We have made it very clear that our fight will continue for as long as it takes to return democracy to those NSW communities currently living under punitive administration.

The proposed elections in September will not deter us from our resolve. The Upper House of the NSW Parliament recently passed a Bill that, if enacted, will see forced amalgamations stop and allow those that were amalgamated a plebiscite for a return to the previous council area that existed before it was proclamation of the new council.

This Bill will be placed before the Lower House in August for debate. Many country National Party members have used the excuse that they were not given the opportunity to vote for or against amalgamation as it was done by Proclamation.

They have indicated sympathy to their constituents but have done nothing despite evidence of the overwhelming desire for demerger (certainly in our community).

We now all have the opportunity to ask our local members what their vote will be. 

Be assured that if this Bill does not pass, the next round of amalgamations will happen soon and it could be your community that loses its identity and democracy.

They will of course tell you that they will not force amalgamations – the same line that was given to us prior to the last election.

Up to half a million Australians may be unaware that they have type 2 diabetes, the leading cause of preventable blindness, limb amputation and end-stage kidney disease. The tragedy is that most of these cases are preventable.

Animal-based foods are high in cholesterol and saturated fat, which has been shown to raise the risk for diabetes. Scientists suspect that the sodium and nitrates found in processed meats—and the heme iron found in red meat—may also be contributing factors.

According to the Victorian Government’s Better Health Channel, vegans are less likely to suffer from many chronic diseases, including diabetes, coronary artery disease, and some forms of cancer.

Research shows that the average vegan is about 18 per cent thinner than his or her meat-eating counterpart, which is significant since 80 per cent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese.

Fortunately, studies have shown that diabetics who eat low-fat vegan foods are able to stop taking medications—or at least take fewer of them—to manage the disease.

If you’re concerned about diabetes and other health problems—not to mention cruelty to animals and environmental destruction—please opt for tasty vegan foods. Order a free vegan starter kit from peta.org.au for more information and free vegan recipes.

This week the sleepy Spanish city of Pamplona has been inundated with tens of thousands of tourists from around the globe - including Australia.

The attraction? The infamous San Fermin festival - otherwise known as "the running of the bulls.”

Each morning throughout this festival, revellers flaunt their bravado by taunting and racing ahead of six bulls and six steers who are stampeded through the city's narrow, winding, cobbled streets.

But it's what happens to the bulls later that is most shocking -they will be tortured and killed by the bull fighting industry.