I've just added a project to the TIG database; Ipisi Magazine.

Ipisi magazine will be a youth oriented magazine to promote progressive activism and awareness of local and global issues through the publication of objective, engaging articles and the promotion of youth-initiated/centred projects in Australia. The magazine will be non-profit.

It's a relatively large scale project that will take a while to get together, with lots of liasing of networking to do with NGOs and community organisations. If you've got an organisation that you think would be interested, or if you're interested yourself, have a look at the proposal documents posted on the project site and join
the Ipisi Magazine Project

In the meantime, I'm off running a camp for a week,
Mossy

MELBOURNE's CBD turned into a densely packed massed demonstration against a US-led war on Iraq today with tens of thousands turning up to an evening rally for peace.
The first in a series of planned peace protests across Australia this weekend, which will culminate in rallies on Sunday in Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide, tonight's Melbourne demonstration was awesome in its scale.

The kick-off point for the march, the State Library in Swanston Street, quickly became irrelevant as the street began filling with people at least two hours ahead of the demonstration's 5pm (AEDT) start.

By 5pm Swanston Street within two blocks of the State Library was packed so closely as to be claustrophobic.

Side-streets were thronged with demonstrators waiting to move off and Swanston Street was a solid mass of bodies extending across the entire CBD.



The closely-packed main body of the demonstration had been moving steadily for over an hour before the street outside the State Library was clear.

Victoria Police estimates placed the crowd numbers at up to 150,000 although the entire length of Swanston Street was filled with people obviously awaiting the demonstration before the head of the protest departed the State Library.

(from http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,5984545%255E1702,00.html)

From a personal perspective, it was amazing. The streets were packed with people making a direct political statement, standing up for what they believe and showing what democracy is really about. The surge of raw energy and power in the mass of people was amazing, hopefullt this can be taken worldwide, allowing Melbourne to be but a prelude to a great international movement.

If you've been to a rally or are going, become part of the growing number of TIG members to let everyone know about by signing onto the event posted here; http://www.takingitglobal.org/opps/event.html?eventid=2027

Peace, Mossy

wow, what an interesting day its been for me.

Firstly, the Aussies beat the English 3-1 in one of the few sports England has historically beaten Australia in. Yay oz! On top of that, Marco Bresciano got a game, and even though I don't like the guy, it's good to think that someone I played juniors against is doing well!

Next up, I found I had more than $3 to my name, a welcome surpise that led to a muffin and drink in the city. I finally got a phone that works, so now may even be able to hear people when they call me, even if I did (re) sell my soul to telecom company for 18 months.

Then came work ... let's just suffice to say that manufacturing Roman Blinds is quite boring, and I'm looking forward to the resumption of uni.

Soccer training, as per normal, two hours of running after a round ball in the middle of summer, made even more enjoyable by the fantasy that Australia may now even make the next world cup - watch out Oceania nations come 2005.

The only downer as far as soccer is concerned is that we're desperately short of players for this year. We got promoted last season, and thus MUST field a seniors and reserves team this year, and with the season fast approaching, time is running out to find another 10 players. My solution to the problem - a BBQ, or at least advertise for ppl to come down with the incentive of free food afterwards; it worked last time (we got 35 ppl down), so hopefully it will this time too.

Since returning home I've found company for tomorrow's peace rally, conned a few people into coming to Moonlight Cinema for GASS on March 1, posted photos from Summer Camp on the GASS website, http://groups.msn.com/gassvictoria (part of one of which is shown above) and had a few ideas about 3 projects.

And so I continue to waffle, with minimal direction and even less wit, to quickly throw up (sic) some thoughts about the two projects;

1) youth focussed magazine giving young people information about issues they find important, promoting action and involvement in their community (Australia). It'll be up on the projects page soon, or rather as soon as I properly set up the parameters of what I'd like to cover. Yay to the TIG members who've given me input on this; Nick, Mike F, Mike B and Besty.

2) More a question than a project idea. Is there a comprehensive Australian/regional database of NGOs of EGOs? I'm thinking a centralised, publisicised and accessible information source that can act as a reference for people wanting to become involved, needing networking contacts and the like. hmm, i might do some research on this.

and 3) information on understanding conflict in Iraq is finally coming together. Hopefully Mike F and the TIG crew can get the coding done in the very near future so that everyone can have some input into the information we've collated on the history and background of the current situation, trying to more fully "inform" people.

So all up, i'm quite happy with the day, even it has been a little long.

Cheers, Mossy