A rash of white objects rapidly expanding across the landscape has resulted in increasing community concern.

“It’s an alien invasion”, shrieked Henrietta Featherbrain. “Why is our government dilly-dallying and taking away our rights because of some silly virus when our very existence is at stake?”

“We’ll all be rooned” said Hanrahan, “if those alien eggs do hatch”.

Attempts to explain that these objects were simply covers to protect young trees and bushes planted to improve the environment, liveability and sustainability of our lovely Peninsula fell on deaf ears.

“Never wooda’ ‘appened in my day”, yelled Old Macdonald, “Better to rip’t all out and provide much-needed land now.”

Although this obviously is fiction, it sure is demoralising to look at our steady progress with developing biolinks, halting and turning back the expansion of weeds and ferals, and demonstrating how increasing biodiversity is essential to the sustainability of both our environment and ourselves – then turn to the daily news with its stories of the demolishing of thousands of hectares of residual native bush, unheard-of bushfires, the lack of adequate attention to climate change, and the imposition of inappropriate and unnecessary developments into the our remaining areas of pristine environment.

But we are making a difference.

The efforts of each and every individual slows the tide and helps others to understand the need and the benefits that arise from appropriate action.

To paraphrase Arlo Guthrie in Alice’s Restaurant:

“You know, if one person, just one person, does it, they may think he’s
Really sick

And if two people do it, in harmony, they may think they’re both nasties

And if three people do it! Can you imagine three people – they may think it’s an
Organization!

And can you imagine fifty people a day? I said FIFTY people a day?
Friends, they may think it’s a Movement, and that’s what it is:

The Biodiversity and Sustainability Anti-Massacre Movement!”

Take a bow all you folks at Landcare, SPIFFA, the Shire, the Biosphere, the multitude of Friends Groups, and enlightened landholders. You are making a difference.

– Article and image by Greg Holland.