The Bay is indeed, Loved.
Over 4,000 people surrounded Port Phillip Bay last night in a sacred Vigil of Lights to protect this Bay.
A flotilla of boats led by John Lawler braved the unknown and was the first to venture forth for the Vigil. They trailed along the shoreline to encourage and support the people on the shores and to honour the reefs, the fish worlds and the sea creatures beneath the waves.
Edithvale Frankston Brighton
The Purpose of this Bay Vigil arose from a heartfelt and deeply soulfelt concern for the Sanctuary that is our Port Phillip Bay.
Four weeks ago, I gathered 3 friends to help me achieve a Blessing and protective honouring of this precious marine world. We four were all horrified and deeply disturbed by the approval of the Dredging of the Bay as part of a bigger plan to restructure Melbourne into an Large Industrial Port. The Blue Wedges Coalition supported me in this, acknowledging their different task with litigation and political challenges. Different folk and different strokes yet united in our Love and concern for the huge diversity of the peoples of Melbourne, the surrounding suburbs and towns and for the marine world itself.
Although some people have felt a little strange with my very direct spiritual approach – they have gladly joined in. I honour the willingness of people to contribute in their own ways and to express their own particular spiritual preferences and beliefs in a community challenge.
Last night on the 8/01/08 on the eve of a New Moon in Capricorn, nigh on FOUR thousand people surrounded this Bay and blessed it with their presence, their love, their concern and a very real committment to do everything they could to protect it.
There were over 32 groups who registered with us , with numbers ranging from 300 to 50. In addition, smaller groups, families, friends, and lone supporters of the Vigil, were spread around the entire Bay from Ocean Grove, thru Point Lonsdale and all the way around to Sorrento.
Added into this group project, were those elsewhere who have and still do, love this Bay and who held Vigil where they were and sent their blessings to join ours.
The Bay Vigil has fulfilled its Purpose.
I watched a flock of seagulls line themselves along a sandbank and stand at attention, still and quiet for over half and hour. The flock faced the beach and watched where over 100 people had spread themselves in little groups , couples, and alone, snuggled in the sand. This happened, amidst fishermen on the pier, a crazy carnival and partying tourists at Rye foreshore. For those of you who know these birds, and their usual scavenging behaviour (especially at sunset fishing time) , you will be intrigued.
They knew.
The Bay is loved.
The Bay Vigil has been beautifully achieved.
The Bay thanks you.
What occurs now in the larger public consciousness and with this marine world – is up to you – the people. Humans have a habit of riding roughshod over and through nature on this planet with an insensitivity usually attributed to off-world aliens. I pray and hope that these days are times when the people of Melbourne, of Victoria, of Australia, and indeed, the global community, mature a little. Stewardship is our appropriate role as humans. The glitz of rampant materialism, greed, indulgent commercial production and industrial sabotage of our beautiful planet – may continue. The litigation and political games may win today, tomorrow, next week … but not for long. Eventually, naturally, people WILL realise the necessity of environmental care as an extension of the care for their own bodies and ways of living. The people who demonstrated their love for the Bay and their rejection of the Industrial Port (for Melbourne), the preparation for this ‘Grand Scheme’ involving the Dredging of the Bay, are citizens of this country. I cannot prove this, but personally, this is the tip of iceberg. The people of Australia voted for a new Government with new ideas and values. helloooo?
Tomorrow, the Bay Wedges Coalition is in the Federal Court, challenging the decision to dredge. The story of Blue Wedges is now Legend. I hold vigil for and with you. May truth and justice prevail.
Emerging from the wings is another case over the Trade Practices Act: Sue Beveridge, now a Mornington Peninsular Councillor, is concerned that the ‘deal’ is illegal. Sue was responsible for the gathering of over 50,000 signatures to create a mandate from the people.
So much rallying, support, hard work and effort from the people to have a say in these major decisions which adversely affect so many. I am personally impressed and hold a deep respect for these people’s movements that are brave to battle against incredible odds and wealthy Corporations. Is this the most efficient and productive way to administer our society? It seems to me to be extremely unfair and very stressful.
This Bay hosts a Port and the City of Melbourne with its stylish suburbs along the shores, its seaside towns, its leisure, swimming, fishing, diving, yachting, boating, jetskiing, and own incredible marine world. It provides Sanctuary to humans, animals, birds, plant kingdoms sea creatures alike. It is , in modern scientific jargon, a giant carbon sink. It is already a model for the world struggling to reconcile the human desire for creating and building civilisations, with the sustainability and nurturance of an incredbily beautiful, natural world.
Thank you St. Phillip for our Bay. Thank you to all the men, women, children, babies and pets and the supportive media – for the 2008 Bay Vigil of Lights. The human spirit is alive and well.
Reports from groups and pics as they are coming in
[...] Bay Vigil wrote an interesting post today on The Bay is indeed, Loved.Here’s a quick excerptFor those of you who know these birds, and their usual scavenging behaviour (especially at sunset fishing time) , you will be intrigued. They knew. The Bay is loved….This Bay hosts a Port and the City of Melbourne with its stylish suburbs along the shores, its seaside towns, its leisure, swimming, fishing, diving, y… Read the rest of this great post here [...]