Green Grrl

Time to heal, not hate - Brown

Those pursuing destructive hate rather than constructive compassion in the wake of the Victorian bushfire tragedy should haul off, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

“There are media commentators who have gone out of their way to vilify people, including, by inference, many who have died, for having a different view on life, including a love for local bushland and wildlife,” Senator Brown said.

“While there can be no censorship, some of this commentary is callous, unwarranted and distressing to people already suffering from the tragedy.”

Senator Brown reiterated that the Australian Greens’ well-publicised policy is for prescribed burn-offs.

“There is enormous sympathy and compassion from the nation in the wake of the fires but the decided nastiness of some commentators is adding to rather than helping the distress.

“This is a time for coming together rather than dividing our community even before the victims have all been accounted for,” Senator Brown said.

Senator Brown said that he has written to the Prime Minister suggesting that the Commonwealth seeks to join Victoria in the establishment of the Royal Commission into the bushfires.

Dear Courier-Mail Editor,

As a Moorooka resident, I must declare that Liberal Member Gary Hardgrave does not speak for me in saying that my suburb is “exhausted” by the “influx” of African refugees and that we “need a break”.

I would like both local businesses and residents to know that I was not interested in purchasing a house at Moorooka until I visited the suburb and realised how beautiful and cosmopolitan the area had become.

Living in a suburb with a rich World War II history, I believe it’s an absolute pleasure and privilege to welcome peace and harmony to those fleeing from war-torn countries.

After reading about the blatant genocide taking place in Dafur in Sudan, crying over the rape of women by militia and experiencing shock regarding the recruitment of child soldiers across a number of African nations, I cannot help but smile when I find myself shopping, travelling and playing alongside my new African neighbours. I smile because I am glad that they are now safe.

When ogling over the beautiful African babies, a friend and I delight in imagining them growing up with an Australian accent.

As a first generation Australian of Italian heritage, a culture that was instrumental in transforming food in Australia, I revel in the new African delicacies I discover each time I visit a new restaurant that’s popped up nearby.

My new neighbours bring colour and life to my world and I smile wisely in the knowledge that their alternative in their home countries lacked lustre and brought only trauma.

As a member of Southside Peace Group, I’ve had some members of the local community look at me strangely when I have exclaimed that the Liberal Party’s policies are inherently racist.

Today’s front page headlines featuring Gary Hardgrave have confirmed that his leadership is encouraging racial discrimination in my community. We must vote him out.

If you, like me, say no to war and racism and wish to vote the Liberal Hargrave out, please visit www.southsidepeacegroup.org.

The problem with being a public relations specialist, it makes me sick to the stomach to have to read through the absolute media spin developed by these four stakeholders in the Gunns Pulp Mill.

Stringent environmental standards indeed. Has EVERYONE forgotton that trees and animals make up the environment and not just humans?

Give me a break.

Professionally, I extend my congratulations to the strategists that came up with this little gem.

EVERYONE comes out looking like a saint.

*puke*

It is with regret that I announce that I am standing down as the Greens Candidate for Moreton.

Please know this decision does not come easily, but unusual recent events and undue pressure means I must pay closer attention to my health, family, friends, home, garden, pets, hobbies and ecological footprint.

If you’re interested in learning more, please feel free to contact me for further information - elissa@elissa.info.

Go Greens! I’m still a member! Join today at www.qld.greens.org.au.

Elissa.

I went along to a Family Fun Day today at Kuraby organised by the Your Rights At Work team.

It was a beautiful sunny day out and it seemed like everyone was having a great time, especially the kids. Moreton is a very multicultural area and that was reflected on the day. I love spending time with people from different cultures to my own, so I felt very much at home!

I judged a colouring in competition and drew a raffle. It was also important and telling to see that local small businesses had donated prizes in support of this campaign. Aside from that I pretty much just sat around with my fellow Greens enjoying the sunshine and having the occasional chat with those keen to learn more about Greens industrial relations policies.

Congratulations to the Your Rights At Work team for organising this great day, giving families the chance to have a bit of time out, a bit of fun and - most of all - the knowledge that there are people working hard to speak out in favour of sensible work/life policy options. And thank you to CFMEU for sponsoring the event.

When’s the next one!?

This morning I volunteered on a stall at Rocklea Markets, helping out the Southside Peace Group.

The group is calling on the federal government to immediately remove Australian troops from Iraq and urging our local federal representative Gary Hardgrave to relay that message on our behalf.

97 people signed the petition on the day. It was very well received.

If you live in the Moreton electorate and would like a copy of the petition so you too can get signatures from your friends, family and workmates, please e-mail me at elissa@elissa.info or call me on 0418 786 986 and I can arrange a copy to be e-mailed or posted to you.

Howard and Rudd in bed with the coal industry - Greens Ad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kahjxSuOqA

Teenage affluenza is spreading fast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFZz6ICzpjI

Mattresses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEwfQMT5Zco

Polar Bears
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK6KZE4gxa0

Green Day - Working Class Hero
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPPgeDhGzKY

Joni Mitchell helps the Greens
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXtUaxvqoAc

You can’t believe us …

If you can’t hear us.

Dear Editor,

I write in response to the The Sunday Mail article ‘Fishing Fears for Livelihood’, offering a different perspective to that which resonates throughout the piece. Mine is one inspired by that lovable penguin, Happy Feet.

I adore the recreational opportunities Moreton Bay Marine Park offers such as sailing and snorkelling and have, since a tiny tot, enjoyed recreational fishing with my father.

I am a water baby and therefore appreciate the happiness, the challenges and the calm that the Bay brings to my life.

However, as a Marine Park, it really must be protected for future generations of holidaymakers, seafood consumers and – of course – its diverse and precious native flora and fauna.

Therefore I am delighted to hear that the State Government’s rezoning review has identified that at least 10% of the park be zoned green, restricting fishing.

It takes guts, but Queenslanders must show courage and demand that our commercial fishing sector use sustainable fishing practices and demand that our government encourages and enforces such practices.

Taking any other action makes a mockery of Happy Feet’s important educational message.

Instead of doing a cute little dance, my heartsong goes out to all Queenslanders – and not just those who live by the Bay - to truly acknowledge that on our doorstep is a water wonderland worth preserving; a place that a myriad of animals and plants call home including whales, dolphins, dugongs, sea birds, fish and crabs.

Why not send your own heartsong to Queensland Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr and, while you’re at it, support the leadership that a wide range of environment groups are showing on this issue – groups such as Australian Marine Conservation Society, Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland, Queensland Conservation Council and Friends of the Earth.

Happy Feet is an Academy Award-winning Australian-produced animated film. It offers an easy message that even children can understand. Let’s learn from it.

Elissa Jenkins
Moorooka
0418 786 986

This morning I attended a peace march held in Brisbane in solidarity of the big Peace Convergence happening at Shoal Water Bay this coming week and weekend to request that the Talisman Sabre Wargames be stopped.

The march began at St Mary’s Church at West End. A mock funeral took place with the Church priest leading the symbolic depiction of death as the reality of the Iraq War.

Following were women from Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom followed by many people carrying shoes to symbolise the hundreds of thousands of men, women and children who have died in Iraq.

I did the environmentally-friendly thing and cycled into the rally which I thoroughly enjoyed.

In the evening I attended a big Peace Gig at Souths League’s Club in the evening featuring a number of local musicians and bands. One band in particular were very good - Grassroots Street Orchestra.

Good luck to all attending the Peace Convergence. I was hoping to make it, but have other commitments. My thoughts will be with you.

Today I wore RED at a rally at Queen’s Park to say STOP to Global Warming to mark World Environment Day.

An interesting step away from my usual green, but a nicely put together event with plenty of good speakers before and after a march through the City.

I staffed the Greens stall. There was an impressive number of young people taking membership forms which was good to see.

Thanks to Neil Cotter from Logan Greens for helping me out with the stall.

And it was wonderful seeing my Japanese Global Young Green friend again who’s finally heading home to Japan in 2 weeks after studying in Brisbane for the past year. Cya mate!

Tonight I spoke at a public forum focusing on the war in Afghanistan responding to these questions: How has this brutal occupation been portrayed as the legitmate war on terror? Why has it received bipartisan political support in Australia? What has been the human cost?

I managed to choke back a few tears at the end there by taking time out to have a good cry in the morning when I was practicing.

My speech follows:

As Qld Greens social justice spokesperson I speak about a broad range of issues including education, industrial relations, poverty, women’s rights, gay rights, indigenous issues, youth issues, war – plus heaps more; it’s a big portfolio.

I’m not putting myself forward tonight proclaiming to be an expert on the war in Afghanistan; I’m sorry if this disappoints you but I’m not going to describe historic facts; analyse opinions; cite statistics; or report on current events.

I’m very much Average Josephine Public. I’m not an academic nor a master of politics, sociology, history, psychology or philosophy.

This means I could, like many other Australians, simply turn to mass media, only engaging the surface detail of local and worldwide events.

But I don’t. I dig a little deeper. I talk to people all the time about issues of the day. I never proclaim to be an expert and I always seek answers to the things that don’t make sense.

I remember the first time I heard about Afghanistan was in about 1997 when I was 21. I received an e-mail from someone that spoke about women in Afghanistan that outlined how they were being treated under the Taliban regime. The point that affected me the most was the fact that these women had been highly educated throughout their school and university years and they were then suddenly oppressed under the threat of violence and death.

I was a bit of an internet geek at that stage and politically naive, so I immediately thought it was a made-up story; I figured it was spam. However, the story intrigued me so I did some research of my own and discovered it to be true.

I was pretty shocked and touched by this story and wondered what could be done. Immediately, I thought that international leadership condemning these acts would take place and intervention or UN sanctions of some sort against Afghanistan were paramount. But I figured what instead would happen is that a United Nations would be called upon to send troops in to try to liberate these women.

None of these things happened in the years following my discovery of the human right abuses in Afghanistan.

I was pretty riled up about it, but I never heard about this issue in the mass media. I couldn’t understand it. Why didn’t anyone in positions of influence care or do something or even talk about it?

No-one cared about these women. Not until the September 11 attacks.

The purpose of the invasion was to capture Osama bin Laden, destroy Al-Qaeda, and remove the Taliban regime which had provided support and safe harbor to Al-Qaeda. This marked the beginning of the US war on terrorism – not the beginning of a global effort to curb oppression of women, forced solicitation of boys for armed combat; massacres of Hazara Afghans and persecution of anyone who did not support the Taliban.

The Greens have four main pillars which its members subscribe to – these include ecological sustainability; social justice; peace and non-violence; and grassroots democracy.

War encompasses all those pillars. It’s a complex beast.

One of my most recent passions is the importance of linking social justice and the environment, looking at how poverty and lack of education can wreak environmental and health havoc in a community. That these things cannot be looked at independantly.

I read somewhere that Afghanistan, in the 60s and 70s, was some kind of travel destination for the hippie movement. I’m not quite sure why, but during that era it was apparently ecologically beautiful.

They have some very rare species, like the snow leopards up in the north, up in the Balkan corridor, but unfortunately, the fate of some of these leopards is that they are illegally sold at chicken street markets and the main shopping audience are the peacekeepers and UN staff and all others. In around 2003 a group was actually trying to get a message out to international workers that they should know what the endangered species are and what to buy and what not to buy in this country. [See Georgetown International Environmental Law Review, Summer 2005]

The environmental impacts of war in Afghanistan have seen water resources and soil fertility damaged.

An environment group compared wetlands in Afghanistan in 1976. The water was blue and green and the vegetation darkish red and even back in 2001, it showed almost all of it disappearing.

There is absolutely no water around. Also, there is woodland deforestation. The issue with the wetlands is that when you have a country suffering from onflict, you lose the river management systems and people who are living in the upstream, they use all the water, they build the dams, they use all the water for their purposes. People in downstreams are suffering. [See Georgetown International Environmental Law Review, Summer 2005]

And there is not common water management system in Afghanistan. With the woodlands and forests in Afghanistan, one of the issues was that the conflicts and warlords activities were partly financed by cutting the forest and selling the timber first to Pakistan over the border, then from Pakistan to Arab countries. This was one of the main sources of the income. [See Georgetown International Environmental Law Review, Summer 2005]

So these are the results: in 1977 it was still green, there was forest covering, but by 2002 almost everything disappeared. Or similarly in two of the provinces, the conifer deforestation suffered a fifty-two percent loss between 1977 and 2002. [See Georgetown International Environmental Law Review, Summer 2005]

There’s some interesting things happening. For example, I read that there was the Afghan Conservation Corps where actually former soldiers have been trained to plant the forests and protect the forest and so on.

In 2003 a United Nations Environment Programme, in cooperation with the then interim Afghan government, was implemented with a view to helping the people and leaders of Afghanistan, as well as donor countries supporting the land’s recovery, to begin reversing the widespread and crippling environmental damage wrought by years of war, Taliban rule, and drought.

The UN report identified inadequate access to drinking water and insufficient waste management practices as the two greatest risks to the health of Afghanistan’s people. Basic strategies were provided to directly address these problems within communities. Aid workers familiar with Afghanistan believed two keys to improving health in the country were training community health workers and bringing more women into the health care field. [Environmental Triage in Afghanistan By David A. Taylor, Environmental health Perspectives Vol. 111(4) Publication Date Jul 2003]

I have no idea of the success of these programs or even if there’s ever been enough stability in the country to roll them out in a significant fashion. I highly doubt it.

Last year was the bloodiest in Afghanistan since US led forces overthrew the Taliban in 2001 and violence is increasing this year.

More than 4000 people were killed in fighting in 2006, a quarter of them civilians and about 170 of them foreign soldiers killed in fighting or in accidents while on patrol. [Sources: Reuters/icasualties (www.icasualties.org/oef)]

So really the answer to Afghanistan’s environmental, water and health concerns really lies in the removal of troops from Afghanistan.

The Greens believe that lasting solutions to conflicts both between and within nations depend on delivering social, environmental and economic justice to the people involved, and on ensuring they can exercise their civil and political rights.

We believe that lasting resolution of conflicts requires a commitment to non-violent means of political engagement.

We believe that the use and promotion of violence against civilians, whether perpetrated by a state, an organisation or individuals, should be rejected as a means to achieve political ends.

We also believe that women should be fully included in all aspects of international relations and peacemaking initiatives.

Want we want is peaceful, cooperative and long lasting relationships between Australia and the governments of other countries, based on mutual respect.

We want an independent foreign and defence policy for Australia. We want increased accountability and transparency in foreign policy.

We’re after fair international relations with other people and governments in accordance with the UN Charter and international law.

We also want all countries to act through the United Nations to prevent acts of genocide, and to ensure that people’s human rights are not violated by governments.

We want lasting peace and stability to the Middle East as a region.

Greens federal representatives strive to ensure Australia acts decisively within UN supported operations to prevent acts of genocide and crimes against humanity and to bring perpetrators to trial in the ICC.

Greens parlimentarians and Greens federal candidates across the country this year are calling for immediate withdrawal of Australian forces from Iraq and Afghanistan.

In January I attended the founding congress of the Global Young Greens in Nairobi, Kenya. 155 young people aged 35 and under from 55 different countries attended the conference. I was really excited at the opportunity to meet an Afghani woman who worked with the Women Assistance Association, but unfortunately she was unable to get a VISA.

The conference was amazing. the intelligence, passion and compassion the young people showed for securing the future of the planet and its people was inspiring.

Not many people in their lives get to experience what I have had the honour to experience including what I call multicultural shock.

I use that term with endearment as all of us were in the same situation and we were constantly gobsmacked by the feelings of solidarity in purpose that surpassed cultural, religious and economic differences.

These young people were the opposite of apathetic. Political conversations went well into the night and we learnt and shared so much as we lived, worked and played together.

It was an historic moment for young people all over the world and for the future of all life on this planet.

We agreed on an organisational structure, a list of principals and also elected an organising committee featuring 16 young people from 4 regions: Africa, Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe.

Unfortunately, representation of young people from the Middle East was left wanting.

The organisation is now seeking representatives from those nations. We know it will be difficult, but with international youth leadership and support and networking, we know it can be achieved.

A few days ago I e-mailed [ _ _ _ ], my fellow Global Young Green, telling her about the talk I was giving tonight and if she wanted to pass on any messages to the audience.

This is the e-mail response I received.

Dear Elissa

Its [ _ _ _ ], brother of [ _ _ _ ]. Well. [ _ _ _ ] has been hospitalized due
to American forces shelling while she was visiting a girls school near Kandahar
province a 2 weeks ago. I have conveyed your message to her, and she will was
pleased about this and that she would get back to you soon she recovers.

She says that, Australia should withdarw its forces very soon from this country,
as it would put Australian Citizens in danger in this region. Australia should not
be a “Yes sir” country to USA like others, and that she would urge the Australian
government in this regard through a signature campaign.

[ _ _ _ ] pays thanx for your interest in this regard.

Best Regards

[ _ _ _ ]
On behlf of [ _ _ _ ]
Afghanistan

I guess the question that remains is, how could the world have helped those suffering under the Taliban regime? What alternatives were available? What happens if the troops do leave?

I don’t have the answers, but – as Charles Dickens once wrote - “Let no man turn aside, ever so slightly, from the broad path of honour, on the plausible pretence that he is justified by the goodness of his end. All good ends can be worked out by good means.” : Charles Dickens

Today I was officially preselected as the Greens Candidate for Moreton.

As I’ve only lived in Moorooka for 6 months, I look forward to introducing myself to the electorate and getting to know more about the issues that are important to my neighbours.

If you would like to discuss federal matters with me, please call me anytime 0418 786 986 or e-mail elissa@elissa.info.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Letter as written to QUT Council and the University Academic Board …

As a QUT alumni who graduated with a Degree in Business about 10 years ago, I am most concerned to hear of the proposed closure of QUT’s school of humanities.

In my final year of my Bachelor of Business (majoring in Communication), I completed a year of literature and applied ethics subjects, mostly based at Carseldine. This coupled nicely with my business degree as it gave me a breadth of knowledge and certainly helped shape my future career and lifestyle choices.

I am proud to have attended QUT and I believe the humanities offerings certainly ensured I received a well-rounded education. QUT offered an opportunity to balance my career goals with societal interests and this is why I left UQ to attend QUT after my first year.

The style of teaching and approach from QUT Humanities lecturers, particularly from David Massey, was the best teaching I ever received.

I heard that QUT was ceasing its Humanities program and I was wondering how that affects the Applied Ethics options for business and law students. I would hate to see Humanities removed from QUT as it offers business and law students a depth of learning so often missing in today’s job-oriented education.

A quick glance at http://www.hhs.qut.edu.au/study/minors.jsp shows how amazing and important this education is to undergraduate students who should be entering and participating in the workforce and society as a whole with a well-rounded education.

As a QUT graduate, I am proud to now be employed as the Public Relations and Fundraising Manager at a prominent charity. I have worked here for 2 years after working for 6 years as a writer/editor at The Courier-Mail. Over the years, I have also been a guest lecturer at QUT and a tutor at QUT.

I am honoured to have also run three times for public office.

I am writing to urge the QUT Council and the University Academic Board to seriously reconsider closing the Humanities program. I believe it would see QUT head in a very narrow direction - a direction that gives little scope for creatitivity, innovation and the core Australian value of helping and thinking of others (rather than just self).

If you have any questions to ask of me at any time in regards to my experiences at QUT, please don’t hesitate to contact me anytime.

I wish you luck with your deliberations and I do hope you consider my views.

Thanks for your time,

Elissa.