Get rid of ROUND UP - Dear Bellingen Shire Council . . .

Writing to Bellingen Shire Council or any other council for that matter is a good idea if you want to instigate some changes along the way.  I have produced a form letter and would like to see this replicated by many and sent to council imploring them to look at their unsavory practices around weed control.

Understanding the Kerb Sides

My partner has done the Noxious weeds course and he tells me himself the best way is to pull it out by the roots.  We all have become too soft and expect an easier way.  Easy ways constitute major issues with herbicides and pesticides and that is the long and the short of it. 

Here is the letter constructed for COUNCIL .... Perhaps if you read this you will download this form letter and send copies yourself asap to this or your own council.

Pass this link on to others: 
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rybd50cm06nr8/ROUND%20UP%20TO%20COUNCIL.doc

17 October 2013

Mary Ellen Peters
14 Morgo Street
Urunga NSW 2455

The General Manager
Bellingen Shire Council
33-39 Hyde Street
PO Box 117
Bellingen NSW  2454

Dear Sir,

I am writing to you out of concern at Bellingen Shire Council’s continued and routine use of the herbicide Roundup. I believe we are a progressive shire, and the weight of evidence, after numerous studies, has come down firmly that Round Up is a chemical dangerous to the environment and to human health. It persists in waterways and is an endocrine disruptor in mammals, including humans.

But for example: a recent study published in the Journal of Toxicology in Vitro found that even at low levels, Roundup destroys testosterone and ultimately leads to male infertility (in laboratory animals). The findings add to the more than 25 other diseases known to be linked to Roundup, which include DNA damage, birth defects, liver dysfunction and cancer. 

The researchers found that at one ppm, Roundup was responsible for causing severe endocrine disruption that reduced testosterone levels by 35 percent. A one ppm exposure level is considered to be extremely low, and much lower than typical exposure levels in everyday environmental situations.

A US Geological Survey study in 2011 concluded that that air, rainwater and rivers across the Midwest US agricultural belt are routinely contaminated with high levels of glyphosate (Roundup), and causing "significant" environmental contamination.

At typical exposure levels, it has been proven to destroy human cells and cause serious reproductive harm. And at trace levels, it has been proven to severely disrupt proper hormonal function and lead to low testosterone in men.

What is Roundup doing to us, and our children?

Sir, if you cannot answer this question, I believe the precautionary principle must come into play and you must remove Roundup from the Shire’s chemical arsenal immediately.

I look forward to you acting on this matter of extreme health and environmental importance to us and future generations.

Yours sincerely

Mary-Ellen Peters

URUNGA

Link to Survey (http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=2909#.T-kOzI4rxFI )

Corner of Gleniffer Road and Roses Road Bellingen Shire

Images at Eminpee Fotography

The River Festival - Bellingen NSW Australia

Yes! It is that time again..

 

Sat 3rd November 2012 (10am-10pm) Jarrett Park & Sir Edmunds Reserve Bellingen info@bellingenriverfestival.org

The Mission of this festival is to connect, care, celebrate the river and the community..

What is this festival on the river Bellinger or the river Baarlinjin? What is the whole concept of a festival like this?  It is amazing thats what it is!

“An opportunity to celebrate the beauty of the Bellinger River together; to reflect on its history, understand the current issues and move forward as a community to nurture and value it into the future.”

General information about the Bellinger River Festival: 

Parking is available South side of the festival in Church Street & Oak Street, Bellingen Park & Connell Park or the car parks located behind the Federal Hotel or Diggers Tavern.

North side parking is available in Black Street & the showground. ***Please do not park in the Black Street lane, residential parking only-tow away zone.

No parking is available on site at Jarrett Park or Sir Edmund's Reserve.

Disabled parking is available at the riverbank car park at the end of Ford Street.

***Please note There will be a total road closure at Lavenders Bridge on Bridge St Bellingen from 7.00pm-7.45pm on Sat 3rd November. Delays expected.

Images @ Melonpopzdropz Flickr

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ARSENIC WATERS - shoosh don't tell the parents!

   "All that sort of stuff took away the emphasis of why he actually died," she said. 
 

ABC Reports

The Northern Territory Coroner has ruled out arsenic poisoning as the cause of death of a Top End teenager.

Coroner Greg Cavanagh today found Ben Witham, 17, died of complications relating to leukaemia at Adelaide's Women's and Children's Hospital in May last year.
He also noted that the medical care provided to him at the onset of severe abdominal pain until he had surgery 17 hours later was not of an adequate standard.
"Ben never recovered from this event and I find it to be a contributing cause to his death," Coroner Cavanagh said in his findings.
Ben Witham's death sparked a major public health emergency in the Northern Territory after a urine sample indicated the teenager had arsenic levels 14 times the safe limit.
Coroner Greg Cavanagh has found that sample was either contaminated or an error.
The initial result prompted Northern Territory authorities to test residents for arsenic poisoning at Mount Bundy Station, south of Darwin, where the teenager lived with his family.
A local doctor, who had no prior experience interpreting arsenic test results, incorrectly thought the results showed elevated levels of arsenic in some of the residents.
Station evacuated
Concerned that other people living in the area could be at risk of arsenic poisoning, the coroner ordered Mount Bundy Station to be declared a restricted area.
The popular tourist destination was evacuated and forced to close for several days.
But further tests on residents and bore water in the area showed no evidence of elevated arsenic levels, leading authorities to reopen the station.
The coroner said the closure of the station and testing of the residents was "appropriate to the reported information".
But he added: "it is clear that the information provided about the residents' urine results was wrong."
He said at the time there was "inadequate reliable information available about arsenic, how people might be exposed to it, and the dangers it posed".
He said the Northern Territory Department of Health has since put in place a number of measures to improve procedures if such an event occurs again.
In light of these measures, the coroner did not make any recommendations following Ben Witham's death.
Outside court, the teenager's father, Scott Witham said today's findings brought some closure.
"It's the end of the legal process, but obviously for us life's still pretty tough and goes on," he said.
The boy's mother, Susan Witham, said the incorrect arsenic reading and the subsequent closure of Mount Bundy Station, were distractions.
"All that sort of stuff took away the emphasis of why he actually died," she said.
The Northern Territory Coroner has ruled out arsenic poisoning as the cause of death of a Top End teenager.

Coroner Greg Cavanagh today found Ben Witham, 17, died of complications relating to leukaemia at Adelaide's Women's and Children's Hospital in May last year. He also noted that the medical care provided to him at the onset of severe abdominal pain until he had surgery 17 hours later was not of an adequate standard. "Ben never recovered from this event and I find it to be a contributing cause to his death," Coroner Cavanagh said in his findings.

Ben Witham's death sparked a major public health emergency in the Northern Territory after a urine sample indicated the teenager had arsenic levels 14 times the safe limit. Coroner Greg Cavanagh has found that sample was either contaminated or an error. The initial result prompted Northern Territory authorities to test residents for arsenic poisoning at Mount Bundy Station, south of Darwin, where the teenager lived with his family.

A local doctor, who had no prior experience interpreting arsenic test results, incorrectly thought the results showed elevated levels of arsenic in some of the residents. Station evacuated Concerned that other people living in the area could be at risk of arsenic poisoning, the coroner ordered Mount Bundy Station to be declared a restricted area.

The popular tourist destination was evacuated and forced to close for several days. But further tests on residents and bore water in the area showed no evidence of elevated arsenic levels, leading authorities to reopen the station. The coroner said the closure of the station and testing of the residents was "appropriate to the reported information". But he added: "it is clear that the information provided about the residents' urine results was wrong." He said at the time there was "inadequate reliable information available about arsenic, how people might be exposed to it, and the dangers it posed". He said the Northern Territory Department of Health has since put in place a number of measures to improve procedures if such an event occurs again. In light of these measures, the coroner did not make any recommendations following Ben Witham's death.

Outside court, the teenager's father, Scott Witham said today's findings brought some closure. "It's the end of the legal process, but obviously for us life's still pretty tough and goes on," he said. The boy's mother, Susan Witham, said the incorrect arsenic reading and the subsequent closure of Mount Bundy Station, were distractions.

  "All that sort of stuff took away the emphasis of why he actually died," she said. 

 

Images @ Melonpopzdropz Flickr

Outsmarting Bellingen Shire Council Nicely

What about this one?  I think its good value too.  This could be another way to increase trade to the Antique Shop.

Premium Small Car Door Magnets by Vistaprint

I have been having a lot of fun looking around for ways in which we can increase the trade to the Urunga Antique & Collectables Shop down in the Industrial Estate on Short Cut Road.  It has been a constant battle to get trade when council will not allow any sign at the top of the street to alert passing traffic to the whereabouts of an antique shop.

 

From the point of view of tourism alone, this is a thorough disservice to visitors coming to the area.  I personally comb all antique shops where ever I go and find one when I am visiting other areas and I am vitally sure that there are many the same as me.  I would be sad to think I missed out just because I could not find it. 

The local council have been very sad and mean with their action regarding the shop.  No longer is the owner allowed to phone the council re issues or he will be charged and therefore all correspondence with the two parties will be via mail only.  This is outrageous.

 

Recently the shop owner ran alone in the local council elections and he came in fifth and he had a very large slice of the votes but of course he was not elected.  He was in a group all on his own and it went to show how much support he actually had throughout the shire.

 

 
So we will get some nifty Magnetic Car Door Signs made.  We will somehow outsmart them  and we will win this fight by finding alternatives. 


A sign at the top means forty to fifty people a day visit the shop.  No sign means perhaps four or five people visit the shop.  Council said he should move somewhere else.  What sort of solution is that for a struggling small business owner who only wants to earn an honest living.  He needs to get trade to the shop to survive though.  So what else can we do.  Thinking caps well on and if you have any ideas you want to share with me then by all means share them.


Pinterest
Images @ Melopopzdropz Flickr

Karma effects Council causing a Nightmare..

A nighmare not on Elm Street, but on Church Street in the vicinty of the new lookout and the skate park recently built for the youth.

This skate park will never be ok it seems ( image by Steve Cook)

For some reason, today I see Council have got what Council deserves.  They got one between the eyes in the "mean stakes".  Council are now to solve a serious Asbestos contamination issue.  Council now must  undertake its safe removal. The prognosis isn't great because at this point they not sure and they  really don't know if half of the bank is covered in it.

Personally, I feel that if council had not been so mean spirited about some piddly signs in the back of a truck advertising a shop in the Industrial area, then this may not have happened.  That is how the universe works isn't it?.

A lot would say that was mean of me to say this.  I say to them, "when does Karma choose, and who are we to say when and where it comes back".  We are not.   Sometimes we do get to see some Karma come back around in our life time, sometimes its instantaneous. 

Well done Bellingen Shire Council for your good spirit surrounding your constituents who keep you in employment.  You have a much bigger problem to deal with than one sign with this issue.  Being mean spirited about things causes energy to flow that will never be conducive to bringing about good. 

That type of negative action is what causes earthquakes and cyclones to occur.  The weather is clearly influenced by our emotions so when we complain about the weather we really need to internalize as a nation and see what we are setting into motion

A lesson could be taken here by the entire council with the occurrence of  this incident.  A lesson for the future regarding mean spirited decisions they may be considering.  This could well be the outcome again but somewhere else next time. 

All of life is a miracle of energy and the energy around the previous council has been very bad and so we would all hope this shakes things up and better decision making processes are employed beyond personal opionion.    When a council is presented with  a petition with thousands of signatures attached and its over one tiny sign and  they laugh,  then perhaps that laugh was very costly indeed! 

We can all only hope that there will not be a next time to have to concern ourselves with.  After all we expect that our council will be there to back locals in their ambition of business or does this council only allow the business people they scrutinize as worthy of support.

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