Playdates for the Planet, Sanctuary Walk for the Family, Sunday 21st March at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve!

I realise this is a forum, where the person who submitted a post, might usually come back to reply to comments, and I guess I could respond if there was something worth responding to, except that some of you seem to be ‘printing more of the same’ uninformed, pot-stirring drivel… mung bean tea! That’s funny. FWIW this post was moderated before appearing here. Someone is happy to post it without requiring that I pay for advertising. I submitted this post for the Events section, actually, as this post is about a specific event. If the event doesn’t interest you, why bother replying? Why waste your time questioning it’s stupidity, if what we do, where we meet or how we get there is not affecting you in the slightest?

Yes, unfortunately, driving a car is the main way to get to this particular playdate event, where the point is to experience the wonder that is nature, learn about eco-systems, flora and fauna, but without damaging it. It is a Sanctuary where volunteers guide you, and teach you & your kids, about things that you most likely cannot find at a local park. From my point of view, it is better than driving your car the same distance to go shopping and spend money on things you don’t need. Carpooling may be an option, maybe people are driving their fuel-efficient cars out there, maybe this is the only trip they’ve made in a car that week, or who knows, some may even ride…

Besides, the nature reserve is as ‘local’ to me as one of the parks in the city or anywhere in the northern suburbs! Sure, I will be trying to have gatherings at places where you can ride, walk or catch public transport, but this is a city we are talking about, any venue is likely to require some emissions output by someone (but then, so would staying home, watching TV or playing computer games)!

But, imagine the carbon savings (if you like to think in those terms) of going to one of our playdates, and learning about ways to reduce your impact, or getting support and confidence to make worthwhile changes. If only there were enough people within walking distance of myself & my family, who considered it worthwhile to try and protect the ecosystems, and resources, that humans depend on to inhabit this planet. I am no eco-saint (hey, I’m on a computer right now!), but I am trying, and it’s nice to find other people who appreciate a good cup of mung bean tea!!

BTW, thanks for bringing some more attention to the playgroup, and your stereotyping gave me a laugh too!

I’ll spell it out, then, seeing as though you’re thicker than whale phlegm:

First, you can’t judge a person’s eco footprint by whether they take the occasional long country drive. Take me for example: I catch the bus at least 4 days a week, have 100% GreenChoice power to run my 4-star energy rated house, and my car is a very fuel efficient European hatch. Is it OK with you if I drive out to Tid once in a while? Can that peanut-sized lump of cholesterol between your ears connect enough neurons to see that there’s a big picture here, and you’ve missed it entirely?

Second, congratulations to you and all your clever, clever friends on combining fake outrage with a straw man in one hit. I really believe you when you say you’re concerned about the environment and that’s why you’re attacking the poster. I honestly accept that you sincerely believe that driving to Tid will cause significant damage to the planet, and that you lobby for the national park to be closed to save carbon, and write to your MP asking that nobody be allowed to use a private motor vehicle for journeys longer than 10 minutes. I take without question your honest desire to improve these outings for the benefit of the community. I agree that any person who espouses a view favouring ecological sustainability who consumes any form of energy that isn’t generated by personal photosynthesis is a morally corrupt hypocrite.

Third, if you can’t see what a man among men has to do with Tony Abbott, then you make whale phlegm look like one of the lighter gases.

I note that for all your piss and vinegar, Woody, you can’t actually come up with anything concrete in support of the ‘gweenies’ and their stupid ‘drive 60 ks for the planet idea’. And where does Tony Abbott come into things?

I think this is a great idea – it helps to actually check out the natural environment if you want to learn more about it. While most parents take their kids to the local park regularly, there are some great parks and nature reserves around Canberra that have more varied plants and wildlife. I’d love to see echidnas and platypus in their natural habitat, especially with a ranger guided walk to explain how they live, which means going for a short drive. Organised events (and lots of Canberra environment groups do these things) give people the motivation/inspiration/excuse to actually do stuff they keep thinking would be a good idea – and if you have friends or neighbours to go with you, car-pooling is an option. Would be nice if ACTION ran a more comprehensive bus service around Canberra and surrounds, but it’s still a great idea to go see the nature reserves that our taxes are supporting.

Careful – you’ll make Tony Abbott uncomfortable about the right order of things.

Here’s a radical idea: why don’t you have a virtual playdate by all WALKING to a local park near your respective houses with play equipment? That way instead of polluting the planet to go and hang around with other people who say they want to save it (apparently), you can perhaps kill two birds by (a) spreading the low-impact lifestyle message to someone new and (b) actually put your low-impact lifestyle into practice. Then you can come home and jump on the blog and chat about it while the rugrats are having a nap. And you can build a local network of parents so that you and your family can socialise without having to jump in your car to do it.

If you want the kiddies to experience natural environments and habitats, take them for a walk to the nearest urban fringe reserve to your house and let them explore. Or jump on a bus and observe the urban wildlife at your nearest interchange :p

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

Aww, are the big bad gweenines and their gwobal conspiracy ignoring you and your childish, repetitive, predictable and unoriginal rants? Poor diddums.

You are a man among men, Woody.

But what if these hippies suffer from “Sensitive Persons Disorder Syndrome” (as diagnosed by their crystal healing therapist.) Then you cannot expect them to travel in anything smaller than a Pajero, and public transport is right out, as contact with plebians brings them out in hives.

http://www.sovereignty.org.uk/features/eco/viz1.jpg

Aww, are the big bad gweenines and their gwobal conspiracy ignoring you and your childish, repetitive, predictable and unoriginal rants? Poor diddums.

Nambucco Deliria said :

It’s interesting that you failed to respond to the comments made to your previous post, yet here you are again printing more of the same.
So, I ask again – if you are so intent about banging on about you and your kids ‘eco-focus’, and lowering impact, why are you exhorting people to make a 30-40 minute drive? Can’t you all meet up for a cup of mung bean tea somewhere local?
Am I missing something, or is this more woolly-minded hippy nonsense masquerading as local action?

You’re missing nothing. It is indeed woolly-minded hippy nonsense.