Floating my boat…
I was part of history today.
Not just me either, but 1000 shore-based protesters and more than a thousand sea-based individuals and at least 300+ vessels – protesting against fish farms in shallow coastal waters and against Tassal’s plan to farm our beautiful east coast.
This was a protest against big business.
It was a protest against government –local, state and federal.
It was a protest against being treated like fools.
It was a protest for the right to be heard.
People power today showed what an impotent and self-serving set of state politicians we have.
I was thrilled to add my voice to the crowds.
Our whole family became part of history of today. Our daughter worked on the on-land sale table for Marine Protection Tasmania where people were donating, signing petitions, buying merchandise asking to order our huge flags and telling her to keep any change for MPT. Our son skippered our boat. My husband started a list of searching questions for Rebecca White (Leader of the Opposition) whom he and I will meet this week. My brother took masses of news footage.
And me? I just sat in the boat absorbing the atmosphere and trying to put all I was seeing into words in my head.
But it’s impossible. What does one say?
That as we launched our boat at one of the public launch ramps, and car after car began to pull up with boats to launch, we began to feel something unique happening?
That as we crossed the river, to see boats converging from points north, south, east and west into a flotilla that sounded like the Dunkirk scene in “Mrs. Miniver” a lump formed in my throat?
That to see cruising yachts, kayaks, jetskis and the most perfect wooden skiffs joining us made me realise how far-reaching the love of the east coast is?
That when I saw every man and his sea-going dog out there – Westies, Malamutes, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Staffies, Border Collies, I smiled? (There’s a lot of old seadogs out there and their owners are all voters!)
That the smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country by our indigenous people was immensely moving?
That the kayakers who drummed their hands on the sides of their craft to make a point sent shivers down my spine?
That the airhorns blown by every craft in the protest was like a Call to Arms?
That Nobby Clark’s speech on behalf of all of us was probably the best speech I have heard?
I look forward to seeing what shape the media mould this into. I look forward to seeing what the politicians have to say – although I think we know. ‘Don’t care’ springs to mind.
More than anything I look forward to where this goes next because those who support MPT know this is just the tip of a very big iceberg. There is a whole electoral swing to engineer here. Governments have to understand that people vote and when they protest like they have done today, they are actually beginning the mental shift of their choices on the ballot sheet, looking where NOT to vote.
Like I say – I was part of history today and I loved every soul-stirring minute of it!
Sounds like a fabulous turn out Prue. Hoping they listen
It was astonishing, Libby – the aerial shots really capture the size of the flotilla as all the commercial vessels and cruising yacts and larger cruisers were relegated to the rear and couldn’t be seen in the images I shared. As to the pollies – they released a statement before the flotilla in anticipation, saying they would make sure environmental controls would be strengthened. Sadly not good enough for the protesters today. They want so much more than the government is giving, not the least is transparency and the removal of what I would call ‘favoured nation’ status for Tassal.
Good for all of you, Prue! I hope it works.
Thanks, Ann. We will get no response from the government, this we know – it’s a given. But the people are giving fair warning. The elections will be the killer for the two major parties if today is any guide. The seat of Lyons (which is the east coast seat) is a government changer in this next election. It will certainly be easier now to remind the candidates and parties that they are on notice.
Fabulous!
It was unique, Fiona. And so reassuring after working from the inception of MPT in 2016 to this point. A huge groundswell. Everyone’s certainly giving this their all.
Great work Prue and glad it was a good turn out. Hopefully they will get the message. It is just a joke saying Tassal will be compliant with the EPA, what about Macquarie Harbour?
Thanks Clem. But the predictable is beginning to happen. The ABC has already downgraded the vessel count to 100 boats – and yet there is 300+ count of craft from the air. The government is saying we are a group of ‘generally’ well-meaning folk but the rest are regular agitators! My heaven, the elections are looking good!
Great event Prue, both sides of government will egnore at their own peril. I must admit that this was the first protest I have been to and like you brought a lump to my throat at the support. We know the government won’t listen, but they will at election time.
Hi Graham. I have a feeling that the arrogance of government ministers will make itself felt. They never like to be proved wrong. Even now, the supporters of Tassal in Triabunna are splashing the usual ‘shackie/greenie’ slurs around. They can’t seem to understand that Glamorgan Spring Bay shackies/concerned citizens pay rates and without those rates, they would live on a very poor, unserviced part of the coast. It is those rates which help lift the municipality to the level it’s at.
On a more insidious level, there are residents of Triabunna who wish the Tassal supporters would stop describing Triabunna as some sort of basket-case, dragging the mood of the town down.
To quote one resident the other day – ‘I live in Triabunna – great little town with a good supermarket, good fuel supply, good chemist, good doctors’ and paramedic service, good coffeeshops, good fishing, good marina and only an hour and a half from Hobart. It’s got everything we need. Where are we downtrodden? And why should we be described as some sort of charity-case?’
He has a point…