This Wednesday is the day to head down to the Gabba Village and celebrate with the good folk in the enchanted triangle.
The restaurants and retailers tucked in the shaddow of the iconic cricket ground are getting into the Christmas spirit with lots of tempting treats.
You could share a banquet with friends at Birdcage or enjoy turkey meatball subs curbside under the palms at Crosstown Eatery.
Brown Dog will be open late offering Christmas cheer to their loyal customers, whilst Pearl will fill the street with aromas of roasted suckling pig.
Enoteca will bring a little Italian Christmas magic to the evening and Canvas will be mixing up delicious Christmassy cocktails.
Live music and carol singers will fill the square whilst shoppers will find many Christmas stocking fillers to take home beautifully wrapped through out the stores.
Keep an eye out for Ab fabs ‘spot’ discounts, the Bakers Arms gluten free rum balls, champagne tastings and other festive treats throughout the streets of the Woolloongabba village!
Helen Abrahams and Amelia Salmon on a happier note
Councillor Helen Abrahams, The Gabba Ward calls for the Lord Mayor to adhere to his Neighbourhood Plan for West End and purchase the land at 68 Vulture Street for a new park.
“It was only when the owner of the site lodged a development application for a five storey building that Council’s intention to purchase the entire site for parkland was revealed” said Helen Abrahams.
“As soon as I knew that this site was earmarked for a park, I was out in the streets to find out what local residents thought. They gave me a clear message: that the majority of residents want a park.”
Locals know that Council is planning for a population increase of 25,000 residents in South Brisbane and West End. This is three times the existing population. It will put huge pressure on existing parks. More parkland is vital to meet the needs of future residents.”
“I support a park on this site. I have advised the Lord Mayor of my support. It is now up the Lord Mayor to deliver the park.”
The owners of this property, in good faith, proposed to develop the site for shops, offices and 19 residential units. Instead of a development approval from Council they received a letter to resume their land.
“The Lord Mayor should have taken steps to acquire this land in 2011 when the Neighbourhood Plan was introduced, rather than wait until the owners had gone to the considerable expense of preparing a development application” said Helen Abrahams.
“The Lord Mayor should learn from this experience and proceed immediately to acquire an additional site identified for acquisition for parkland – 281 Montague Road, West End. The best and kindest outcome for the property owners is for Council to acquire the site as soon as possible once they have indicated it is needed for park.
Local member Jackie Trad has denounced the decision to extend sand mining on North Stradbroke Island.
The Newman LNP Government last night passed legislation to extend sand mining on North Stradbroke Island for another 22 years in a morally corrupt cash for legislation deal said Jackie Trad, Labor Environment Spokesperson and Member for South Brisbane.
“The maps in the legislation, length of lease terms and environmental authority were all requested in a May briefing note from Sibelco to the Newman Government,” Ms Trad said.
“Every single request in this submission from Sibelco was granted in this legislation.”
“The Government accepted the economic and scientific advice of Sibelco without question and failed to do any independent analysis into the impacts on tourism as the Island’s largest employer”
“I have never seen legislation drafted this way at the explicit request of a mining company who stands to make $1.5 billion by their own figures.”
Ms Trad said the Bill followed $91,840 in electoral support from Sibelco to the Premier’s campaign in Ashgrove at the 2012 State election and meetings held directly between the Premier and the head of Sibelco.
“The Premier is yet to rule out having discussed electoral support at these meetings,” Ms Trad said.
“The Newman LNP Government have broken their election promise to consult with Island residents and the indigenous native title holder the Quandamooka people about a transition away from sand mining.”
Ms Trad said the legislation also seeks to remove the appeal rights of the native title holder without consultation.
“The Premier before the election said he was greatly concerned about the appeal rights of a mining company who were operating on expired mining leases but shows no regard for the democratic rights of the Quandamooka people.”
Ms Trad said the extension of sand mining for another 22 years has the potential to permanently damage the Island’s aquifer including the unique natural asset of Blue Lake.
The removal of the mine path from the legislation at the request of Sibelco will also threaten koala and glossy black cockatoo habitat.
“The damage to tourism and the environment from this legislation cannot be reversed and no independent economic or environmental assessment has taken place,” Ms Trad said.
“The Newman LNP Government has effectively sold off one of our greatest tourism assets and the world’s second largest sand island in a morally corrupt cash for legislation deal.”
“Queenslanders have not seen anything like this since the era of Joh Bjelke-Petersen.”
A free screening of Kinseki (I Wish) on November 28th
Film lovers can win tickets to the prestigious Asia Pacific Screen Awards in Brisbane next month at free open-air screenings of past nominees.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the first screening would be in the Chinatown Mall at 7pm, Thursday 21 November and feature Gattu from India. Nominated for Best Children’s Feature Film in 2012, it follows the story of a young street kid in a small town where kite-flying is the local obsession.
“Starring Mohammad Samad as Gattu, the Hindi film was produced by the Children’s Film Society, India, and has received much critical acclaim, including recognition at the Berlin International Film Festival last year,” Cr Quirk said.
“The Asia Pacific Screen Awards are the region’s highest accolade in film, recognising and promoting cinematic excellence and cultural diversity of the world’s fastest growing film region: comprising 70 countries and areas, 4.5 billion people and responsible for half of the world’s film output.
“The 2013 winners will be announced at a gala red carpet event at City Hall on 12 December but prior to that there will be a number of free public screenings.”
Gattu will be followed by a free public screening in the Chinatown Mall on 28 November of Kinseki (I Wish), a film from Japan nominated for Best Children’s Feature Film in 2012.
“Directed by Kore-eda Hirokazu, Kinseki is a beguiling tale of two young brothers trying to reunite their family and will appeal to all ages,” Cr Quirk said.
“Then on 5 December, Shui Yuet Sun Tau (Echoes of the Rainbow), a film from Hong Kong nominated for Best Children’s Feature Film in 2010 will be shown.
“Those who attend these films in Chinatown Mall will have the chance to win double passes to attend the awards ceremony on 12 December.”
Cr Quirk said other free open-air community screenings would take place at South Bank Parklands on Saturday December 7 (Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga-Hoole) and December 22 (Happy Feet Two).
Details on screenings are available at http://www.asiapacificscreenacademy.com/unlisted-pages/community-film-screenings/
The Asia Pacific Screen Awards were established in 2007. They are now managed by economic development board Brisbane Marketing in a unique collaboration with Paris-based UNESCO and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations.
Photo: Buzz Chung stars as ‘Big Ears’ in Echoes of the Rainbow
The Westender received this statement from the Quensland Centre for Photography today, and thought it important that we share it with you.
QCP FUNDING CUTS STATEMENT
On the 31st of October the Queensland Government announced it would no longer provide triennial funding for the Queensland Centre for Photography from the start of 2014. The Government has cut the core funding of QCP by $170,000 per annum.
The QCP has played a leading role in Queensland and across Australia promoting the work of photo-media artists, supporting industry growth both nationally and internationally.
Over the last year we have presented 70 artists in the exhibition program, profiled 10 artists internationally and two artists nationally, produced one publication for an emerging artist with two more in progress. As part of the biennial Queensland Festival of Photography (last held in 2012) more than 125,000 people participated in 74 events right across Queensland.
The cuts and austerity measures announced on the 31st of October were applied exclusively to the small to medium arts sector, with the timing of the announcement leaving only 8 weeks for affected organisations to find alternative ways of funding or sponsorship.
With the difficulties this area of the arts industry has in accessing corporate and philanthropic support, the cuts will have a devastating effect. Institutions facing the prospect of closing down will experience multiplying losses, placing a large part of the sector that have delivered art services to the community in a very difficult position.
The QCP’s estimated losses for next year are many times the announced cuts to its triennial funding. The larger loss for Queensland of venues, programs, professional knowledge and decades of investments developing artistic talent, not to mention the loss of intellectual capacity and experience, is impossible to estimate.
The organisations affected are at the core of the capacity for the state to develop artistic talent. They have been the bridge between educational institutions and the global art institutions in Queensland and Australia. Some were also key exporters of Queensland art to national and international markets; their closure in the mid and long term will greatly set back efforts to promote Queensland art to the world.
For QCP, as one of the leading institutions of photo-media art in Australia, the first group affected by the funding cut are the 70 artists scheduled in the exhibition program for the year 2014. Other programs such as QCP publications, the Queensland Festival of Photography and its international conference in April next year, among others are in a process of review as to our capacity to deliver them.
We have three weeks to find new strategic partners that would allow the institution to keep its doors open; if we are unable to do so, our key actions would be focused on ensuring the appropriate recognition of the work done by artists, educators and the community, as well as suitably archiving all materials- electronic or hard copy- that document and celebrate one of the most unique achievements in the photographic medium in Australia.
The QCP’s central role has been the development of artistic talent in the area of photo-media art in Australia through programs that develop community interest locally, nationally and the internationally. In that endeavour, we would like to thank the community of artists, sponsors, academics, collectors, art dealers, curators, publishers, and directors of other institutions that partnered with us during the last ten years. We would like to acknowledge the individuals and organisations that opened its doors and continue developing Australian photography and in doing so, encourage artistic development and provide sustainability for hundreds of artists. We would like to express our deep gratitude for the kindness of the artistic community of the USA, particularly in Los Angeles, that welcomed, mentored and made us recipients of a larger legacy of knowledge while celebrating the achievements of Australian photography. Our appreciation extends to the visionary individuals in government that for the last decade supported us, understanding the value of developing our own artistic voice as a nation.
These are difficult times, particularly for volunteers, staff, board members and artists. Your kind support means much and we hope you can join us at all the upcoming events marking a decade of achievements and to celebrate our community regardless of the adversity we are faced with.
If you know of anyone that you think could introduce us to a strategic partner and would like to assist us, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
If you would like to read more about these issues, here are some articles:
Photo: (Photo/EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection)
Just days after Haiyan made landfall in the Philippines, the 2013 UN Climate Change Conference kicked off in Warsaw, prompting a big message from Philippines delegate Yeb Sano.
At the opening of the two-week conference, Sano vowed to fast voluntarily until a “meaningful outcome” was in sight, in solidarity with those who do not have food in the wake of Haiyan.
“What my country is going through as a result of this extreme climate event is madness,” he said at the conference this week.
“Typhoons such as Haiyan and its impacts represent a sobering reminder to the international community that we cannot afford to procrastinate on climate action.”
The country has been a center for natural disasters over the past year. Since June, the Philippines were in the direct path of typhoons Nari, Utor and Krosa, which moved over the northern island of Luzon.
The country was also rattled by a magnitude-7.1 earthquake in October, which killed more than 200 people, becoming the deadliest quake to strike the country in 23 years.
In the wake of the current devastation, Sano is not the first to attribute the impact of Haiyan with climate change.
Since the storm, the theory that climate change will intensify storms has again reared its head in the scientific and political community.
On Nov. 10, meteorologist and author of the controversial book ‘The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars,’ Michael Mann blogged that the denial of science can kill, referencing the super typhoon.
“This week’s typhoon that is now estimated to have killed 10,000 people in the Philippines might have occurred in the absence of climate change, although global warming likely put it on steroids,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, climate change skeptics maintain that the argument is unfounded.
“Dealing with disasters such as Typhoon Haiyan requires a multi-faceted approach. Focusing on added atmospheric CO2 as the dominate threat with respect to intense typhoons is a grossly inadequate response,” Meteorologist and Senior Research Scientist at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Roger A. Pielke, told AccuWeather.com.
Despite the contention, Sano remains adamant that more intense tropical storms are coming.
“Science tells us that simply, climate change will mean more intense tropical storms. As the Earth warms up, that would include the oceans. The energy that is stored in the waters off the Philippines will increase the intensity of typhoons and the trend we now see is that more destructive storms will be the new norm,” he said.
The UN climate talks will continue through Nov. 22, as more than 190 delegates continue the dialogue on climate change action and innovation.
