www.theage.com.au/environment/conservation/browns-gift-his-spiritual-home-20110318-1c0o6.html
I grew up in Tassie, during the great conservation battles of the 70's and 80's, watching Brown trying to shape the way of Tassie politics. Thank God for this fella, his heroic ,almost single handed defence of the environment has resulted in a better place for all Australians. This gesture shows the kind of fella he is. I find it very difficult to put up with the constant attacks on brown by the Right wing shock jocks and the bogan knobs that seem to listen to them.
Agreed log man, awesome bloke in person with the best intentions. Not portrayed best by the media and definitely at times appears to be a bit of a c***. But I guess if you want change you have to become a little bit extreme otherwise you will not make any impact. I've heard from a few ex-pat taswegians that lived through that period that it's a love hate relationship they had with Brown- more hate than love.
But if in 120 years Tasmania and other areas of pristine wilderness advocated by him are all that is left in the world the guy will be a national hero and well remembered unlike the clown we've got for PM at the moment.
Pretty easy to give your place away when you are set financially for life and because of your sexuality you won't have any kids to take it over when you die. Plus you have a more comfortable place to move into straight away and the gift fits in with your beliefs.
He would be a champion if he gave something like 80% of his pension away and his time to charitable causes that are not related to his political beliefs when he retires.
You won't hear anything about people who give their time to caring for others in the community for no financial compensation. They are true champions.
Some of you are harsh!
Thanks for sharing Logman. Tassie is a truly beautiful place, and Browny should be highly commended for "giving it a go". Standing up for what he believes in, and what he is passionate about.
To quote a good man;
''The more I stayed here, the more I realised the world is not going to change by staying here and reflecting,'' Brown explains to The Saturday Age. ''You have to pat the verandah post, get on the bike and get involved.''
I have a (very) grudging respect for him as it takes radicals on both sides to find a happy medium.
But at the moment it ISNT a happy medium.
95% of Australia voted for another party, but we have these fruitcakes giving the orders because Gillard (and Labor) were so desperate to cling to the illusion of power.
Seriously, there is room for Tassie to be "green" and have no jobs, and other states to prop them (Vic NSW, Tas etc) up with a slightly different agenda.
So why are we in a position to get boned by people who have never been to WA (other than Perth)?
you know why they call the greens the watermelon party? they are green on the outside but red in the middle.
^ I thought they called it the Avocado Party cause it's Green on the outside, soft inside and at its core there's a brown nut.
PS Logman - shouldn't your avatar be Treeman 
Go bush walking in Tassie, and you will all have a better outlook on life, nature, wilderness, and a slightly better understanding of why Browny is so passionate about the environment.
Top walks in Tassie, with mountains in brackets (no order);
Frenchman's Cap Track (Frenchamn's Cap)
Overland Track (Ossa, Cradle, and Pelion East)
South Coast Track
Freycinet
With The Overland Track - suck in the big ones, and climb Ossa & Pelion East, back to back on the same day. Also, make a 110% effort to get to the top of Cradle. Well worth it. Cradle and Pelion East are very rewarding peaks. Ossa is also a beautiful climb into the sky. But there are a zillion things to see in the park otherwise.
Frenchman's Cap is a brilliant climb too. And brilliant National Park. The Wild Rivers National Park!
Two years ago a couple of old hippie friends of mine chipped in and bought some land near Launceston. I heard that one of them had their 50th birthday there in March - I wasn't invited.
One of my friends who was invited told me that their land has a river running through it the size of the Yarra full of platapus and fish, told me it was absolutely amazing.
I don't know if this has got anything to do with this thread, other than the fact that the pic of Bob Brown's old place does look peaceful and very beautiful and is probably not too far from the property my hippie friends own - the ones who didn't invite me to their party.
I'm glad that we still have places like this left in Australia - I'd like my children and grandchildren to enjoy them also.
Brown is a champ.
He's got the guts to stand for what he believes in when he is surrounded by slimy jellyfish that roll wherever the tide of ignorant opinion take them.
Couldn't give a sh!t that he is gay - he can dress up as Goldilocks for all I care.
BB has championed long-term environmental issues (waaayyy before it was fashionable and gathered votes). His honesty and dignity should be admired - and emulated by the pathetic major parties full of slobbering lick-spittles who can't look beyond their own 3 year meal ticket.
Bob Brown is consistent in his beliefs and a champion. He has succeeded where others haven't in bringing some form of reason to the recent political debate.
He is elected to represent his supporters and he does. I'd much rather having him cutting deals with the current PM than to have the opposition in government.
Again, Tony Abbott is obviously intelligent - but how does he keep kicking so many own goals. I reckon the picture below will come back to haunt him whenever the the next federal election is held.
The big question is why did Julia change her mind on the carbon tax issue? Less than a year ago she was against it. Now she is for it. Yesterday in parliament she was asked about it and surprisingly she failed to answer the question.
Bob Brown has advised he did not force her to change her mind. As he is a saint who never lies, who on earth could have forced the PM to change ALP policy on this?
Whoever forced the PM to do this can basically say "I ended the Gillard government" coz there is no way they are going to win the next election after bringing in this tax. Whatever influence and power the Greens and independents have will disappear.
