Helen Searle spreads the message to visitors to Bass Coast. All photos by Laura Brearley who sees the woodlands campaign
as a living example of active hope.
By Laura Brearley
THE campaign to protect the Western Port Woodlands from expanding sand mines has taught us a thing or two about environmental action. It’s been a grass-roots community campaign and is a living example of what is called active hope or radical hope. We don’t know if the campaign is going to be successful, but we’re doing it anyway, because we must. Some people call this kind of action “hope in the dark”, less like hope and more akin to grit, determination and resolve.
THE campaign to protect the Western Port Woodlands from expanding sand mines has taught us a thing or two about environmental action. It’s been a grass-roots community campaign and is a living example of what is called active hope or radical hope. We don’t know if the campaign is going to be successful, but we’re doing it anyway, because we must. Some people call this kind of action “hope in the dark”, less like hope and more akin to grit, determination and resolve.
Terry Melvin has just finished his third film about the Woodlands campaign. It’s called Sign Up for the Woodlands. The film tells the story of the second generation of signs that were created and erected along the Bass Highway adjacent to the sand mines and the Woodlands.
The first generation of signs went up early on Boxing Day and the second on Good Friday, when the flow of holiday traffic was strong. On both occasions, the signs were quickly taken down or destroyed by supporters of the sand mines.
It’s a lot of work to make the signs and it’s distressing to see them disappear so quickly. This, however, is exactly where hope in the dark springs from. It’s a sure sign that the campaign is a threat to the sand miners. The signs are gone, but the film is now being shared far and wide and is providing a lasting legacy of the action. We’re in this together and the number of people involved in the Woodlands campaign continues to grow. Our commitment to preserving the Woodlands becomes ever deeper.
We are learning that our actions are both ephemeral and enduring, playful and deadly serious. We get tired sometimes and disheartened because the economic imperatives seem insurmountable. But we have the Woodlands on our side and beautiful, wise people like Catherine Watson and Prof Dick Wettenhall walking with us. The time we’ve been spending together on the campaign and on our walks in the Woodlands has created a strong sense of connection with each other and with the Woodlands themselves. We are increasingly aware of the strength of our networks and the need for mutual support to keep continuing the work.
It’s a lot of work to make the signs and it’s distressing to see them disappear so quickly. This, however, is exactly where hope in the dark springs from. It’s a sure sign that the campaign is a threat to the sand miners. The signs are gone, but the film is now being shared far and wide and is providing a lasting legacy of the action. We’re in this together and the number of people involved in the Woodlands campaign continues to grow. Our commitment to preserving the Woodlands becomes ever deeper.
We are learning that our actions are both ephemeral and enduring, playful and deadly serious. We get tired sometimes and disheartened because the economic imperatives seem insurmountable. But we have the Woodlands on our side and beautiful, wise people like Catherine Watson and Prof Dick Wettenhall walking with us. The time we’ve been spending together on the campaign and on our walks in the Woodlands has created a strong sense of connection with each other and with the Woodlands themselves. We are increasingly aware of the strength of our networks and the need for mutual support to keep continuing the work.
From left, Terry Melvin, Geoff Ellis. Hamish Watson, Catherine Watson, Neil Rankine and Tim O'Brien
It's this, as Rebecca Huntley says, that will help us cope with what is to come. Word has just come through that DEWLP has granted a permit to Dandy Premix to expand their sand mine. We’re going to need every bit of grit, determination and resolve that we can muster. Hope in the dark indeed.
In the words of Joanna Macy from her book ‘Active Hope’ …
‘Active Hope is not wishful thinking.
Active Hope is not waiting to be rescued
by some savior.
Active Hope is waking up to the beauty of life
on whose behalf we can act.
We belong to this world.
The web of life is calling us forth at this time.
We’ve come a long way and are here to play our part.
With Active Hope we realize that there are adventures in store,
strengths to discover, and comrades to link arms with.
Active Hope is a readiness to discover the strengths
in ourselves and in others;
a readiness to discover the reasons for hope
and the occasions for love.
A readiness to discover the size and strength of our hearts,
our quickness of mind, our steadiness of purpose,
our own authority, our love for life,
the liveliness of our curiosity,
the unsuspected deep well of patience and diligence,
the keenness of our senses, and our capacity to lead.
None of these can be discovered in an armchair or without risk.’
If you’ve missed the first two films in the Woodlands Trilogy, here are the links …
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For more information about the Save Western Port Woodlands campaign …
http://www.savewesternportwoodlands.org/
https://www.facebook.com/Savewesternportwoodlands/
http://www.savewesternportwoodlands.org/
https://www.facebook.com/Savewesternportwoodlands/