Mulubinba Moments

Pictures from my favourite walk - Tuesday.

I haven't walked on the breakwater for a long time, so it was a joy to revisit.

 

Second industrial accident at Orica

Second industrial accident at Orica  Stockton residents were horrified after learning of a second industrial accident at Orica’s Kooragang plant. (Newcastle Herald 20/8/2011)

Spread the word - support refugees - UNHCR Australia | Australia for UNHCR

Spread the word - support refugees - UNHCR Australia | Australia for UNHCR.

Erin Brokovich to assist Stockton residents after Orica emissions

This is the view North from the top of the tower of Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle. The suburb of Stockton can be seen in the centre of this photo, across the Hunter River. It can be accessed by ferry from the city, or by a road which takes you across Kooragang Island and the soaring Stockton Bridge. Kooragang Island is known for its coal loaders and industry, as well as wetlands.

Stockton was originally known as "Pirates Point" after a group of convicts were wrecked there in 1800. Industrialists settled there, built residences and started ship building. By the 1880's it had a population of 1000. The Stockton Colliery was opened in 1889 and this again boosted the population. In 1971 the Stockton bridge was built allowing for less isolation and easier vehicular access.

As can be seen from the map, the industrial site on Kooragang (marked in grey) lies directly across a small expanse of water from the suburb of Stockton. Located on this site is the Orica mining explosives plant. On Monday 8th August, an incident at this plant resulted in the release of plumes of hexavalent chromium  - 20 workers and 70 houses were exposed to the chemical for half an hour. It is a known carcinogen and its dangers were highlighted by Erin Brokovich in Hinkley, California when hexavalent chromium infiltrated the drinking water there. Residents in stockton were not told of the exposure to emissions from the Orica plant until three days after the event. Toxicologists and health authorities have stated however that the emissions pose as no major health risk to residents. Clean up crews have been busy in the affected Stockton areas over the past few days, but the residents remain concerned about the effects of the chromium cloud on their health. A class action over the incident is being considered by lawyers working for the environmental activist Erin Brokovich who was told of the incident over the weekend. She reportedly hopes to visit Stockton within the next two months.

This news story continues to unfold .....

View of Newcastle from Stockton

Online fundraising

Every now and then on this blog, I will occasionally post an article about a person or event that may be of personal interest. I am currently updating our travel photos ..... very belatedly. See September postings for  Spain and the UK. Heron Island will follow - a trip we made in April this year. I intend to have all travel diaries updated before we head to New Zealand in November.

My other blogging interest at the moment is J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit' and the movie adaptation of the book that is currently being made over in New Zealand this year (...and next). For many years I have been following the career path of one actor by the name of Richard Armitage. He is gradually becoming a familiar face on Australian TV thanks to his roles in Spooks, Strike Back and  Vicar of Dibley, and, as my previous post states, he has been cast in his first big movie role as Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit.

Many performing artists have causes and charities that they like to support. Richard Armitage .. RA (I'm too lazy to write out his full name repeatedly and he often signs off as RA after written communication with his fanbase) has set up his own sponsorship of four UK charities primarily for his fans to contribute to in lieu of gifts/cards etc. 

The reason I mention this here is the charities he has chosen to support are directly involved in assisting people affected by the recent UK unrest. The Salvation Army for example has been assisting UK residents and emergency services in the major cities. Three out of four of the charities have Australian branches, networks or equivalent service provision. Some members of his viewing community have decided to donate to these charities using RA's Just Giving pages as a gesture of support. 

Richard Armitage's Just Giving Links with Australian Equivalent organisations as follows:

 

1. The Salvation Army: Richard Armitage Just Giving4 - RA.

 Australian Branch: Link.

 

 

    2. Shelter: (Providing housing for disadvantaged and homeless) Richard Armitage  Just Giving3 - RA

Australian Equivalent:  Shelter  Lighthouse Foundation, Mission Australia

 

       3. Barnardo's: (Children's Charity): Richard Armitage Just Giving1 - RA.

      Australian: Link

 

4. Childline: (Provides 24 hour helpline for children in distress or danger). Richard Armitage Just Giving2 - RA

 Australian Equivalent: Kids' helpline.

"Just Giving" is similar to "Go FundRaise".

To date RA's viewing community has raised over £10,400 which is over $16,000. A good way to harness the enthusiasm of fans to benefit worthwhile causes.