Raphael Lee Cass, Byron Bay.
Paul Spooner takes the easy way out, proposing to cancel the clothing-optional beach near Grays Lane. But effort is needed to fix the issues there.
If someone assaults a person at an AFL game the local council doesn’t cancel the matches. Sexual assault needs to be stopped. Lying naked on the sand doesn’t mean your head is in it; and has nothing to do with assault.
The issue is about protecting ourselves from unwell people. Last Tuesday a naked Swedish tourist was at North Beach. A naked man came up and sat close to her, asking questions. She looked distressed and uncomfortable. A male nudist [MN] suspicious of the man’s intentions went over and asked why he was sitting so close. Within seconds he left.
I spoke to MN. He suggested five techniques:
1. Wave an unwanted visitor away 2. If they don’t leave, tell them to leave 3. If they don’t leave, pick up your phone and tell them you will call the police 4. If they don’t leave, call out for help from other beachgoers then take a photo of them 5. If he doesn’t leave, call the police.
This is about empowerment. Naturists say that nudity is not about sex.
For men, it’s about protecting the women in our community. If you see a woman being harassed, tell the harasser to go away. Get support from other people. Take photos. If all else fails, call the police – remembering it takes time for their arrival.
As a community, we must deal with this problem.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
