Lock the Gate illustrates this type of social, environmental advocacy  phenomena appearing across Australia. This “empathetic union” of people, illustrates how disconnected peoples unite, in empathy and concern for the survival of a healthy land and water environment in regional Australia. The movement is also present and supported in the cities and towns of Australia. Four Corners has a video presentation of the “GAS RUSH“  available (program was first broadcast on the 21st februay, 2011)

The following video was created from events ending 20th January 2012. “The final day of the Kerry Blockade against Coal Seam Gas exploration activities by Arrow Energy in the Scenic Rim in SE Queensland. An emotional and inspirational day.”  TELL THE WORLD.

Friends of the Earth and the Wilderness Society are also campaigning about Coal-seam gas. See “Tests reveal contaminated water near gas site” article at Sydney Morning Herald by Ben Cubby (9th Dec. 2011) :-  ”according to the article, SANTOS (which has taken over Eastern Star Gas) apparently denies problems, but independent tests have revealed high levels of ammonia, methane, carbon dioxide, lithium, cyanide, bromide and boron near a  Santos coal seam gas operation. The contaminated water was found in a catchment area of the Pilliga State Forest (NW NSW, Australia), downstream from the Santos Coal-seam gas well discharge pipe. The NSW Department of Trade & Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services is responsible for regulation of the Coal seam gas industry. They are investigating the situation. The NSW EPA is also investigating. SANTOS has doubted the credibility of the environmental groups taking the samples.” 

“Coal-seam gas opposed by all NSW councils”  - article in the Byron Echo November 2011 (Byron Shire Newspaper). In this article, Cr Johnson (Ballina Shire, NE NSW, Australia) said ”‘We need to ask why both the NSW and Qld governments are refusing to listen to the people.’ “.

“The ethical dilemma festival”  by Mandy Nolan Thursday, 17 November 2011 Tweed Shire Echo . SANTOS – the new owner of Eastern Star Gas , has reportedly funded the Dreaming Festival at Woodford, QLD. This highlights how regional social evolutions can be permeated by corporate entities that have little long term social responsibility in reality, yet by their bargaining, community social engineering and financial savviness , they “mentor” social and community events. As Mandy Nolen rightly points out, we are all, in this modern Australian Society, part of the toxic problem that is unethical consumption and wasteful lifestyle.  As Super Tramp so adeptly sang “who are these men of lust greed and glory, rip of their masks, and lets see-oh no thats not right, oh no, whats the story, but there’s you and there’s me” – or words to that effect….

Keep the Scenic Rim Scenic :- website for the non-political group standing mining, coal seam gas and inappropriate development in the Scenic Rim Shire – part of the Mt Warning Caldera Region. “Arrow Energy has said it will drill in four Scenic Rim locations during the next few months. Some wells are in the final stage of exploration, at or near pre-production stage. Arrow has already ‘fracked’ at least one well in our Scenic Rim.”

 Keep The Scenic Rim Scenic Brochure –  information brochure to help you understand the threat from Non Ecologically Sustainable Infrastructure

“The Value of Voluntary Simplicity” by Richard Gregg , published by Pendle Hill as Pendle Hill essays No 3 (1936)

And now, back to the collective evolving consciousness that our Australian children are learning about and growing into…..

This (LOCK THE GATE) is one of a number of regional social evolutions in our modern Australian culture. Does this phenomenon herald in a new social consciousness? Perhaps  it is a form of modern social consciousness that has been slowly evolving while we, as a species,  grasp the “imagery of extinction” (Dr. Robert J Lifton) . Regional social evolutions have occurred before in Australia. Remember the Green Bans of NSW (1970′s)? Now, where is the BLF today?  WE ARE the SABOTEUR… unless we live our ethics, walk our talk, and ultimately go the extra hard yard.

Mines and Communities website  and the Mineral Policy Institute .

• Masanobu Fukuoka suggested that the awareness and “earth empathy” necessary, for environmentally sustainable human lifestyle, decreases with our dependence on cities and scientific solutions.

• Our specie’s connectivity with the earth environment is increasingly destroyed as unsustainable infrastructures and growths overwhelm our local and regional ecosystems.

• Our political and industrial leaders invest energy and visions in overwhelming technologies, as a means to solve human problems. This  leads our social and community structures towards increasing stress and dislocation.
• To fix a social problem, such as destroying the planet with technological growth, the answer lies in the social and individual’s hands, not in what the technology and science can give us.  Have a look at  the following paper written by Dennis R.Fox in 1986 “Technology, Productivity, and Psychological Needs” . The abstract reads:-

“Those who advocate technological development to increase productivity must question their assumptions (a) that technological advances are in fact advances, and (b) that productivity is, in and of itself, a worthwhile goal. An often-ignored issue is the degree to which the pursuit of productivity interferes with the balanced fulfillment of basic psychological needs for personal autonomy and a psychological sense of community. Such needs have in the past often fallen victim to overly optimistic technological euphoria, and the current computerization of society is following the historical path. In societies beyond scarcity, productivity for its own sake should not only be rejected as the primary goal, it must be rejected as a goal at all when it conflicts with autonomy and community.”

• For the majority of our anthropological histories, people have had a hunter gatherer relationship with the earth.
• More recently, the majority of people became largely agrarian/ industrial/technological. We became more self aware as a species. and our relationship with the earth became increasingly disconnected.
• Within the majority of the developed and developing nations, with globalization and its grand scales upon us, there is a  new community sense of detatched yet collective commitment with the earth.

• At a time when the majority of social leaders hold technology and cargo cults above human social commitment and Authentic Land and Water Stewardship, the collective subconscious is stirring.
• Whilst many individuals do indeed have Authentic Land and Water Stewardship principles firmly underbelt, mostly we do not. Historically, human continuity of empathy with the earth is lacking. (Search results for “The Ethical Challenge of Multidisciplinarity:Reconciling ‘The Three Narratives’—Art, Science, and Philosophy“)
• Our Political and industrial leaders do not encourage empathy with the earth at a social level.
• Social change… change from the ground up….. is a powerful force, by historical perspective. What is EPISTEMOLOGY ?
• A reminder here: it is strongly evident in current human nature that people do not learn from their historical actions and directions.

• However, THIS Dawning of a new relationship between people, their leaders, inappropriate technology use and Authentic Land and Water Custodianship is in its early stages. And as with the metaphysics of the Morning or Eastern Star,  each day can bring us closer to our vision(s). Both individual and collective visions.  Take care where your VISIONS lead you. Illusion and vision can hold similar qualities, especially when discernment is lacking within the perceptions of the mind.
• The unfolding of events connected with the Lock the Gate phenomena hint that our Political and Industrial LEADERS’ VISIONS ARE NOT SERVING the survival of our species.
• Individuals and communities may become powerful social elements in the coming years and decades ahead – what will all of this mean for the human population on earth and the current self destructive all abusive regime of earth custodianship?
• Yes, folks, these are indeed times of increasingly increasing changes.Increasing Growth, with technology at the helm, is steering us. It is a delusion waiting to be shattered.
•  Instead of focusing on healthy social human well being, each day, as the eastern star rises, our leaders take us towards harm and destruction.
• ENERGY use and its infrastructure pathways through our physical, mental and emotional lives implicates both directly and indirectly to our entire earthly environment.
• The environmental requirements, sacrifices and consequences of that energy use have led to the increasing exhaustion of our global, regional and local environmental health and it’s natural resources.
• If you deny this, perhaps your head is in the sand, my dearest. Calmly take it out and look at the history of mankind and the earth’s history. Here is a nice resource to look up some recent Australian History in Parliament:-  OpenAustralia.org .

• Dr Robert J Lifton , with his dedication to unearthing the mysteries of human social nature, presents a wisdom that all should consider.

Take a look at the following video of an interview with Dr Robert J Lifton, from 1989. That is, 22 years ago.

Dr. Robert Jay Lifton & Jeremy Rifkin May 1989 Air date  

and a beautiful song from 2009 “Rising”, by Lhasa de Sela

Growing by Organics-food Gardens & Sharing : Article at Bluecray Journey for Wisdom in the Land

Wildlife leaves Glyphosate Bank – finds refuge in Organic Garden : article at Bluecray Balance of Faeries

Lantana : This page will take you to the following:-

• Lantana National Priority Framework –  PDF file
• Lantana Weed Spread and Management Actions – the National Management Map (PDF file)
• Lantana control and Management Manual – (6 PDF files)
• Documents and Resources
• National Strategy Download – (PDF file)

weeds.org.au – An Australian Weeds Committee National Initiative – Weeds PORTAL

Weeds.org.au - about John Thorp – policy and weed strategy directions

The Well Trained Activist‘s article “Can Corporate Leadership Theorists Help Activists?”  - This is a great website full of great inspiration, with links to Daniel Goleman’s : Ecological Intelligence, Emotional Intelligence, Social Intelligence page.

Lantana Management : Weeds of National Significance – Strategic Plan for the Commonwealth of Australia and National Weeds Strategy Executive Committee 2001

CSIRO – Lantana – the “Horror Story” – media release 2002

Qld Government : Biosecurity

Introduced Species and the Australian Environment : links at Earth and Environmental Science (UniServe Science at the  University of Sydney)- including links for the Bradley Method, the Australian Association of Bush Regenerators, Fire Ants, Cane Toads, Fish, Water weeds and much more

NWS Lantana Plan : Implementation

NSW Threatened Species : Habitat Management and Weed Control – priority actions

The Dynamics of Lantana camara Invasion of subtropical Rainforest in SE Queensland by Daniel Stock – at Australian Digital Thesis Program (Griffith University 2005)

Pest and Diseases forum at ivillage Garden Web – seems like plenty of people have had lantana experiences in this Gardening Forum

search for  Aboriginal  (Indigenous peoples) research literature for the North Coast of NSW at the Libraries Australia Search

Philosophy of  Environmental Destruction in the Name of Healing : bluecray.org article

In the Bluecray “Journey for Wisdom in the Land” blog stories, I mention that the Goanna visited the Glyphosate bank, and eventually, the Goanna left also.

Here are a few LINKS to explore, to further understand restoration ecology, the complexity of biodiversity in disturbed fringe rainforest ecosystems and to help you with decision making with regard to suitability of spraying with Glyphosate (or any other herbicide) and mowing the area,  when embarking on a restoration project.

Factors affecting the use of reforested sites by reptiles in cleared rainforest landscapes in tropical and subtropical Australia. article at : Restoration Ecology 14, 67-76.  Kanowski, J., Reis, T., Catterall, C.P. and Piper, S. (2006)  This article can be found HERE.

Restoration Ecology – Wikipedia article

Pesticide fate and behaviour in Australian soils in relation to contamination and management of soil and water: a review : at CSIRO Australian Journal of Soil Research

NSW Government – Parliament Questions and Answers time at HANSARD : No. 10, Tuesday 19 September 1995 : if you scroll down this page, you will see Q’s & A’s pertaining to the NSW Government’s answer to the management of Bitou Bush involving the spraying of GLYPHOSATE. This is back in 1995. And if you have a look at current practices today, you will find that glyphosate is commonly sprayed in many areas of LAND and WATERWAYS. Landcare Groups, Land Managers, Developers, Councils – the list is endless as to those practicing glyphosate spraying.

Infection of frogs by amphibian chytrid causing the disease chytridiomycosis – key threatening process listing : KEY THREATENING PROCESS in Schedule 3 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act, NSW

“Is Batrachochytrium dendrobaidiss really the proximate cause of frog decline?” 2005 Shelley Burgin

Some other Articles concerning chytrid fungus HERE

Chytrid fungus at Wikipedia

Inclusion of species in the list of threatened species under section 178 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (55) (07/12/2007)  : This instrument amends the List of Threatened Species (16/07/2000) to include Litoria booroolongensis (Booroolong Frog) in the endangered category – at COMLAW

Action Statement Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988No. 118 Booroolong Frog :  Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victorian Government : this is a PDF, downloadable from the above link. I shall give you a small section from Page 4 of the above Action Statement where glyphosate and chytrid causing disease is mentioned: -

“Over the past 20 years there has been an increase in the general use of broad-spectrum herbicides (Tyler 1989).  The active ingredient in many formulations, glyphosate, and the surfactant have been shown to be toxic to frogs and tadpoles (Bidwell and Gorrie 1995).  Formulations which contain glyphosate and surfactant are commonly used to control emergent water weeds.  The wide use of these pesticides may have contributed to the decline of the Booroolong Frog in rural landscapes, such as the Northern Tablelands region.

Studies of ill and dead frogs have implicated a chytrid fungus in the decline of some tropical and sub-tropical frog species in north Queensland and Central America (Berger  et al. 1998; Lips 1999). Several species of temperate riverine frogs have been infected with this fungus (Berger et al. 1998; Berger unpublished data).”

Bluecray Regional Environmental News-Mt Warning Caldera  Search Engine:-

search “Litoria booroolongensis threatened species”    RESULTS

some useful article on restoration and ecology: at Biodiversity Assessment & Management Pty Ltd (BAAM)

And so, lets just look at what has been going on here:-

Frogs , especially very small frogs, can be undetected in banks of streams and gullies. They may be in the soil, under vegetation, on vegetation or in the water. If, and when, a person comes into this habitat, and sprays glyphosate, some frogs are documented as not handling this very well. It may make them sick. Sickness from a chemical, plus loss of habitat, via death of vegetation (less cover, lessened insect activity, loss of biodiversity – even IF it happens to be that the only current biodiversity in the area is weeds) can cause stress. Stress can be a cause of illness manifesting.  I now leave it up to you to work out.

CHOICE 1. Spraying stream banks and gullys, or indeed, anywhere, with glyphosate,  thus killing vegetation and habitat areas. Mowing and slashing and/or spraying, thus decreasing groundcover for smaller wildlife species

PK wonders if Litoria & her friends will escape the Glyphosate and Slashers in the Landcare Project on their Creek in NE NSW

CHOICE 2. Sound, environmentaly sustainable practices for maintaining biodiversity . This may include:

• careful, selective  hand weeding,
• mulching with local leaves, branches  and debris,
• dense planting to promote quick canopy,
• leaving wood, rocks and logs in place, rather than removing to allow a slasher in
• incorporating native groundcovers, grasses, herbs  and middles storey plants and seed into revegetation program,
• slow mindful approach to sensitive stream bank areas – there is a huge choice of careful land stewardship methods.
• Basically, minimum disturbance of the habitat that is to be regenerated is best, thus allowing the species already present, to stay, in a protected habitat situation. In a later article, I shall discuss these and other methods,  a bit more in depth.

And so, in answer to WHY Goanna left the Glyphosate Bank in my story?  Well, because, (and there IS some artistic licence here) ……..

Because all the other wildlife began to feel ill, exposed, and the seed and insects had gone. The small seed eating birds left.  They all had to move into other animals’ habitats for a while.

And  Goanna left too,  before he got too stressed or chased by a slasher!  And of course, the tall grasses with their open high thatch, as well as the cover of lantana, leading from the forest to the grassy bank had allowed the goanna some protection, as he searched for food in the gully and along the bank. Once all this was dead and dried up and sparse, the goanna, being more exposed in his searching for food,  left the Glyphosate Bank.

The Mt Warning Region, on the east coast of Australia has vegetation remnants that suggest the region has good resilience to drought continental conditions over time.

Three other important regions that can withstand drier trans-continental periods are the Temperate Rainforests of Victoria, the Dorrigo Plateau Region, Eastern NSW  and Far North Queensland Rainforests.

• bluecray Regional Environmental News – Mt Warning Caldera : WATER
• Water Links SE QLD and NE NSW
• What is an ecological community? and more at  NSW Government Threatened Species
• SE QLD Hazards & Risks at Geoscience Australia –  This is a Group of PDF files that can be downloaded separately so, have a look:- includes chapters on flood, east coast risks, cyclones, multi hazard risk assessment

Australian Government National Water Commission

Weather – Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology

To understand our use of, and impact on the basaltic aquifers of the Mt Warning Caldera Region, monitoring is urgently needed. WHY? Because human populations and settlements are increasing steadily in this Region of NE NSW and SE QLD, Australia.