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PICNIC OF THE DAMNED – a fond farewell to Kyeemagh beach
Kyeemagh beach, at the mouth of the Cooks River, Botany Bay, has never been a Bondi or Manly, but recently, this small, working class beach has simply disappeared. A victim, not of rising tides and climate change, Kyeemagh beach succumbed to the NSW Government’s desalination juggernaut (whose pipe runs from the plant itself at Kurnell, under Botany Bay to Kyeemagh).
On March 6, 4pm, there’ll be a picnic to commiserate this disappearance, next to this ghostly strip, outside the perimeter of the security fence marking the no-go zone. Bring a picnic basket and blanket, and come dressed a la Picnic at Hanging Rock. Documentation from the picnic will be used for an exhibition in May by Greg Shapley.
WHAT: Picnic of the Damned
WHERE: Near where the beach used to be, next to the Cooks River – opposite General Holmes Drive & O’Dea Ave, Kyeemagh (near Brighton Le Sands), Sydney, Australia
WHEN: Saturday March 6, 4pm-6pm
WHO: Contact Greg Shapley on 0401 152 434 or email gshapley@gmail.com
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Stop Iceland’s #whale hunt – Act Now!
Iceland’s whaling season began recently, kicking off a bloody whale hunt that could lead to the death of 100 minke whales.
Iceland is one of only two countries (the other Japan) worldwide that still authorizes commercial whaling. About half of the whale meat from this year’s hunt is intended for domestic sales in Iceland, while the rest of the quota will be sold to Japan.
Sign the petition and tell the Icelandic government to reduce this year’s whale hunt quotas immediately – and to ban whaling forever.
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Blog: Politicians Failing Whales #fb #geekgirl #fail #whales
One of the things that most annoys me about politics is the destruction the political system leaves in its wake. And why no matter whom we seem to vote for, all groups and individuals should be judged on the immediacy of what they do, and how they can mitigate the risk of inheriting the rubbish of former regimes. Simple, but having integrity is a great place to start!
I think this would have to be a universal doctrine of how one calculates the success of the incumbent. With a lot more scrutiny, immediacy and distribution of communication, we ‘the people’ are able to denounce the tardy, stupid, ineffectual and incompetent politicians we vote for.
We can’t seem to win: the right royal bunglers of this world just keep on coming. I think this may have to do with the type of people who work in Government and the type of people it attracts. Certainly, I’ve been told a good many times it’s hard to get good people in Gov’t: but surely there needs to be a bit more of a litmus test employed when employing people.
My vote for bad pollie of the week: it’s a close tie between the procrastinating K.Rudd dud (http://twitter.com/KevinRuddPM) or that arrogant plonker twit (http://twitter.com/TonyAbbottMHR). The latter got into the hot-seat by lying, the former making noise (centre-right) until he too can potentially lie legitimately. I doubt Australians are mad enough to vote for Abbott, who has a track record of not being able to separate Church from State, and btw looks shockin’ in his speedos!
Rudd refuses to get legal with the Japanese (who sank the Sea Shepherd’s Ady Gil) even though he keeps making veiled threats to do so, and leaving Ms Julia Gillard (Julia.Gillard.MP@aph.gov.au) in charge (who now also makes veiled threats on his behalf).
Abbott doesn’t want to offend or hurt the Japanese Gov’t feelings. OMG perhaps he can organise a pity party!! #fail
It’s just crap city for the whales, being killed illegally by the Japanese in the Southern Oceans for meat. Leaving little choice for direct action groups like Sea Shepherd or Bob Barker, who are having to up the ante on gaining attention to save and defend whales.
I’m amazed no one has been killed, and I think this has more to do with sheer bloody luck than strategy or intention.
We have to continue to speak on behalf of animals, and we have to continue to let politicians know they are not doing a good enough job!!
I don’t care about Kevin Rudd climbing rocks (on Cradle Mountain) with his kids on holiday. Get off down the mountain Kev and do some bloody work! You made election promises you won’t keep!
Veiled threats are causing the situation to escalate by not having the courage as a Gov’t to defend Southern Ocean whales and Australian citizens. I am disgusted by your ineffectiveness K.Rudd and that’s why you get my vote for shit pollie of the week!
Links:
Tumblr | Stop Killing Whales
Blogspot | Save the Whales Please
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World War Whale download and godinpants plankton juice
In a future much like the present, the Earth is host to a variety of Cetaceans within its seas. These giant fleshy beasts of the deep have long been sought after sources of riches, providing enough oil to lubricate a robot army for weeks, and enough pre-digested plankton to fill a million sea monkey tanks.
It is in this future we find godinpants, documenting the great downfall of mankind against its Cetacean foes.
You gotta love this! x
More more more from 8bitcollective. And yes apart from being a very fanciful story of whales-at-war it’s also a Free download of ‘World War Whale’ – new release from experimental / chiptune artist
Twitter name @godinpants
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To my Japanese friends you know I love you. Have a #whale of a good time.
With the historic change of government in Japan, Greenpeace is intensifying its efforts to bring whaling to an end. The new Japanese Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama, has already shown he is more concerned about Japan’s international reputation than his predecessors. Join over 140,000 people and send the new Prime Minister your Origami Whale, asking him to end the corrupt whaling industry once and for all.
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Sea Shepherd is intervening to defend #Whales
On December 7, 2009 the Sea Shepherd’s – Steve Irwin will depart to defend endangered whales in the Antarctic Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.
Starting in December, the Japanese whaling fleet will be targeting 935 piked (Minke) whales and another 50 fin whales, and has threatened to add humpbacks to their quota as well. The Sea Shepherd intends to once again negate their illicit profits.
Because of Sea Shepherd interventions, the Japanese whalers have suffered losses for three years. They are making steady progress towards their objective of sinking the entire Japanese whaling fleet – economically.
You can support the Sea Shepherd in a variety of ways! Go to the Sea Shepherd website.
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Australian Government must demand Japan recall its whaling fleet immediately
The Japanese whaling fleet left port in Innoshima (Nov 19, 2009) en route to Antarctica with over 1000 whales in its sight. It will take the whaling fleet about three weeks to reach the Southern Ocean beneath Australia.
When they get there, the Government of Japan’s annual ‘research’ expedition to Antarctic waters plans to kill up to 935 minke whales, 50 fin whales and 50 of our beloved humpback whales.
“Japan’s so-called scientific whaling is nothing less than commercial whaling in disguise. You don’t need to kill whales to study them,” said Darren Kindleysides, Director of the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS).
This is the fifth whaling season for the Japanese Government’s controversial and confrontational ’scientific whaling’ program known as ‘JARPA II’ and the 22nd consecutive year Japan has hunted whales under the guise of scientific research. In that time, Japan’s whalers have killed more than 9000 whales in the Southern Ocean.
“Hunting hundreds of whales and calling it research breaks international law and defies the global ban on whaling brought in by the International Whaling Commission in 1986. How many more whaling seasons must be endured, how many more whales must die under this charade?” Kindleysides said.
This whaling season, the whalers are planning to kill 50 humpback whales - this would break a four decade ban on hunting humpbacks and has ramifications for Australia’s thriving whale watching industry.
“The whalers have our beloved humpbacks in their sights - the same whales that migrate to Australia during winter, the same whales that support our multi-million dollar whale watching industries on our east and west coasts.”
Research [1] has shown that whale watching is worth approximately $300million dollars a year in Australia, with humpbacks the backbone of our whale watching industries in many locations. Japan withdrew plans to kill humpbacks in 2007 and 2008 following international outcry and pressure from countries like Australia, but their self-appointed quota of 50 humpbacks in the 2009 season still stands.
With the recent change of Government in Japan, there are suggestions the Japanese Government is reviewing the funding for the annual whaling expeditions, a hugely subsidised and controversial hunt that has stained Japan’s standing on the international stage.
“The Australian Government must demand Japan recall its whaling fleet immediately. It is time to tell the new Japanese Government to put their unlawful whaling program on ice. If diplomacy cannot prevent another season of whale slaughter in the Southern Ocean the Rudd Government must deliver on its election promise to pursue legal action against Japan before international courts and tribunals to end whaling once and for all,” concluded Kindleysides.
[1] Research undertaken by the International Fund for Animal Welfare evaluating the economic value of whale and dolphin watching in Australia.
Media Contact:
Darren Kindleysides (AMCS Director): +61 (07) 3393 5811 or 0422 396 077
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Art for Sharks and Big Marine Parks 2009
Now in its third year, Art for Sharks is a major annual fundraiser for The Australian Marine Conservation Society. Over 40 pieces of fabulous art have been donated by artists who are passionate about protecting Australia’s precious ocean wildlife. This year’s proceeds will go specifically towards protecting the Coral Sea, a tropical jewel to Australia’s northeast.
Tickets selling fast. Friday 25th Sept (RSVP by Wed 23rd Sept). Ph: 1800 066 299 or buy your online tickets here…
Where
Bleeding Heart Gallery, 166 Ann St, Brisbane (just near King George Square in the heart of Brisbane City) AustraliaWhen
Friday 25th September 2009, 6 – 9.30pmArtwork will be open for public viewing for one week prior to the auction, from Monday 21st September 7am – 4pm. We encourage you to have a delicious coffee and view the artworks on display. Absentee bids can be placed on the artworks for those who are unable to attend the event.
More at AMCS.
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Silk House Art Projects. The Twilight Girls present Wet Walls
EXHIBITION OPENINGS – SATURDAY 12 SEPT 6PM
Silk House Art Projects and the Arthive gallery present…
Exhibition: The Twilight Girls present ‘Wet Walls’
Dates: 12 September – 09 October
Artist/s: The Twilight Girls Curator: Penny ThwaiteA site-specific installation situated on the glass windows of the Silk House shopfront. The Twlight Girls bring a mix of the tactile, the architectural and classic 70s design to the windows of Silk House. ……is it water? Is it glass? How did they do it??
Opening: Saturday 12 September
Time: 6pm
Location: SilkHouseARtProjects, Shop 1, 200 Hunter St Mall, Newcastle, AustraliaSilkHouseARtProjects is a series of installations and experimental art projects.
Works viewable 24hrs & open to visit 10-5 each Saturday.
Contact SHARP by email info@silkhouseartprojects.com
www.silkhouseartprojects.com
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Demand that the slaughter of dolphins in Taiji, Japan stops now.
For the past week, Ric O’Barry and a team of activists from Save Japan Dolphins and Earth Island Institute have been in Taiji, Japan, the site of the largest killing of dolphins in the world. Their brave vigil has brought media coverage from around the world and it shone a light on the dangers to dolphins and people if we let this slaughter continue. As awareness and media coverage grew in Japan, the cove remained tranquil and no dolphins were killed.
But around 5:30 am yesterday, 13 fishing boats left Taiji’s harbor and started driving dolphins into a cove. They captured 50-100 dolphins, possibly for export to aquariums.
“Sadly, this isn’t entirely unexpected,” said Ric earlier today from Japan. “This campaign is far from over, and there’s still a lot of work to do in Japan. The good news is we’ve made progress and did garner unprecedented coverage while in Taiji. And at least one media in outlet is reporting that the captured dolphins that are not sold will be returned to the sea. Let’s hope that’s the case. If not, we will find out and report it.”
Ric, Lincoln and the Save Japan Dolphins team are preparing to go back to Japan in the days ahead. They’re intensifying the pressure. TakePart will continue to post updates as we receive them and in the meantime, here are 5 things you can do to help.
Source Takepart
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