Not in my backyard! [36]

I did not get up until 9:30 this morning after being up in the night for three hours. I felt too sick to visit some friends this morning, but have felt better as the day progressed.

We got quite a good story in the lesser (weekly) of the two local papers today. I did not see the correction to the story from the previous week that I was promised. I have not done much today. Reading the paper was all I was good for.  I am sorting out the useful press items from the past few days. My group of five meets tonight. We will be discussing the details of forming an incorporated association.

Kaboom! Broadband

I am finally connected to non-wireless broadband!

It went very smoothly with AAPT today when I called them up. 

My only complaint - they forgot to tell me that the service had been provided and all I had to do was connect the modem up that had been sitting on my desk for a while. 

This was a tremendous contrast with the incompetence of two other suppliers that I tried to connect through. Well done AAPT Australia. 

Now is the winter of our discontent

It's 10 degrees Celsius in my apartment this morning. I am freezing and it probably does not help my cold. I do it, not because I do not have a heater, but because I am trying to live a simple lifestyle that does minimum harm to the planet.

I have come across a new idea: can I manage in winter with my refrigerator turned off?

I am getting ready to go for my normal coffee and paper to the local shops where I am running a campaign of opposition to a propose change of planning permission for one building. I hope to meet with a supporter I have not seen for about a month.

I expect to find a small report in the paper about our campaign to oppose unwanted change. I am not happy at present about our media coverage. However, the main purpose has been achieved. We brought it to the attention of the local politicians.

Not in my backyard! [35]

I am stepping out for a coffee shortly. I took it easy on Sunday and will do the same today. I want to shake off this cold as soon as possible. 

I am opening up a dialogue with the residents association of a neighbouring suburb. To that end, I photocopied one of the submissions to the local authority and hand delivered it to one of them. All 164 submissions are now on the public record. 

Not in my backyard! [34]

I am worn out after my efforts to influence what gets developed in my local shopping centre. I live 300 metres away and visit the centre every day. I am going there shortly for a coffee. I have a sore throat and a chest cold and I intend to rest up. 

Not in my backyard! [33]

We got a second small item in today's paper. The building owner's solicitor announced that a nightclub is not the plan for the building, but a restaurant and bar. We are not sure how to take that statement and will just continue our campaign to stop the Development Application. 

The meeting went extremely well. Someone counted and said we got "70 people, 6 children and about 8 dogs". I spoke well and was much congratulated, although my voice was almost gone by the end of it. Four of us stayed for coffee and a chat and I went home to relax and have an hour's nap in bed. 

We collected 19 more email addresses, making 115 in total. I have just sent them a media release, which I sent to three local media outlets. 

I am looking forward now to a slower pace, until the decision is made, which might take three or four weeks. 

Not in my backyard! [32]

We managed to get a small item in the local paper yesterday, despite the total dominance of the space by the Julia Gillard story. Her rise to the office of Prime Minister has caused some controversy, although I am OK with it. 

I have been told there will be another item in today's paper. So I am pretty pleased. The journalist has been able to get more out of the building owner's solicitor than I was able to, and it should be featured in today's paper. 

I have a sore throat and a runny nose. I hope the meeting this morning goes well and I don't lose my voice or make myself more sick. 

I wrote a long report to my supporters last night. 

Not in my backyard! [31]

Friday morning. I have not blogged since Sunday. I have been so worn out that I am catching a cold, so I am trying to take it easy. I have to make sure I have a voice left for tomorrow, when I will address a public meeting on a street corner and take questions.

I expect to be in tomorrow's paper, but we had a change of Prime Minister yesterday, and my story may get squeezed out. My focus in trying to prevent a night club or a gambling venue in my suburb has switched from encouraging submissions to the Land Planning Authority, to engaging with politicians and the media. One of my group may approach the radio stations.

I had not wanted to make it political, but peculiarities in our legislation has made it necessary. I am gaining confidence that we may win this struggle. I was astonished to discover that 164 submissions were submitted to the Authority. I am assuming that most of these were supporting the position I have taken.  I have spoken at length to one politician and another's advisor.

My group are trying to get an association formed. Even that is not straightforward.

South African Gospel

Now I am listening to a radio program that has reminded me that it is Sunday. I like this program when I wake up early enough to catch it. It is The Rhythm Divine on ABC public radio.

I discovered Miriam Makeba in the sixties. I was introduced to her music by some of the first friends I had after leaving school and coming to this country. I have two of her LP records on vinyl.


I have the record at the top left.

The second one looks good for anyone who wants to discover her music.



Go for broke.

Here's another one.

I will probably buy from Apple iTunes if I get anything at all. I find I get all the music I need from the radio.

A New Beginning

I will not always blog everyday. It has not caused my readership to increase enough to be worth the effort I put into it. 

I have realised my passion to stop a particular development in my local shopping centre is not a distraction from my mission to prevent dangerous Climate Change, but a necessary local manifestation of it. 

It will reduce the use of motor vehicles, if we make our local centre a real hub for satisfying local needs, and, if we keep out developments that serve the city as a whole, we  reduce the number of vehicles driven in from a distance. 

I am part way through a personal growth course run by the Landmark corporation. I found the first day very hard. I could hardly stop myself from falling asleep in my chair. The second day was easier as the day went on. 

Now, at the beginning of the third day I feel full of energy. I woke up after three hours sleep at 3:00 am, and lay in bed for an hour having bold new ideas about what our opposition to the night club could grow into. 

At 4:00 am, after the news, a radio program began, a repeat of the 2005 "Classic Late Night Live", which reports on some talks from the Adelaide Festival of Ideas. It began with a young woman talking about how fear holds us back. She quoted from Winston Churchill "Without courage all other virtues are meaningless". After she spoke a man spoke on the need for 'quiet time'. That's exactly what underlies my personal objection to a nightclub. I cannot even enjoy a noise free ('music' free) cup of coffee in most of this city. 

A major theme of the Landmark course is that we hold ourselves back from a lack of courage.

5:00 am - the program just ended. 

Our forming residents asociation is already looking towards having more community input into the planning process. 

Not in my backyard! [30]

My email to journalist (C) went out about half an hour ago. Now I am engaged elsewhere for three days on a training workshop. I feel a sense of relief. I cut it down to a more conservative 900 words instead of 1200. My close supporters now think that we should have a stronger presence in the media. I agree, having had the legal advice. We meet again early next week.

Not in my backyard! [29]

On Tuesday we decided to slow down on forming an association and setting up a website. This took a lot of the self-inflicted pressure off me.

One journalist (B) has been given another story and keeps saying he will get back to me but doesn't.

I have been carefully writing replies to questions from the second journalist(C). I will finish it today, but not before she goes home. I have clarified my position by writing 1200 words, but I plan to split a large part of it off, perhaps for journalist (B), and just give her the simple answers to her questions.

Earlier today I had a useful conversation with one of the key players and got another name, adding weight to the hearsay around the shops.

Today has been more restful than I expected it to be.

Not in my backyard! [28]

One day to go, before I am out of action for three days. 

I have questions from yesterdays journalist, which I need to answer today

Or do I? Maybe not. She can accept copy on Monday. Just texted two of the new supporters for advice. 

A second journalist will call me this morning. He wrote the story that has already appeared in the local paper. 

I have a medical appointment. With luck there will still be time for coffee with two friends.

I will spend any spare time studying up on legal and town planning issues. 

I have blogged for today, so that's done. 

Now - to begin...

Not in my backyard! [27]

Rushing to get a post in before midnight. Last night I was in a residents meeting and forgot to post for yesterday!

Today, first thing, I met and spoke with a journalist. Then I went for a regular meeting with five friends.

I skipped lunch after a good morning tea with the friends. Then one hour on the phone to a lawyer.

I met with a body corporate, which had made a submission to the local government.

I went to a public meeting on transport options for the city. I said hello to a local politician, but there was  no time to talk.

I went to a regional community council. The same politician was there. I was able to talk for about 20 minutes. A useful conversation, shared with a resident from my neighbourhood.

At every occasion, except the transport meeting, six out of seven, I spoke on the topic I am taken over by - the opposition to a Lease Purpose Clause to make way for a night club. What a day! Exhausted. Up early tomorrow and back into it.

Not in my backyard! [26]

Four hours in two meetings, with two new supporters. We got as far as allocating some tasks to each other. I feel great about the day's progress. I was able to do some relaxing as well. Looking for a lawyer tomorrow. TV tonight...

I bought this book recently The Quest for Justice

Not in my backyard! [25]

Just missed my Sunday blog post, by being too absorbed in making a report to my supporters, in my campaign to stop a development in my local shopping area.

This is the summary:
88 in my email list.
77 individuals or groups support my position; one is opposed.
75 submissions were made to the local government authority responsible for town planning. Now we await the decision. After that, appeals are possible.

Not in my backyard! [24]

I want to read this book!

Some of my distaste for a nightclub in my neighbourhood is about noise pollution.

I am checking out the Noise Free America website too...

Not quite a day of rest

I attended a local Green Activist group this morning and announced the venue and time for my showing of "An Inconvenient Truth".

In the afternoon I met with three people to help a friend clarify for herself a decision she needs to make. Can't say more, it's confidential.

Movie time

I am planning to show this movie, "An Inconvenient Truth" by Al Gore, to the public in a couple of months. I hope to get an audience of 100. This was the movie that pushed me into being an activist.



I am intending to see "Food Inc."soon at a movie theatre. 





And "Blue Gold" looks interesting:


Be careful when buying DVDs online. Different regions in the world use different DVD recording formats.

Getting back to normal

Yesterday was so busy I forgot to blog

The newsletter is done, printed and distributed by email. 

got up at 4am, working by 4:30, 1C on balcony and 11C in my office

Getting back to planning the next move on resisting the changes proposed in my local shopping centre. 

Not in my backyard! [23]

Finally the pressure is off. The deadline for submissions has passed. 

I completed the church submission, got it signed and delivered. 

Earlier on a friend delivered 17 signed pro-forma letters. I have been responding to email and phone calls most of the day. Tired but satisfied. 

Now for the newsletter...

My Fortune 500!

It's great to wake up and find my blog has passed the 500 visit mark. 502 now.

Not in my backyard! [22]

I expect to spend most of today working on the church submission to the planning authority.

I am finally making time to understand the legal and planning aspects to make the best possible submission, and I will stay on both of these until 4pm tomorrow. 

I have been in email contact with 57 people on this campaign, plus a few who don't have email. 

The day after tomorrow I will work most of the day putting a community newsletter together. 

I am writing this in my lunch break!

Milestone

Wow! Almost up to 500 visits to my blog!

Broadband - the tide begins to turn

There was a loud knock on my door! Was it the local Mafia coming to beat me up because of my opposition to a proposal to build a nightclub or gambling venue nearby?

No!  It was my modem being delivered by the third company from whom I have tried to get broadband services!

I am too busy to unpack it, but delighted to get it!

Not in my backyard! [21]

I spent the day emailing, and visited one supporter at their home. 

I downloaded the "Planning and Development" legislation (500 pages)

I spoke with a local businessman who is paying a professional Town Planner to write a legally strong submission to the local government planning authority. 

I have begun work on setting up a Residents Association. 

I have begun work on a submission for a church group. 

Flat out!

Not in my backyard! [20]

Here is an email I sent this morning

Dear Supporters

Things are going very well with our efforts to prevent a Lease Purpose Change in one building at the "leafy suburb" Shops. 

On the present count, I estimate we will be sending at least 40 submissions to "Small_City Planners" declaring that this proposal would negatively impact us. They are mostly signatures on one letter and other separately signed letters using the pro-forma letter I wrote and sent out. 

A few individually written submissions, some extremely thorough and professionally written, have come from local organisations, associations, body corporates, local business. 

If you are still wondering whether to write to "Small_City Planners", I urge you do do so. The numbers are important because "Small_City Planners" must estimate the impact on the community. Email me if you need assistance. There is still time. 

Not in my backyard! [19]

This morning I am preparing a statement to a local church in the hope that they will adopt it and submit it to our local government. 

For those who came to this site hoping to find material on Climate Change: I am completely focussed at the moment on a local issue about Noise Pollution. 

Not in my backyard! [18]

In fact I slept for only five hours. 

All the photocopying and signing at the meeting went well. Not so many turned up as I had hoped. 

In the late afternoon I set off to visit five people who were either very old or about to leave town. In the end I got 10 signed letters. Seven people added a few comments of their own. I was touched and saddened to see how some of them struggled to write two or three sentences for themselves. Many people wished me well and thanked me. 

I arrived home well after dark. The chain fell off my bicycle just before I found the last house I was visiting. 

There I was disappointed to discover that someone, who volunteered to copy and distribute more of my flyers, decided to edit the flyer. In the process she introduced an error into my phone number, removed some text and changed some fonts. As it is going out under my name I was not happy, but I have restrained myself from being critical of her.

Not in my backyard! [17]

A few minutes ago I emailed out the letter I prepared for individuals to sign, to protest an application to change the planning permission for a building, to allow it to become a gambling venue or a night club.

I also sent it to a friend for printing as my printer has chosen to run out of ink! I will have it photocopied tomorrow and then I will be ready. Hoping to sleep well!

Not in my backyard! [16]

I had two meetings with friends today to discuss our opposition to the Development Application in our local shopping precinct. One was an old friend and the other is a new friend that I was meeting for the first time. 

I have to write the letter now that I want people to sign tomorrow in a local church hall. 

Since I wrote the last line another church and a local business have contacted me and both will be making a submission. Cock-a-doodle-doo!

Broadband - back to the status quo

Well the SIM card arrived two days late, but its all working now. After a famine on dial up at 50Kbps, I have my old small supplier of wireless broadband back again.

Blogging will be easier now. I can stay online and respond to emails as soon as they arrive, and my landline phone is free for incoming calls. 

I shall just wait a little more patiently now for the big companies to provide me a fast internet connection. 

I have realised that our Federal Government is about to make some kind of announcement on a National Broadband System. An election is a few months away. I now think that none of the companies in telecommunication want to install new capacity and that is why I keep getting stalled. 

"Change and Adapt or be Vacant"

I attended a business breakfast this morning at 7:15. I arrived 10 minutes early at the wrong place; and arrived 10 minutes late at the right place!

It was organised by the 'Property Council of Australia' for World Environment Day, and they were kind enough, or smart enough, to offer some Green Activists like myself a free table. 

The topic was the desirability of making commercial buildings more environmentally well designed. 

I hate being late but it worked out well. I would have had to stand around waiting to go in, which I find physically difficult. Instead I walked in with everyone else. Missed out on some schmoozing though...

There were two speakers: a local Greens Politician, who spoke very well from good notes; and a director of a Real Estate multinational company, whose speech was a lot more poorly delivered. 

However, his company sponsored the event and some of what he said was very interesting. Studies in America, of a large sample of buildings, have been done that show that buildings built and managed on sound ecological principles have a higher occupancy rate, and are more profitable to the owners. Employees have fewer days off sick and the savings to tenants, on reduced absenteeism alone, covered the increased rental costs!

Providing separate metering of power to the occupants was what saved the most energy in the building. When they had to pay they began economizing on power! Derr! Didn't someone think of that already? Not in the age of abundant cheap energy, apparently. 

Not in my backyard! [15]

I made it onto page 7 of our city newspaper today. I was happy with the journalist's handling of the story and the material I sent him. 

A supporter from out of town, and her husband, met me for lunch and I have found in her a good new ally. I had friendly conversations with the two existing tenants of the building. They were very happy with the newspaper article. 

I was able to speak with a school principal and she has contacted the school board, but cannot involve herself directly. I made a new friendly contact with another local business and she will photocopy and distribute my leaflets to another church and to her clients. Another tiring but very satisfactory day. 

Support is growing with every day. 

I will have a very early start tomorrow, but more of that in tomorrow's post...

Car sharing with my friend Patience

Yesterday I used my friend's car for the first time. Our arrangement to get the car back to her on the same day fell through, when I needed to go to a local newspaper office immediately for an interview.

She graciously let me keep the car until tomorrow when she must have it. I know the odometer began at 909 kilometres and I have to remember to make my first entry in our logbook before I give the car back.

If this agreement works to our mutual satisfaction I will sell my small car. I like to imagine someone will pick it up, as an alternative to driving a larger gas guzzler, and then squeeze a few more years usefulness out of this little car.

Oil spill and oil addiction

This morning I heard the author of this book, a resident of Vermont USA, speaking on the Gulf Oil Spill with my favorite broadcaster Fran Kelly. Go Fran!!

Lying behind the Oil Spill tragedy, is the addiction to oil of modern economies. The hunger for oil, and its imminent shortage, drives us to search for it so deep under the sea that only robots can reach the wellhead.

Accidents and errors of judgement are implicit in the human condition. We can be sure that more accidents like this will occur as oil companies are driven to search for ever diminishing resources.

The solution lies in a reduction of our demand for resources, while we wait for new, less damaging, technologies to be developed.

Listen in to Australia's great public radio station, and check out this interview

Broadband - still being driven mad [2]

I have decided to go back to my wireless broadband service in preference to being reduced to dial up internet access. On Monday I was told a new SIM card would be mailed to me and should arrive by Wednesday. Of course it did not arrive. I am getting very sick of the way the corporate world treats their customers.

Not in my backyard! [14]

 Today I sent this email, which I have edited slightly, to my supporters in this struggle:

"I was surprised to receive a phone call this afternoon from the [regional newspaper] asking me for an interview. The story had been leaked to the press, and someone, without my permission, gave my name as a spokesman. 

I felt reluctant to agree to their request for a photo of me at the local shops, but I agreed to meet the journalist at his office to discuss it. I would not have chosen this time to go to the press, but under the circumstances I decided to make sure our voice was included in the story.

He will be submitting a story to his sub-editors and expects the story to be published tomorrow. 

Rather than be interviewed and recorded, I asked him to send me his questions, so that I could give a considered response by email. I sent my email to him at 5:50 this evening. 

The journalist suggested, and I hope, that this will benefit us in our efforts to get this development nipped in the bud. It will also give all of us the opportunity to write letters to the editor once the story breaks. Sharpen your quills please..."

I have had more emails and phone calls to reply to today. All but one were supportive. There are now 68 people on my mailing list. 

Not in my backyard! [13]

My meeting - "Tea with the vicar" - went extremely well. There was an unexpected bonus: an opportunity to have a public showing of Al Gore's movie "An Inconvenient Truth", of which I am a great fan.

The local businessman let me down again. He left me waiting for 30 minutes and then, after I left the building to go, rushed out to tell me his business partners were still meeting with their solicitor.

However, another businessman phoned me and I spoke with him. He is supporting my position.

I wrote a draft 'Impact Statement' and sent it out to 63 people on my mailing list, so they would have something to use towards their own submissions. A few more people contacted me and went onto my mailing list. A pretty satisfying day. Now I am off to relax.

Not in my backyard! [12]

This morning I will be visiting a religious leader in our community. After that, a lunch time meeting with three partners in one of the businesses most closely affected by the proposed changes to the lease purpose of their building. In the afternoon I hope to write my statement to the city government in opposition to the proposed changes.