Somewhere Over the Rainbow, a photo from New South Wales, East

Photographer's Note

These lovely ladies are from the Sydney Rainbow Army. They very kindly let me take this photo before beginning their protest at Hyde Park.

On 30 and 31 August 2014, all over the country, over 50,000 Australians marched against the Australian Government's policies. I was proud to be one of them. And for every one of us, there are thousands who could not or would not protest, but agree with what we are doing.

The people of Australia have once again said "enough is enough" to this neo-conservative Abbott-Murdoch Government. You will not see it reported in the media, which is part of the problem.

Among the issues protested against were:

* the Government's destructive policies towards the environment, renewable energy and climate change
* the Government's Budget which has declared a class war on the elderly, young, mentally ill, the sick, single parents and our indigenous brothers and sisters
* the Government's destruction of Medicare, our universal free healthcare system, which is the best in the world
* the Government's destruction of our universal free education system, which is the best in the world
* the Government's abandonment and defunding of the sciences
* the Government's subsidy - in the billions of dollars - of the banking, mining and fossil fuel industries
* the Government's support of the Trans Pacific Partnership which will enable corporations to sue our Government
* the Government's opposition to the right of gay, lesbian and trans-gender people to marry and be treated equally
* the Government's war on the worker and destruction of their rights as a worker
* the Government's defunding of Aboriginal community initiatives, particularly in the area of aboriginal health. The life expectancy of an Aboriginal man is presently 37 years of age and children are dying of Third World diseases
* the Government's illegal and inhumane treatment of asylum seekers. It is presently in breach of the International Treaty on the Rights of the Child, the International Refugee Convention and the Refugee Act
* the Government's involvement in an illegal war against Iraq and Syria
* the Government's continued support of the genocide of the people of Palestine by Israel

There are too many to list.

TO BE SILENT IS TO BE COMPLICIT

macjake, dushdushyant, snunney, cornejo, tyro, annjackman, photoray, No_One, fritzi007, mirosu, worldcitizen, cebe, jcpix, SnapRJW, mkamionka, mkamionka ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

fabbs99 (17179) 2014-08-31 21:30

Hello Lisa,

It is truly a very colorful image of the gorgeous looking personalities.
Very nice saturated colors and perfect sharpness.Excellent composition, good presentation too. Very well done, TFS.

Cheers,
Farhat

emka (158156) 2014-08-31 22:45

Ciao cara Lisa,

The list is so long and you say it can be even longer. I admire you for your engagement in this fight. And splendid picture to accompany this note. Specially this pink woman looks amusing.
Abbraccio

MAlgo

jjcordier (79299) 2014-08-31 22:50

Lisa
Le look est recherché et attire les regards pour défendre leur cause. Visiblement, tu ne portes pas le gouvernement australien dans ton cœur!
Amicalement
JJ

Spyder (4) 2014-08-31 23:36

Hi Lisa

I'm not sure which one 'wowed' me more, your photo or your notes!
Not being a great fan of marriage, I never could figure out what all the fuss is about, but, each to their own.
Yes, very colorful ladies, great catch.
Your protest list just about sums up every modern, so called "Democratic", capitalist, government run country……..you can spend your lifetime trying to fight them, or get on with your life, again each to their own.
Amen

Amicalement
theED

macjake (98456) 2014-09-01 2:14

Hi Lisa
another great post for TE.
Can't believe the government is putting a gag order on this stuff - so the media can't or won't cover this for locals to see or the world to see. Amazing! In a bad I mean.

Its easy to understand your Cause here.
Well done, excellent work in bringing it to peoples attention...keep it going!
Good Luck!

cheers
craig

CLODO (45116) 2014-09-01 2:15

Hi Lisa

Nice couple (I don't think the person at right is a woman) dressed to be noticed, and posing for your objective, but you cut their feet!
Cheers
CLODO

snunney (130967) 2014-09-01 2:25

Hello Lisa,
A great capture of these two colourfully and distinctly dressed ladies. Superb colours and clarity. Your list bears a strong similarity to the policies of the present coalition government in the UK. On the other hand, the present French socialist government is distinctly lacking in any coherent policies. I agree with your last statement whole heartedly.

cornejo (61504) 2014-09-01 4:04

Hi Lisa, very nice picture of this interesantey beautiful scene of daily life, very well captured in this great and beautiful photography. An interesting picture with good sharpness, light, color and quality. Very good and nice job perfectly done, congratulations my friend. Thanks for sharing this interesting work.

Good evening and happy start to the week.
Warm greetings from southern Spain.
Angel.

Pd. all my solidarity with your struggle, in my country are doing the same policies the ruling right.

tyro (30513) 2014-09-01 4:27

Ciao cara Lisa,

What a very interesting, thought provoking and emotive note you have written and what a fabulous photograph to illustrate your points.

The lady on the left is, well, flamboyantly dressed to say the least - but I find that really brilliant! I love the clashes of colour in her hair, her clothing and even those bright pink stockings - all topped off with an air of total defiance which is accentuated by her stare, her dark glasses and her policeman's hat.

The lady on the right - well, quite honestly, I thought that was a bloke. Geez, look at those arms - like a coal heaver's - I certainly wouldn't fancy a fourpenny one from her - she'd knock you into the middle of next week. But, quite honestly, she looks more relaxed and as though she'd be a lot more fun than Mrs. Grumpy Pants on the left.

A brilliant picture with wonderfully vibrant colours and excellent details and clarity.

Fabulous!

Kind Regards,

John.

annjackman (23019) 2014-09-01 5:03

Hello Lisa,
Superb double portrait! Love their poses and the gear they wear. The colours are vivid and the exposure spot on. A great opportunity well taken.
Kind Regards, Ann

Sergiom (117241) 2014-09-01 6:06

Ciao Lisa

I like very much the attitude of the lady on the left. What a face...
After reading your text, I can see the your conservative government is as worst as ours in Canada.
Bizarre because our two countries were the best for a long while.

Have a very nice day...anyway

Serge

photoray (13981) 2014-09-01 7:13

Howdy Rebel Lisa,

Interesting portrait of the two characters in attention getting costumes? or daily life style?

The young man reminds me of Mickey Rourke (actor), and the female of my erotic fantasy, sort of a hippie, millennial version of Barbie.

And proud you and others are standing up to government corruption. Are your elections corrupted? Or like in America, too many people believe in the propaganda, and bombastic advertising lies?

Your list of 'protest issues' are very similar to ours. The only major one missing is the dominant Military Industrial Complex here, which is currently propagandizing the bombing of Iraq, Syria, etc., etc.

Best wishes for the future,
Sincerely,
Ray

sabermonajati (11537) 2014-09-01 9:44

hi lisa
interesting portrait you captured.
regard
saber

No_One (4) 2014-09-01 11:04

Hey Lisa,
What a cool shot :) very nice of these pele to pose so well for you and allow the shot, the lady on the left has an air of total defiance while the lady on the right has such a warm and pleasant smile. Despite their very differing facial expressions though, it seems they are both very pleased you asked for their portrait. And why wouldn't you, it's made a cracker of a pic!

On a somber note though, your notes that accompany this belie the humour and warmth that your picture invokes, and sends a shiver down my spine. Of all the things that you have listed, each as terrible as the last, what is most disturbing here is that the media are not reporting it, that is a very dangerous place to be. I see why people would be so angry against your government, and fair play to you for standing up against such, dare I say, tyranny? I think that word is justified. When we look at the rights of people, children, immigrants, same sex couples, the natural world and do much more being in such danger, I salute you heartily in your protest against this. Lke you say, it's amazing that nobody in the world is hearing about this, but if the government have that much control.......well, I need say no more, you know the end to that sentence.

I'm wishing you well from afar, wheat juice in hand I salute your fight and hope that you win resoundingly. I wish you well from Belfast too, here tonight to photo the titanic museum, but amazingly enough, it's raining. Rain, in Ireland? Who'd believe it :)

Take care and be good.
Noel

williewhistler (16606) 2014-09-01 13:44

Hello Lisa,
there is no way that could you resist getting a shot of this attractive couple complete with ciggy,I guess that there would have been a good many others in similar attire on the day. What a lovely spectacle.
So many injustices,so little compassion,such a shame for one of the worlds richest nations.
Kindest wishes Les.

carlo62 (81265) 2014-09-01 13:49

Ciao Lisa
la tua foto è bella e colorata, la stravaganza delle due persone riempie l'immagine di curiosità, ma il contesto e la tua nota sono veramente tristi.
Hai fatto un elenco di situazioni da non credere e quello che non capisco è perché da noi non se ne sa niente, nessuna notizia.
Ti mando un grosso saluto...amaro
Carlo

abmdsudi (95869) 2014-09-01 19:31

Hi Lisa
Eye popping rainbow of diff kind! It's well-timed shot besides being so colourful; your commentaries are most definitely A* Content-wise impeccable; needless to say they steal the show, perhaps only keen urban lifesnapper can recognise this unusual and exotic species and their determined body lingo. The contrast is effectively stronger lots more punch to counterpoint the background. This shot is hugely enjoyable and most entertaining to view, imho. You've captured the diversity, impressive and expressive image. Congrats
Best regards

fritzi007 (14698) 2014-09-03 13:09

Dear Lisa,
a fantastic photo, congratulate you.
The politicians are just crooks, everywhere, all over the world, including Austria !!!
People have to pay for the mistakes of the Poletik with taxes and blood! ("enough is enough")
Wish you a good time
Wolfgang

mirosu (16313) 2014-09-04 1:20

Hi Lisa,
Outstanding photo, superb light and clarity, excellent focusing. I've not been aware of these problems in Australia. I love your country and I like very much visiting it. After reading this, I'm a little bit worried. But one question, who was voting for this government? Who is responsible for this negative development? If not the citizens of Australia, who?
Greetings,
Miro

worldcitizen (16072) 2014-09-04 17:30

Hello Lisa,

This is a fabulous double portrait. While the person on the right wears a slight smile, the lovely lady on the left seems more defiant. The pink stockings really jump out as does her incredible hair, and the smaller details, like the cigarette, just add more character to the scene. Kudos to them for their activism, and the courage to be who they are.

I have been surprised to read in this note, and previous ones that you wrote, about the negative policies of the current government in Australia. We don't hear anything at all about it here in the US. Thanks for shedding some light one what's going on, and for standing up for what you believe in. I'm sure people have been saying this for centuries, but the world just seems a bit more insane these days...

cebe (1491) 2014-09-05 8:28

Hello Lisa,
I though for a moment you were talking about the Canadian government! Many similarities! (Climate, sciences, Palestine, etc.) Great shot. Colourful "ladies". I was going to add a word about the feet, but I see someone has mentioned it before.
Amicalement,
Claude

jcpix (14030) 2014-09-09 20:36

Gidday dear V1,

I noticed something missing from your note, and I think it's clear....they're also protesting fashion senses! :) Hard to ignore the reality of concerns, as well as the brightly colored and rather interesting styles being presented here....quite a couple of "lookers." lol

This has human intrigue all over it, both in appearance and real life issues. A wonderful picture that depicts a story, and that brief moment of interaction. Governments, sheesh...the good, the bad, and the ugly!? Have a great one. Take it easy.

Cheers from the top side,

ADB

Silvio1953 (221593) 2014-09-10 11:27

Ciao Lisa, guarda che coppia! Simpatica, coloratissima ed originale, bravissima, un abbraccio Silvio

SnapRJW (31631) 2014-09-18 3:02

Two colourful characters bracket the Equal Marriage Rights Now! poster and underline the diversity of people who inhabit our world and your notes prompt me to look back in history and consider how, over the years what was once totally unacceptable behaviour has shaken off much of its negative connotations. Due,in part, to the bravery of those who stand up and voice their malcontent.

A well presented and informative note that highlights the skewed values of our world.

Keep on fighting for what you believe in Lisa!

Warm regards

Rosemary

mkamionka (74407) 2014-10-28 4:09

Ciao Lisa,
I was torn between commenting on a beautiful landscape photo or the attractive legs...
Great capture here with so much color and character.
I like it very much!
M