A Socialist View from Outside the Box

The Tasmanian Devil is facing a major upstream battle with relatively few answers for its survival. There is a very real chance the unique animal could be extinct by the end of this century. Probably sooner.

The devil facial tumour disease has drastically reduced devil numbers in Tasmania, with only a few small pockets of unaffected devils remaining. Healthy devils have been relocated to sanctuaries around Australia to help ensure their survival.

Could aerial spraying of tree plantations and other broad acre agricultural spraying in Tasmania be associated with the tumours effecting these unique creatures?

Some of the chemicals used in Tasmania include:

Picloram
Glyphosate
Triclopyr
Metsulfuron-methyl
2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4 D)
2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA)
Atrazine

Most Chemicals used for the control of weeds and other “pests” are either a mutagen, teratogen or a carcinogen.

A Mutagen is a substance that causes a genetic mutation.

A Teratogen can effect the developing foetus and induce birth defects.

A Carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer.

A mutation caused by a mutagen can also result in cancerous growths as is also the case with a teratogen.

Unfortunately, due to the reliance we have on these chemicals, if it were determined that one or a combination of these substances resulted in the tumours effecting the Tasmanian Devil, science would look to develop something for the devil to counteract the effect of the chemical. Alternatively we would simply look at the extinction of the devil as a necessary evil for the sake of maintaining the use of the chemical.

The local City Council have invested much time, effort and money in attracting Cruise ships to the sea side port of Burnie. Though a large percentage of visitors to the town venture away to other destinations.

A recent letter to the editor in “The Advocate” mentioned how thrilled the authors were with the great reception they received on arrival in Burnie on their recent cruise ship voyage though they do mention that pre-arranged plans saw them spend the day in Devonport & Stanley.

There are many attractions in Burnie that could easily hold a tourists interests for more than a day. However despite these many attractions, the Authors of this particular letter still decided to venture away from the town for their short stay.

Burnie does have a lot of great places, but it does lack that “one thing” that transforms the town from a gateway to other areas into a destination in and of itself.

That is not to discredit the benefit the cruise ships have on the rest of the state, but with the investment Council is making in getting the ships here, one would think they would do more to keep more of the passengers entertained locally while off deck.