One thing you'll notice about Australians is that they love their country. In fact most people, Australian or not, love Down Under. Is there not a place for everyone in a country that's so big? From red desert to coral seas, from Blue Mountains to uncrowded white sand beaches, Australia has it all.
Australians are also very protective of their land, and a strong environmental movement to protect it all helps make Australia so beautiful. Issues such as whaling in the Pacific, uranium mining and deforestation are hot on the social agenda. Protesters range from students to everyday citizens, and all seem to be well informed. It is very questionable why environmental damage is still being caused in a developed country with so many lessons having been learnt elsewhere around the world.
I was recently in Melbourne when I came across a small protest in one of the parks. The protest sought to draw media attention to alleged attacks by loggers on peaceful demonstrators at protest camps in the Otways and East Gippsland Forests. For more info on this you can tap into their website.
It is not unheard of for travelers to take up the cause and to show support. As a modern-day, nomadic group of people, travelers have a better than average knowledge of environmental issues and firsthand experience of environmental fragility. An international presence at all camps is welcome. Be sure to know what you are getting into by researching the cause. It may be a great way to see some fantastic parts of the country which are in threat of disappearing.
Questions?
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