BEAUTIFUL AND THE UGLY
“ … a classic example of how the Alice Springs community and its bureaucracy badly neglect the area … “
Alice Springs, in Central Australia, attracts thousands of visitors from all over the planet because of its vast, picturesque landscapes, awesome sunrises and sunsets, and the array of brilliant earth colours depicted by nature.
Is it any wonder that artists of all disciplines are attracted to Australia’s “red heart.” Living here are painters (oils, water colours, charcoal and pencil), potters, weavers, sculptors, film makers, poets, writers, composers, dancers, choreographers, musicians, etc.
Central Australia is, in truth, a haven for creative spirits of all persuasions: people who feel a special bond with this magnificent and nurturing countryside, a land that was old when Man himself was young.
However, there is a dark side, too.
The very beautiful Ilparpa Valley, south-west of Alice Springs, is a classic example of how the local community and its bureaucracy badly neglect the area.
Scattered over the hills, claypan pools and scrub country can be found old and new litter, discarded there by irresponsible visitors, mostly local residents who have an out-of-sight -out-of-mind mentality. To many, it is an unofficial rubbish dump where old cars and parts are abandoned, together with an array of drink cans, bottles (whole and smashed), paper, plastic, domestic litter bags, picnic rubbish, old furniture, etc.
When the council ranger’s department were lately notified of the neglect, a senior bureaucrat sent a letter to the complainant listing every reason why the shire’s rangers could not be involved in policing or maintaining the locality.
The countryside is being illegally ransacked for firewood during the cold months; the landscape is being torn to pieces by racing vehicles and competing motorcycles, and the resultant tracks are slowly turning into water-eroded eyesores.
This, then, is the ugly side of Alice Springs, the side kept in the shadows by lazy and apathetic officialdom.
Sir,
That is pretty ugly, I agree. But not as ugly as the starving, suffering town camp and community dogs in Central Australia.
I once visited a community (invited) and saw a local Labor party member walking past a dozen starving and brutalized dogs.
Australia turns its back on these animals because we are not meant to be critical of a system that controls community people so that certain blood-suckers can send their kids to private schools.
You seem to be about the best informed person in the district, why don’t you write a book about really happens in Alice Springs? Rubbish everywhere, beaten-up women, the cruel treatment of dogs and small children – all the makings of a very hot book, I would say.
— David Sinclair · 23 10 2007 - 21:35 · #
Your compassionate comments on camp dogs is entirely correct. Such dogs are often starved and cruelly treated, as you have observed, and often in order to survive the animals must hunt our native animals. Many of these camp dogs are frequently diseased and in-bred, but authorities do not seem to bother about their condition or treatment. Nowadays, every critical voice is deemed “racist,” a convenient taunt to guard against the investigator, and it is high time everyone living in this country was treated equally – equal justice, equal responsibility and equal expectations of decency towards each other and our animals.
— The Boss · 30 10 2007 - 23:47 · #
As a dog lover living in an aboriginal community, I agree that something needs to be done about the hungry and suffering camp dogs. And yet, in the community where I live, there are many happy camp dogs – they might not have the luxuries of city pets, but they have a good life. Enough food, freedom and they follow their family around everywhere, go hunting etc.
But the problem is there are too many dogs. I think the answer is simple. Euthanase the dogs in poor shape and introduce a strict policy of neutering all camp dogs, unless the owner can show they will be responsible for the litters.
I also think its important not to make this a race issue. In most parts of the world, west and east, the poorer the area the more neglect/cruelty to animals you see. When the people are battling their own problems, the welfare of animals is a distant thing.
— Doglover · 1 04 2008 - 11:55 · #