Human exceptionalism, self-centred neoliberalism, its rationalist processes and modern-day production, financial and trading systems have ensured that the cruelty we inflict on non-human animals now permeates most aspects of human life in this country and in many western cultures. We see it in what we eat, what we wear, our health, education, housing, sport and entertainment, our attitude to the environment, employment and industry, research, and commercial development. As humans we can do better. Time for the Animal Justice Party! Republishing on front page as this important article was lost in pre-Xmas crash.
Recently I became very distressed to hear of a looming dispersal of hundreds of thousands of flying foxes at Bateman's Bay. I read the ecologist's report and Plan of Management, which strongly recommended against dispersal, then wrote a submission (on behalf of the Threatened Species Conservation Society) to Minister Greg Hunt and Eurobodalla Shire council. Since then I discovered that there are similar situations of smaller magnitude occurring here in Tweed shire, along with wherever they occur. So I wrote letters to the local papers. Following is my submission and letter to the editor. [Editor: This article, first published on 2016-06-09 was overlooked and has just now been put on front page, with a new date and thanks.] 
The first day I saw Mani she stood out. When you visit cows on death row they all stare at you without moving. Their eyes pull you into their hearts and you can palpably feel them begging ‘Pick me! Pick me!’ But of course you can’t pick them all unless you are incredibly rich. And even if you were rich and could buy them you also have to think of the cost of maintaining them – feed, veterinary bills, fencing etc. As soon as you buy one, they are quickly replaced by another desperate soul wanting to be freed.
Here are a few poems I have written about cows. When are we going to learn to live on a plant based diet, not only for the animals’ sake but also for the sake of the planet and our own health? See Dr Michael Greger 
On 9th July, 2013 Australia lost a great man. Pat O'Brien has been championing the cause for kangaroos and Australian native animals for 41 years. He started the Wildlife Protection Association of Australia, comprising 31 groups that campaign actively to protect wildlife, especially kangaroos. His patrons were Steve Irwin's family, who own Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast. He will be sadly missed.
Read this most amazing - albeit short - account of the latest success of wildlife carers Professor Steve Garlick and his wife Dr Rosemary Garlick, and their protocol. Perhaps wildlife carers may be inspired to learn from these carers, instead of putting such a badly injured kangaroo in the 'too hard' basket and euthanasing?
One of the finalists in the 2012 Voiceless Writing prize from Professor Steve Garlick is a poignant true story expressing intimate moments between humans and our native kangaroo. The story gives extraordinary insights that enrich our understanding of animals who are too often ignored and give us cause for hope when treated with respect and compassion. While the story is not included in the final Voiceless Anthology we think it is of significant merit to include it here in its entirety. You can read Voiceless' top ten stories at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009CM65XI/ref=cm_sw_su_dp ...... it's only $1.81. Let us know what YOU think. 
George Monbiot wrote that Rio+20 is 283 paragraphs of fluff.
Why is a national organisation standing for 'all creatures great and small' supporting an annual and bloody kangaroo 'cull' in Nature Reserve Parks in Canberra, of all places? Aren't Nature Reserves supposed to be a place for all creatures to feel safe and protected? You have to wonder how an animal protection organisation can stand by and say nothing about the egregious cruelty for no justifiable reason, year after year. Do they think the public is so stupid as to believe the lies that kangaroos 'overgraze' and are a threat to other species?
On November 2010, I detailed on http://candobetter.net/node/2256 what is wrong with a dam being constructed on Byrrill Creek, Northern N.S.W. Since then even more reasons have surfaced .... the plot thickens. What is the real reason why Tweed council wants a dam in spite of legal impediments, in spite of Byrrill Creek's undeniable ecological value? Why do councillors consistently refuse to vote in sustainable water technologies throughout the shire?
NSW Department of Health has approval to build a $2.5 million health centre for South Tweed Coast residents in Pottsville. Locals are currently on a waiting list to see a doctor so the need is urgent. The only problem is a critical koala food tree has been in the way of their planned parking lot. Tweed Coast koalas (with less than 144 remaining) are predicted to become locally extinct within 5 years due to developments taking up koala real estate. The question is: are koalas more important or are people more important? Or can people co-exist with koalas in the suburbs? In this case, sadly the koalas lost out .... once again. 
On the northern coast of N.S.W. adjoining the Gold Coast and S.E.Queensland lies Tweed Shire, christened as the Green Caldera by once Environment Minister Peter Garrett. This area is famous for one of the highest biodiversity levels in Australia and infamous for the greatest level of biodiversity loss in N.S.W. thanks to the fact that the vast majority of Tweed councillors are pro-development. But in the case of Kings Forest, a massive housing development for 15,000 people worth $2 billion, NSW State Planning took control under the massively unpopular Part 3a legislation, depriving the council of all controls.
Why do humans think they own the planet? Are we as a species so ignorant of basic ecology that we would continuously deprive the very creatures who make the forest of anywhere to roost? It is frightening to watch this attitude balloon into what could potentially be not only suicidal but ecocidal.
Something very shonky is going on in Canberra with unjustified massacre of kangaroos. As the previous blog mentioned, no science to back it up.
As a wildlife carer, have you had the heartbreaking experience of losing a joey only to realise later that the wrong medicine or milk formula was given? Or perhaps you lose joeys frequently and haven't figured out why? No matter what your situation, a precious life has been entrusted to you and you must give it your best. Without top guidance and the best manual money can buy, you could be wasting many precious hours and bringing yourself untold grief. This manual could give life-saving information. Read on ....
Professor Steve Garlick and his wife Dr Rosemary Garlick recently had this fascinating tale to share. Can you believe a kangaroo could be hit by a car and break off the bumper, be bashed by a drunk and be rehabilitated and released in great shape just two weeks later? An inspiration for wildlife carers everywhere! It's time people made more effort to help injured wildlife instead of killing them just because they are adults or hit by a car. A beautiful photo shows other kangaroos successfully relocated and thriving, welcoming Rosemary during a night-time visit
Wildlife carers always advocate 'euthanasia' for adult kangaroos on the grounds that they cannot be rehabilitated. Since kangaroos suffer and die from stress myopathy, containing them in an area and exposing them to humans (arch enemy of kangaroos) is cruel and prolongs their suffering - it is argued.
The media and various government websites clearly and openly qualifying native kangaroos and possums as 'pest animals' needing to be 'culled'. But what if they aren't pests at all? The law protects those who kill protected native species under certain conditions but could there be non-lethal ways of dealing with the problem? Could this be part of a national strategy to drive the nails deeper into our native animals' collective coffins? It is no wonder we have the world's worst record for mammal extinctions with government attitudes like this.
Controversial Tweed Shire Council has a history of making poor environmental decisions that are hugely unpopular with the largely Green-oriented residents. It is the second most complained about council in New South Wales. However in November 2010 the councillors voted for the worst possible blunder which will be recorded as a major crime against Nature.
In 2007 when the U.N. Food & Agriculture Organisation released its 400+ page report titled 'Livestock's Long Shadow' there was one little problem. It estimated the livestock industry's contribution of greenhouse gases at 18% while failing to consider at least 10 other ways in which this environmentally destructive industry contributes GHG. World Watch Institute reports a study showing that this industry actually contributes a whopping 51% GHG, meaning that shutting down fossil fuel industry is not going to be enough, given that livestock numbers are predicted to double in the next few decades.
A new report from Charles Darwin University shows that at 136 sites in the Kimberleys surveyed since 2001, mammal populations have crashed by an average of 75%. Sites devoid of mammal activity increased from 13% in 1996 to 55% in 2009.
For the first time in the history of Australia, a council actually refuses to support kangaroo culling. Greens Councillor Ray Goodlass led the clarion call to the nation. This is surely a pivotal point in time, considering how decimated kangaroo populations have become as a result of the commercial kangaroo killing industry. Will the trend continue? We can only live in hope ....
Governments have an extermination program for native fauna in Australia and the U.S. Wild mustangs in Nevada and kangaroos in Australia are both being denied their basic needs for land, grass and water so that they won't be in the way of vested interests such as livestock, gas, oil, mining. No wonder we are in the midst of the 6th Mass Extinction of all species. At the rate we are going there won't be any species left including humans. Ignorant and arrogant governments think that we can survive without biodiversity and the only purpose in being alive is to plunder everything to death. The last thing they care about is the suffering to the animals and the people who love them.
A Tweed Shire NSW resident delivers an impassioned speech to the local council on the importance of biodiversity protection. Read the reaction she got from one councillor, the Mayor and the local paper!
Just when you thought ACT had no competition for its wildlife extermination program, Tasmania decided to do another 'cull' of native macropods (Bennetts wallabies, Forrester Kangaroos and pademelons) on Maria Island. Just 2 years ago they virtually wiped out whatever was there and now they are back to kill another 600!!! The island is barred from visitation so who knows what happens to the bodies, how they are killed and how many?
The latest Greens Policy booklet says 'The Greens will .... support green business initiatives that use native species'. Does this sound like it means only flora to you? Or could it include native fauna? Will the Greens, at some point in the future, openly support the Kangaroo and Possum killing industries in spite of the fact that their policy is that 'native fauna and their habitat must be protected'?
Recent comments