So what is PARK(ing) Day? Check out their website for the best explaination, but for me PARK(ing) Day is about challeging our ideas of space. I think it is good to question the norms. Cars are a very big environmental issue. Imagine for a moment that we did not need our car parks anymore, how would we use them? In San Fran they estimate that 70% of public space is used for cars in some way. That is a lot of possible park space or other space. Grass keeps the heat out and can keep the water in. Trees provide shade. Parks in general offer the opportunity for interaction. And this interaction is the bit I love.
We had some awesome conversations in the park. Sitting on the grass 2 feet from passing traffic seems to make you question. We met new people and were introduced to some new ideas. We slowed pedestrians and traffic. Many looked, but asked others what we were doing… only some asked us. So many walked past as though we were not there? The police were notified and drove past twice but did not stop? The ABC said they were coming but never arrived? There was no sign of the Brisbane City Council who constantly remind me that they only have the resources to respond to complaints or easy tickets when the football is on. I draw 2 possible conclusions from not seeing the council, either no one complained and that in it’s own right is cool, or the council deems what we did as an acceptable use of this kind of public space. What ever it is they better be ready because PARK(ing) Day is here now, and it is only going to be bigger next year. www.parkingday.org
See a Time Lapse by Adz here. And some pics here.
Big thanks to my friends that helped and to Shelter Design (the shop behind us) for lending us the chairs and trees.
This is a great idea. Being in Paddington we are one of the arteries into the city. Latrobe/Given Tce is not a bad walk into the city, and the more people that do the walk the less car fumes that we all have to breathe in on the way. The Urban Grind staff all walk most days. I personally find it a great way to get the blood flowing a bit before I have to start. I like to do my walk with an Audiobook and my iPod. It is good to see that there are already a lot of people in the area that do walk. www.walk.com.au
I know that you are not supposed to tell people how you are going to vote, but I am going to tell you. I would love to vote Greens but I will be voting for Labour. My goal is not to get someone in but to get someone out. Johnny has to go. I believe that we should be sending that as a clear message, and then working to get the greens in next. I do not trust in this preference system because I have failed to properly understand it.
We all need to be voting in different ways these days anyway, as a good friend of mine points out. We don’t have to vote politically to vote for positive media, green energy, decentralisation of water supply, climate change and peace.
You can vote for these things by choosing to:
read map magazine & ode magazine (advertise in these!)
watching TED
changing to Jack Green Energy or Carbon Offsetting or installing Solar
buying a Water Tank & Installing a Grey Water System.
investing in a more fuel efficient car or not using your car at all or sharing one.
talk about Peace as though it is more than just the absence of War.
shopping locally - Cherry Blossom, Food Connect.
By the way. I hear that our Prime Minister has passed a law where by 8pm on the day he decides to announce the election you have to have enrolled or you will not be able to. So, enrol now if you have not.
Once again we are looking for someone to fill the position below. So, please if you know anyone that might be interested send them in to Urban Grind to pick up an application form or get them to download one from here.
Coffee Makers Assistant (Gopher) (Approx 25hours/week)
Hours include:
- Sat - 7am - 5pm
- Sun - 8am - 3pm
- Mon - 7am - Midday
- Tues - 7am - Midday
