TV team in town Thurs & Fri 27 & 28 March

TV Today/Tonight team are in town today from 12 noon at Eden's Landing - will be wandering around filming and interviewing at random and then will interview Chris Abraham at 2 pm outside Mullum council chambers (it was to be be Woolworth's site but rain's changed the venue).

Tomorrow they will be interviewing Helena at 11.15 and wandering in town till 2 pm at Lulu's cafe.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR PRESENCE FELT WITH BANNERS, SIGNS AND OPINIONS!


Following is helpful info if you happen to get interviewed:

We want to alert people across Australia about what is happening here in Mullumbimby, and that it could happen in their own town. We are in a growing line of communities that have protested against Woolworths development, including Griffith, Sandgate (Brisbane), Lane Cove (Sydney), Maleny and Kempsey. In each of these communities monetary might and political clout has won out over the voice and actions of the local people.

We want it to be known that we are part of a growing wave of citizens who recognize the destructive impact of multinational corporations co-opting their town’s economy and that this destruction cannot continue. We want people to know that it matters a great deal how and where they shop, and that shopping is an active decision. Each time we buy something we are supporting a particular business practice as well as the ethics of that business practice. We want people to know how and where their food was produced and how many food-miles it has traveled. We want to know if we are buying a local product or a foreign one; supporting local farmers or overseas ones. We want people to be aware of how multinational corporations suck the blood out of local communities and contribute massively to global warming.

The NSW State Department of Planning over-rode Byron Shire Council’s objection to the development and our community was not listened to by the government. We are outraged that, in the face of all that we know about the importance of strengthening local economies, Woolworths may be allowed to come to our town. We want people tell State Planning Minister Sartor, as well as our Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, that this blatant abuse of democratic process is not acceptable.

Some reasons why we don’t need Woolworths in Mullumbimby are as follows: Woolworths offer minimal financial support to local communities comparedto local businesses, who regularly donate many tens of thousands of dollarswhile also offering other forms of support to local causes. This support keeps our local sporting clubs, community groups and the arts alive.
Many local retailers provide personalised services to their customerswhile Woolworths do not. These will be lost if local businesses are forced todownsize or cease trading.

Woolworths plan to build a bigger supermarket than the one in Byron - with a bottleshop - surrounded by tarmac, close to the gateway of our town. Besides being an eyesore, this development is totally out of character with the residential setting, as well as with the small-business diversity of our town.

Fragmentation of our town centre will diminish the cohesion,sustainability, and unique character of Mullumbimby and the heart of ourcommunity.

The growing impact of global warming and peak oil makes it more importantthan ever to support our local producers and merchants in creating aresilient, vibrant, and sustainable local economy. In and around Mullumbimbywe have a rich, creative community, cultural diversity, experience and the fertile lands to create a model of localized sustainability. We’ve got what it takes!