Month: May 2015

One in nine people going hungry

The amount of people going hungry has dropped by 167 million in the last decade, according to new figures from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The total number of hungry people in the world is now 795 million – which is still 1 in 9 people. Oxfam’s food and climate policy advisor Kelly Dent said it was encouraging that fewer children, women and men were going hungry today. “However, we are concerned that the progress in fighting hunger is slowing down,” she said. “We must not lose sight of the fact that in 2015, there are still 795...

Read More

Amelia shines in social enterprise

Local Brisbane resident Amelia Salmon and her organisation Just Earth have been chosen to participate in Dreamstarter 2015, an online crowdfunding platform supported by ING DIRECT, the School for Social Entrepreneurs and Start Some Good. Just Earth, a fair food café, fair trade coffee roaster and physical and online retail store that creates jobs for disadvantaged women in the labour market, is among seven social change projects selected through a national shout-out to take part in Dreamstarter. Amelia said “Just Earth creates positive social change by creating employment for women who are most disadvantaged in the labour market, as...

Read More

Coal power for Townsville?

“What about renewables?” asks the Queensland Conservation Council. With the recent announcement by Prime Minister Tony Abbot that North Queensland needed a base-load power station, the Queensland Conservation Council is asking whether the Prime Minister is talking about coal-fired power or is he talking about renewable power? Nichola Hungerford, QCC Coordinator said today ‘with over 300 days of sunshine each year in Townsville – surely the Prime Minister should be focusing on renewables.’ ‘Fact… the more we burn coal for electricity, the more we cause global warming. ‘We need to keep coal in the ground if we are going...

Read More

Women of the World unite in Brisbane

An incredible line-up of stars, scientists, writers, artists, business leaders, techies, activists, athletes, engineers, nurses, foodies, school kids and many more from Brisbane and beyond will appear from 19 to 21 June 2015 at the inaugural WOW (Women of the World) Brisbane. Kath and Kim’s Jane Turner, human rights activist, founder of the Alola Foundation for women and girls and former First Lady of Timor Leste Kirsty Sword Gusmão, and former Governor General Quentin Bryce will join the packed three day festival alongside Kathy Lette, June Oscar, Jane Caro, Elizabeth Broderick, Hannah Pool, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, and many more. Events...

Read More

Cash for Containers Coming to Queensland

Clean up groups and environment organisations in Queensland have welcomed the announcement that the State Government will investigate a container deposit scheme for Queensland. This is a first step towards the development of a scheme and meets an election promise by the government. The move also allows the state to collaborate with NSW who plan to introduce a container deposit scheme in mid-2017. ‘Queensland is the most littered state in Australia with plastic bottles and plastic packaging representing the bulk of that litter. Recycling is also at a low ebb with the state missing out on significant employment creation...

Read More

Commemorative Edition ORDER HERE

Westender Newsletter

Video of the week

Recent Tweets

Donate

Archive

What’s in Westender