Dear beautifuls. We need $5 or $10 or more if you can spare it!

Hi there wonderful people,

I have a special request of you all and I'm hoping you won't mind if I post it on my blog.

Our little Wetland environment group has incurred large legal fees for trying to protect our Merri Wetlands against industrialisation.

WE need help to pay those fees. The price of one or two or 3 cups of coffee from many kind people will help us reach our goal. It's very easy to donate on line.

Here's the link: https://www.mycause.com.au/…/help-us-pay-court-costs-to-pro… 

https://www.mycause.com.au/page/108897/help-us-pay-court-costs-to-protect-our-merri-wetland

All the information you need is on that link.

I blogged about a similar issue not so long ago.

http://lisa-green-owen.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/warrnambool-beautiful-one.html

The same company owned by Colin McKenna from Midfield Meats, has a rendering plant in the sand dunes between Levy's Beach and the Merri Wetlands. It's actually on the wetland. They've been sneakily trying to get permission to make upgrades to the plant, which will filter the polluted discharge they've been pumping into the wetland for years without EPA acknowledging any complaints. So problem is, once they do it, they're entrenched on that site...never to leave and ss you can see the site is inappropriate for factories of any description, especially one so polluting.

It's a long story but cut short, we (a handfulf ordinary local people) went to VCAT and we lost. Now we have legal fees.

It isn't all bad as the EPA has been ordered to do it's job properly amongst other things but the little group, after a decade, is well and truly burnt.

I learnt a few things about justice when we fought for the Merri Wetland against Midfield Meats.

1/ To get real justice you need a lot of money

2/ The justice system doesn't work in the same way for everyone. We're not all equal in the eyes of the law.

3/ Money trumps endangered species ANY DAY. Unless more people get more active, species haven't got a snowflakes.

4/ Julian Burnside said that VCAT is a good system and that it can help ordinary folk fight for justice. I'm pretty sure now that that's not entirely true.
Did I mention money?

If you're sitting in a court and you're looking at a room full of lawyers, including a QC, and only one is on your side, then you can be darn sure you've got buckleys.

Anyway: Please help we poor people pay our court fees. Will keep begging 'til we're there but I promise to be a little entertaining, informative and not too repetitive.
                                                         
I love youse all.  
Please good people, help if you can.
Lisa Owen
55605590