With feelings of curious sadness, I gaze upon the scar, a blanket of modern endeavour, a realisation of our beliefs and our culture, as I view the giant lighting towers, that rise above York Park to reflect the gleam of the sun’s rays at first light, but as the street lights dim and the mildy frantic pace of Launceston begins for another day, I’m blissfully alone in the warm water, immersed in a piece of classic western extravagance, my mind pondering our impact and transcience, on an otherwise perfect landscape, as the show begins.

Warm homes fill my eyes, on this crisp autumn morning, lights glowing as workers prepare for another day in their own worlds, unaware of my gaze, and the random thoughts which wander, as I dream of my peace, and imagine that I am cocooned in central Tasmania, snow and rain falling outside, giant conifers sway, buffeted by gusts of clean air, my body warm and perfectly still, soothed by the pulsing waters of the pool on the hill.

Before fair skinned men, descended with self absorbed, righteous vengance, to bleed the green carpet, and all that lay beneath, there was harmony in chaos, a perfect place where the cycle of life was in step, a place where the world did as it had always done, and it will still always do, despite the heavy intervention of modern man now, and the ways of dominance.

This life we are gifted, is smoothly seductive, surrounded and often enveloped by diversions, metered enough, to remove any pain from the activities that get us to this point, we remain at a safe distance from the rest of the world, and the misery of the planet.

Time, space and place, have been my friends thus far on my journey through my short span on our world, never seeing war, famine, or entrenched horror, except through a screen, from the comfort of a room with a view, of the city below.

It’s a life of luck really, but not all smooth sailing, at our comfortable level though. A rollercoaster of sorts, but never hungry or cold, lonely or in harm’s way.

Its a life where more could be done, but opportunities have often been squandered, for reasons where there is always an excuse.

I think we are all like this, but we do the best we can at the time, not that it is our best, but the best we can do.

I see Tasmania growing and developing into something it has never been, a place where people have taken brave steps to blend the past with the future, a place where we can showcase all that we can be.

Ideologies of the past are firmly entrenched, retarding our advance, practicioners often blaming their failure to blend and adjust to the changing world, on newcomers and their mainland ideas.

Never seeing the reality of the world, detached and floating in a translucent fog, of now dwindling wealth and power, I write of the forest industry.

Once pioneers, creators of opportunity, and lovers of nature, the new breed of forester remains on an unflinching course for self destruction, hinged to a time when lust for cheap timber, matched ample supply, and lax environmental laws, to create a recipe for wealth for a few self inspired men, who have blindly steered their lemming serfs to the edge of the abyss.

With crisis, comes blame, easily pointed at protectors of nature, an act of extreme self denial, that will continue until the very end I’m sure.

Is there pity for the men whose lives have been built up around the mass destruction of our iconic forests?

To some degree there must be, as we see the human side in man, but these people would still be hauling forest giants to the chippers if the world had not awoken from its apathetic slumber.

So these men are now seen as businessmen atop giant diesel machines, mining and plundering the communities’ green carpet, under full protection of the law, but without the protection from a planet in crisis.

Nature has turned on the ravagers of wonder, as they bleat and squirm, their sense of direction aimless, under the fiancial rubble that now encompasses them.

The sun has now risen around me, the warm water a beautiful comfort from the cool breeze that pushes foliage against the glass, and gazing north, a red brown haze clings to the hills, weaving in amongst the forest canopy and extending into the irridescent blue dome, that brings the most amazing light to everything, and anything below.

Another assault on nature, the forest, and the human species, by the despised and blindly greedy, who can do better, but while they are allowed, will never.

And what of the little ones, the old and frail, those who are rendered helpless, by such barbaric acts?

Who speaks for them, who will put heir welfare before those who have the power to stop this, but refuse?

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, says Newton of the physical, but this theory applies to the emotional, spiritual, and environmental worlds as well.

If we choose to ignore the perils of others, to favour one man over another, to actively participate in what we know is wrong, then we will all suffer as a result.

It’s time to walk into the cool air now, to feel the beauty provided, to be surrounded by what we are so lucky to have.

Another day on our planet, in our city, amid surreal towers adorned with lights, that bring day to the night, forests hurtling down the roads, and naked hills left behind, amid men who have everything, yet nothing, a place that is my home.

Like nature has done forever, the show rolls on.

Image HERE