Who needs trees & rivers anyway (click here)

It's becoming increasingly apparent, reading letters to the editor and listening to talk back radio, that South Australian residents are increasingly concerned about the environment we live in and the continuing inaction of our elected representatives to get a handle on this issue.

I don't see any evidence that we are becoming a city of tree huggers, but we are just becoming aware of the hotter and drier environment that is now becoming the norm.
We in Adelaide are told by our government to let our trees and gardens die, that they are expendable, and yet in Roxby Downs, people are encouraged to grow trees and shrubs to enhance their environment.
We were told that the Mount Bold reservoir dam height would be raised to double it's capacity. But it hasn't happened. There must have been an election in the air at the time!

We are expected to passively accept the axing of huge majestic trees in Botanic Park to make space for parking cars, to encourage visiting the Adelaide Zoo Pandas.

We see neglect of the Murray-Darling river system, which has had profound implications at the lower end of this once mighty system.
Australia is outraged at oil spills in our oceans, but are apparently apathetic about our national river system.
South Australians however are not so apathetic.
We not only observe the results of neglect, spin, 'historic agreements' and attempted ridicule of anyone who dares raise these issues. We actually live here in this environment and we don't like what we see.

We remember that the Murray itself warned governments, of the impending disaster, when it's mouth closed over for the first time back in 1981, ........... twenty eight years ago.
We are asked to accept the inaction as "due to a drought". No acceptance of our drying, changing climate.
We see governments allowing thirsty cotton and rice growing upstream, in this the driest continent on the planet.
Should this be allowed in the 21st century?
We could grow wheat around Alice Springs too if we wanted to, we could irrigate it.............. but we don't.

And back in South Australia, we watch as this government fells not dozens but hundreds of trees for the sake of a tram extension down the Port Road. Even Victoria would have saved their trees. They are too precious to axe in this drying climate.

South Australians are very angry, but of course it is our custom to suffer silently, until we have a chance to protest our disquiet.

Finally, I ask you this question. Would Queensland accept the rape and neglect of their coastline and Barrier Reef by their government? Would they accept the devastation of their tourist industry like we in South Australia's Lower Lakes have had to endure?
I think your answer would be no, they would call it a 'national emergency' and implement a disaster plan to quickly save their environment.

We deserve the government we elect, and yet we deserve better from them.