Patrick’s Musings

I’m on the train home from Powershift at UWS. I was up at 6am and left the house by 6.30 to setup the EWB stall not to bad an effort considering everything except the tables and chairs was taken onsite by me by train.

A huge thanks to Sophie from the AYCC who has received numerous txts, emails & calls from me in the last couple of days after I decided to attend at the last minute for Engineers Without Borders.

The keynotes were fantastic, if a little cultish, and it was a shame that some activists couldn’t let Nathan Rees have his say in peace. From 11.30 to 3.30 I manned the EWB stall with the help of a number of EWB volunteers, the interest was greater than I expected and we had a lot of interesting discussions and got a few new members and people for our mailing lists. Overall the time was well spent, though I feel a little more structure may have been better.

From 3.30 to 4.30 I was in the “Communicating the Climate Change Message” breakout, the discussion was good, but not long enough, only a few questions were asked. I think 2 hours per breakout might have worked better.

I then traipsed off to room 2.02 to hear Keillen from Greenpeace talk “Media Engagement”. After 15 minutes waiting I left. Advised the AYCC team at the front desk that our facilitator hadn’t shown and headed for a bus/taxi home. I didn’t have the good to walk up two flights of steps again.

I’m looking forward to tomorrow, and even more to future events, when AYCC can apply what it learns this weekend and hopefully hold many more successful events.

Would you like to live next door to fourteen storey tower blocks? A huge overdevelopment has been proposed for Lewisham, at the corner of Old Canterbury Rd and Longport St. See map.

The development includes 14, 12 and 6 storey towers and a large supermarket mall with basement car parking. The developer has bypassed council and the local community and gone straight to the state government for approval under the controversial Part 3A law.

* Overdevelopment
* Traffic congestion and pollution
* Community disruption
* New precedents for building size for the Inner West
* Local shopping strips hurt – Petersham, Dulwich Hill, Summer Hill
* Interferes with the Cooks River to Iron Cove Greenway project

The Greens are campaigning to stop such a massive overdevelopment. You can view our webpage on this issue: http://marrickvillegreens.wordpress.com/issue/lewisham-part-3a-development/

A public meeting has been called for 7pm, Wednesday 20 May at Summer Hill Community Centre, 131 Smith Street, Summer Hill. See map to venue. Come along to see the developers plans, express your opinion, and show your feelings on this development.

I personally am concerned about the precedent this could set for the Summer Hill Mill site, just across the train line from this site.

Last night Adam Butler addressed our monthly Ashfield Greens meeting, I’d already read his blurb, and subscribed to his blog in Google Reader, but it was nice to see him in the person, and add him on twitter (@bikesusenofuel). It wasn’t until he started talking about the proliferation of lawyers in parliament that I realised he was right, we do need more engineers in all levels of Government. We need people who think outside the normal box, people who can critically analyse an issue, and make a decision based on calm rational thought rather than the letter of the law or what is going to get more votes. I wish Adam success in his campaign to get on the Senate ticket, and look forward to extolling the virtues of Engineers Without Borders to him in the future.

It’s official! Last night Lyle Kennedy and myself were confirmed as Greens’ candidates for Ashfield Coucil. We’ll join current councillor Mark Rerceretnam campaigning for the next two months and hope to increase the green vote and maintain three councillors for the Greens on council.

Recently I joined Engineers Without Borders and last night at the AGM I was elected un-opposed to the role of Director of Internal Communications. The stated responsibilities of the role are

The responsibilities of the director of internal communications include facilitating communication within the committee, and between the committee and the Chapter members. Responsibilities may include managing our Chapter website, developing regular Chapter newsletters, and informing members of upcoming events.

Additionally I’ve put my hand up to be the acting Director of Awareness until such time as someone can do it full time. As I don’t really have the spare time to commit to it permanently.

Next Thursday I hope to be approved by SHAG to stand in the Ashfield Council elections. Looks like I’m going to be a busy person for a while.