Tasmania’s Leaders, Witness to Activists Despair and Prayers By Shar Molloy & Cole Bradshaw

The following creative expression describes a non-violent action, which occurred on the 7th October, on board The Bruny Island Ferry. Whilst travelling back to mainland Tasmania, Jim Bacon, Paul Lennon and family, observed and listened from their cars, to a circle of five activists and their child, despair about the lack of environmental vision by Tasmania’s leaders. The courage of the activists to be vulnerable and express that which they grieve, created a potent ritual, to which our leaders bared witness to. In experiencing the power of ritual and their own connection to the earth, the activists gained an incredible sense of empowerment, giving them the passion to continue to act for the well-being of Tasmania’s native forests.   Five earth warriors and their child, process down the ferry stairs. We head for the space, divinely set for ritual, Amongst the car’s of our state’s leaders, We join hands in a circle. Calling in the elements; Earth, air, fire, water. Calling our ancestors and the future beings, Praying to let the earth speak through us. Five stand in a circle, Others listen, from a distance in their cars, Teenagers come and check us out, Hearing the prophetic words of Chief Seattle: How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? This idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them? Every part of this earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clearing, and humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of my people…..All things share the same breath. We will consider your offer to buy land. I will make one condition, the white man must treat the beasts of this land as his brothers…What is man without the beasts? If all the beasts are gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit. For whatever happens to the beasts happens to man. All things are connected. We know this. The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. This we know. All things are connected like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man does not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand of it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. In turn we lay our earth symbols, Upon our alter of purple. We pray our leaders seize the moment And lead from their heart. We pray for ridgid inflexibility, to be worn away As the ocean wears away rock. We lay the rune of Gateway, Opening the way for change. We acknowledge the tree beings And put out the call to ‘wake up’. We lay the bowl of earth, Acknowledging all she endures. We lay a feather Remembering all those that have fallen, in the silent war. The engine cease’s, we glide to the Jetty The circle is closed, the energies released. Five activists and their child, Ascend the stairway. We give to the ocean, That which was given to us for ritual. The cars are moving, We embrace, celebrating the dance of earth and magic.