What do you think?

June 8th, 2009

I come across many topics and think about many issues in my encounters with people and when reading the newspaper or web and when watching and listening to TV. So I was thinking I would start to explore some of my ponderings with you.

On Friday morning I had the great pleasure of presenting the Mayoral Environment Awards. Successful recipients included the Fraser Coast Anglican College for the schools award and the Environmentalist of the year award went to Vicki Neville. Vicki campaigns tirelessly to protect our humpback whales and her efforts have resulted in International recognition of our whales and the importance of watching them rather than hunting them. All participants are to be congratulated on their work and the effort put into their nominations. They were all deserving of a prize.

On Sunday however I participated in the World Environment Day and Reconciliation Week celebrations at Dayman Park.  The theme of the day was

PROTECT OUR DUGONG YUWANG’KAN

Traditional Torres Strait Islander storytelling about a Dugong’s epic journey was one of the highlights of the day and there were many displays by conservation groups, free face painting, and live entertainment. But the highlight was provided by volunteers, ably led by Jorge Pujol, who helped create a 50 metre long Dugong mother and calf using 4,000 candles. When the candles were lit at sunset the sight was stunning. I ended my speech with these words.

“Today we celebrate these beautiful dugongs. I think they are very cute and beautiful and not ugly at all! In this time of plenty with abundant human food available at every supermarket, corner store and fast food shop, I ask that everyone, every single person, each and every one of us that lives or visits the Fraser Coast, refrain from hurting these harmless cows of the sea. Every single one of us can make that commitment that we will protect our Fraser Coast dugongs. The entire world has recognised the important natural environment that we have here by way of a World Heritage listing, a Ramsar listing and now a successful Biosphere nomination. If the whole world can recognise the importance of protecting this, our very own backyard, then let us all, every one of us from original custodians to our most recent settler, care for and protect our beautiful, harmless dugongs!”

I believe that these creatures should be protected from all hunting by everyone in our region. Although traditional hunting by aboriginal people is still permitted, it is apparent that there is no need to hunt dugong (or sea turtle) in our present time. I look forward to the day when all endangered species are protected and nutured so that our childrens children inherit a world where dugongs still peacefully forage.

For a comprehensive article about the dugong visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dugong

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One Response to “What do you think?”

  1. # Pamelaon 26 Jul 2010 at 10:34 am

    I don’t think the word ‘exotic’ should even enter into the discussion at all. Circuses that exploit any animals should be banned completely and permanently.
    There are far more intelligent and modern circuses like Circus Oz and Cirque Du Soleil that are truly talented and have wondrous entertainment for all ages.
    No animal, whether ‘exotic’ or not, should be kept in crates and then made to travel endlessly, then forced to perform unnatural acts simply to make money for a few greedy humans.

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