OutKry launches "Rock The Tox!" Concert - No Toxic Waste In The Mallee, Australia

Australian-based rock group OutKry have launched potentially the nation's biggest protest concert 'Rock The Tox!' - against the planned Toxic Waste dump in the environmentally sensitive Mallee district. The boys will headline the Melbourne concert on 27 July with other celebrity acts to be announced shortly. The aim of the concert is renew public interest in metropolitan Melbourne on an issue that seems to have limited awareness in the city that is the source of most of the waste.

OutKry's lead guitarist, Jeff, was raised in the Mallee region and has set the band's support in action. "Taking toxic waste almost 500 km from Melbourne to one of most environmentally sensitive areas of Australia is just crazy, and yet the Victorian Government seriously wants to do this." says Jeff.

Hardrush Music management are fully behind OutKry in their concert launch. Assistant Manger, Sarah Chen stated "We were amazed at the lack of student and youth awareness on this serious issue. We are proud of OutKry's stand to put it back on the agenda, even if it takes focus away from their music."

OutKry's lead singer Alx backs this feeling further "OutKry is very much a rock band that seeks to make a difference. If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. And this toxic waste plan just isn't right!"

The basic facts are:

* The Victorian State Government has decided to site a toxic waste dump at Hattah Nowingi in the far north west of the state.
* 96% of the toxic waste comes from Melbourne (almost 500km away)
* The original site @ Ouyen involved resuming private land and was overturned by public protests.
* The new site is public land that should have been a reserve and in fact is next to the National Park.

The problems raised here are:

* Proximity of the rare and endangered Mallee Fowl
* Groundwater leaching back into the Murray Basin
* Next to the iconic Hattah Lakes National Park
* In the middle of one of the State's largest clean and green food production areas -many of the farmers are genetic-modified free, but now have to have toxic waste
* The spate of rail and truck accidents that would have been a national disaster if loaded with this toxic waste (check out the 48 wagon train crash recently @ Ararat, Victoria - where the toxic waste would travel)
* There are no emergency hazardous waste service or facility in the region
* There are alternate technologies and site to handle the waste as well as reuse and reduce toxic waste at the source (Defence, Industrial. Hospitals, etc in Melbourne)

OutKry support the public protest for the Victorian State Government to drop the toxic waste dump plan for th Mallee and put it where the waste is generated or invest in relevant waste reuse/reduction technologies at the source of the toxic waste production - in Melbourne.

A series of concert with leading Victorian based musicians are being organised to publicize this action. The first is scheduled for 27 July Swanston St, Melbourne.

More info on this issue is available on the OutKry website: http://www.outkry.com

Remember - "If You Don't Stand For Something, You'll Fall For Anything"