There was already a long line of eager voters for the 2013 federal election at West End State School today.
While the voters were queueing pamphlets were handed out by the different parties, providing suggestions how they should cast their vote if their party appealed to them.
All the political parties present were eager to sway voters their way, while being respectful when voters politely declined to receive their information.
Seven Over Our Dead Bodies environmental activists began their hunger strike to protest the planned development of a coal complex in the Galilee Basin outside Aurizon on Eagle Street in Brisbane CBD today.
The theme of the hunger strike is Carbon Bomb and the protest at Eagle Street was marked by Former Australian Senator Andrew Bartlett stealing the Carbon Bomb from Aurizon.
The group is targeting Aurizon’s plan to develop the largest coal complex in the world in the Galilee Basin in Central Queensland by providing financial capital to the debt-ridden Indian company GVK to develop the first three mines.
Generation Alpha founder Ben Pennings said Aurizon has ignored pleas from groups like Greenpeace, Get Up, Avazz, Friends of The Earth and the Australian Conservation Foundation.
“We are doing this to engage the environmental movement and beyond about the issue and get them more active,” Mr Penning said.
Mr Bartlett said in a press release the coal mine at Galilee Basin will produce over 700 million tons of carbon emissions each year.
“[That is] more than the total emissions Australia, the UK or Canada [produce yearly],” Mr Bartlett said.
Lauren Granger-Brown said she is committed to the hunger strike.
“How long is a piece of string,” Ms Granger-Brown said when asked for how long she will hunger strike.
Over Our Dead Bodies will continue their hunger strike at a shop front at 969 Ann Street in Fortitude Valley, which will serve as their headquarters.
For more info about Over Our Dead Bodies, you can visit their website: www.OverOurDeadBodies.net
Micah Projects will hold its 10th annual Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on 6th September.
It is an event that lets those who are affected by isolation and loneliness to enjoy a few hours of excitement and feel a sense of belonging — being part of something big and important while having a lot of fun.
Inclusion is the main focus of the Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance.
The popularity of this event has grown so much over the years that recently the event had to be moved to the Plaza Ballroom at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Last year the event had 840 attendees and they expect even more this year.
At Micah Projects’ office in West End last week The Westender met with Resident Support Program Team Leader Mal Causer to tell us more about the Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance.
We were also invited to Campbell’s Club, where a lot of the preparation for the event is already happening.
Mal Causer told The Westender that living at a hostel can often be difficult and exclusionary due to the circumstances. As a society we still treat each other differently and judge each other on how we act and behave, without making the effort to know why someone acts a certain way.
“The really important thing is to treat everybody as if they are as smart as you, because they are,” Mal Causer said.
Campbell’s Club is a meeting place for those living at different hostels to have the opportunity to meet up and have a good time together.
Socialising is very important to those living at the different hostels, and if they move to another hostel, they often risk losing contact with their friends Mal Causer added.
“They come to Campbell’s Club — they love it and they are always welcomed,” she said.
“They have a strong sense of belonging when they are there.”
At the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Wollongabba, on top of a hill, you will find Campbell’s Club nestled in a corner. A place where they are cared for by Micah Projects’ staff and volunteers while they socialise and have a great time together.
Leading up to the event there is already a lot of excitement at the club.
Not only will they talk about it for months after they have been there, but also the weeks before the event will happen — remembering how fun they had last year at Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance.
When The Westender visited it was already the main topic of the day. It was then it became obvious how important this event is, as you could hear the excitement in their voices when you asked them if they were going and see how their faces lit up with joy talking about it.
“Hi I’m Burty,” he said, just a few minutes after we had arrived at the club. When asked, he said he was looking forward to this year’s Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance.
While I was standing there with Burty, David came up to us and introduced himself. He said he has been given the task to MC the night again — last year he did it with Nathan.
“You will be in for a good time,” David said.
Nathan said that people come from everywhere just to attend Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance. That is how popular this annual event is.
“This year I will have a good time,” Nathan said.
The most popular part of the evening is the dance. Within seconds the dance floor is full of eager participants wanting to have a good time together.
Colleen Stevenson told The Westender she had been there a few times and was looking forward to attend this year’s Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance.
“You feel like a princess going in there,” Colleen Stevenson said.
“No matter what disability they have, everybody is accepted — people love it”
To find out more about this year’s Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance you can visit Micah Projects and download their e-invite [pdf].
Socialist Alternative hosted an anti-surveillance meeting at their West End office early last week.
After the release of information gathered by Edward Snowden there has been a growing worry that citizens are under mass surveillance by their own state. This fear seems to have reached Australia due to its close relationship with USA at the Pine Gap.
Socialist Alternative‘s Jessica Payne said the collection of metadata is done on an enormous scale, not just in the USA, but also in the UK.
“GCHQ can collect 21.6 petabytes a day,” Ms Payne said.
“In comparison that is [approximately] 2.5 million DVDs.”
Ms Payne also mentioned that Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK and USA is known for their cooperation in the intelligence operation Five Eyes. It has its origin from a 1946 intelligence sharing agreement between USA and UK.
“Bob Carr has denied that Australians are being surveilled and that everybody should not worry,” Ms Payne said.
Attendees at the meeting were invited to add to the debate regarding the alleged mass surveillance that is going on in western countries such as Australia.
Steve Barnes said Australia allegedly installed listening gear alongside with the communication equipment when cooperating with other countries to install submarine communications cables.
John Lamb said the Australian government was well aware what was happening in East Timor in 1975 and they also knew about the slaying of The Balibo Five long before the public was told.
“Who are they targeting [with this mass surveillance],” Mr Lamb asked.
In regards to the case against Bradley Manning Sarah Giles said he is accused of aiding the enemy, but questioned how that is possible.
“Who is the enemy,” Ms Giles asked.
Which is an important question to be ask if most countries operate under the idea that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. It is difficult to fathom a state is willing to view their own citizens as enemies, even though it is not unheard of.
At the end of the meeting Tor Browser was mentioned as a good piece of software to safely access the web.
Editor’s note: Since late last week, after this meeting, Bradley Manning was found not guilty of aiding the enemy.
The legend of The Bosun lives on with Beenleigh Rum
VOK Beverages has again become the proud owners of the Beenleigh Rum distillery. The oldest registered and heritage listed rum distillery in Australia, established in 1884.
To celebrate this they are relaunching their portfolio of rum, a white rum and a 5 y.o. dark rum, and adding a new product to it, a honey liqueur, that is as unique as the history of the distillery.
Back in 1869 James “The Bosun” Stewart operated SS Walrus as a floating sugar cane mill along the Albert River. Making it easy to mill sugar cane while docked at the plantation jetties. The crafty rogue later decided to install a pot still on the boat to make rum, using the molasses left over from crushing sugar cane.
One morning in 1884 the SS Walrus had run aground on the riverbank, then found by local farmers Davy and Gooding. On the boat they discovered the original pot was still in great condition, but a certain rascal was not to be found. They said a prayer for the missing James “The Bosun” Stewart, applied for a rum license and founded what we now know as the Beenleigh Rum distillery, using his old pot still to make rum.
The Westender had the privilege to taste the new products and enjoy a personal tour of the distillery with Beenleigh Distillery Manager John Mulraney and Vok Beverages Group Marketing Manager Chris Illman. Where they talked passionately about their rum and showing how Beenleigh Rum is crafted. Giving a glimpse into what makes this rum so unique.
The Beenleigh Rum distillery prides itself on producing a product that is based on quality, not quantity. As it was known to be the best rum you could get your hands on in Australia back in its early days, and awarded to be the best tasting rum in the world in 1995 at the London International Wine & Spirit Show — a tradition they intend to continue.
The distillery is an Australian owned company made with Australian-only products. Using locally-sourced water, molasses from Australia’s last remaining, privately-owned sugar mill, Rocky Point, and local, in-house produced yeast.
Beenleigh White Rum 37.5% ABV — With its very mild flavour is intended as a cocktail mixer. Yet it has a smooth and mild sweetness to it which will blend nicely with any drink it is added to.
Beenleigh Dark 5 Y.O. Rum 40% ABV — A dark rum with great character. With a richer taste than the white rum of course, it is still very smooth and can easily be enjoyed on the rocks.
Beenleigh Honey Liqueur 35% ABV — Is a dark 5 y.o. rum infused with Ligurian honey from Kangaroo Island. The honey makes the 5 y.o. rum even smoother to drink without making it too sweet. A perfect and unique liqueur to enjoy on the rocks as well