations aren't cluttered by last weekend's sporting news...nor the build-up to next weekend's major sporting events. Try to avoid doing your demonstration just prior to a Long Weekend, as many people will be away and miss the story in the< If there is a world event, elections, political turmoil or a current national disaster that has been claiming most of the News Time, delay your project for a while. You'll only get one bite at the cherry.
To make a Demonstration look worthwhile, you'll need at least 80/100 people. The more the better. Contact your friends at the Environment Council, Wilderness Society, Greenpeace and any other sympathetic groups. Plan a transport system so everyone will arrive at least 45 minutes before Blast Off. Children, toddlers and Old Timers give a lot of human interest for the TV cameras.
Remember, you must have three or four people (of different ages and sexes) primed to make brief, impassioned statements for the cameraman. To avoid repetition, decide among yourselves what the message is to be...and who will say what. Don't arrive looking scruffy. Give an impression of being sincere, desperate and overflowing with an environmental vision for the future well-being of humanity. Bone up on Dr Susuki's books, so you will create a feeling that is already totally accepted throughout the world< If you are not tagging on to an already Scheduled News Event, it is important to think up a Dramatic Stunt that will titillate the TV. You'll have to tell them about it to entice them to send a cameraman.
Watch carefully all the tricks Greenpeace use. They are experts at the game. You can burn an effigy, dress-up in period costume, klu-klux-klan, skeleton rig-outs, or protected animal species. Arrive on the scene with trucks filled with people carrying buckets of water or rubbish to dump outside the Council or Politician's office. But remember, you must do no damage...and you must clear up your mess afterwards, or you'll have a fine to pay.
Get the Group together and have a brain-storming session. Make a list of all the possible messages you want to get across. Then work out a bit of theatre that will say it succinctly. Plan your background banners, and who will walk with the heavy stuff.
Next, you have to decide on the words for your Chant. Try it out in front of a tape-recorder and listen to how it sounds with a few people singing or shouting. Are the words clearly understood? Is the beat right? Could it be improved by a drum?
Maybe someone knows a Pop Group who would be interested in adding color and excitement to your Demonstration?
In Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane you'll be able to contact an Environmental Defenders Office. Experienced solicitors and barristers work on a voluntary basis, and the offices are kept open by donations and membership fees. They do not handle all cases. You have to write for an Application Form. There is a long list of criteria that have to be answered and considered before they submit your case to the board. Then if you are worthy, a barrister is allotted to your case...even if it is long before any p< We submitted a report of over 50 pages, and it took about two months for them to approve us. We also arranged for 12 people in the area to apply for Membership Forms. At the moment it is $5 for a year's EDO membership.
Although we did not have to go to Court, the professional advice we have received many times has been extremely helpful.
Write off immediately outlining your problem, and ask for a list of the criteria. This will enable you to do the necessary research. It will focus your attention on the legal aspects to be considered...early in the battle.
Unfortunately Tasmania, SA, WA and NT have not yet set up EDO's. However if you phone Greenpeace in your capital city, they may be able to steer you to another free legal organization.
#18: What to do when you think you've won!
Well the very first thing is to quickly plan a Big Celebration BYO Barbeque! Go Mad! Raise the roof! Hug, kiss and cheer! Pop the Champagne corks! Phone all the media folk who helped you win!
Then read all the small type, the cunning manoeuvres in the Official Government Report. Read all the newspapers, listen to the radio and watch TV News for the next three weeks. Make sure the `Snakes' aren't sending out a Smoke Screen to confuse you, lull you into a false sense of security. Sometimes it takes them three years to bring the Same Old Subject back on track. Vigilance is the Key Word!
At the first sign of a recurrence of The Problem, start shouting and sending off letters and fax's. Even when you think the fight is over, keep updating your files, reading the latest text books on the subject.
Our `Minister for Dams' was stupid enough to give a Press Conference, only three days after he had sent his Press Release promising: `No Dams in Your Valleys, we're looking at environmentally sustainable alternatives'. In his Wednesday's Press Conference he announced: "Dams are the only way to go!"
So although our Valleys are saved `on a promise', we have all taken up arms again to help the folk in the Valleys elsewhere, who are threatened. There is a big meeting with Water Resources/Local Councils recently. If your refer to Chapter # 12, there is just one of many letters/fax's dated after 20/4/93. These were sent off to question their basic wisdom. It is vital now that we keep them off-balance...with issues that have great publicity potential.
Postscript 18.5.1993: On the final day of completeing this manuscript, I got talking to Dallas, the Chess Player. It suddenly dawned on me that the Chess format would have clarified the changing strategies as the battle progressed. Get a Chess board. Use cards and mark and name the major opponents with black cards. Members of your group are white. Good guys in councils/govt/press in yellow. Various strategy ploys in many small arrows of red, blue, green and purple. This will give you a clear visual plot ...and your children's children enjoy the gift of natural wisdom and precious beauty you preserved for them. Go forth with courage and positive belief in your strengths.
Last Update: 8/21/97, This page © Copyright Barbara Corbett, World Rights Reserved, Universal rights reserved
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