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Creative Destruction We are currently seeing the demise and/ or decay of many redundant systems, well past their used-by date. As one of the most progressive and forward thinking communities – certainly in our country and surely well up there by a global measure as well – we are perfectly positioned [and indeed, have a responsibility] to lead with fresh thinking and genuinely new solutions to the question of how we re-model both our own, and the broader global society, into the future. This is by stark contrast to a ‘gas-led recovery’ – which does at least let us know what we are up against. Certainly it has to be acknowledged that, as a nation we do have an unfortunate reputation for just this kind of backwards thinking, over recent history. Meanwhile though, there are examples all around our country of incredible innovation and forward thinking. We are quietly a world-leader in AI, quantum computing, advanced manufacturing and regenerative agriculture, to name just a few.
These are the too-often overlooked credentials that represent our greatest opportunities to leap-frog a legacy of addiction to digging shit up out of the ground – to transform and redefine ourselves; as the highly educated and privileged nation that we are. In any case, we’ve picked a massive fight with China now, so that whole coal and gas gravy train is over anyway. But, just as the most powerful players on the world stage each respectively take a huge step back from globalisation, this great act of ‘creative destruction’ offers us even more opportunity… One standout example is within the ‘rare earths’ space. China are threatening to imminently cut the US off from access to rare earths such as lithium – critical to production of iPhones and Teslas. China currently control well over 80 per cent of this market. But guess who has the second largest supply? We do. Sure, it’s still mining, but at the very least it is far more targeted, versus the blowing up of entire mountains and the strip-mining involved in coal. Plus, we also have the capability onshore to
‘value add’ these ores, before selling them – offering us a significantly higher margin, whilst helping the likes of Tesla to continue electric vehicle output, uninterrupted. More locally, we have a strong representation of our very own innovators, particularly clustered within spaces such as renewable energy, sustainable hemp alternative products and materials, as well as organic food and regenerative agricultural practice.
I would also invite those newly arrived to our community to join us in this endeavour. We see you coming, in your luxury SUVs and figure that, if you can afford to buy a place in Byron right now, you must have done quite well for yourself, back in the city. A follow-on assumption from this would be that you are quite a capable / competent type. Just one side note, while addressing those of you who have recently escaped ‘the matrix’ to join our community – we
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12 The Byron Shire Echo ƖīƖƆƐ ǩǭǽ ǩǧǩǧ
Todd Sotheren
Insurance: it is worth having your cover reviewed
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Todd Sotheren President Byron Bay Chamber of Commerce
Let’s lean into these, people – and in doing so also begin to build a more diversified and resilient local economy.
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appreciate that it can take a couple weeks to relax and exhale, but I just wanted to point out that the speed limit in Byron is actually 50 km/h. Namaste.
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