The protest meeting
Chairperson: Fellow environmentalists! As you may all be aware, the plight of the forests is at a critical stage. These facts will reverberate, if anywhere, then in the hearts of us all. Yes indeed, reverberate. We respond to this as protectors of all living things, we respond to this as guardians of the future, we respond to this because it's in our job description.
When last this savage war against the environment broke out, a flame of enthusiasm was kindled in the hearts of every one of us, and it virtually blazed, virtually! Need I remind you of the festivities we put on? Need I remind you of the family get-together, of the punch bowl picnic, of the extra begging koalas we sent into the CBD?
Is our great moral indignation to ebb away in embarrassed silence on this occasion? Is it to ebb? No indeed! Never and in no way must we forget that politics is not our business; rather it is none of our business.
I therefore believe that our demonstrations of protest must keep within judicious limits. We must be careful not to behave with blind enthusiasm. We are morally roused by this pillage of our biomass, but this arousal, is it in accord with propriety, with democracy? We should therefore behave with caution.
Feelings are fine things. Feelings are all right, but we shouldn't overestimate them either. Charity begins at home, our self-interest comes first, and this self-interest demands that we abstain from anything that could damage the respect we have worked so hard to obtain.
I should like to declare here and now that far be it from me and anyone present to give offence in any way at any time. I believe that although the demonstrations and marches that have been proposed by some among us would obtain a seal of approval from this gathering, the slightest doubt uttered in this regard has made me — and here I know I speak for everyone — I say, the slightest doubt has convinced me it is best not to so proceed.
Those among us who want to give in to their emotions should recognise that our task has less to do with what we want to do than with what we may do. So, now, I believe that we should confine ourselves to expressing our sympathy for those unfortunate trees sentenced to be chipped. I do not believe that we shall give offence thereby — or am I wrong? We shall do so in a form that suits our habits of protest. I refer to the picture postcard.
We all know that we ought to do something; the high moral indignation that inflames us demands it. I propose that we send picture postcards, but — in order to suggest the depth of our outrage — with illegible signatures!
Dave Riley