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What we’re learning from the woodlands

5/5/2022

7 Comments

 
PictureHelen 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.

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.
​
Picture
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.

Picture
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 …
Picture
Picture
For more information about the Save Western Port Woodlands campaign …
http://www.savewesternportwoodlands.org/
https://www.facebook.com/Savewesternportwoodlands/
7 Comments
Stephen
9/5/2022 02:14:10 pm

Strength to you all....sand mining expansion opposite Vansteensel on Bass Highway has also happened....earth works can be viewed easily. The environment needs to be respected and looked after not trashed for cash!!!

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Anne Heath Mennell
9/5/2022 05:34:24 pm

Thank you, Laura. I'm still reeling from the DPQ decision which shows the depth and strength of human greed. Add in the election ghastliness and I needed your positive and encouraging words - badly! Light and hope in the dark - vital, especially at this time of year. Here's to 'grit, determination and resolve' into the future.

Thanks to Stephen too -' The Woodlands - don't trash for cash' - great slogan

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Neil Rankine
9/5/2022 08:35:03 pm

The Dandy Premix expansion approval, (apparently without considering the report on threats to Western Port Ramsar area) and allowing the desecration of the only wildlife link without waiting for a new one to establish first is telling. It tells us, and we need to convince the government, that the current planning and approvals system isn't working.
The 1997 agreement between government, the quarry owners and the community is not being followed and we can now clearly see government is not on a path to address this.
It looks like even stronger action is needed from the local community, to let the government know this is the 21st Century now and we can no longer afford to allow the remaining biodiversity to vanish.

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Nicky Miller
9/5/2022 11:19:03 pm

Thank you for a wonderful article and thank you to all those hard working, 'active hope' volunteer campaigners
.

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Daryl Hook
10/5/2022 09:40:37 am

When will we ever learn.The world needs trees far more than we need sand.Why can't they chop up plastic bottles to use in stead of sand.?Great effort Laura and all the team.

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Yvonne McRae
10/5/2022 01:05:23 pm

100% behind the woodlands fight. Fabulous effort by all. Now there is another place to show your thoughts. Bass Coast Shire have joined the Urban Forest Strategy push. (Who would know? Where is the Council article in the local paper to inform residents? But do go onto engage.basscoast.vic.gov.au - 32 pages so give yourself time (also closes at the end of May) but don't hold back where they ask for comment get stuck in. Planning department in the Shire loves small blocks, HUGE houses, no eaves, no room for a shade tree, pebbles or black mulch for a garden, no room on the developments for kids to play (in the SHADE ). Trees being removed so visitors/tourists can see vast vistas of bare paddocks, multitudinous houses and on it goes. Where is the tree expert employed by the Shire to advise residents on trees,to visit people concerned by a tree near them, ? What about some Council education programs - (in newsletters with their rates notice0, and on and on. Trees are the lungs of the Earth the oxygen they produce is necessary for our life. Homo sapiens consider themselves cleverer than all of Nature's other creatures which are becoming extinct at a great rate, we are racing towards our own demise and the Powers that Be don't seem to have a clue. There is no Planet B. Keep fighting for the future generations.

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Felicia Di Stefanp
13/5/2022 02:16:59 pm

The voice of reason; Wolfe Robe in June 1909; "Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise that we cannot eat money." The wisdom has been there for many years. The question is how can we make the decision makers listen. Perhaps active hope is the answer. I shall actively hope. Thank you for leading the way.

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