WHO LET THE DOGS OUT? Passion Play - Byron Bay - Good Friday Christ will be re-crucified outside the Byron Bay Police Station on Good Friday as part of the protests against the use of cannabis sniffer dogs in Byron last month. Rusty Harris, Barkers Vale permaculturalist, Timbarra hero and Rainbow Region prophet ("The Earth must be a Garden"), will be acting out the passion of Jesus Christ. Rusty was arrested during the sniffer dog operation of 9 March, held in custody for 4 hours, abused physically and verbally by the arresting officers, charged with being in possession of 30 grams of cannabis and a pen knife and relieved of his cash, his cannabis and his pen knife. Rusty will be just one of many protestors who will be expressing outrage at the police operation and the Carr government’s new Drug War offensive. The
Protest started at Noon Good Friday 13 April 2001 The protest action was organised by GRASS (Grass Roots Against Sniffer Squads) and speakers will include the Honourable Richard Jones MLA, Tom Wilson, the Mayor of Bryon Shire, Sam Leonard, spokesperson for GRASS and Graeme Dunstan. On 9 March, without warning or consultation, Byron police, using a cannabis-only detecting Labrador named Thor, stopped and searched in the street scores of Byron citizens and visitors. Fifty five people were found to be carrying cannabis, about 30 cautioned and the rest charged. The sniffer dog operation followed an extensive work out by the paramilitary helicopter police of the Cannabis Eradication Squad. The Drug War suddenly got hot in the Rainbow Region of NSW. Meanwhile the Ryan by-election has demonstrated that cannabis law reform preference votes can decide an election. With the Byron Blues Festival in full swing and thousands of visitors in town, the action is expected to attract a large and colourful crowd and regional, national and international media attention. Further information
Easter Saturday and Sunday A Report on the Timbarra Easter Thanksgiving of 13-15 April. About 50 people came to Crooked Creek and like always, half of them were long time campaigners, and the other half totally new to the mountain and the campaign, and totally inspired by the Timbarra experience. A very mellow and understated gathering, we, although few, felt ourselves to be blessed and select to be sharing such grace, beauty and good company. Murri and Sam set up the Timbarra Cafe on Thursday 12 April and, as is tradition, served chai and hot food throughout the weekend. Donations covered costs and made a surplus of $5! Robbie, Jo-Jo and Eardrum sang the Timbarra songs without PA, heart voice reaching us all. Robbie's voice was golden. I learned he had first found his voice at Crooked Creek, another story of the amazing transformative powers of Timbarra mountain. Because of Peacebus.com's commitment to the Byron Bay police sniffer dog action (which attracted some 1200 protesters to parade to the Byron Police station and national and international media reporting), pre publicity for the Timbarra Thanksgiving was eclipsed and Peacebus.com did not get to Crooked Creek till very late Friday night. On Saturday we put out our banners (so much colour!) and convened a circle around the sacred fire tended by Feather, who truly was in her wise woman, Earth power at this gathering. Rain came in and we adjourned to the Timbarra Cafe to talk over mine closure issues. I gave the circle my understanding of the state of play up to the appointment of Resource Strategies to draw up the closure plan. Notable for their absence at the Easter Thanksgiving were Jesus Christ re-crucified, Rusty Harris, who had reported to sick for his resurrection at Timbarra, and the Native Title litigants though Burri Jerome did appear on Monday after the camp was all but dispersed to have a last word, it seemed. This absence was an obstruction to discussion because everyone present wanted to defer to the wishes of the Native Title holders. Also obstructing was the distrust and paranoia in the group being fuelled by the Native Title litigants who (Burri for example) are maintaining that until they see in writing an announcement by Delta Gold that the mine is closing, all talk and planning for its closure is but a ruse and a waste of time. The intention of Delta Gold to close the Timbarra Gold Mine, they report, is still being denied in the courts by Delta Gold's lawyers. Never the less Peter Hardwick was endorsed as our environmental spokesperson and he promised to consult with the Native Title holders on any recommendations he made. Peter has promised to summarise his position in an email. But this might take some days yet for his three year old son Sage has just returned from a sojourn in India with his mother, and Pete is now soaking up fathering again. As i understand it, Peter wants the site returned to "as was" in terms of land forms, water purity, flora and fauna. No introduced species and, in order to prevent introducing root rot fungi, no potted plants. The group wanted to be assured it was a terminal closure and that gold mining leases on the Timbarra plateau would be revoked forever. There is also a general call for an inquiry into the approval process of the mine and, in particular, the circumstances surrounding the signing of the Tabulam Agreement. Also heard was the desire to clear the roads and fire trails of fences, gates and other obstructions (fallen logs) put up by the miners to prevent cross country access by protesters. My suggestion for an industrial museum to mark the place and commemorate this environmental victory fell on deaf ears. These greenies seem to want a regenerated wilderness where humans tread no more. On Saturday evening I put out lanterns in a circle around the sacred fire and strings of them on tall bamboo poles around the camp. It was an absolutely magical evening. On Sunday Peacebus.com, all rigged with flags around the Timbarra banner and looking like a glorious flagship of a triumphant fleet, went up to the mine gate. About half of the camp, 20 people, came to witness the event. With the co-operation of the two police officers present and the mine security officer, Mr "Shoot Ferals" Fletcher, Peacebus.com parked across the mine gate and we posed about it for group photos. A fire was lit on the road and piled up with gum tips. We formed a circle holding hands and Feather led a smoking ceremony. This is where the thanksgiving took place at its most profound. Gratitude expressed from the heart to all who contributed to the campaign. The cycle of death and resurrection played out again. The camp broke up after a circle in the Timbarra Cafe next day (Easter Monday) and the parting note was that, like the death and resurrection of Christ, the death to cyanide gold mining and the resurrection of Timbarra Mountain as sacred, was story that must be told, a story that would inspire Earth defenders for generations to come. Graeme Dunstan
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