To all Ecofem, in particular Aussie contributors, Perhaps it was nine months ago that a couple wrote from Australia asking.. no, they were literally begging for help with Pine Brush Heritage Estate Lands. I began dialogue with them and several others in Australia regarding this issue. Evidently, the Pine Brush National Estate was land that was public and legally protected yet sold for very little through a deal swung by someone named Ian Causley and someone named Pam Allen, supposed Environmental Minister. What's the current status of this situation and how is it playing in Australia? Senator Brown and someone I highly respect, Ian Cohen have both written re. this issue, both have said they've done the best they can to save Pine Brush Heritage Estate but both have said they are working diligently on larger political issues. This concern comes from just two people at <http://www.nor.com.au/users/gaiaguys/> and I'm curious to learn how the people, the general public view this issue. I was taken back when this attractive white couple, land owners of over 100 acres considered themselves living in a 3rd world country. What is up with the notion that Australia is a third world country? Can someone please explain? I don't know who Chris Masters is, but the following is something the couple I referred to sent a while ago. I wonder if this kind of corruption is enhanced or comparable to the corruption found in the US regarding public lands. I still believe that the Sydney Olympics and the coincidental UN Land Conference (in compliance with the original Earth Summit) to be held in Australia in the year 2000 are excellent opportunities for global awareness of deforestation, dessertification, agricultural pesticides, practice, and soil erosion/sedimentation on a global level, definitely worth pursuing. I believe and wish, hope, dream that all eco activists or anyone with concern for this planet and with the means or method will consider using Australia as a vehicle for global awareness in the year 2000. I have no qualm with sounding stupid, /donna Excerpt from Chris Masters' salient book, INSIDE STORY. (Published by Angus and Robertson, Copyright 1992) pages 187 & 188: "I have seen enough to know Australia is an appallingly corrupt country, with none of the excuses that helps explain corruption in the third world. Here we are corrupt not because we are hungry, but because we are greedy. I am sure this would be less so if more people knew what was going on, and were more conscious of the pain that corruption causes, even to themselves. The only reaction I cannot bear is : 'I wish you had not told me that'".
