Save Byron Bay Australia

Another project I’m working on is www.savebyronbay.org   I’ve been catching up with my Byron Homies on facebook and doing some research and my poor little hippy home town has gone to the dogs, figuratively and literally, as in real estate developer dogs. The locals, especially the youth are at great risk and starting to form gangs and get violent. 

The local town population is only 6,000 where as it’s stated at 30,000 because of the constant tourist swell, and during peak season and festivals it swells to 200,000. The whole shire/county population is only 15,000 to 25,000.

When you take into account that not all the population or businesses or security are there to cater to tourists, it’s like 300 to 400 people to handle a 12 month long festival of 30,000 heads, and maybe 300 to 500 extras for when it swells to 200,000. Any festival producer will understand the problem and need for real concern. 

Locals can’t cope, but it’s their home and of course they don’t want to leave, and shouldn’t have to.  The teens are acting up cause the local gov won’t address their need for facilities to keep them out of trouble, not even a skate park. The parents probably are letting their kids act out, because the kids take it out on the tourists and all the locals hate the tourists. There have already been deaths.

I do have locals on the ground at some of the older non-profits and in and on the local media. But they are eyes and ears for now, I can’t put them at risk. Can’t go to Byron and work from ground zero, because it’s very politically hot, they are also fighting developers with money who don’t care about the communities and people they hurt.

The developers are all outsiders who don’t live in Byron and don’t understand and don’t care about its delicate human, artistic, and environmental nature. They also don’t care that it is a living cultural museum. Think Haight Ashbury pre 1967 during the counter culture glory days but alive and well today in a beautiful little beach town where the streets in the old town are named after poets. Yes that is where I come from, but it is dying, killed off more thoroughly than Haight Ashbury, so I’ve decided to seek help to buy it to save it while it is still doable.  The locals and the culture are still there, but hidden and waiting for help to get their town back.

Is not as big money as you would need to save Haight Ashbury but it’s still going to take a couple of hundred mill to secure majority of real estate and build some community facilities, such as a skate park for the teens and arts studios center to bring back the good artists, and to vote in a solid community and green conscious local government.  About the same as what it cost to build the De Young museum, only we won’t have to wait years for a total rebuild, the buildings are already there and nearly all are renovated and to code.

The population is small enough so that once the real estate is secured it won’t take much to subtly rehabilitate the locals back to peaceful law-abiding ways.

More later, meantime check out www.savebyronbay.org and please help.

Self Sustainable Schools and Neighborhoods

I understand why schools and students are protesting budget cuts; I think the protests let folks know how strongly people feel about the issue. But it is clear the money or resources aren’t there because of lack of education, so protesting is not a solution, it’s not even a band-aid.

Communities have forgotten and need to relearn how to fund their own educational institutions and how to reboot their own local economies.

Charging huge tuition fees to local students so that some locals don’t get a good education cancels out the benefits of what an education to a child or youth can bring to a local community. What does work for the community is using the institution and it’s teachers, or part of it, to make it’s own money and extra work hours, as well as give quality education.

When we look back to history, say… as recently as early to mid 20th Century, schools and towns raised money through fetes and flea markets. Weekly flea and craft markets are wonderful traditions that bring people out to meet their neighbor on a regular basis, which makes a safer healthier community and example for kids to learn by living.

School corridors, gyms, halls, and play and sports grounds are perfect venues for craft and flea markets, because they have the space and the bathroom amenities and safety access. If a school can fit 120 vendor booths at $75 each for a Sunday = $9,000 per Sunday = $35,000 per month = $432,000 per year.

Schoolrooms and teachers could earn more money evenings and weekends teaching classes on how to make, grow, fix things or provide services to sell at the markets. Thus creating a sustainable micro economy and funding line for the school, and give a boost to local culture and community health and safety.

Fetes, markets, and classes - as many as possible. Recreate your school and you recreate your community into the society a school is supposed to create.

I’ve worked as a vendor coordinator for festivals and flea markets, it is a bit of work to set up and may be confusing at first, but with a bit of lateral thinking, some web 2.0 tools and event skills, the problems get worked out and it’s smooth sailing from there. And it works…

Schools also must give kids fresh food, preferably vegetarian to help them calm down raging hormones and increase focus in class. Sugar overload, trans fats, lack of nutrients creates learning disabilities. No wonder kids are going nuts and can’t concentrate or remember stuff. Get the kids to growing a school garden and feeding it in the cafeteria. It will teach kids to respect food, give better nutrition, calm the kids down, make parents and teachers happier, and save a bunch of budget.

Schools are the only real community centers left, except for the shopping mall. But a shopping mall doesn’t teach you about your neighbors and life and being part of something bigger than yourself.

Arts venues could be used for professional plays, concerts, and dances for parents and local citizens. Make use of the space for the community so students have a healthy community to grow into.

Bring back community self responsibility and sustainability.