The Council is systematically eliminating all mature growth trees in Newcastle that it considers to be a danger to the safety of the community.

Council argues that these trees were damaged a decade ago as a result of now discredited practices such as 'topping', which saw the tops of these trees cut off.

Some also identify as contributing factors the general hatred of trees in the general community and the negative attitudes of large corporations such as Energy Australia and Hunter Water towards large trees, who advocate the planting of tiny shrub-like trees for the future that will not interfere with our roads, pavements, sewers, water pipes and electricity cables.

Is there much being done to maintain anything anymore? The policy today appears to be one dedicated to priorities, due to shrinking financial budgets. For items that are not deemed to be of high priority we seem to have a policy of ignore or destroy.

I can remember when Council employed a gardener to plant flowers in Webb Park Mayfield, and how these flowers bloomed in an array of colour. They don't have the gardener or flowers in the park anymore. If you wish to see flowers, there are some in the park near the Council chambers. I can also recall the last Council meeting for 2000, where they were discussing public illumination and big picture things that were going to cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars. All I could think about was what I saw earlier that day, the state of the bus shelters and the mall that were covered in spittle and filth. I wanted to count the number of spits, but gave up in desperation, hoping my bus would arrive soon. I wondered how many people had walked around their city that day and saw this stuff. I suppose they mostly drive around in cars and so don't know what some people experience on the ground.

Therefore, if we don't have enough money to employ and educate enough maintenance staff to look after things properly, then the only alternative appears to get rid of it, whatever it may be.. a tree, a toilet block, a seat...in that way we don't have to worry about maintaining it, or getting sued.

This is a very very sad situation.

BIRDWOOD PARK ARE BIRDS WELCOME?

ARE WE CONCERNED?

As we are the largest coal port in the world, you would think that we would have a reasoned attitude to safeguarding our well-being. Global warming starts here in the Hunter Region.

Do we all know someone having skin cancers cut out of their face?

Do we all love parking under the shade of a tree on a hot day?

Do we enjoy walking around a barren desert on a hot day?

Do we all ensure that our children are well 'slapped' in sun creams at the beach?

Do we all reel in horror at the sight of severe natural disasters that we see on the TV?

Do we all get diverted by the alternate story, that it's all a myth, that there's no such thing as the green house effect, global warming, bah...it's just not happening, it's all emotional rubbish?

Are people concerned? I believe they are.

SOME THOUGHTS THAT CAN HELP

1. We have to to learn to share.

We share this earth with many different creatures and life forms. Everything is connected, everything we do in some way effects everything else. If we want to survive, then we need to ensure that we share. That means giving other life forms room enough to live independent lives.

2. We must curb our arrogance that we can know more than nature.

People seem to think that they're going to live forever, that they are immortal. We, as a species appear to harbour egos which can be described as having centres that lie nowhere, and whose circumference is everywhere. The reality is, that for the human animal, no one gets out of here alive. Life is an experience that leaves its marks upon our bodies. For humans, it scars our skin, we age, we die. Our life span is around 100 years, if we're lucky. Trees can live for hundreds of years, their lives are also scarred by life, but they survive and adapt. Just as we don't euthanise humans who have suffered and survived hardships and have lost limbs, so, we don't have to euthanise trees that have been through a hard life surviving fires, lopping or having to live on the space of a median strip. Nature looks after this through sprouting new growth from old, by cracking cement, or through the wind that dislodges any limbs that shouldn't be there. If you believe in a sacred and magical world, then old trees, as old people, have much to tell and teach us. If we're worried about cement, there are alternatives...why not build curved paths? Have a look at the great work the landscapers have done at the University of Newcastle. The late artist Hunderwasser said that straight lines existed no where in nature, and believed that they could kill. Science is great, but propelled by an ego such as man's it appears to be following the religious maxim given in the Bible to recreate nature in our image, as God created man in his image. Do we really want to live in a totally man-made environment. Without any access to a wild world, we in turn become wild.

New Zealand Christmas Bush Glebe Road The Junction

Merry Christmas Glebe Road The Junction

3. We need to know our history, to accept it, and to dream.

Australia is at a crossroads. It is selective about the history it chooses to recognise as its own. There is a shame about what was done to the Aboriginal people that we try to disguise through ignorance and denial. [ If you don't think there's anything to be ashamed of, then I would suggest enrolling in History 101 at the University of Newcastle and learn, its a wonderful course]. This is manifested in the way we cannot live with ruins, everything has to be totally wiped out and covered in cement. We can't live with history because it secretly causes us pain. We need to be able to link back, religio.

4. We need to develop a spiritual imagination and respect for the mysterious.

We need to see the whole of the world as sacred. We have to use our imagination and our creative thought to re-vision everything. We need to become mystics, listen to our dreams, tell wonderful stories, in this way we will find reconciliation as well. We have to understand that there will always be a mysterious dimension to life. Every mystery science solves, opens more mysteries, and so, we should try to pay homage to the mysterious, as we do to science.

5. Sensible and Senseless Development
If we have to develop or create new industries or human endeavours, then let us abide by the five rules of common sense. Let what ever we create be pleasing and non-harmful to the five senses. It therefore should be beautiful and not harmful physically or visually to the eyes. For the ears, it should not create noise, but music of some description. The development should not produce anything that offens the nose, it should be pleasant to smell. It should not produce anything that is harmful to the touch, or cause our hands to corrode. It should not be poisonous to the taste if we eat it. Any development that fulfills these criteria should be considered sensible. Any development that doesn't fulfill these criteria should be considered senseless. Let us investigate and dream up more sensible developments for the future.

I hope this helps.