Rant 1 - Environmental Hypocrisy

Rant 2 - The Weekend That Was - 13-16 September 2012

Rant 3 - Lismore City Council Election Results

Rant 1

Environmental hypocrisy seems to be becoming more prevalent as people and businesses struggle through difficult economic times. One such business that may be accused of this in recent times is the Northern Rivers Echo.

In July, we started noticing changes to how the Northern Rivers Echo was being delivered. Reducing distribution and changes to delivery methods seemed to be the direction the newspaper was heading.

Previously delivered by ‘walkers’, the newspaper was unwrapped and neatly placed in letterboxes. The new delivery method utilises ‘drivers’ who throw the single-folded plastic wrapped papers from their vehicles. They are folded long ways and do not tend to travel any great distance when thrown.

The new delivery method has had such a negative impact that the Echo published a story in their paper on 16 August 2012 titled ‘Dob in a dodgy delivery’. They advised that they had ‘received numerous calls and emails from readers not happy with the litter in the streets’.

Following the increasing amount of litter in the streets from this delivery method, and since noticing the Echo taking a heavy environmental direction in recent months, it prompted me to ask some questions which received prompt replies.

The questions were initially submitted to the Editor of the Northern Rivers Echo. His response was:

     ‘I don’t want to comment.’

He did direct me to the Sales Manager at the Northern Star. She responded as follows:

Question:

Why has distribution reduced so greatly?

Response:

We reduced the distribution in line with shire boundaries to ensure the community publications such as the Northern Rivers Echo, Ballina Shire Advocate focused on their core readership and provided their community with the news that is hyper local

Question:

Why is the paper no longer hand delivered?

Response:

We moved to a delivery via contractors as this were the preferred model when we reassessed the distribution. We were having difficulties with walkers and quite in consistent deliveries. We had troubles with wet papers as well

Question: Why is the paper being wrapped in plastic?

Response:

To ensure the papers is dry when the weather is wet and also the dew that is on the ground when the papers are delivered early morning

Question:

Why is the paper not rolled so it can travel further when delivered?

Response:

APN have moved to the flat wrapping machine to provide a better product to our customers. We had a lot of complaints with the rolled version that the paper was difficult to un wrap

Question:

Why is an environmental paper using plastic?

Response:

To ensure the paper is dry in wet weather this is the only model we can use to ensure the paper is dry to the consumer.

Question:

What delivery instructions are in place to ensure plastic wrapped newspapers do not pollute our streets and waterways?

Response:

I am currently driving around and collecting papers that have been left for long periods of time. I do particular areas each week and write down the numbers of the houses that are not picking it up and tell the drivers to stop throwing the papers

Question:

What checks are in place to ensure delivery instructions are properly followed?

Response:

Each week I take the complaints that are being received and send them through to the drivers including the ones I see on the roads or incorrect deliveries. I then discuss the delivery complaint and give the drivers maps of consistent deliveries

Question:

Who's job is it to pick up the plastic wrapped newspapers that find themselves on the footpath or roads?

Response:

As I said above I am doing areas each week to pick up left over papers and report bad deliveries back to the contractors

Question:

Has the reduction in distribution had an adverse impact on advertising?

Response:

 We have not had any advertisers stop their advertising in relation to our distribution changes

Question:

Any other comments?

Response:

We will continue to provide free, hyper-local community newspapers to the residents of the northern rivers and within the prescribed shires while it is both sustainable and feasible to do so. If you require any further qualification please call the general manager (details excluded)

These responses prompted the following further comments and questions to the Sales Manager:

‘In relation to advertisers, I believe at least one long-term advertiser has cancelled their advertising in relation to reducing distribution and the political position of the newspaper. (details excluded) advised me, and just confirmed, he was very clear about the reduction in distribution being the major reason.

I believe there are a number of other businesses also discussing doing the same thing as a result of the reducing distribution and the political position of the newspaper.

If I could ask two more questions:

Has the newspaper been contacted by any businesses concerned about its political position?

Excluding (details excluded), has the political position of the newspaper had any known adverse impact on advertising?’

Almost a week has passed and no response to these later questions has been received by deadline.

It seems the Northern Rivers Echo is of the view that reducing distribution, using ‘drivers’ instead of ‘walkers’ to deliver the newspaper and plastic to wrap them is what we want.

Is the Echo an environmental newspaper or an environmental hypocrite?

You are listening to 92.9 River FM. I am Big Rob.

Big Rob’s Rant is interactive while being broadcast. You can find me on Facebook by following the links to Big Rob’s Rant on the Big Rob’s website at bigrobs.com.au.

Rant 2

‘The Weekend That Was’ started off pretty mildly but escalated. I would like to get through just one weekend without any reports of violence

Thursday night yet again saw some more chest puffing. As ridiculous as it is, it definitely beats the alternative which is unnecessary alcohol-related violence. With all the recent chest puffing that has been going on, it might be time to rename the night to ‘Chest Puff Thursday’.

‘Friday Fight Night’ was definitely off the chain last weekend. I spent most of the night at the UniBar feeding the crowd attending ‘Final Fling’. There were a lot of little problems around the place downtown with lots of young people and others drinking in the streets. The most notable incident involved a very violent fight that occurred just before midnight.

The incident started with some verbal arguments in the street. This went on for some time before one of the persons involved decided to remove their shirt. Clearly, things were escalating and violence was imminent. A good samaritan tried to intervene in the argument to prevent it from escalating into a full blown fight. This went on for a few minutes during which time the good samaritan was pushed.

The good samaritan then seemed to be walking away when he was violently punched in the face. The blow was very unexpected and knocked him to the ground. His friend went to his assistance and was also set upon. He was also knocked to the ground. While on the ground, the first guy was then repeatedly kicked and stomped on. Both guys were left unconscious while their attackers ran off.

Street security or police were nowhere to be seen before the punches and kicks started. A few more good samaritans immediately went to the aid of those left unconscious and bleeding once the violence stopped. It took a couple of minutes for the street security to arrive. The ambulance took a few more minutes and the police a few more minutes still. Those assaulted were conveyed to hospital where they remained over night.

I was contacted the next day by a relative of one of the men assaulted. He advised me that both men had superficial injuries with one man having a broken jaw. Both were released from hospital the following afternoon. Here is hoping they recover very quickly without any permanent problems.

Saturday night was another fairly busy one in Lismore. There was little violence noted since the majority of the crowd were university graduates having a great time. One incident did raise some concerns since it involved some underage girls and one underage guy who were hanging on the street. Even though they should not be there, they should still be kept safe.

The young people had no money on them to get home and police refused to give them a lift after they attended the police station asking for some help. They were later approached by an intoxicated older guy who was trying to get the girls to return to his home to drink alcohol with him. The young guy got very angry at this and confronted the guy.

A few of us who saw this intervened and told the guy to go away and leave the young people alone. The street security arrived shortly after seemingly as a result of seeing the incident on CCTV. They were advised of the situation but the older guy had since disappeared. The young people got home safely.

This is 92.9 River FM and I am Big Rob.

Find me on Facebook by following the Big Rob’s Rant links on the Big Rob’s website at bigrobs.com.au. 

Rant 3

The results of the Lismore City Council came out last week. Although there are three new faces, and there was some doubt regarding the result while watching the count in the days following the election, very little has changed.

As most would have heard, Jenny Dowell from the Country Labor Party has been returned as Mayor with a strong majority. The self titled ‘progressives’, or left-wing councillors, made a good decision to run a single candidate for Mayor. It provided her with a huge swing of votes as she appeared to be well supported.

What was unexpected was the swing towards the Country Labor Party that saw a lot of votes moving from other left-wing groups. David Yarnall was gone and Glenys Ritchie was in.

The new council is made up of four representatives from the Country Labor Party. Jenny Dowell is the Mayor and has the deciding vote in the event of a deadlock. Isaac Smith, Ray Houston and newcomer Glenys Ritchie make up the rest of the Party representatives.

The Country Labor Party representatives are joined by Vanessa Grindon-Ekins from The Greens and Simon Clough from Our Sustainable Future. Simon Clough was in eleventh position when primary votes were counted. He jumped to sixth position when preferences were added to his total. The unclear and difficult to understand tactics of the left-wing groups got him across the line.

The remaining councillors are Independent and include Neil Marks, Graham Meineke, Gianpiero Battista, Mathew Scheibel and Greg Bennett. Sadly, Kel Graham missed a seat following the preference count. He was in position nine after primary votes were counted but lost ground on preferences.

We yet again have a six to five left-wing dominated council to deal with for the next four years and have to make do the best we can.

This is 92.9 River FM and I am Big Rob.

I am still going on Facebook. Follow the Big Rob’s Rant links on the Big Rob’s website at bigrobs.com.au to post your comments.