And so the Australian Environmental Foundation (AEF) was launched on Sunday, on World Environment Day, in Tenterfield.

It was some years ago that I realized there was a need for a different kind of environment group; an evidence-based environmental group. It was on World Environment Day in 2001, the day the WWF launched its Save the Reef Campaign.

But I never imagined that it was for me to help get it started. I thought some clever ‘other persons’ would realize the need and people like me could then become members.

As it turns out, and as Kersten Gentle told the world on Michael Duffy’s program on Monday, and Melissa Fyfe repeated in The Age yesterday, I am the reluctant but proud Chairman of the AEF.

For some months one of the team has been saying as soon as we/the AEF launch someone will take legal action against us – and we’ll all be ruin. (But we never imagined the issue would be trade mark infringement!)

As it turned out we were issued with a 6-page letter very late last Friday from a legal firm (Arnold Bloch Leibler) representing the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) claiming ‘trademark infringement’ and warning us against the Sunday launch.

We went ahead with the launch in Tenterfield anyway.

The legal advice on Monday was that we will not need to change our name, acronym or logo.

But you be the judge.

At the AEF website we have a poll so you can tell us whether you think our logo is anything like the ACF logo.

The questionaire shows the two logos and has only one question – so take the time, give us your advice go to http://www.aefweb.info/index.php.

The Vegetarian’s Nightmare
(a dissertation on plants’ rights)

Ladies and diners 1 make you
A shameful, degrading confession.
A deed of disgrace in the name of good taste
Though I did it 1 meant no aggression.

1 had planted a garden last April
And lovingly sang it a ballad.
But later in June beneath a full moon
Forgive me, 1 wanted a salad!

So 1 slipped out and fondled a carrot
Caressing its feathery top.
With the force of a brute 1 tore out the root!
It whimpered and came with a pop!

Then laying my hand on a radish
1 jerked and it left a small crater.
Then with the blade of my True Value spade
1 exhumed a slumbering tater!

Celery 1 plucked, 1 twisted a squash!
Tomatoes were wincing in fear.
1 choked the Romaine. It screamed out in pain,
Their anguish was filling my ears!

I finally came to the lettuce
As it cringed at the top of the row
With one wicked slice 1 beheaded it twice
As it writhed, I dealt a death blow.

1 butchered the onions and parsley.
My hoe was all covered with gore.
1 chopped and 1 whacked without looking back
Then 1 stealthily slipped in the door.

My bounty lay naked and dying
So 1 drowned them to snuff out their life.
1 sliced and 1 peeled as they thrashed and they reeled
On the cutting board under my knife.

1 violated tomatoes
So their innards could never survive.
1 grated and ground ’til they made not a sound
Then 1 boiled the tater alive!

Then 1 took the small broken pieces
1 had tortured and killed with my hands
And tossed them together, heedless of whether
They suffered or made their demands.

1 ate them. Forgive me, I’m sorry
But hear me, though I’m a beginner
Those plants feel pain, though it’s hard to explain
To someone who eats them for dinner!

1 intend to begin a crusade
For PLANT’S RIGHTS, including chick peas.
The A.C.L.U. will be helping me, too.
In the meantime, please pass the bleu cheese.

Baxter Black
Coyote Cowboy Poetry 1986

I got my conference bag last night. It’s contents included a stubbie holder with the verse:

Here’s to a logger
Who fills a need

From houses to paper
From one little seed

For those of you who
Wish to disagree

Try wiping your arse
without felling a tree.