Webdiary - Founded and Inspired by Margo Kingston

Via The Israel Project:

On March 5th 2003 Asaf, a young high school boy was on his way back from school. A suicide murderer that exploded on Asaf's bus killed him and sixteen other innocent men, women and children.

Asaf was almost seventeen years old when he died and he is my son.

As every young man does, Asaf would have finished high school and service and would have gone on a trip to see the world: South America, the far east, India or maybe Australia and New Zealand. He wanted very much to go surfing at the famous beaches in Hawaii and Australia. Asaf wanted to hike the high treks of Nepal and the Himalayas.

Now I am sending Asaf to his world tour. Without a passport or a back pack, I am sending you only this picture and his spirit and ask you to help take Asaf to wherever you go. India, Thailand, New Zealand or the Chinese wall. Wherever you go, take out the picture, photo it in the place you are and email it back to me (Yossi@Blondi.co.il).

If you are not travelling take the photo in your city or town, at the mall, city stadium and even your front or back yard.

I will build Asaf’s world tour photo Album and post it on the internet. This way Asaf will be at all those wonderful places in the world he wasn’t lucky to see.

You can print a few copies of the attached picture and leave copies on your way, hang it on a bulletin board at the hotel or the guest house you stay in. leave it along the trek, put it in the visitor’s book you write your experience in.

Help me get my son around the world and make his world tour go through each country on the globe.

Yossi Zur, Asaf's father

(Australian photos here and French photos here)

It is local council election season in Victoria. Leon Zembekis is an independent candidate for the City of Boroondara (my local government area). Leon has organised a public debate between Professor David Karoly and Mr. William Kininmonth. The topic of the debate is:

We should be concerned with human-caused climate change.

When: Wednesday 19th November 2008, 7.30pm

Where: Hawthorn Town Hall’s Chandelier Room

From Move America Forward:

Happy Veteran’s Day, and to all those who have served, thank you. Your contribution and sacrifice to our nation can never be measured, nor repaid.

Through the centuries since our country began, it has always been on those willing to fight and die to secure and protect our freedoms that have made America strong. We relied on you when our country needed you most, and time after time in countless wars and conflicts, our military has always come through.

Bravely and courageously you defended our flag, you defended our freedoms and liberties, you defended our people when they were threatened not just by enemies abroad, but from enemies within as well. What’s more, you came to the defense of our allies when they needed us. You have liberated millions of people all across the world when they were oppressed.

You met the threat of Empires, Nazism, Communism, Radical Isamic terrorists, and time after time you have prevailed without fail. You did this in our name, on behalf of your nation, and you ask nothing in return.  

We can only offer our eternal thanks and gratitude to those who have been willing to take up arms and risk life and limb in defense of America.

And what better time than today to think about our veterans of tomorrow? I’m talking about those brave young men and women currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They have fought so bravely and courageously to protect us from terrorist organizations who want to destroy America and the western way of life, while also fighting to retain religious, economic, political, and human rights for Iraqis and Afghans.

We can show our thanks to these brave patriots by sending them a small token of our appreciation, a little bit of comfort from home to make their thanksgiving a little easier. The holidays are a tough time for our soldiers in harm’s way. They will be missing their families on Turkey Day, but we can do OUR BEST to show them that we care, and that we are still back home supporting them and their fight!

To send a care package click here. Online donations also accepted here.

(Move America Forward is a "a non-partisan, not-for-profit charitable organization committed to supporting America’s efforts to defeat terrorism...")

I don't know if it's too late to get in (just found this release):

You are invited to register your interest in attending the launch of The Women's Pages:  Australian women and journalism since 1850 at the National Press Club.

This project provides an online record of the history of Australian women and journalism, developed by the NFAW's Australian Women's Archives Project, and is being launched by The Hon. Maxine McKew, MP at the National Press Club at 12 noon on Thursday 13 November, 2008. 

Journalists will join the other groups of women who are recognised through the AWAP Showcase, which consists of informative articles and a collection of online biographies dedicated to particular groups of women.

All of the Showcase collections have been funded by organisations and/or individuals with a particular interest.  This collection has been funded by a grant from by The Copyright Agency, and the National Press Club is providing the venue for the launch.

You can register for this event by emailing the National Press Club or by calling 02 6121 2199.

Tomorrow evening (Wednesday 22 October 2008) at Readings bookshop, 710 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn, Victoria:

Michael Bachelard in conversation with Julian Burnside

Readings Hawthorn: 701 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122

Out of nowhere in 2004, an obscure religious sect burst onto the political stage in Australia. Almost unheard of until then, the Exclusive Brethren was suddenly spending up big in election advertising in support of conservative political parties. But its members were shy to the point of paranoia about who they were — preferring, as they said, to ‘fly under the radar’. Brethren members assiduously lobbied politicians, but did not vote. And they were very close to the then Prime Minister John Howard. Michael Bachelard, author of Behind the Exclusive Brethren was formerly part of The Age’s investigative team, and he now writes for The Sunday Age. In 2008 he won a Quill award for best news report in print.

Free, but please book on 9819 1917 or by email.

Assuming I live, I will be attending, and will let Webdiary know what happens.

Last night I was at TAIKOZ, with the privilege of listening to Ryan Dean, as well as the inspirational others.

Standing ovation. Glorious encore. How fortunate to live in the country and be subsidised for such, as well as Opera Australia, Bell Shakespeare etc.   Tops - $40. How lucky are we rustics.

The World Society for the Protection of Animals, RSPCA and Handle with Care Coalition against live exports advise that:  

If you live in the Adelaide area, you can find out more about live export and the steps you can take in ensuring this cruel industry is permanently stopped by attending our third public forum on the issue.

The two previous forums in Victoria and Queensland have been incredibly successful in raising awareness about live export, so I truly hope you can join us as we continue our campaign to end this cruel and unnecessary trade.

The forum will be hosted by RSPCA South Australia and held at Way Hall, 10 Pitt St Adelaide on Wednesday, October 8 at 6.30pm. Places are limited, so please RSVP by email to hwc@wspa.org.au or by phoning (02) 9902 8000.

WSPA Program Manager Emily Reeves will also be available on an online forum here to answer any questions you have about the Handle with Care campaign on Tuesday October 14 between 2pm and 4pm.

Thank you for helping create a world where animals matter and animal cruelty ends.
Margaret West
Regional Director
WSPA Australia and New Zealand

Over the week-end I noticed a report that one of the services that may have to be discontinued as a result of the Costello Voluntary Student Unionism farrago of legislation is the second-hand bookshop.

This is not to be tolerated.   It is not a political issue.   Rather it is a question of free and cheap access to knowledge.

I urge all webdiarists who are graduates or students of The University to join with me in a campaign to preserve this essential service. 

The world is crying out for more renewable energy as a solution to climate change and energy vulnerability issues. Renewable
energy is developing at various scales of operation from large
scale systems that must be built outside cities to small scale
systems that can fit into the city directly. This conference
will emphasize the systems that are rapidly becoming more
viable because they can feed directly into the city’s functions.
Thus waves, wind, sun and geothermal heat are being tapped
and used in the buildings and infrastructure of the city itself.
The city in turn will change as it has with every other
energy source it has tapped. If we are to move towards
Al Gore’s vision of 100% renewables in 10 years or even
50% less greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the cities
of the world will need to be prepared for the renewables
transition. What can cities do to prepare for this change?
What are the likely renewable options in Perth?

A conference is being held in Perth on Monday 29th of September on the subject of the Renewable City.

Science show presenter Robyn Williams will host many scientists and business leaders on the subject of Renewable Cities.

A little too far for me to travel from Cairns, anyone in the West who would like to go?

That is an Austin isn't it?

Funny you should say that, Jenny. Many years ago a friend took his merc to the dealer for repair. He got talking to a mechanic in the shop who informed him the part he needed would cost $112. The mechanic (out of earshot from his boss) then informed my friend he could get the same part for a couple of bob at the Austin shop.

In English, Merc rhymes with berk, Jenny Hume: and, if people are driving a Mercedes Benz car, I don't understand why they can't correctly call it a Merce, (rhymes with hearse), if they are determined to abbreviate it.

But then, you don't hear people casually referring to their Commodore as the "com", do you? Now, why do you think that that is?

I do know that immature people get some feeling of status from things that are external to them, such as their possessions: I'm sure that you were able to affectionately laugh at your relative's display of insecurity.

Irrespective of your personal feelings towards snails, and their silvery trails, they are precious.

With the dearth of local snails that you have mentioned, Jenny Hume, I thought that mine might have provided you with a happy glimpse of les neiges d'antan.

But, you are quite wrong re snails. Snails are splendid little fellows - more exquisite, more clever, more brilliantly designed and more valuable than any merc...(which I assume to be a mere motor vehicle).

I'm surprised at you Jenny Hume: haven't I come across that somewhere else? This looks like blatant plagiarism to me.

OK, Saturday it is. No, I don't think that it is right and proper to vacate my room: I'm quite sure that you would absorb some of its personality, and in no time flat you would be calling yourself J.Hume, and writing terse posts.

Suggestion: wouldn't a horse and dray be better? Then you could bring a tent, and camp in the garden. You would have the pleasure of the season - the frosts are probably finished now - , and the entertainment of spotting snails. And, the little boys would love to share it with you.

Age eventually brings death, Jenny Hume, but why should it bring disease or illness? 

The Romans considered middle age to be between 60 to 80.  We have more reason than them to consider it such.

Ian...(oh, and Jenny, if you must...{joke, Jenny}).

What impetuosity! How do you know that I won't have you sleeping on camp stretchers / assault you with heavy metal music / invite the local chapter of the Brethren to conduct a service/ lace your food with salvia ****(now the drug of choice, according to the NYT) / squash you into a room in a tiny fibro box / have a psychotic episode/ be so boring that you have to get out of the joint .. Of course, you may well have handled all such in the past, and could take them in your stride without a blink.

At present, I am housing two small boys, 4 and 6, and their parents, recently returned from the UK...(hence the delay in my reply...they returned on Monday). The ambience, therefore, may be slightly different from that which I have suggested. Perhaps a deferment to a later date might suit you better.

This weekend is the Jazz Festival. Lots of trad jazz, and, as traditionally, it will bring rain.

Animal torturers to face Queanbeyan Court, but there’s only half of them! If anyone is available to come to Queanbeyan court house on Tuesday morning, please phone Saskia 0405 235 253 or Bernie 0427 777 044 

 

Media Release - Friday 12 September 2008

On Tuesday 16 September at 9am, Queanbeyan court will hear a case, including video evidence against two individuals charged with torturing to death two ferrets owned by their housemate.  The disturbing incident was recorded on a camera phone.  In a violent rage, the two pet ferrets, 'Trigger' and 'Cooch' were stabbed with syringes, locked in a freezer, smashed against walls and had other things done to them too horrific for this press release. All who have seen the video evidence are dumbfounded at the heinous nature of these crimes.  It is alleged that on the video four distinct voices can be heard, but due to the lack of evidence, only two people have been charged.  Recent studies show that aggravated animal abuse is often a precursor to human-directed violence and an indicator of family crisis. Untreated, any type of abuse can escalate.[1] The American Psychiatric Association identifies cruelty to animals as one of the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorders, and the FBI uses reports of animal abuse in analysing the threat potential of suspected and known criminals. Experts agree that it is the severity of the behaviour—not the species of the victim.[2]   Saskia Hornig of the Ferret Society of Canberra has stated: ‘Even if these individuals are found guilty, it will never alleviate the pain, anxiety and horror that those two animals felt, as nothing that we can do will ever reverse that.  People’s beloved pets need protection. If found guilty, we hope the court will send a strong message that animal abuse will not be tolerated.’ The Ferret Society of Canberra as well as Animal Liberation A.C.T. will have representatives at the Queanbeyan Courthouse on Tuesday.   
Media enquiries: Saskia Hornig Ferret Society of Canberra 0405 235 253Bernie Brennan Animal Liberation A.C.T 0427 777 044

Wow Ian, saw your flick and felt like giving you a big hug - but you're too bloody ugly mate.

Everything else was great - well done.

PS, Jenny can have my proxy re the hug thing.

But, I can say that I really enjoy and admire it, I will pass it on to the relevant, and I agree with Kathy Farrelly that Jenny Hume is fortunate in her husband. And, no doubt, vice versa.

I just don't understand why these two, so relatively young in terms of life expectancy, get ill. They need to come to my place, where people - ok, young people mainly - tell me that they feel healed just for being here, because of the whatever-it-is emotions embedded into the walls (so they say). However, I think that the house - which has its own entity, or household god, of course - has a profound and wonderful effect of promoting idleness: a potent antidote to modern times.

Here.

Oy youse, oy youse - the Catholic Bazaar is off due to:

Mrs Rowsell and Mr Finley have had an awful row in the middle of Mass one Sunday. The Priest got a surprise and he walked out of the church and went home. Then Mr Finley swore at Mrs Rowsell and she took him to court and won the case. We heard that she gave him a rather rough time of it in the court house. All the Catholics are rowing now - or most of them anyway.

17 year old girl (me mum) in a letter to her father, 15 September 1924.

Who says it is only the Muslims who can't get along with each other?

As the anniversary of the Beslan massacre arrives again it is worth remembering the tragedy and - if you can spare a few dollars - donating to one of the charities that continues to support the children who injurewere d but survived and the families who lost loved ones.

The Red Cross is still offering long term support to injured survivors and you can donate to the international body here or the Russian arm (via bank transfer) here.