Honest Government Ad | Sacred Trees

Dear Patrons,

Here's the latest Honest Government Ad we've produced together with you. I know - there's so much big stuff happening in the world right now: the fight to raise Newstart, protests in Hong Kong, tragedy on the southern US border, tragedy in the UK (Boris PM!)

So why pick this relatively small, local issue, you might ask?!

Because I don't want the Honest Government Ads to become one of those self-important series that only talks about the "top" stories - the topics du jour that everyone is already talking about, anyway - pathetically chasing the clicks and the ego boost. F*ck that.

I also want to turn this powerful communication tool towards smaller, local stories which are otherwise neglected.

Which we can do because - thanks to you, our Patrons - we don't need the clicks, views and ads to survive, but rather are completely independent and able to focus on all stories, big or small. And that's what makes the Juice Media such an exciting project to be part of!

Besides, when you think about it, this isn't a local story at all: it's a reflection of the same story playing out across the world - deforestation and the destruction of sites sacred to Indigenous peoples. We're seeing it on Mauna Kea, Hawai'i;  at Ihumatao in Aotearoa/New Zealand, and it's happening right now,  just outside our city of Melbourne.

I had heard of this stand-off between the Djab Wurrung and the Government + VicRoads earlier in the year, around March/April, but back then I was too caught up in the election to do anything about it.   

But on Friday, it was brought back into my consciousness when I saw a live Facebook video by a Djab Wurrung man called Zellanach Djab Mara, who has been camping by the side of the Western Highway for the past year to protect a group of ancient birthing trees.

He explained that the Environment Minister, Sussan Ley, had just given the green light for the project to continue, and he asked all allies and supporters to make their way to the camp, fearing police would come to evict him and the Djab Wurrung embassy any day now.

I was moved by his story (which you can find online) and by the footage of that beautiful 300 year-old Directions tree which is featured in this video. It is on the list of trees that will be cut down if not protected.   

This time I knew what to do. So I put aside my half-written scripts about other issues, and started writing an HGA about the Djab Wurrung trees.

My hope is that this video will help amplify Zellanach's call to action.

I ask you all to help to raise awareness by sharing this video with your friends and networks.  And if you are in Melbourne/Victoria, you can head down to the camp to stand with the Djab Wurrung - it's just a 2 hour drive from Melbourne and they could really do with the support.

Ellen - who acted in the video - is at the camp right now and she has been lending a hand and support. We are hoping to head there next week, if Luca is over his cold by then.

All the details are in the links I posted in the video description, and here: https://dwembassy.com  

I also encourage you to read this article by Nayuka Gorrie which explains the situation perfectly. If you only read one thing about this issue, read this: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/12/the-government-wants-to-bulldoze-my-inheritance-800-year-old-sacred-trees    

On a lighter note: I thought this would be a good chance to get stuck into our new Environment Minister, Sussan Ley. Let me know in the comments if you dig "Numbers with Sussan". If so, we might make a regular HGA segment :P

Ok, that's all from me for now. But I'll catch you again very soon for our next podcast episode, and video.

With gratitude,
Giordano & fam xo

VIDEO LINKS:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQaeu_1uGcY
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thejuicemedia/status/1154310352340787200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejuicemedia/videos/469931150221024