Media Release January 30, 2012

For Immediate Publication

 Blogging Grandmother Joins Bulldozer Blockade For Black Cockatoos and Numbats

Outraged by the commencement of logging in the environmentally sensitive Warrup Forest area near Bridgetown, in Western Australia, well known children’s writer, Social Media commentator and blogger, Lesley Dewar has joined the bulldozer blockade. 

“I cannot get to see Bill Marmion in his office, because he has decided to be out of town during this most critical time when logging is commencing after the worst bushfires in years. Emails are piling up in his inbox, because every other politician is flicking all enquires across to his office,” she said.  “So, I will be in the forest when the bulldozers come – doing what he should be doing as the Minister for the Environment: protecting our unique native animals and birds” 

Through her website www.Storiesmynanatells.com/nanas-blog, Ms. Dewar has been writing, discussing and publicizing the plight of black cockatoos, who are starving, and promoting the work of the Conservation Council of WA  (http://ccwa.org.au), the Black Cockatoo Rescue Centre, Friends of The Forest and others.

Using her Facebook page http://www/facebook.com/storiesmynanatells she has been sharing information on the lack of preservation of cockatoo feeding and nesting area as an issue the community cannot afford to ignore.

When the URGENT CALLOUT FOR CAMPERS AT WARRUP went out, Lesley said she had to answer the call.  The Forrest Alliance needed all hands on deck in the Warrup – block 6.  It was expected the police will come to shut down the camp that has been set up to block access to further clearing, but that they promised not to bother if there are a lot of people.

 

A long time campaigner on environmental issues, Lesley Dewar has been featured as a writer on the ABCEnvironmental website, worked on the Save Our Marine Life campaign for several years and has visited the Orangutan Rescue Centre in Sabah.

She is a financial supporter of Sea Shepherd and other groups as well as a passionate blogger.  Her skills in Social Media have caught the attention of the groups working for Black Cockatoo Rescue.  But now, she says, Social Media is just not enough on its own, to get the job done.

“I have been standing in front of community and business groups, urging them to take a stand, lobby their Members of Parliament and write to the Editors of their Newspapers” said Mrs Dewar.

“With the loggers being sent into the Warrup Block three weeks early and the Minister for the Environment, The Hon Bill Marmion not being available for meetings or to take calls, it is time to take action,” she said.

“I have been appealing to parents and grandparents: Do You Care If Your Child Never Sees A Black Cockatoo Flying Overhead?  If I can ask the question, I have to contribute to the answer.” 

From the Warrup Forest Friends, she quoted: “ Forest Products Commission have started hand felling on the eastern side of Warrup 06 and road works generally about 06. In about 8 weeks they will move to log the western side of Warrup along Edwards Road – thus cutting off the Bridgetown community from public road access to the old growth forest and the historic tramway formation.”  This is the area into which I am going, to help make the Government see that the community will not stand quietly by and let some of our most important remaining forest areas be cleared, after the horrendous losses from the bushfires of this summer. 

Lesley Dewar Background

Lesley Dewar has recently made a lifestyle change, after a very successful career in sales, real estate and financial planning services spanning over 40 years. She is an Australian grandmother, based in Perth, an avid surfer of the net, a published writer and the author of Stories My Nana Tells; she is constantly travelling, browsing, researching and uncovering the unusual. In April, 2011, she travelled to the USA and Canada in search of new experiences and adventures. She has been passionately involved in environmental issues for many years.

She has been bungy jumping in New Zealand; flown in helicopters across icy mountains and rocky deserts; trekked across a volcano crater, been white water rafting in Bali and swimming with dolphins in Hawaii – Her writings at Stories My Nana Tells are very engaging for the whole family.

“It’s a really hilarious “investigative” story, and I’m thrilled to be mentioned along with the authors of a number of very prominent Velcro (TM) applications! With many thanks for your message & story, Lev Neymotin- Physicist, New York (via email)   PS: Internet makes our continents so close, as if they never split…”

Lesley is recognised as an Australian expert on Social Media and has published her first eBook Networking To A Plan, which discusses how to use Twitter and email to support face to face networking for business. This book has had wide international success, with internet distribution across the world including the USA. She is a member of LinkedIn, writes for the Australian ABC Technology website as their #SilverSurfer and networks face to face and online.

ENDS

Media Contact: Lesley Dewar,              Mobile ph: 61 (0) 417 915502              email: lesleydewar@bigpond.com

Skype name: lesleydewar                                                        alternative email:  storiesmynanatells@bigpond.com

More information: www.storiesmynanatells.com