US/ HOMOPHOBIC "FAMILY" GROUP WARNS OF GAY DAYS: The annual Gay Days event was held this weekend at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. But just in-case people didn’t notice the thousands of LGBT customers, a homophobic group hired a airplane to fly a banner over the area warning families. The Florida Family Association contracted the plane to fly on Friday and Saturday, while towing a banner that read: “Warning Gay Day At Disney". In a statement on Friday, the group said: "Thanks to the generosity of many supporters, Florida Family Association contracted this aircraft company to fly a 7 foot high banner for 10 hours the day before and 10 hours on the day of Gay Pride Day at Disney World. Florida Family Association wanted to warn these families about this offensive event before they arrive at the Magic Kingdom on Saturday. This airplane banner is our best effort to accomplish that goal". The group said the offensive behaviour included pro-gay t-shirts, same sex couples hugging, holding hands, “groping each other” and some even “dressed in drag". The event is in its 20th year and brings in around $150m to Disney, rival theme parks, hotel owners, restaurants, bars, clubs and other local businesses. Gay Days is widely supported in Orlando and most tourist spots highlight the event in their advertising.
US/ ARIZONA WILDFIRE RAGES OUT OF CONTROL: An Arizona wildfire continued to grow this morning, as firefighters contending with strong, dry winds remain unable to contain the blaze. The Wallow fire, the 3rd largest in the state's history, has already consumed 301 sq miles. More than 2300 firefighters from across the country have joined the fight, with residents evacuating towns in the fire's path. The Arizona Governor has described the fire as "horrific". The fire, which started on May 29, is threatening mountain communities in the east of the state. Smoke from the burning pine forests can be seen in the neighbouring states of New Mexico and Colorado. Most residents of the resort town of Greer, in the White Mountains, left on Saturday, packing their belongings in to vehicles as the Wallow Fire moved closer. The few who remain in the town, just 7 miles from the fire's front line, are under a pre-evacuation order, ready to leave at short notice. Several towns near the New Mexico border, including Escudilla Mountain Estates, Bonita and Dog Patch, were evacuated on Sunday. Fire crews were lighting lines of smaller controlled fires in an effort to contain the advance of the wind-driven main blaze.
The death toll from the May 22 Joplin, Missouri tornado has risen to 141, according to a statement from Joplin city officials. The public information officer for Joplin said the city had identified 3 new victims who died from injuries sustained as a result of the tornado. The massive EF5 tornado cut a 6 mile swath through the SW Missouri city just as residents were sitting down to Sunday dinner. It was the deadliest single tornado in the United States since 1947. Tornadoes have battered the country this spring, killing more than 500 people, mostly in the south. Last week, a twister struck Massachusetts, killing 4. Tornadoes are rarely seen in Massachusetts and it had been over 10 years since the state had recorded a death from a twister.
WORLD/ BANNING LEADS TO MORE EXPOSURE: After being dumped from bus stops in Brisbane, Australia, last week after a letter-writing campaign, only to be reinstated following a public backlash, a controversial advertising image of 2 gay men embracing will now be used in a new campaign to promote sexual tolerance. The visual image from the Healthy Communities' Rip and Roll safe-sex advertising signs will be featured in an "Embrace Acceptance" advertising campaign, aimed at addressing homophobia. The billboards were to begin being broadcast digitally starting today. Last week, the outdoor advertising company Adshel, removed the Rip and Roll ads from bus shelters around the city following complaints that the central image was offensive to school children. The company reinstated the ads after a public backlash, conceding the complaints were co-ordinated by the Australian Christian Lobby. Now Adshel's competitors goa billboards have jumped in, teaming up with an advertising agency and a brand communications agency to provide their services free of charge to see the messages of tolerance broadcast on 4 digital billboards in the city. The managing director of goa billboards said he had been shocked by the amount of homophobia arising from the original Rip and Roll campaign.
New Zealand's most beloved sheep has died. Shrek, the merino wether, gained international fame in 2004 after he was found in a cave. He had evaded muster for 6 years and carried 27kg worth of fleece. He was sheared on live TV shortly after he was found. The wool raised money for the charity Cure Kids and the pictures were worth an estimated $100 million in global publicity for the export industry. Shrek was euthanased at Bendigo Station in New Zealand early this morning. He would have turned 17 this year. Shrek's owner said Shrek's health had been failing in recent times. "He's in human terms now close to 90 odd years old. His circulation was shutting down and he was starting to get into a lot of pain with his front feet," his owner said. "We didn't want to put Shrek through anymore, but it's a day I certainly haven't been looking forward to because he's been a great old mate". The Cure Kids charity, which gets the proceeds from sales of books about Shrek's life, said his legacy will live on. "I don't think the New Zealand public or us at Cure Kids have truly appreciated just how much of an affect that Shrek has had". Shrek's owner said he would be cremated and he wants to see his ashes spread over the top of Mt Cook. "He can look over the high country and the domain of his ancestors for 150 years". There will also be a service at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Tekapo, New Zealand.
The New Zealand Earthquake Commission (EQC) has classifed a large aftershock which rattled Canterbury this morning as a new event for insurance purposes. The earthquake, measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale, struck near Rolleston, 20km SW of Christchurch at a depth of 15km shortly after 9:00am, local time. It was followed by a magnitude-3.8 tremor at 11:41am This 10km-deep shake was centred on Weedons, about 4km from Rolleston. The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (Cera) said no significant damage had been reported after the quake. Police had not received any reports of damage, but most members of the public have reported having items knocked off shelves in their homes. Several reports of cracks in roads and highways, pictured, were also reported. The continuing shocks are expected to further delay recovery from the devastating February 22 quake. A total of 181 people died in the 6.3-magnitude quake in February, which also destroyed hundreds of buildings. The Canterbury Quake Live website reported the shake was the 6th largest since last September's magnitude 7.1 quake.
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