Queensland

On Saturday 8 October in Australia (which might be your 7th or 8th Oct depending on timezone) join us to stand up for our forests at Harvey Norman stores and other locations across Australia and the planet and say

No Harvey Norman No! Stop selling Aussie forest destruction!

Australia's world-class forests are still being ripped apart by industrial logging operations every single day. The destruction of our native forests is placing our threatened species, clean air and water, and climate in serious danger.

Mt Isa resident James Newburrie has organised the first pro-gay marriage rally in Mt Isa outside the offices of prominent homophobic MP Bob Katter. About 70 people attended the rally on 11/9/2011. The rally aimed to show Bob Katter that not all of Mt Isa supported his homophobic views and see if Bob Katter would apologise for his long career of making homophobic statements. In particular James was outraged that Bob Katter had recently cited a petition of 32,000 people against gay marriage as "32,000 reasons" to oppose the reform. Katter had also recently helped raise money for an organisation that supports expelling gay students from NSW high schools. James wanted his rally to part of a campaign to gather 32,000 people to "like" a page on Facebook supporting gay marriage. James also had to overcome resistance from the Mt Isa council to his rally when they demanded he provide public liability insurance which he was eventually able to obtain from the Sex Party. The rally received national media coverage as was a very successful and brave effort from a self-described "first time activist".
Related: Jame's explanation of why the rally had a point -- Equal love rally attracts more than one man and his flag:Brisbane ABC radio -- Katter urged to walk backwards to Burke: World Today -- Australian Marriage Equality Press release -- Youtube statement by James Newburrie

Newsletter date: 10 September 2011

13 September 2011 - Fourth anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/drip.html

Contents:
* Central Land Council statement, Kalkaringi, 26 August 2011
* Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT: 'Response to Stronger Futures'
* Perth launch of book: "Walk With Us" - Aboriginal views on the NT Intervention
* Interview with Barbara Shaw about the NT Intervention
* Poems by Isobel Phillips, Muckaty Traditional Owner
* Paddy Dujack and Gus George at Wave Hill homestead

Newsletter date: 4 September 2011

Click on the links for details of the events ...

Event: Ongoing protest: James Price Point, Kimberley, WA
Kimberley gas plant protest
Save the Kimberley info: http://www.savethekimberley.com/
Kimberley gas plant threatens Aboriginal culture: http://ccr.uws.edu.au/2011/06/22/kimberley-gas-plant-threatens-aborigina...
Aboriginal elder Elsta Foy at the protest camp: http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2011/s3296152.htm
Protest updates: http://www.savethekimberley.com/wp/blog/