Where you stand determines what you see

Hi Guys,

I have always believed it to be true that where you stand determines what you see. Thus, I think it’s a radical discipleship practice to stand with those without the power.

Below is the ICR’s Video of the crash and then below that the Sea Shepherd’s Video of the crash.

Both are using the footage of the same incident to back up their own position.

What do you think?

ICR’s Clip

Sea Shepherd’s Clip

avvaz action - Copenhagen

Dear Friends,
With three days to go, the crucial Copenhagen summit is failing.

Tomorrow, the world’s leaders arrive for an unprecedented 60 hours of direct negotiations. Experts agree that without a tidal wave of public pressure for a deal, the summit will not stop catastrophic global warming of 2 degrees.

Click below to sign the petition for a real deal in Copenhagen — the campaign already has a staggering 10 million supporters - let’s make it the largest petition in history in the next 72 hours! Every single name is actually being read out at the summit — sign on at the link below and forward this email to everyone!

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_copenhagen_now

An Avaaz team is meeting daily with negotiators inside the summit who will organize a spectacular petition delivery to world leaders as they arrive, building a giant wall of boxes of names and reading out the names of every person who signs. With the largest petition in history, leaders will have no doubt that the whole world is watching.

Millions watched the Avaaz vigil inside the summit on TV yesterday, where Archbishop Desmond Tutu told hundreds of delegates and assembled children:

“We marched in Berlin, and the wall fell.
“We marched for South Africa, and apartheid fell.
“We marched at Copenhagen — and we WILL get a Real Deal.”

Copenhagen is seeking the biggest mandate in history to stop the greatest threat humanity has ever faced. History will be made in the next few days. How will our children remember this moment? Let’s tell them we did all we could.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_copenhagen_now

With hope,

Ricken, Alice, Ben, Paul, Luis, Iain, Veronique, Graziela, Pascal, Paula, Benjamin, Raj, Raluca, Taren, David, Josh and the whole Avaaz team.

Union Climate Action

Hi guys got this from rights at work mob.

As we all know, a majority of Australians want action on climate change.  But some politicians and business groups are acting like dinosaurs by continuing to block important climate change laws.

These laws will help Australia cut greenhouse gasses and create up to a million jobs in our new clean energy and existing traditional industries. In short, they are laws to create a cleaner environment and a stronger economy.

In November, this small group of dinosaurs in parliament are planning to vote against climate change laws for a second time.

I want to take this opportunity to talk to you about what else we can do and how we need your help for strong action on climate change

We have talked with many people across Australia about ramping up our activities by joining together with other community activists. It is clear we need to take our message to the suburbs, towns and regions to ensure all MPs and particularly Senators understand that Australians want these climate laws passed.

Between now and the end of November, we will be holding activities in conjunction with unions and local Trades and Labour Councils, taking our message to the streets in the same way we did in the Your Rights at Work campaign.

It will be simple and fun and designed to be educative.

If you would like to get involved, give us your contact details and we will link you up with activities in your area. Visit - http://www.rightsatwork.com.au/campaigns/cleanenergyjobs/connectorssignup

This will make sure we get a strong message to those MPs and Senators who need our help to evolve.

In unity

Sharan Burrow and the Union Climate Connector Team

Disaster Response-Tsunami Appeal

Hi Guys

Looking for a way to give to the Pacific and Asia disaster.

Uniting Church Responds to Disasters

The Uniting Church has launched an urgent appeal to help the survivors of the tragic spate of natural disasters in our region.

The aid will be shared throughout our well-established networks that already exist in the devastated areas. This will be through our partner churches and organisations who are already at work assisting survivors.

The Moderator of the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, Ms Isabel Thomas Dobson, has asked members of the Uniting Church to “pray and to respond in a spirit of generosity that comes from the love of God for all people.”

Tax deductable donations: 1800 998 122 or visit www.unitingworld.org.au.

CLICK HERE FOR:

Isabel Thomas Dobson’s appeal letter

A prayer for those caught in disaster

Donation Forms

Plus our ecumenical partner organisation, the National Council of Churches in Australia through its aid agency, ‘ACT for Peace’, has also launched an appeal. You can get information on how to give from their web page actforpeace.org.au

Dear Mr Rudd… from James aged 9

Below is a letter to the PM from my 9 yr old son.

7/9/09

Dear Mr Rudd,

I think all the houses need solar pannels to help produce electricty. Australia has lots of sunshine so we should use it. But it is very expensive for many Australians so I ask that you decrease the cost.

please help our country and the world!

from James

aged 9 yrs

Greenpeace Action - Amazon Rainforest

 

In early June, the Brazilian Congress amended and approved a bill, originally introduced to grant land title rights to 300,000 properties that have been established illegally across approximately 67 million hectares of public land in the Amazon. The rules set by the Provisional Measure (MP) number 458, will add pressure to the Amazon and make it even more vulnerable to deforestation. The bill, which awaits President Lula’s signature, may be perceived as an open invitation for the invasion of public lands in the region.

Rally to Fix the Solar Feed-In Tariff

Dear Fellow Climate Campaigners

IMPORTANT: RALLY TO FIX THE SOLAR FEED-IN TARIFF

This is our big chance to improve the Victorian feed-in tariff and ensure a sunny solar future and green solar jobs for Victoria.

What: Rally to Fix the Feed-In Tariff

When: 1.00pm, Wednesday 6th May

Where: Steps of Parliament House, Spring St Melbourne

Who: Anyone who wants solar power, green jobs and action on climate change

Not sure what to wear? Wear a GREEN SHIRT (or a green collar) to support green solar jobs for Victorians.

Almost one year ago to the day the Brumby Government announced their dud solar feed-in tariff laws. Brumby’s feed-in tariff will fail to drive the uptake of renewable energy across Victoria. These laws could be voted on in Parliament as early as next Wednesday. Unless they are improved in the Parliament by the Opposition and minor parties, they will do nothing to increase the uptake of solar panels on roofs, deliver green solar jobs or reduce Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions.

We need your help to get at least 100 people to join us on Wednesday to show our politicians that this is their chance to stand up for action on climate change, solar jobs and a bright solar future for Victoria.

I love living in a sunburnt country, but I’d love a solar state even more!

RSVP to victoria@envict.org.au. Please forward this email as appropriate.

Tell the Opposition that you care about the climate

Next week the Opposition and minor parties have a real chance to stand up for our solar future and improve the Solar Feed-In Tariff in the Parliament.

Use Environment Victoria’s cyber-action to send an email to Ted Baillieu as leader of the Opposition calling on them to improve the solar feed-in tariff.

CLICK HERE to send your email now, and show your support for action on climate change.

Green Jobs Forum

For news about our Green Jobs Forum held last Friday, and our report into Victoria’s green jobs potential, CLICK HERE.

Action in Deakin - Mike Symon’s Office

To see footage of our protest outside Mike Symon’s office in the seat of Deakin, CLICK HERE.

Kind regards,

Victoria McKenzie-McHarg

Safe Climate Campaigner, Environment Victoria

victoria@envict.org.au or 03 9341 8112

GetUp - We’re Up For It

Treasury have just crunched the numbers and declared that action on climate change is affordable.

We have a very real chance of achieving the bold action necessary to get us one step closer to saving our climate. But we’re not there yet. You can tip the balance - help get us over the line by making our biggest petition ever:

www.getup.org.au/campaign/WereUpForIt

Our sources in Canberra have just told us the Prime Minister is on the edge of a decision - but still under immense pressure from polluting industries. We know he’ll decide on Australia’s carbon reduction targets in less than four weeks.

It’s what we’ve been asking for since we came together to build this GetUp community. But without you, the Government will never know that we’re up for it. Tell them:

Today’s response to Treasury’s revelation will determine what the Government does. Imagine if 100,000 Australians respond emphatically: ‘we’re up for climate action’.

Today he’ll read the numbers. Tomorrow he’ll listen to your voice. Then he’ll make his decision. With enough pressure, the Prime Minister may just make history.

We could never have come this far without you - and we can’t stop pushing now.

The GetUp team

PS - This really is the crucial time to tell the Prime Minister that you’re up for strong carbon reduction targets. And now the Treasury numbers are in, he has no excuse not to take bold action. Please sign the petition now to get us over the line to our biggest petition ever.

Water for life a free community seminar

6th, 13th and 20th November, All Sessions 7.00 PM - 8.30 PM
Town Hall (check room below)

(6/11) Interfaith panel on water and spirituality (what does water mean for the different religions?)
Venue: The Roof Top Room Northcote Town Hall.

Speakers:
1. Aboriginal Australian:    Andrew Travis (Parks Victoria)
2. Hindu:                              Pandit Abhay Awasthi (Hindu Foundation)
3. Jewish:                           Rabbi Jonathan Keren Black (Jewish Ecological Coalition, GreenFaith Australia, and Leo Baeck Centre)
4. Christian:                       Rev. Harry Kerr (Anglican, Pax Christi Victoria)
5. Muslim:                          Yasser Soliman (Diversity Connect)
6. Sikh:                                Jamel Kaur Singh (COMMON Centre of Melbourne Multifaith and Others Network)
ii. Mediation by Geoff Berry

Science, Politics and Community
(13/11) The science and the politics of regional water issues.
Venue: The Main Hall Northcote Town Hall.

Speakers:
1. Science:              Tim Thwaites (New Scientist)
2. Community:        Mary Crooks (Watermark)
3. Political issues: Peter Ker (The Age)

Convergence
(20/11) Linking water and culture.
Venue: The Roof Top Room Northcote Town Hall.
Facilitator: Norman Currie: COMMON (Centre of Melbourne Multifaith and Others Network)

GetUp - buy me a river

The Murray-Darling is at breaking point - literally dying of thirst.

The Murray-Darling Basin accounts for over 40% of Australia’s agricultural production and grows almost a third of all our food. It’s Australia’s food bowl. Could we survive without this mighty river system?

It’s time to implement urgent solutions to save it - as things heat up in the coming months, the Coorong Lakes at the Murray’s mouth may even dry up completely before summer’s end. Click here to help save the Murray-Darling before we turn our nation’s food bowl into dust bowl:

www.getup.org.au/campaign/BuyMeARiver

We’ve spoken to scientists, environmentalists and farmers, and learned there are three things our Federal Government must do, right now, if the mighty Murray is to flow again:

• Recover and release 500 gigalitres of water into the river system by the end of the year, and 4000 gigalitres overall to prevent our food bowl turning into a dust bowl.
• Create an emergency Interim Basin management plan, including a focus on the Coorong and Lower Lakes. This could be done in a matter of weeks, as a precursor to establishing a truly independent authority that is not held to ransom by State governments’ veto power.
• Establish a national freshwater reserve system to protect rivers, wetlands and estuaries of high value to the river. As a first step, urgently intervene to save the Murray River Red Gums, the river’s “green lungs” suffering from State inaction.

Everyday Australians can send a vital message of urgency to the Federal Government that we need to do more, and now. Click here to sign the petition to Save the Murray-Darling:

www.getup.org.au/campaign/BuyMeARiver

The Senate is holding an inquiry today in Canberra, hearing testimony from scientists on just how serious the situation has become. Just this morning, scientists gave evidence that use of water across the Basin needs to be halved below the current cap.

A decisive statement from the Australian community now could tip the scales and achieve the urgent State and Federal government action needed to keep the rivers flowing. More than just a national icon, take a stand today for Australia’s food bowl.

With hope,
The GetUp team

PS - As the science develops, the need for urgent action becomes clearer - click here to sign the petition to Save the Murray-Darling, before things heat up in the coming months.

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