National Novel Writing Month

November is National Novel Writing Month. I had had heard of it via fellow students in my Advanced Diploma of Arts (Professional Writing) Course.

I have since found the website and seeing that November starts in a few days time, thought that I would sign up and see how I go. It certainly sounds as though it is a challenge and may be the challenge I need at this time of year. Though, I have a few social commitments on, the way I am looking at the challenge is that is essentially 2 pages (of single spaced) text each day. Unless I try, there is no way to know how I will go with the challenge!

For those who are interested, the link is National Novel Writing Month and I hope the writers following my blog looking for a challenge, sign up as well. Lets see how we go!

 

PATHWAY TO RESPONSIBILITY - A reflection provided by Alan Welburn, Editor at News Queensland

Thanks to Scouts Queensland for posting this to their wall so that I could then cut and paste here to share with people who come along and read this blog 
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PATHWAY TO RESPONSIBILITY - A reflection provided by Alan Welburn, Editor at News Queensland

There is something quite special about the way Scouts interact with one another.

The older Scouts welcome the new as if they have been part of the fabric forever.

The new learn from the enthusiastic teaching and encouragement of their peers and feel comfortable despite their obvious inexperience.

The Leaders tend to their flock as if the Scouts were their own, though in some cases this is true. Yet they allow the younger ones to find their feet, to make an error and unlock the solution.

In many ways it is about empowerment, offering a pathway to responsibility without browbeating and personal development.

It is all good to see.

It is part of what makes Scouting, well Scouting.

Never again

During World War II, my family attempted to flee German-occupied Europe and the Holocaust.

Countries, including Australia, turned away families like mine. I never thought I would see the day when Australia turned its back on people in need again and I'm determined to do everything in my power to ensure we don't repeat history's mistakes.

That's why I made this ad with GetUp. Will you help me put it on air in South Australia?


www.getup.org.au/vote-for-compassion

Yours in hope,
Lillian, GetUp member

PS - [from GetUp] - Free tonight? Members of the South Australian GetUp community have organised a Senate candidates forum, where you will hear direct from the people vying for your vote. Click here for more information and to RSVP: www.getup.org.au/sa-senate-forum.

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GetUp is an independent, not-for-profit community campaigning group. We use new technology to empower Australians to have their say on important national issues. We receive no political party or government funding, and every campaign we run is entirely supported by voluntary donations. If you'd like to contribute to help fund GetUp's work, please donate now! If you have trouble with any links in this email, please go directly to www.getup.org.au. To unsubscribe from GetUp, please click here. Authorised by Sam Mclean, Level 2, 104 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Lets bring Winston HOME

http://neworleans.me/journal/detail/197/Bring-Winston-home#

We have been following this story on Facebook over the last few days. Last week, a stuffed dog by the name of Winston went missing in New Orleans. His owners are distraught and are desperately looking for him.

If you read the article at the link, the stuff dog has sentimental (and special) meaning to his owners. Especially as one of them is undergoing treatment for a medical condition in London.

So, I am asking everyone who comes by and reads my blog, to share the link with their networks. It would be great if we could get Winston back with his family, where he so rightly belongs.

Top 30 deadly animals in Australia - Australian Geographic

Top 30 deadly animals in Australia - Australian Geographic

I think this is a good read. It certain highlights that not all Australian Animals are cute and cuddly Koalas.

On the other hand, I wouldn't have the Australian native wild life any other way!

Thanks Rupert, but we'll decide our own election

The Gosford Anglican Church's sign perhaps said it best: "Thanks Rupert, but we'll choose our own Government."

If you agree, check out our new ad and chip in to get it on the air:


http://www.getup.org.au/you-decide-this-election
News Corp employs some of the best journalists in the country. But during this election campaign, News Corp Australia have consistently used the front pages of The Courier-Mail and The Daily Telegraph to launch aggressive political campaigns against one side of politics^[2], while failing to scrutinise the other.

It even prompted Australian Press Council to issue a warning to newspapers this week, saying "a paper's editorial viewpoints and its advocacy of them must be kept separate from its news columns."^[1]

Some recent front page Murdoch headlines - all featuring various caricatures of Prime Minister Rudd - include:

• "Kick this mob out" -- The Daily Telegraph
  
• "It's a Ruddy Mess" -- The Herald Sun
  
• "I know nuthink!" (featuring the PM as Colonel Klink)-- The Daily Telegraph
  
• "Does this guy ever shut up" -- The Courier-Mail
  
• "Dear Leader" (featuring the PM as Kim Jong-Un) -- The Daily Telegraph

The biased campaign is an insult to readers and the journalists who work on the papers. That's why we created this new ad.

Click here to check it out and get it on the air before the election: http://www.getup.org.au/you-decide-this-election

The Murdoch-owned News Corp publications account for 65% of national and metropolitan daily newspaper circulation^[3]. In Brisbane, home to more marginal seats than anywhere in the country, The Courier-Mail is the only state-wide daily newspaper available. What's more, News Corp have been turning their front pages into huge political ads, installing them as bus-shelter and outdoor advertisements in key electorates.

We expect news from our newspapers. We expect to hear from journalists reporting the facts fearlessly, not from editors who have been flown in to run an attack-dog political campaign. This biased campaign is an insult to readers and the journalists who work on the papers. Let's show voters who will really decide this Election.

The only way to respond to a media bias this pervasive and influential is to go head-to-head - playing our own TV ads on screens in the same election battlegrounds currently only getting one side of the story from The Courier-Mail and The Daily Telegraph.

Let's send a message loud and clear: Australian voters decide this election, not Mr Murdoch: www.getup.org.au/you-decide-this-election

For a free, fair and independent media,
the GetUp team.

PS. Interested in volunteering with GetUp on Election Day? If you haven't already, register here: http://www.getup.org.au/volunteer

[1] Australian press watchdog chides Murdoch media, Reuters. 27th August 2013.
[2] Murdoch's election coverage 'insult to Australians', SMH. 26th August 2013.
[3] FactCheck: does Murdoch own 70% of newspapers in Australia? 8th August 2013.

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GetUp is an independent, not-for-profit community campaigning group. We use new technology to empower Australians to have their say on important national issues. We receive no political party or government funding, and every campaign we run is entirely supported by voluntary donations. If you'd like to contribute to help fund GetUp's work, please donate now! If you have trouble with any links in this email, please go directly to www.getup.org.au. To unsubscribe from GetUp, please click here. Authorised by Sam Mclean, Level 2, 104 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010.

End Victim Blaming

Trigger Warning: Sexual abuse, victim blaming, assault, childhood abuse, rape

Talkback radio misogyny reached new lows late last week when 2SM radio host John Laws asked a caller whether the sexual abuse she’d suffered throughout her childhood was “her fault”. He even went so far as questioning whether she was "provocative" at the tender age of six. No child "provokes" sexual abuse.

John Laws' comments are absolutely reprehensible and - despite a fierce eruption of anger on blogs and social media - his "apology" was far from adequate. Instead, he was back on air on Friday telling those complaining to “go to hell.” He even again suggested it was the victim’s fault “if she allowed it to happen”.

We can't allow incidences like this to continue. In this case, John Laws was dead wrong and unbelievably insensitive. If we let him and the 2SM station managers and owners continue without addressing the serious nature of this kind of talk we're sending a message to all Australians that victim blaming and shaming is OK in this country.

Click here to sign the petition we've put together with our friends at Destroy the Joint, calling for John Laws to apologise and for management to address the need for education.

I’ll be honest with you: a campaign like this will typically create an initial surge of rage, but too often dies out as the media cycle moves on.

As Clementine Ford wrote on Friday, “the news cycle works so rapidly that today's furious tweets are tomorrow's distant ephemera. It's what allows the industry to keep men who offend, men who belittle, men who bully, in their comfortable seats behind their powerful microphones.”

We’re working with our friends over at Destroy the Joint to plan to deliver your petition in a way that 2SM management and the media can’t ignore - but change starts with you. Don’t let John Laws move into the next media cycle without feeling the consequences of last week’s vile comments. Now is our chance to come together to build a society where victim blaming is no longer tolerated.

Sign the petition here to hold John Laws to account for his victim blaming: http://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/womens-rights/shame-on-blame/shame-on-victim-blame

Whether it takes a week, a month or a year – we cannot allow people who blame the victims of sexual abuse and sexual assault to continue to make their revolting comments on air with no fear of consequences, or any idea about what their words mean to the millions of Australians who have suffered sexual abuse.

With hope,

Erin, for the GetUp team.

P.S. People power has the opportunity to create a scandal so big for radio station 2SM that they’ll rethink ever allowing victim blaming to occur again on their airwaves. 2SM management and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) have the power to put Laws in his place. But as of this weekend it's clear neither have the intention of doing much about this. According to ACMA they have received about eight emailed complaints, which they have referred to the radio station, 2SM. We need both 2SM and ACMA to feel the pressure and take appropriate action. Write to 2SM and submit a formal complaint to ACMA here: http://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/womens-rights/shame-on-blame/hold-2sm-accountable

If John Laws' comments have been traumatic for you and you would like support, please call the sexual abuse survivor’s hotline on: 1800 737 732

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GetUp is an independent, not-for-profit community campaigning group. We use new technology to empower Australians to have their say on important national issues. We receive no political party or government funding, and every campaign we run is entirely supported by voluntary donations. If you'd like to contribute to help fund GetUp's work, please donate now! If you have trouble with any links in this email, please go directly to www.getup.org.au. To unsubscribe from GetUp, please click here. Authorised by Sam Mclean, Level 2, 104 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010.