FAKE TREES

The European Goldfinch is a widespread species in Europe, central Asia and northern Africa and was introduced to Australia in the 1860s. Originally restricted to urban areas, the European Goldfinch has successfully moved out into country areas of south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania.

If ever there was a need to plant – and decorate them, if we must –more real trees instead of installing fake ones, this is it. Yes, this little bird is an introduced species but it makes a sad point.

It is so saddening that it is the little things that leads some people to misunderstand the world and it is distressing when this class of thinking tends to shape the placemakers' 'placedness'. 

Bureaucratic expediency and its self-importance is a blight on cultural landscapes the world over. Someone somewhere pointed out that when it comes to 'sincerity', if you manage to fake that in business and governance, you've got it made.

It turns out that this little bird is a lot like those caneries that when they keel over in coal mines filled with poison gas, long before more robust types realise that there is any danger is there. Something to think about!