Ecology Action

Ecology action has begun.

A meeting of interested people took place on the third evening of March in the Smoking Room.

The aim of the inaugural meeting was to decide what form such a body should take, and along what lines it should act. Consideration was also given to affiliating the group to its namesake in Berkley, California.

Suggestions from the meeting resulted in three basic ideas for action. Education of large numbers of the apathetic was seen to be imperative: through films, speakers, discussion groups, and accurate printed information, an attempt would be made to move the public beyond apathy, in order to effect some improvement against the short term economic advantages of cheap disposal of waste.

Members would press through campus political clubs for the establishment of a policy on pollution, which both Parties at present lacked, with the hope of new legislation on the problem, and pressure for enforcement of existing legislation.

Thirdly, direct action would be taken against pollutors. Effective propaganda would be put out against industries and local bodies which continue to pollute, and members of the group would act as vigilantes in collecting accurate information on acts of pollution, use of harmful pesticides, and environmental destruction.

Although informality where possible was urged, the meeting decided it was necessary to have both a committee and constitution, the latter in order to get Students Association backing. An eight member interim committee was nominated to draw up such a constitution. Affiliation with Ecology Action, Berkley, California, was also felt advisable, particularly because of the literature and films available through that organisation.

It was very apparent that those present, who packed the Smoking Room, expressed no interest in sitting on committees but said they were there because they wanted to do something. The City Council had offered the truck drivers and equipment needed for cleaning up around the city, a job for which it said it lacked the man power.

There was a full response to a call to pick up glass at Oriental Bay although the date was postponed until Saturday 13th in order that the City Council would have time to notify its staff, and a general meeting could be held to formally establish the group and have it affiliated to the Students Association before acting.