Caspar Brace, Mullumbimby
I’m sharing my concern about yet another potential blow to our communal rights to protest and argue against a policy of government.
The proposed Foreign Donations Bill could severely limit the ability of charities to advocate for action on issues such as climate change and subject them to harsh and unnecessary penalties. It could end up threatening charities’ community funding by crippling them with burdensome administrative work.
People could be required to complete a statutory declaration and have it signed by a Justice of the Peace, for donating just over $4.80 a week!
As a result of these proposed laws charities could be stuck behind paperwork, unable to undertake their core work.
The Bill goes against our democratic principles in Australia and I am left wondering whether or not that is entirely the purpose of the proposed legislation, to make it easier for government, and by default, big business.
If you share my concerns please let your parliamentary servant know – as loudly as you can!
I read Naomi Klein’s No Is Not Enough… Defeating the New Shock Politics. While her analysis reveals a chilling reality that is being constructed as we speak, as a logical extension of the Corporate Global Coup, she also highlights the way we can activate our own potential and grab back our power before it really is too late. It’s really time to show up… or sit back and watch this Blue Pearl burn. Here’s hoping…
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. 
