January 15, 2020
In this Issue:
Left in hell
Christina Henry, Bangalow Voters who put our current government in office are perhaps victims of our failing capitalist and patriarchal world structures. Capitalism encourages competition, economic acquisition, and self-interest that is largely devoid of emotional, spiritual and social intelligence. Many education systems...
Renew Fest crowdfunds for 2020 event
With Renew Fest celebrating its fifth year in 2020, organisers are looking to a one week crowdfunding campaign from February 10 till 17, to make it happen.
Stalag 13 revisited; closer than we think
The Xmas, New Year break is a time to celebrate, acknowledge a religious event or perhaps take a break and recharge the batteries.
New world order
Vyvyan Stott, Federal What caused all the simultaneous fires? C02 generated global warming, excessive logging, dry lightning storms, arsonists, terrorists, acts of God, natural cycles, or – directed energy weapons? Who would do such a thing? Our traditional enemies, the New...
PM’s not to blame
Tina Petroff, Ocean Shores It is ridiculous to blame a PM for the devastation of Mother Nature’s power with the fires.The Gold Coast cyclone in 1954 wreaked havoc, Cyclone Tracy destroyed Darwin in 1974, and the 1974 Cyclone Pam destroyed Sheltering...
Is he kidding?
Roma Newton, Kingscliff How self-condemning that Scott Morrison, supposedly an advertising man, doesn’t recognise the difference between an advertisement and publicity! In my 24 years in advertising, it was Lesson 1 from the first company I joined!
The question
Bernard Hinchcliffe, Mullumbimby In 2065 NASA will discover a propulsion system that allows us to travel thousands of light years per second. This will allow the transport of 2 billion humans to planet X. The question is. How long will it...
Bushfire victims
Karen Wagner, Myocum I would like to invite Mullumbimby folks to donate to the Mayor’s Fund in the Bega Shire Council. This money will go directly to the victims of the bushfires there. This includes the people of Bermagui, Cobargo and...
Landlord faces animal cruelty charge, AVOs
The case of a local man accused of shooting a pet dog in South Golden Beach with arrows has been held over until February 10.
Losing Liberties and hidden agendas
Patricia Warren, Brunswick Heads Following recent Senate Committee’s hearings on the Currency (Restriction on the Use of Cash) bill 2019, a homesafe should be the hottest selling item in Australia! The performance of senior officials from the Reserve Bank, Treasury, the ATO...
Bypass roundabout design still to be produced
Council staff told Echonetdaily that consultants GHD and Council staff are yet to finalise a fully developed roundabout plan at the northern end of the route and present it to councillors.
Water restrictions tighten as dam drops
Water restrictions for Byron Shire (except Mullumbimby) are set to be elevated to level two, says local water utility Rous County Council, effective January 20.
Water pools but not plants
Catherine Perversi, Mullumbimby Does anyone else recognise the twisted irony inherent in our current water restrictions? Watering of established gardens or lawns is not permitted. Topping up existing swimming pools is permitted if required, to reduce structural damage. As I see it, energy-producing,...
Editorial: We don’t need a war and we don’t need the...
So long as we keep burning oil to power our machines, we are at the mercy of rival powers in the Middle East, the richest being the Saudis, led by the murdering Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who has a deal with the crooked Prince Trump of America.
Pay now and save
Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill As we enter a new decade and strive toward the future, I read a lot about ‘AfterPay’ which seems to be of great benefit especially to its shareholders. I have decided to reintroduce a well-established concept ‘BeforePay’;...
Ten years of missed opportunities
How to sum up this decade of politics in Australia? Numbers-wise, we had six prime ministers (counting Kevin twice), three National Party leaders, ten budgets, seven environment ministers, two apologies, one plebiscite and a Herculean-load of hubris.
Vale Jez Ryan, a vital part of the alternative community
Mullumbimby lost one of the more colourful components of its social subculture recently with the passing of Jeremy Ryan at the age of 59, after a long illness.
Interview with George Catsi, Co-presenting ‘The Authentic You’ Masterclass
'The Authentic You' Masterclass Barefoot, Byron Bay. Saturday 29 Feb, 9am–5pm, Sunday 1 March, 9am–1pm. For the past 6 months George Catsi has been co-presenting The Authentic You Masterclass, with Mandy Nolan; a two day intensive that uses their professional skills and...
Large Browning and Jonson St DA is back, but neighbours still...
A contentious large three storey commercial development at the southern end of Jonson Street is again before the public, and like the previous development application (DA), it has angered immediate neighbours.
Cash ban is a threat to democracy
Dr John Langford-Smith, Ballina A cash ban is a threat to democracy. A few weeks ago I wrote to the Senate Standing Committee in relation to the government’s proposed cash restriction legislation. While there were ‘in excess of 2,600’ submissions, treasury...
Interview with Ozzie Wright From Goons of Doom, Ahead of the...
Byron Bay Surf Festival Byron Brewery | 14–16 Feb Ozzie Wright plays bass in the Goons of Doom who are headlining Saturday 15 February at the Byron Brewery for the Byron Surf Festival. Ozzie is multi-talented and will also be exhibiting...
Coal losing favour with insurers
As bushfires burn across the country, Australian coal companies are being excluded from cover by Dutch insurance company Aegon.
Priceless books at your fingertips to inspire citizen science
The young lemon tree’s future is at risk. I find this stout caterpillar, a deep green with short sharp spines. It sports three very small legs in front, four stumpy prolegs behind and a clasper at the rear. I watch the monster eat an entire leaf as big as itself in under a minute.
Culture in the Byron Shire For the Week Beginning January 16,...
Culture in the Byron Shire For the Week Beginning January 16, 2020
It’s raining on beaches
Raphael Lee Cass, Byron Bay ‘Water supply critically low,’ (Echo, January 8). We had a drought in Sydney in 2007 and Randwick Council installed 30-second timers on the beach showers at Maroubra, and you had to wait 60 seconds for a...