It is in our self interest to develop an alternative pathway to market fundamentalism. As environmentalists, we have a responsibility and a right to exercise political and social action to produce strategies to improve the lot of people. Our actions must be in the social, environmental and cultural contexts in which we live, in an Australian and Clarence Valley context. Taking personal responsibility with a renewed sense of the consequences of our actions in the social, cultural, environmental and political domains will produce ideas requiring nurturing. Collectively we have social strengths that can produce a viable, vibrant society respectful of our environmental heritage. As custodians of this heritage it is important that we develop a practical, creative social movement to take direct action to produce outcomes of social and environmental value to society.

How do we establish an alternative system to fulfil our basic needs and wants? This question is an individual one, the response of urban based peoples will be very different to a rural response. But importantly there are the collective responses that will produce social, cultural, political and environmental benefits. As a community we are already integrated, it is our task to develop specific strategies that will produce relevant social, cultural and environmental outcomes.

Is it appropriate that we remain marginalised voices? Power must be vested in people rather than the elite. Local level governance provides us with an area to work in and a means of developing ideas. Through our community based organisations we can produce specific outcomes which is in the interest of the majority of people. This re-orientation of priorities through our organisations will provide locally relevant development by producing an infrastructure of social interaction promoting an inclusive constructive spirit for local people.

Earlier ecological thought produced ideas which were acted upon by individuals and groups. It is time I believe for us to revisit and review these concepts and ideas to see where, why, when, and how such strategies were successful and if and where did the wheels fall off.

Is it possible that earlier societies have some of the answers to our current dilemmas? Australians were known as improvisers in architecture; in making do with what was available and in creating egalitarian social strategies. Our old people were not wasteful of the resources that were available. Waste is a phenomenon of the modern period. What of returning to our cultural traditions? The alienation of ourselves from the natural world occurred at the same time that we alienated ourselves from our cultural heritage. We currently live with a false comfort of an existence divorced from the natural world and a disempowered sense of isolation. Is it possible that such a link would provide a means of development appropriate to the earth’s resource base?

It is time for a political platform based upon ecological sustainability. It is needed now and collectively we can make a difference. In the coming year let us work together to put into place social and cultural infrastructure to improve the environmental management of the Clarence Valley.

-Gary