Bob Brown speaks at Qld Green Alliance dinner
By Jim McIlroy
BRISBANE — Tasmanian green independent MLA Bob Brown spoke out strongly for the future of green politics and in support of the Green Alliance campaign for the Brisbane City Council at a fundraising dinner here on February 16.
Brown received particularly loud applause from the audience of some 150 for remarks condemning the resources war in the Gulf.
He praised the Green Alliance initiative and predicted important successes for green campaigns in Brisbane and other local government areas in the near future.
Australian Democrat Senator Cheryl Kernot described the development of the Green Alliance, which includes a wide range of individuals and progressive organisations from the Democrats to Rainbow Alliance to the Democratic Socialist Party, as a "historic" step in Australian politics.
Green Alliance mayoral candidate Drew Hutton spoke enthusiastically about the prospects of the alliance on March 23 and the development of the green movement nationally.
Chairperson and Green Alliance coordinator Maurice Sibelle urged people attending to give full support to the alliance, and to become actively involved in the campaign.
The highly successful night was co-sponsored by GA and Brisbane conservation organisations.
In another Green Alliance event, reports Ben Read, around 80 people participated in a "Pedal for Peace" bicycle rally through Brisbane on February 19.
Lord mayoral candidate Drew Hutton stated the aim of the rally "was to draw attention to the excessive dependence on resources caused by private car use. This is a major factor in the war over oil in the Gulf."