Freedom from fear and zombies

With so much talk on the streets about festivals and how much money they contribute or take away, perhaps it’s time to look at ways a festival could improve our social evolution and aware- ness, and make us a truly unique oddity compared to Australia’s straight-laced culture of boring normality.

A ‘Freedom From Fear’ rally could highlight the over-regulated and stifling nature of western society. Freedom from liability insurance, freedom from permits, regulations... essentially freedom from The Man.

It was nine years ago, just after the 2001 September 11 attacks, that over-regulation started to noticeably increase. Musicians and artists now pay third party liability insurance to perform in clubs where previously they didn’t. Community halls now have to pay large insurance fees where previously they didn’t.

These people and venues, it could be argued, contribute far more to society than insurance companies, yet they are being asked to pay the companies a percentage of their meagre income. Legislation that prohibits fun, laughter and enjoyment should never be considered.

Zombie Action Day

The next big thing that could put Byron on the map for con- science change is a ‘Zombie Consumer Action Day.’ It wouldn’t take much – just a motley crew of zombies roaming the streets of our towns buying Chinese made knick-knacks.

Recently In the US, where zombie consumer action days are a common occurrence, seven hapless zombie impersonators were imprisoned for two days because police thought they posed a terrorist threat. ‘Minneapolis will pay $165,000 to zombies’ is the August 23 headline from the Star Tribune, which describes the eventual court settlement.