Tomorrow...
Torrential rain today. One on hand, I absolutely love it (I’ve already jumped in puddles on my way to uni…possibly ruining shoes in the process) but on the other hand I’m waiting for the ‘act of God’ card to be played by the anti- recycling campaigners.As a little bit of background, if you read our local paper’s ‘Letters to the Editor’ a year ago, half the letters would be arguing if Big Brother should be banned, and the other half would be debating Christianity or evolution. Seriously. In the letters to the editor column. Bible verses and scientists quoted left, right and centre. So far, the ‘pray for rain’ campaign had been relatively silent on the issue of water recycling; except of course the odd ‘Letter to the Editor’ until today. So we’ve currently got three players.
- Vote Yes on recycling waste water
- Vote No on recycling waste water
- Pray for rain.
I was back in Toowoomba on Wednesday, and things are getting pretty heated to say the least. Both camps are using scare tactics, and there’s been a few cases of verbal attacks on the families of councillors. Companies are taking out full page advertisements to show their support or opposition. The region’s doctors have been petitioned and listed in the paper as voicing their support. I’ve decided to stop reading the local paper or watch local television for the next month. Things are just dirty.
The general vibe I’ve had though, is that its not likely to pass. Which, I’m honestly feeling pretty devastated about. Not that we’d really know based on anything other than the ‘vibe’ because no-one has bothered to take an independent poll.
Why am I so wrapped up in this situation in particular? At conference Kyle and Tills ran a session on analysing why we think the way we do; basically what in our past has influenced us. Here are some of the key reasons:
- I’ve grown up with water being a key issue. My parents are involved in the horticultural industry; and so are many of their friends. Concepts like reverse osmosis and micro sustainability aren’t alien because there things that have been thrown around the breakfast table as long as I can remember.
- The ‘heart-break stories’. Actually seeing the human side of things when you’re involved in an industry reliant on water…and when it runs out.
- Visiting the Philippines and seeing that there are industries entirely based around selling potable drinking water
- My grandfather’s volunteer work in water sustainability in Fiji… (I think this is where my social conscience comes from).
- Year 11 Geography with the talented Ms. Nicholas; her first ever class and her first excursion… to the Brisbane Wastewater Treatment plan to analyse the viability of pumping Brisbane’s waste water to be recycled inland for use on the Darling Downs.
- Lastly, and probably where I’ve had the most confirmation that this is the area I want to be involved in; my first public relations unit’s final assessment piece last year; analysing the water recycling situation in Toowoomba based purely on media coverage, and analysing the development of the issue. Knowing the ‘real’ information, vs. what was covered by the media was a definite wake up.
So, the vote is this Saturday. I’ve never been a campaigner or an activist, but if Mayor Thorley wanted me painted hot pink wearing a cardboard sign that said ‘In Science We Trust’ (I'm not a resident of Toowoomba, so I don't have a vote). Because of a clash with the Queensland Regional ICX training day I won’t be there for the full day, but I’ll there for as much as I can.
posted by Jess @ 7:31 PM
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