ARRIVING in Tasmania what seems like only yesterday is actually nearly four years.
Huge and irreversible changes have swept across Tasmania my home since that first day I stepped onto this sacred island.
These changes are, I feel, are largely to the detriment of our island home.
Massive increases in property prices only serve to see those who have, profit from those who have not.
People are more frantic in their lives, time most valuable is now spent racing around from this commitment to that, the speed of the so called “mainland” has arrived with a vengeance.
Vehicular, pedestrian and social traffic were at a pace that appealed to the life I desired. These days I am left pondering the future in the wake left by the new velocity of Tasmania in 2005.
Our government, those in opposition and local councils it seems, have little time for the Tasmania where the pace was sedate, people had time and stress and the heavy burden of high financial commitment were not even thought of.
Our leaders seem hell bent on a blind charge to follow the mainland ways, derivatives of the American ideals.
Money is channelled into gambling ventures, such as horse racing, for the purpose of creating more money for those who have to leach even more from those who have not.
Greed has become the focus here and normal conversation that once involved what was happening locally to the folk has turned to “what my house is worth” and “what shiny new trinket is next on my shopping list”.
Despite increasing pressure from many quarters, there is a marvellous band of Tasmanians who are committed to the values of old while embracing the good to be salvaged from the “new ways”.
A wealth of genius
I am fortunate to have the privilege to meet and converse with some of these people as my life unfolds.
These people have a positive sense of our surroundings, our future as a tourist icon, premium food supplier etc and see prosperity not at the expense of lifestyle, culture, employment and loss of amenity.
These forward thinkers have a wealth of genius in their respective fields and are constantly trying to push their experience through the brick walls of ignorance that our leaders are busy building.
Water and air quality, chemical abuse, health and education-who is truly convinced we have the best deal in any of these areas?
Can you see, feel and taste the decline?
Why in 2005 in one of the most affluent countries on the planet are we descending into so a called “third world” lifestyle?
Up a few paragraphs and the “greed” word is your answer.
We will never progress as a society until we truly see each other and our planet as something to cherish and nurture.
So to those relative few who give so much without fear, fortune or favour, thank you for you time and effort, may you always have the strength to climb your mountains.
I’ll end these few words with a favourite quote of mine:
We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.
– Aldo Leopold
