THE BYRON SHIRE
Menus& Venues
Volume 23 #25 Tuesday, November 25, 2008 Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au www.echo.net.au 22,700 copies every week
WA R N I N G : C O N TA I N S T R A C E S O F C E R E B R A L A C T I V I T Y
Happy vibe for Mullum festival
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Toxics and human rights Our rights to clean air, water and food and a healthy environment are fundamental. Yet children are being denied these basic rights because of widespread chemical pollution and a regulatory environment skewed in favour of industry, not community health, according to Dr Mariann Lloyd Smith, pictured below. She will speak on the subject at the EDO’s next Brainfood in Byron talk series on Friday November 28.
Oliver gives Mr Percival a hand on his new song, Hello, in front of a packed Civic Hall on Sunday arvo during the outstanding Mullum Music Festival. More Mullum festival pics in the November section of extra news photos gallery at echo.net.au. Photo Jeff ‘Festival Fever’ Dawson. Lou Beaumont & Michael McDonald light. It was all great, I really enjoyed ing this spontaneous show.
The Echo spoke to a tired but happy Mullum Music Festival director, Glenn Wright, the day after the sellout and incident free festival wrapped up. ‘People seemed to be really into it, it was great,’ said Glenn. ‘I loved seeing all the local faces walking around and dancing together. You know, faces you see at the post office rocking on at the Bowlo. I got to see all the local business people and residents who supported the festival enjoying themselves. ‘I couldn’t choose a personal high-
all of the music. The festival was always about different people enjoying different styles of music and that’s what seemed to work. ‘I loved seeing people walk from a hip hop workshop to a world music African band to Tina Harrod and then onto The Fumes. There was plenty of diversity. ‘At one point yesterday [Sunday], a friend of mine walked past three boys hip hop busking. ‘The next time he walked past them Morganics was doing beat stuff with them and then soon after there was a crowd of at least thirty watch-
‘Tin Pan Orange, Ben from the Blue Hulas and a festival volunteer on the drums provided impromptu entertainment for the crowd outside the Ex-Services Club too. ‘All the events on all the nights were fantastic but there was definitely extra festival magic on the Sunday where people were able to venue hop.’ The inaugural festival (www. mullummusicfestival.com) brought together a unique mix of local and international performers, sometimes in the one package, such as MC and juggling supremo Joel Salom, who
managed to compere the opening event on the Thurdsday night and propel ping pong balls to great heights with his mouth. On Saturday night visiting musicians The Band of Brothers created magic on the guitar, oud and riqq, with James Tawdros taking percussion to new heights. In contrast to this classical virtuosity, a few metres across the road in the Ex-Services Club, Rhombus and friends rocked a younger crowd with dub and bass, hip hop, and high energy. It was a festival the town will be talking about for some time. ■ Comment, page 10
‘Working with other NGOs and indigenous organisations from around the world has highlighted for me how these basic human rights are threatened everywhere as communities struggle for clean water and food, breathable air and safe working conditions,’ said Dr Lloyd Smith, of the International Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Elimination Network and the National Toxics Network. ‘The impacts of toxic chemicals on human rights are also felt closer to home, with the contamination of Australian babies and children with a wide range of industrial and agricultural chemicals. If we are not able to protect the rights of children and babies, the future looks bleak,’ she said. ‘Australia’s lack of consumer protection and the continued use of toxic pesticides, banned even in many African countries, contribute to the multitude of chemicals now found in breast milk, newborn babies and in the blood of our children. Her talk will also highlight the use continued on page 2