Gunnedah – New South Wales 13-07-11

Mid - Winter glory - Wattle tree where we stopped for a cup of tea !

Gunnedah Town Hall

56 Day Preston Underground Coal Mine Stay Down Strike – The World’s Longest Ever!

On 26 March 1986, 91 coal miners were told they were to be retrenched from the Preston Extended Colliery in Gunnedah. Knowing that these sackings heralded the closure of the Preston and Gunnedah pits and the end of underground mining in the Namoi Valley, 14 miners commenced what is still today the world’s longest stay-down strike lasting 56 days.

The courage and determination of the 14 stay-down miners (only seven of whom were on that retrenched list) sparked enormous public support. When they emerged from the pit on 17 May, they had won back the jobs of the 91 retrenched miners and secured the futures of the Preston and Gunnedah mines.

Burning Mountain Reserve - Scone – New South Wales 12-07-11

Scorched earth!

Stringy bark Gum used by Australia’s First People to make rope.

Amazing velvet fungi

Scorched minerals,plus a strong smell of Sulphur here! Also took a video of the heat haze.

Research shows that this coal seam has been burning for 6000 years It is believed to have ignited near the Pages River some 6km north of this reserve and has been moving continuously southward at 1km a year.

Ripples and light on a dull day

Crimson Rosella ?

The North of England Refugee Service

NERS is organising an event in opposition to the racist EDL (English Defence League) marching in the Boro this coming Saturday

Formed less than a year ago, the English Defence League has become the most active far-right street movement since the National Front. The Guardian spent four months undercover with the movement, and found them growing in strength and planning to target some of the UK's biggest Muslim communities

The EDL has become ever more confrontational and violent in recent months, with its supporters bent on creating fear by attacking Asians, independent bookshops and Asian food shops within multi- ethnic communities.

Bush walk on the Tony Doyle track to Pearl Beach Broken Bay 27- 06-11 NSW

Starting on the Tony Doyle track, this walk passes the old Warrah Trig. Once amazing views of the Hawkesbury River mouth from Warrah lookout are now obscured by Banksias, and Scribbly gums (Eucalyptus haemastoma) This beautiful walk winds down hill to Pearl Beach.

Lion Island Reserve - Hawkesbury estuary entering Tasman sea

Sydney boronia ? (Boronia ledifolia)

Hairpin banksia (Banksia spinulosa)

Hibbertia pedunculata

Broad-leaf drumstick (Isopgen Anemonifolius)

Looking towards Brisk Bay and Patonga

Red Spider flower (Grevillea speciosa)

Flat white at Pearl Beach cafe!

A walk along Pearl Beach

Afternoon sunlight on Pearl beach

Native fuchsia (Correa reflexa )

Brian Haw peace campaigner aged 62 died 18-06-2011 - UK

Tribute to Brian Haw – his chair facing Parliament

Gone but not forgotten: Peace campaigners Eric Levy and Bunny Easton sit in Mr Haw's spot

In 2005, the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act was passed, which restricted the right to protest in designated areas around the Houses of Parliament. How was Haw involved in "serious, organised crime"? It wasn't a crime to begin with. Parliament had to make a "law" to try to stop him, and others like him.

May Westminster Council forever fail in their attempts to move the camp. May Haw never be forgotten.

Refugee Week 2011 19 June to 26 June 2011

Refugee Week 2011 marks the 60th anniversary of the UN Convention for Refugees, which was created after World War II to save the lives of people at risk in their own countries. Throughout the week, people across the UK will celebrate the lives saved by the convention since 1951, and the contributions many of those refugees have made to British society, though a UK-wide programme of arts, cultural, and educational events.

Refugee Week Ceilidh

An evening of dancing and music with all proceeds going to the Refugee Council Day Centre. This event will be held in Clapham UK.

For more information on Refugee Council events in the UK for Refugee Week or our 60th Anniversary visit our website: www.refugeecouncil.org.uk

Fifty years of Amnesty International 1961 - 2011

The famous Amnesty logo of a candle circled by barbed wire was designed by the British artist Diana Redhouse at the request of Peter Benenson, who was one of the founders of Amnesty in 1961. He wanted an image to illustrate an old Chinese proverb: "It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."

1994 Defenders of Women Created by AI Egypt for an international campaign, the poster reads: Human rights are women's rights.

At the time, Egyptian women were not allowed to travel abroad without the permission of their husbands. At this moment Saudi Arabian women are not allowed to drive and also not allowed to travel without the permission of their husbands.

2000 Picasso for Amnesty International - A keen supporter of human rights, Pablo Picasso donated this design to be used as a general poster by Amnesty International. The lithograph was called "The Prisoner and the Dove" by the artist.

The post-war peace movement adopted Picasso's "Dove of Peace" as an emblem of hope and freedom from fear.

Feral exotic - Pincushion flowers near Redbanks Conservation Park South Australia

These photographs were taken last November and I have only just discovered their origin, common name, and botanical name!

They spring from Eurasia, called Pincushion flowers (Scabiosa atropurpurea) and are related to the teasel family.

We found them growing happily in grass verges as well as at this camping spot. They come in an amazing variety of colours from deep almost black purple through to pale pink and the occasional white flower.