Press Conference on Preservation of Environment at Bilby - Assignment Example

Letter to the editor To, The Editor, The Times of ….. (Mention your country) Sub: Press Conference on preservation of environment at Bilby As a member of the Bilby Landcare association and a nature lover, I wish to bring this to your notice that the Bilby Business Association is keen on developing a regional health care centre by destroying the historical graveyard. As an environmentalist, I strongly believe that environment is frag`ile and needs to be preserved after massive population growth. It is to be noted that the graveyard supports native grasses and orchids that are otherwise extinct locally. Moreover, graveyard/wetlands provide sanctuary for growling grassfrog which are nationally endangered. Therefore, it would be a major loss not only to the environment but to the heritage as well if the graveyard is encroached upon for the development purpose. Apart from this, the proposal of building of the dam is a threat to several rare species of frogs at the waterhole and is also believed to destroy river flora and fauna because of the reduced flow. Infact, the leader of Bilby Landcare, John Russell, who is also the member of the local branch of Greens is strictly opposed to the development and has emphasised the environmental problems of encroaching on grasslands and forest areas. We are keen to keep the graveyard where our forebears are buried safe and don’t need any development, even if it provides employment opportunities. In regard to the same, I would like to invite your esteemed organization to a press conference-cum-discussion being organized tomorrow at (pls mention location) at 11 am. We will have Garrett Pietro of the famous rock band Grassroots to launch our campaign against the development. Kindly send a reporter and a photo-journalist for the coverage. Thanking You. Sincerely, Ka Hei Hung, Hayley (Mention your contact number) Word Count: 299 Your Organisation Media Release Your name and title Phone office: 5656 5656 Your Organisation Phone home: 5757 5757 77 your address Avenue Fax: 5858 5858 Bilby, 3345 email: yourname@deakin.edu.au 11 May 2010 For immediate release What will be the fate of Bilby’s graveyard! Voicing strong concerns over the development of the medical centre on the location of the historical Bilby graveyard, the Bilby Landcare Association launched a campaign today at the entrance of the graveyard, opposing the move by the Bilby Business Association. The campaign kicked-off with the playing of a song – composed specially for the occasion – by Garrett Pietro of the famous rock band Grassroots. The whole gathering was emotionally moved by the composition. Leader of Bilby Landcare, John Russell presented an interim environmental report which made strong claims for the declaration of the area as unique grassland, containing endangered species. Talking to media-persons, Russell pointed out: “If we destroy this habitat, we’ll never get it back again – we are ruining the future for our children. We have a responsibility to them, to give them an environment which will support them and their children. Life is more than just buildings.” Supporting his views, Myfanwy Fallenby claimed, “Well, I suppose they feel that digging people out of their graves and trampling over the last resting place of our ancestors is fine, so long as they can make some money with development at any cost.” This was followed by a heated discussion on the issue by members of the other associations. The panellists included Myfanwy Fallenby, Chops Lambert, Babs Hilpott of Trust Society of Victoria, consultant appointed to mediate with community in setting up the hospital development – Helen Demetriades and Environmental expert on statewide issues and processes – Greg Grassington. Word Count: 253 Interview Profile of John Russell An environmentalist, nature lover and leader of the Bilby Landcare Association, John Russell, played a major role in launching the campaign against the development of the medical health care centre on the location of the graveyard and the proposal of building a dam. Emphasising the environmental problems of encroaching on grasslands and forest areas, Russell, who is also the member of the local branch of the Greens, told The Bilby Tribunal that it is not only important to preserve ecological systems which reflect Australian environment rather than imported species, but also to keep the graveyard – where his forebears are buried – protected. Raising his concerns over the proposed re-construction of the dam and development of the medical health care centre aimed at providing employment opportunities to the locals, he claimed: “If we destroy this habitat, we’ll never get it back again – we are ruining the future for our children. We have a responsibility to them, to give them an environment which will support them and their children. Life is more than just buildings.” The history of John Russell goes back to the year 1993 when he established a nursery specializing in native flora. That time, he was a local man who did a degree in environmental management and came back to Bilby to look after his widowed mother. John is keen to record and protect the local flora and fauna, particularly in the forests and grasslands up the valley, where he has made sightings of several threatened species. He can often be seen walking around the graveyard, where his father and three generations before him are buried. In summer he goes there to gather seeds from the native grasses that grow among the graves. A few years back, John was elected to the shire council, which meets each month in Bendalong. He often finds himself at loggerheads with Bilby’s other representative, ‘Chops’ Lambert. ‘Chops’ is the president of the Bilby Business Association; he is popular with other shop owners and knows many of the established farming families. John, on the other hand, saw quite enough of progress while he was studying in the city. Like the ‘new settlers’ who voted for him, he is worried that too much growth will compromise the environment and destroy the unspoilt character of Bilby. John has started up Bilby Landcare, to raise local interest in returning the area to more native vegetation. That’s the reason why he has launched a campaign against the Bilby Business Association since he feels that their development proposals are a great threat to the environment and ecological balance. Russell strongly believes that graveyard/wetlands provide sanctuary for growling grassfrog – which are nationally endangered species and therefore this move should be stopped. “Because the land is rich and well watered, people can produce enough to live on while preserving land that is environmentally more delicate,” he claimed. Russell has in favour of the announcement of the publication of an interim environmental report which makes strong claims for the declaration of the area as containing endangered species and a unique grasslands. Word Count: 508 Dear Ka Hei Hung, Hayley, Please fill in the places highlighted in yellow. All the best. Regards. Writer Read More