An update:

NUDE bathing looks set to continue at Tyagarah Beach, at least in the short term.

Byron Shire Councillors decided not to follow a staff recommendation to revoke a 1998 clothes-optional declaration.

Instead, a recommendation from Councillor Paul Spooner was adopted that will see the beach stay open for nude bathing while council investigates suitable alternative locations in the shire where clothes-optional bathing may be declared.

The recommendation to close the beach to nude/clothes-optional bathing came from the council's compliance team leader, David Murray, following complaints of anti-social behaviour in the area.

There was also concern that the original declaration may not have been valid because the management of that area rests with Crown Lands, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Marine Parks Authority.

The recommendation also states the council should consult with relevant community groups and state agencies about managing anti-social behaviour in regards to nude bathing.

Cr Spooner said it was clear to councillors that the issue of nude bathing was important to the community.

A report will be prepared for councillors to inform determinations regarding clothes-optional bathing and any future declarations.

http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/reprieve-for-bare-bum-beach/1977418/

Here is the rallying point for those that use Tyagarah beach now is the time to continue to let your voices be heard.

Byron nudist beach faces closure amid Aboriginal concerns

A report in the Northern Star local paper that can be read here: http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/redress-for-nude-beach/1972544/

It seems that the headline is a little mischievious as it appears that there is some doubt that the Byron Shire Council may have declared Tyagarah Beach as a legal clothing optional beach back in 1998 when it had no power to do so. 

The rest of the story consists of accusations of anti-social behaviour that according to an indigenous woman suggesting the behaviour could be considered a "desecration of a significant Aboriginal women's site".
I assume that the area is the Ti-Tree Lakes which apparently have significant import to the indigenous woman of the area.

As I said in my comment following the article "there is a point of agreement between the Traditional Owners and the vast majority of clothing optional beach users and that is that there is a need to enforce society's laws and if illegal anti social activity is taking place then the offenders need to be charged by Police. "

Anti-social behaviours cannot be allowed to take place on the few clothing optional beaches that we have as it just gives opponents to our lifestyle ammunition to seek closures.

For the far north coast this challenge comes on the heels of a possible closure of a car park that provides access to Kings Beach.

As I have said in a previous post: - The price of Beach is eternal vigilance!

Depressing fact: 6 out of 10 women hate their naked bodies

 

The following article gives another reason for the wider promotion of the Naturist lifestyle with its respect for self and others that it fosters.

If one spends any time in a Naturist environment and it is clear that we are all fundamentally the same. What is this image that we are supposed to compare ourselves to? Is it the digitally enhanced photos of the female form that adorn the covers of magazines? If so we are comparing ourselves to a lie!

Body size and the presence of cellulite is immaterial!

Who says that a woman who has had children needs to have the stomach tone of a teenager?  I'll wager it is a company that has a product that they will tell you can solve this non-existent problem!

And men you are not immune to this body image lie either, we are all being conned!

Advertisers are creating in us insecurities and then selling us "Snake -Oil" to make us feel better about ourselves. But not too much better however, as they want us to keep coming back to the products time ($) and time ($) again.

 

Here is the article:

Six out of ten women have confessed they hate the sight of their naked body, a study has revealed.

In a truly sad and depressing fact, a poll found that the majority of British women are uncomfortable seeing themselves being naked, with many feeling uneasy even in front of their partners.

More than four out of ten women don't like their other half to see them naked because they are too embarrassed by their appearance.

The same number of women also said they avoid mirrors and don't own a full length one as it makes them depressed.

This is terrible ladies!

The survey carried out by Rosemary Conley Diet & Fitness Clubs found that the biggest complaints were saggy tummies, love handles, being overweight in general or cellulite.

33% of those asked said they felt losing weight would make them feel better – with 11 pounds being the magic figure.

A third of the 2,000 women polled also said their love lives had been affected because of their confidence issues.
From:http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/depressing-fact-6-10-women-hate-naked-bodies-103013509.html

A thought.

TV show takes a positive look at the Nudist / Naturist lifestyle

Today I received an unsolicited email advising that there will be a new Australian TV show called "Vive Cool City" which premieres Tuesday 21st May at 11pm on SBS 2.

Here is the body of the email that I received:


Vive Cool City is a pilot for a new show on SBS TV that explores lifestyles that are
outside the mainstream.

It features a very positive story on the nudist and naturist lifestyle.

Reporter, Ryder Susman, strips off himself to join members of the Metro East Nudist
Leisure Club at one of their fortnightly socials at a gym in the Melbourne suburb of
Narre Warren.

Members of the club discuss the freedom and benefits and being able to socialise and
pursue every day activities like going to the gym without the restriction of
clothing.

It was the reporter, Ryder’s, first experience with public nudity and despite his
initial nervousness; he ended up becoming a convert after spending a few hours naked
at the gym.

It would be greatly appreciated if you could pass the details about the screening of
this program on to your members and guests and include it in your newsletters or on
your websites.

A photo of the Vive Cool City film crew interviewing, Rob, a founding member of the
Metro East Nudist Leisure Club is attached.

The Vive Cool City pilot will screen at 11pm on Tuesday night 21st May on SBS 2.

The story on the Metro East Nudist Leisure Club is about a minute and a half in to
the program.

This looks like this will be a positive representation of social nudity it is always a good start that the reporter and crew are naked for the show. We will have to tune in to see if this is the case.

Further information on the show from the SBS website:  Vive Cool City features a series of 4-5 minute original documentaries that explore the underbelly of human culture and the behaviours that don't normally get air time. 
It tells stories about the world that we don't usually see on television - the weird and wonderful truth about what people actually get up to. 
At times it is confronting, entertaining and playful - but it is always engaging. 
(Commissioned by SBS) (Entertainment) MA (N,D)

Free to be me!

I am not sure where I got this image originally, so apologies that I cannot give credit to the original post, also I have made a small alteration by removing the clothes of the person on the steps to make my point that we as Naturists are a minority, but that also make us free thinkers as well.

We can therefore enjoy the many benefits of a clothes-free lifestyle although to do so we had to take a step away from conformity to experience it.

Enjoy your freedom.

That bra you're wearing? It's making your boobs saggier.

The following article confirms what has been speculated on for years. How can a part of your anatomy that has been trussed and supported artificially be expected to do anything other than lose the ability to tone and be self-supportive.

The other concern not mentioned in the following article, but that also make a lot of common sense, is what does the wearing of a tight undergarment around the chest do to the lymphatic system? Can there be a build-up of toxins in the breast tissue that the natural unimpeded movement of breasts would otherwise drain? Does this impact breast health?

Ladies do not be a slave to fashion and convention say NO to chest binding the same way that you would say NO to foot binding which deforms the feet.



WOMEN - you've been lied to for years. That bra you're wearing? It's making your boobs saggier.

A French study spanning 15-years has found that not only do bras make your breasts sag even more, they do nothing to reduce back pain.

"Medically, physiologically, anatomically - breasts gain no benefit from being denied gravity," said Jean-Denis Rouillon, Research Professor on the French study, told Counsel and Heal.

"On the contrary, they get saggier with a bra."

The study looked at 330 women and the changes in their breasts over time using a slide rule and caliper, and concluded that breasts naturally become more toned and supported if no bra is used. When a bra is used, the breast becomes dependent on the artificial support, making them degrade more quickly.

Additionally, the study found that going braless gives women a 7mm lift in their nipples for every year they go without, and aids in fading stretch marks.

Capucine, a 28-year-old participant in Rouillon's study, told France Info that since being involved in the study she hasn't worn a bra for two years.
"There are multiple benefits: I breathe more easily, I carry myself better, and I have less back pain," she said.

So should we all be banning the bra?

"While we validated the hypothesis that the bra is a false 'need'...it would be dangerous to advise all women to stop wearing their soutien-gorge as the women involved were not a representative sample of the population," Rouillon said.

Reference: http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health-fitness/ladies-its-time-to-take-that-bra-off/story-fneuzle5-1226618790682#ixzz2QV8hO3RF

 

 

Nude & Free!

I loved this still from the movie "Nu et Libre".

Sitting at Cobblers Beach enjoying the sunshine and water you would often see small leisure craft come in close to the shore to have a look at the "nude beach" or more correctly the nudes on the beach.

Many a time I felt like saying "go home strip off and have a look in the mirror - we are all the same!"

The Sydney Skinny Nude Ocean Swim

"Sometimes we are strange cattle!"

My father used to say this expression when ever people would do strange or illogical things and this saying came to mind watching the media coverage of the "Sydney Skinny" held recently at Cobblers Beach, Sydney Harbour.

Where according to the media "over 900 Australians participated in the world's first nude ocean swim, the Sydney Skinny, a 900 meter race in the waters of Sydney Harbor. The concept was created as a way to encourage people to throw aside concerns of body image, to connect with nature and celebrate as a community. The swim hopes to raise as much as $15,000 for the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife."

Now I'm all for the promotion of clothes-free recreation and I support what this event is wanting to achieve. The thing that left me somewhat bemused was those interviewed after the event spoke in glowing terms of the clothes-free experience and they said that they will do it again next year.

Next year? Why not next weekend? We have the legal clothes-free beach available why wait until next year if it was such an affirming experience?

It seems we need to have an excuse to get our gear off and enjoy some nude time. We have to be able to say "Well we did it in support of a good cause!"

People you don't need an excuse just admit that you enjoyed it and do it again!

That's why I think that we are indeed "Strange cattle!"

Nurse In

Firstly pardon this post as it is being composed on my phone as I am laid up at the moment.

Once again there is a media storm about breast feeding in public. while thankfully it is now almost universally accepted that women should have the right to breastfeed their infants whenever needed, we still have the screwed up view that womam's breasts are first sex objects and second have a feeding and nurturing function.

An attitude that plays only into commercial interests and objectifies women.

Response to one commentator's views is to hold a "nurse in" at the television studio. Like a number of studios nowdays this one  has as a backdrop a busy Sydney street. So the plan is for women to stand near the glass and feed their children.

In my view women should reclaim their breasts and they should be free to breast feed or go top free when ever they wish. If a man can walk though the city without a shirt then so should women. Breasts are only errotic because we have made then so though selected covering which has fetishized the display of female nipples.

So good luck ladies on your protest.

Sunkissed