East Timor
Photos by Kia Mistilis“Keep on going, keep spreading the message of peace and unity in the world.” Ego Lemos, permaculture trainer and director of Permatil (Permaculture Timor Lorosa’e) Country Snapshot 2009 Location: South East Asia. (333 miles / 200 km north of Darwin, Australia.) Population: I million Capital: Dili - population 50 000 Area: 14 874 sq km (5743 sq miles) Overview of East Timor today In these early years of independence East Timor’s democracy is fragile and its people are facing many challenges in rebuilding their country. After 24 years of brutal military occupation, the nation is still emerging from war and dealing with its many legacies. Creating political and social stability is a slow and often very difficult process. Widespread poverty remains the most pressing challenge to be overcome. Despite the traumas of the recent past and the enormity of the challenges that face them, an overwhelming majority of Timorese people are committed to peace and democracy and are determined for their country to emerge as a stable and independent nation. Rarely reported in the international media is the work of many groups and individuals at the grass roots level who are steadily making a positive contribution to their country’s progress towards a better future. READ MORE>>

Save Lake Cowal
As a result of cyanide accidents many countries have
now banned the use of cyanide in the mining industry.
Lake Cowal is the Heartland of the Wiradjuri Nation (In
Victoria, Australia). It is also the largest inland freshwater
lake in NSW, a floodplain, and an internationally important
wetland. READ MORE>>

Friends of the Earth

Friends of the Earth Australia is part of the world's largest
grassroots environmental justice network, and is unique in its dedication to drawing together social justice and environmental issues.READ MORE>>

The Wilderness Society – Australia
The Wilderness Society is a community-based environmental advocacy organisation whose mission is protecting, promoting and restoring wilderness and natural processes across Australia for the survival and ongoing evolution of life on Earth.READ MORE>>

The Rainforest Information Centre
The Rainforest Information Centre is a non-profit, volunteer organisation dedicated to the protection of the Earth's remaining rainforests and the indigenous people who depend on them. The Rainforest Information Centre (RIC) was born out of the successful struggle to save the sub-tropical rainforests of New South Wales, Australia in the early 1980s. READ MORE>>

The Australian Conservation Foundation
The Australian Conservation Foundation is committed to inspiring people to achieve a healthy environment for all Australians. For 40 years we have been a strong voice for the environment, promoting solutions through research, consultation, education and partnerships. READ MORE>>

Treehugger
TreeHugger is the leading media outlet dedicated to driving sustainability mainstream. Partial to a modern aesthetic, we strive to be a one-stop shop for green news, solutions, and product information. READ MORE>>

ABORIGINAL RIGHTS COALITION (ARC)
A coalition of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal activists from a variety of ages, backgrounds and perspectives. Meets Monday nights at Redfern Community Centre, Hugo St, Sydney. You can join ARC mailing list by sending an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it READ MORE>>

CENTRAL LAND COUNCIL (CLC)
“Council of 90 Aboriginal people elected from communities in the southern half of the Northern Territory….the CLC is a representative body promoting Aboriginal right.READ MORE>>

SOCIAL JUSTICE REPORT 2007
Tom Calma, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner.READ MORE>>

HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION (HREOC)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social justice “The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission was established in 1986 by an act of federal Parliament. We are an independent statutory organisation and report to the federal Parliament through the Attorney-General. HREOC is leading the promotion and protection of human rights in Australia by:READ MORE>>

ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER YOUTH CAUCUS AT THE UN
 Read the joint statement to UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues by the youth delegationREAD MORE>>

BLACK TRACKS – INDIGENOUS MEDIA
“Black Tracks is a travel show with a difference – showing the experience of travel from an Indigenous perspective. The program has a dedicated crew in New York, talking to the 40 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who’ve made the journey from Australia. Respected Australian journalist Ginny Stein is on the ground and is sending updated reports straight from UN Headquarters.”READ MORE>>

INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS
INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIA: GOVT POLICY & GRASS ROOTS ACTION  NT INTERVENTION"I thank you Prime Minister Rudd for your apology but it's an invasion all over again. We are being told where to shop, what to eat, how to act and how to live." Lyle Cooper, vice president of the Bagot Community in Darwin. “What is required is a determined, coordinated effort to break the cycle and provide the necessary strength, power and appropriate support and services to local communities, so they can lead themselves out of the malaise: in a word, empowerment!” Pat Anderson and Rex Wild QC, Little Children are Sacred report, 2007. OVERVIEW: The Northern Territory Intervention is the enacting of federal laws relating to the land, culture and self-determination of Indigenous people living in the Northern Territory of Australia.READ MORE>>

INDIGENOUS MEDIA - NATIONAL RADIO / INTERNET
"AWAYE! provides an important platform for indigenous people from all over Australia to share the richness and diversity of their culture with all Australians, and to discuss a wide range of contemporary and historical challenges facing their communities. From the cities to the outback, indigenous Australians share their stories and their ideas for positive change on this weekly radio program presented by Daniel Browning. READ MORE>>

Indymedia
US indepependent media centre. READ MORE>>

Infowars
Site of Alex Jones, Austin Texas based documentary film
maker. He has a radio show and syndicated TV show,
"911 and the rise of the police state" is his latest
documentary. Groundbreaking stuff. 
READ MORE>>

Democracy Now
Amy Goodman is a legendary independent journalist.
Her show has a global audience through the net.
Great indy media site for presenting world issues in
depth that are routinely distorted by the global corporate
media.READ MORE>>

Green Left
Australia's leading radical newspaper...
 In these days of growing media concentration, Green Left
Weekly is a proudly independent voice committed to
human and civil rights, global peace and environmental
sustainability, democracy and equality. READ MORE>>

Crikey!
Your independent news agency, for political news, business news, arts, media and independent commentary served daily. Very current and active speaks of many Australian and world news issues.READ MORE>>

Michael Moore
Michael MooreKeeping it real on so many levels.READ MORE>>

Anit Nuclear Australia
Facts, News, Opinion - opposing nuclear power, very up to date, active, current site.Uranium Mining and Aboriginal People -by Vincent Forrester I follow the culture of my people. We belong to the land. We are the caretakers for the land. Our lifetime on this earth is only a blink in time, so our lifetime is spent protecting and caring for this land for future generations......... .....I want to tell you how I feel about uranium and how the whole nuclear cycle affects our land, our lives, our traditions....READ MORE>>

Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia
This website was produced by the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia. This group came into being in 1997 (then known as the Anti-Uranium Coalition), to act as an umbrella group for organisations campaigning against the nuclearisation of Australia. Our role is mainly in research, political lobbying and publication of information that we believe the community needs in order to make informed decisions about uranium mining, nuclear power, weapons and waste. READ MORE>>

Anti-Nuclear Movement
Even wikipedia covers this topic with alot of simple information to help you understand it all a little better Click Here READ MORE>>

All that Glitters is Not Gold
PLEASE WATCH THIS VIDEO AND EDUCATE YOURSELF! Uranium mining is set to expand in Australia. Olympic Dam, the world’s largest known uranium deposit will increase by three times, it will be the biggest uranium mine the world has ever seen.and more uranium mines are threatening to open up across the land. Uranium is radioactive and mining it unleashes a potential for serious harm to us our children and our children’s children. We need to take action now…Watch All that Glitters is not Gold and forward to your friends and networks.READ MORE>>

Campaign For Nuclear Disarmament
CND ampaigns non-violently to rid the world of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and to create genuine security for future generations. READ MORE>>

Friends of the Europe
Europe must stop wasting taxpayers' money to protect a dangerous and expensive technology. 20 years after the Chernobyl disaster, nuclear power, despite its widespread use also in Europe, remains the most dirty and dangerous form of energy. READ MORE>>

Friends of the Earth Anti Uranium Collective
Friends of the Earth Anti Uranium Collective is actively campaigning for a nuclear free future. In order to create an environmentally sustainable and socially just world we need to end uranium mining, stop dumping of radioactive wastes, prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and ban the irradiation of food.READ MORE>>

Greenpeace
Greenpeace has always fought - and will continue to fight - vigorously against nuclear power because it is an unacceptable risk to the environment and to humanity. The only solution is to halt the expansion of all nuclear power, and for the shutdown of existing plants.READ MORE>>

National Organic Directory for Australia
A non-profit voluntary environmental organisation for eco-friendly people to unite to save their communities.READ MORE>>

NUI
Site of the NUI South Pacific company that exports Extra
 Virgin Organic Coconut Oil on from the South Pacific on
the FAIRTRADE label. 
A great business for island communities who get a
decent return for their product! 
READ MORE>>

Coconut Oil
Lots of info on the amazing health benefits of coconut oil,
which has been used by island communities for centuries.
Coconut oil has been slandered by the vegetable oil
companies as being high in cholesterol (not true). This
happened because most of the world vegetable oil crops
(soy, corn etc) are grown in the US by big agribusiness 
multinationals which have deliberately pushed coconut
oil out of the market.READ MORE>>

True Food Guide
Find out if your food is free from genetically engineered ingredients, and many other food facts. READ MORE>>

McSpotlight
Large site spotlighting McDonald's exploitation of animals, people and the environment. Including information, news, public discussion rooms. Hello and welcome to McSpotlight. The biggest, loudest, most red, most read Anti-McDonald's extravaganza the world has ever seen. Anything you could possibly want to know about McDonald's or McLibel nestles somewhere in our 21,000 files. Don't get us wrong, though, we're not telling you to give up your Big Macs. We just provide the info for you to judge for yourself.READ MORE>>

STIR + Vision Generation
We campaign relentlessly and speak out for those who can’t,
 because we believe our generation can make poverty history.www.stir.org.auREAD MORE>>

Amnesty International
One of the world's leading Human Rights org.
Has links for Australia and South Pacific campaigns with
heaps of opportunities for action in local communities
across Australia. READ MORE>>

Oxfam
 Current campaigns include: Fair Trade, Indigenous Australians'
rights, Labour rights, Human Rights advocacy - Refugees, Asylum
 Seekers.
Oxfam are an effective NGO cos their project work with
communities focuses on sustainability, fair trade, human
rights and social justice. 
They stand out as one of the few international NGO's with
 CARE International, that spend only a small proportion
(less than 5%) of their funds on admin, most goes to
programs and campaigns in indigenous communities. READ MORE>>

GetUp!
GetUp is a new independent political movement to build
a progressive Australia. GetUp brings together like-minded people
who want to bring participation back into our democracy.READ MORE>>

Grameen Foundation
Grameen Foundation's mission is to enable the poor, especially the poorest, to create a world without poverty. Click here for more info. With tiny loans, financial services and technology, we help the poor, mostly women, start self-sustaining businesses to escape poverty.READ MORE>>

OXFAM AUSTRALIA
Get Active! Oxfam International is a leader in Fair Trade advocacy and campaigns from the grass roots to international trade level, supporting international trade justice. Oxfam also stocks fair trade products, available online and in their stores worldwide. To learn more and check out the links for Fair Trade in Australia, New Zealand, the U.S, Ireland, UK, Canada and Spain, go to:www.marketradefair.comSign the petition:  ‘The Big Noise’ READ MORE>>

Black Gold
 Watch the film trailer “BLACK GOLD” on Fair Trade vs Free Trade coffee and its massive impact in developing countries:

Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 7.0.14!

READ MORE>>

3Fish
3Fish combines extensive global promotional marketing and sourcing experience with a certification and auditing program that ensures environmental, social and economic sustainability, and traceability back to the source. When our kids ask us about global warming, environmental degradation, child labour and sweatshops let's all say that we did something to make a difference. Recognise right now that every one of our purchasing decisions has a ripple effect around the globe, so choose merchandise that you can truly be proud of and feel good about at every level.READ MORE>>

Etiko Fair Trade
The Etiko brand has been created for the conscious consumer: consumers who realise that the way they spend their money can have an impact not just on their wallets but also on the environment and fellow humans around the world. Child labour and sweat shops have not disappeared and can be found around the world. From the villages of Pakistan, to the streets of Bangkok and the suburbs of Sydney, worker exploitation still occurs today. READ MORE>>

The Trading Circle
The Good Shepherd Trading Circle is a non-profit company established by the Good Shepherd Sisters in Australia in 1995 to support women in micro-enterprises initiated by the Sisters internationally. The Good Shepherd Sisters are in 67 countries. Their mission is to empower women and girls and their families who are marginalized in society for various reasons. They believe passionately in the dignity and unique value of each person. This commits them to join with all who struggle for a world that is just and fair for all.READ MORE>>

moral fibre
moral fibre was started in 2002 to create & support opportunities for people in developing countries to benefit in an ethical and sustainable manner from the international market. They do this through the design, creation and sale of exceptional quality, stylish items produced under accredited environmental and Fair Trade practices.READ MORE>>

Global Trade Watch
Global Trade Watch is an Australian grassroots group campaigning fordemocratic, environmentally sustainable and fair trading systems.READ MORE>>

Fair Trade Explained
See Oxfam International’s interactive diagrams for easy to understand explanation of fair trade issues:

Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 7.0.14!

  READ MORE>>

Engage Media
A website for video about social justice and environmental issues in Australia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific. We're building a non-corporate owned video sharing space for social movements in the region.READ MORE>>

OBEY
Obey Clothing  READ MORE>>

The Nuclear Posters
BREAKDOWN PRESS POSTER SERIES #3. 17 Posters that speak different. Breakdown Press is proud to present THE NUCLEAR POSTERS! A powerful collection of posters by artists, designers and writers breaking down the nuclear industry in Australia and celebrating creative dissent.READ MORE>>

Rock The Vote Australia

Rock the Vote is a national non partisan organisation dedicated to building youth empowerment. We are all about helping young people to want to be part of their democracy - to stand up and be heard about issues that affect them... we encourage and motivate them to participate in society - they are after all - THE FUTURE LEADERS OF AUSTRALIA! In a wild jumble of music, theatre, art and other entertainments, Australian youth will join together with musicians, artists, actors, sportspeople and the community to show we are passionate about this country – that we ARE going to be heard, not just on Election Day but into the future!READ MORE>>

AUSTRALIA’S ANTI-TERRORISM LAWS
"Any change that affects our right to live in peace and to be free from arbitrary arrest and detention must be subject to the utmost scrutiny. Do these laws actually make us safe or just makes us feel safer? They are arming our police and intelligence services with powers that history shows will likely lead to abuse and misuse." Law Council President John North speaking at a national legal conference, Canberra, October 2005. "Let there be no doubt that real terrorists are the enemies of civil liberties...nevertheless...we must also recognise...the need to draw a distinction between 'terrorists' and those who are simply objecting to injustice as they see it. In his day, Mahatma Gandhi was certainly called a terrorist. So was Nelson Mandela...” Excerpt from speech by High Court Justice Michael Kirby to the NSW Council of Civil Liberties, 2004. OVERVIEW Anti-Terror Laws introduced in Australia by the Howard Liberal government in 2004 and 2005 granted far reaching and unprecedented power to the federal government, ASIO and the police. The bills contained hundreds of pages of detailed legislation and were introduced to parliament hastily with no opportunity for parliamentary or public scrutiny, and were pushed through the senate without proper debate.READ MORE>>

Freedom 4 Tibet Committee
Why Tibet? Tibet’s profoundly spiritual culture has much to offer the world. Under the compassionate leadership of HH the Dalai Lama, their non violent practice has become a model for global peace, but while the western world has embraced many fashionable aspects of Tibetan culture and prayer flags have become commonplace as a Feng Shui accoutrement, Tibet, still struggles for survival under an oppressive and destructive foreign regime.READ MORE>>