xenith: (Swans)
[personal profile] xenith
I just found out Recherche Bay is pronounced Research Bay. Which makes sense. It's French for research (or seeking, quest).

It's the name of a bay down on the southern edge of the world. Back in the 1790s, some French explorers camped on the souther shore of what was then Van Diemen's Land. They planted a garden, gathered botanical specimens, met with the natives. It's an interesting site. It's a historically significant site. And the owners of the "adjoining" land want to log it.

They quoted some guy on the radio a few months back saying loggers had been told to look out for "significant sites". Somehow I don't have much faith in the average person's ability to recognise "significant sites" whether they're involved in clearfelling of trees or not.

The Federal Environment Minister is visiting the site, he's the one who gets to decide if the logging should be stopped and whether the site should be included on the National Heritage list

There is actually a website http://www.recherchebay.org
A picture http://www.cloudmaker.com/053.htm
(deleted comment)

Date: 2005-07-06 09:23 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] monissaw.livejournal.com
You still need the people who are determined enough to protest (you can't demolish that house, it's listed; you can't log that forest, it's listed) but it does give them a place to start and it's easier to get the General Public on side (which is what makes the politicians listen) and it's easier to make an argument in economic terms (tourist dollars).

Of course, the protestors are more often than not relocated mainlanders. (There was comedy show on ABC years ago (News Free Zone? it was on at the time that the commercial stations showed the news) that was made out of various segments. One of these was a house where 6 people lived that played off the state stereotypes. Generally, not the most interesting part of the show, but one that stick in my mind: the girl that lived out in the garage (guess which state she represented) wanted to renovate her room, which involved ripping out her fireplace. The other residents complained but, she said, you all did in your rooms. Well, yes, that why you shouldn't do it because it's only remaining one.)

It's not my favourite user pic & I've got some better swan photos now too. Jaz gets too much screen time though



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