March 2012 Archives

 The Boston Herald interviews Lucy after the Season 2 finale Wrath of the Gods. Here are some excerpts:

“There are very few upsides to being married to a producer, let me tell you, but knowing where your character is going is one of them,” Lawless told the Herald earlier this week in a telephone call from Auckland, New Zealand. “I had to know. Everything I had played all season had to lead to this.”

The second episode, in which she sacrificed a goat and believed a prophecy that she would be delivering a child to her dead husband, set in motion all her subsequent actions.

As for taking Ilithyia’s (Viva Bianca) baby, Lucretia “felt like it was her baby — she engineered it (she brought Spartacus and Ilithyia together in season one). Ilithyia was the incubator for the child, and when she delivered it, she was done with her.”

Lawless defends her character. “She started out as a very relatable human being. She didn’t want to throw those Nazi parties, but her husband wanted them and she wanted to please him. It was a slow transmogrification, but she was corrupted, absolutely, and her husband’s death was such a loss for Lucretia.”

On the subject of what's next for Lucy now that Spartacus has ended she says:

Lawless plans to return to the States soon for some meetings to figure out her next project.

“I’m just so grateful to have had the opportunity here. It really helped bring me back. People can write you off after a show like ‘Xena (Warrior Princess),’ saying, ‘She belongs to the ’90s.’ This really got me out there, and I’ve grown so much and I’m extremely grateful for this platform role.”

Read the Full Interview

For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site

James Hibberd interviews Steven DeKnight about the Spartacus Season finale and he is asked about Lucy and of course Lucretia:

And then there’s the other thing we’ve all been waiting for: Lucretia getting revenge on Ilithyia. Was that exact ending always the one you had in mind?

Yes, that’s the outcome that brought Lucretia back at the end of season one. When I was first asked if she could come back I was like, ‘She has to die with Batiatus.’ Then the next day in the shower I had an idea, which was basically Lucretia as Mad Ophelia. And her wanting the baby and playing it out all season where you think she’s going to take the baby and raise it herself, then you realize she was insane. Her plan was always to take that baby to the afterlife and deliver it to her husband. I half expected Starz to say, “What do you mean you’re going to take a newborn baby over the cliff?!” But no they’re like, “Oh, great!”

Read the full interview here

For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site

Well well well isn' t the body count on Wrath of the Gods something to behold. I've never seen a show completely kill off a good portion of it's cast before (usually that's done by the studios when they kill a show).  Won't review the final episode - you can read the reviews here and here but take a different approach and review the characters.

Scorecard:
Deaths: 7 Core cast members have died: Lucretia, Ilithyia, Glaber, Onomaous, Ashur, Seppia, Mira

Lived:  6 core cast members have lived: Spartacus, Gannicus, Crixus, Naevia, Agron, Nasir,

Lucy Lawless as Lucretia

Deceased / Not Returning for Season 3

Mini bio for Lucretia
Lucretia is the Roman widow found alive in her ruined villa, having survived the bloody gladiator revolt that took the life of her husband, the gladiator owner Batiatus. The traumatic devastation that was visited upon her has upended her world and her mind struggles to adjust to a new reality. Where once she and her husband maneuvered to ascend the social ranks of the Roman hierarchy, Lucretia is now left alone to hang on and merely survive.

For me this season has been Lucy's show; no doubt about it. She reigned supreme from the moment we saw her as the batsh*t crazy Lucretia with no marbles to the very end. Vengeance was indeed hers. I'll admit I absolutely adored this character even when she was being vindictive and manipulative. There was something about Lucretia (other than the fact that a favourite actor was in the role) that made me like her. This season was brutal on poor Lucretia.  I wasn't thrilled with the rape arc and felt it had gone over the edge (for me personally) but Lucy Lawless did some of her best work. I've watched Lucy in various roles for the last 15 years and this role took her out of her comfort zone and when that happens Lucy turns in spectacular performances. She's VERY good at being the strong character but she also excels when put in a vulnerable position (go and hire the movie The Darkroom. Lucy plays Cheryl, the abused and alcoholic wife - BRILLIANT performance). LOVED her work in Spartacus. Can't say I'm sorry to see her go because this show crossed several lines I wasn't prepared to watch and I stayed because of Lucy's brilliant work.

Lucretia kills Ilithyia AND her baby and finally gets her vengeance. She ends her life on a high (as Lucy tweeted) and she went to meet her beloved Batiatus in the afterlife. I sure hope the afterlife is ready to Lucretia.

Rating: 10/10

Read full review

For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site

SPOILERS BELOW. DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILT FOR SPARTACUS SEASON 2 EPISODE 10 WRATH OF THE GODS!

On 6 March Lucy tweeted that Lucretia would end the season on a personal high.

@RealLucyLawless I hear the Internet is wildly sympathetic to Lucretia. You'll be glad to know, she ends the season on a personal high #SpartacusVengeance
Source

She did. High upon a cliff and off the cliff to her death to meet up with her beloved Batiatus in the afterlife. Thus ends Lucy's role on Spartacus. In my opinion Lucretia was Lucy's best role ever and one hell of a great performance in Spartacus Blood and Sand, Spartacus Gods of the Arena and now Spartacus Vengeance. Bravo Lucy!

This is what Lucy has said in her interview with The Huffington Post about Lucretia's death

When did you know that Lucretia would die at the end of the season?
Lucy Lawless: I knew before we began filming [Season] 2 that Lucretia was going to meet her end, and how. That knowledge was vital to the way I played everything. It explains why she puts up with certain things, like Ashur's repeated rapes. She had to feel that anything that happened to her, no matter how degrading, must be borne in order for the prophecy to be fulfilled.

Did you think her death made sense within the context of the overall Spartacus story?
Lawless: The Spartacus storyline was moving away from Capua, so I guess if they were going to remain true to Spartacus' journey, then it made sense to offer up Lucretia and Illythia's lives, in the richest, nastiest tradition of the show.

Did you resist the idea of Lucretia being killed off? Did you lobby the producers to change their minds?
Lawless: No, I know better. I was hoping Lucretia's long gown would catch on a branch on the way down and there she'd be like Wyle E. Coyote, dangling from a twig with babe in arms and throwing a huge tanty (tantrum) that her plan to go to the afterworld had failed.

Imagine the storyline to follow: Lucretia raising young Sparty. Now THERE's a show!

Was Lucretia faking her friendship with Ilythia, or was any of that real?
Lawless: I'll leave that for the audience to decide. But basically, the death of Batiatus was a spiritual death for Lucretia.

What was it like to say goodbye to that character? Was it harder or easier than saying farewell to characters you've played in the past?
Lawless: I'm sad over this one. Still, she was originally slated to die at the end of Season 1, so she'd already had one stay of execution. I am so grateful to all the writers for allowing me a role of such scope and depth. I is [sic] one lucky actress.

This is what Steven has said about Lucretia's death

Why'd you kill off Lucretia, and aren't you afraid that she'll haunt you from the afterlife?

DeKnight: I could not have loved the character of Lucretia more -- nor the amazing Lucy Lawless that brought her to life. But it became apparent that Lucretia had no place in the narrative as the story of Spartacus moves into the war years with [Season 3 character] Crassus pursuing the rebels across the Republic. I made the decision to give Lucretia a grand send-off instead of bringing her back as a tertiary character with little to do. A difficult choice, but definitely the right one.

Read Full Article

For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site

Steven is interviewed the AV Club site about the season finale of Spartacus Season 2. He is asked about Lucretia and these are some of the excerpts from the interview:

AVC: A good example of that is Lucretia’s survival at the end of Blood And Sand, something you’ve mentioned wasn’t originally intended. How did you decide upon Ashur as her savior, and how did that decision feed into the way he acts toward her as the season progressed?

SD: You know, I’m glad that Starz and Rob really came back to me and pushed to bring her back. I always tell the story about how I was adamant that she had to die, and the entire story was building to this. But the next morning I had a thought: “You know what? There are some interesting things we can do, and bring it to a conclusion that ties her to Ilithyia that I really like.” So, once I came to that notion, there was only one person who could have helped her. He was the only person left alive, and that was Ashur.

...

AVC: And in response to that, she turns to Lucretia for support. It seems every single time they interact, the power dynamic has somehow shifted. How difficult is it to add new shading to their scenes at this point?

SD: We love that from season one, in terms of the constantly shifting power dynamics. Who is in control? Who is actually telling the truth? And we always talk about how these are two women that desperately, desperately down in their hearts wanted to be friends. But they just couldn’t. It didn’t work out that way.

It’s funny, Lucy Lawless and I, at the end of the year while recording our commentary for the finale, we discovered that we had two completely different views of their relationship. It’s always been my thought in this season that Lucretia does sincerely love Ilithyia. It’s a crazy kind of love. Lucy doesn’t think that at all. But it just goes to show you how you can imprint different things on it by watching it.

But we never found it difficult to switch the dynamics around constantly. They are two such fantastic actresses to write for—Lucy Lawless and Viva Bianca—that it’s just gold. As a showrunner, it’s something you always hope for but never really expect to happen.

Read the interview interview here

For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site

Well this isn't great news and I'm surprised it's happened but Shell has had a victory against Greenpeace which prohibits activists to staying a kilometre away from Shell's vessels in the Arctic until 31 October (that's when they have to stop drilling because the drilling season ends). The following was posted by Greenpeace NZ

Greepeace USA has gotten notice that a federal judge in Alaska granted a preliminary injunction against us which will remain in place until October 31st 2012, the end of Shell Oil's 'drilling window' in Alaska. This is another step in a legal process Shell has taken against us following a temporary restraining order which expired on March 28th.

Greenpeace USA is now banned from entering a 1 km 'safety zone' around Shell's two main drilling vessels and a 500 meter safety zone is in place for support vessels and other equipment.

This article from TV Guide Online had me laughing at the prospect of Lucy and Marissa in the arena! I would pay to see that happen. Here's the excerpt of the article that featured all the cast of Spartacus Vengeance:

Bring On Bruce Lee! The Stars of Spartacus Pick Their Weapons and Wingmen

TV Guide Online
29 March 2012

All men face the threat of death, but the Spartacus: Vengeance cast has faced it on a regular basis through their characters on the show.

Going into the epic finale Friday (10/9c, Starz), we asked the actors to reflect on what it must have been like to be placed in Spartacus' sandals and had them weigh in on two very important subjects:

Lucy Lawless as "Lucretia"

1. If you were dropped into the gladiators' arena, what would be your ultimate weapon of choice?

2. Who would you pick as your wingman in the arena?

Weapon: I would have that fabulous weapon that that guy had in Drive, where he had that stiletto knife with some sort of nerve agent on it that totally put them to sleep immediately. But I would want it on a pike because... a staff would give you such an advantage. I'd have a lethal staff.

Image courtesy of bladeforums.com

Wingman: I'd take Marissa Jaret Winokur from Hairspray because we might lose but we'd have a bloody wild time doing it. Just a bit of razzle dazzle. We'd do showtunes and sashay out of the arena. I met Marissa doing Broadway doing Grease together.

Image courtesy of Broadway World

Click here to read the full article

For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site

The Boston Herald spoke to Lucy on 29 March about the upcoming finale of Season 2 called "Wrath of the Gods". Lucy's role as Lucretia has undergone some major pain in this season and this article addressed them and asked what we can expect. Here's an excerpt and a quote from Lucy about what it was like to play this role:

Lawless' Roman matron Lucretia has spent the season struggling for survival amid shifting alliances. She's been revered as a conduit to the gods, suffered numerous sexual assaults and tonight schemes to free herself of an arranged marriage to a man she loathes.

"I've never been pushed so far, way beyond the limits of my experience -- the multiple rapes and the cruelty are so outside my realm of experience," Lawless said. "It's a rare privilege for an actor. It was not always comfortable and sometimes it was downright unpleasant. Yet it was a professional pleasure. As actors, we live for these roles, filled with savagery, and even the cruelty had a weird beauty to it."

Source: The Boston Herald

For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site

The Boston Herald spoke to Lucy on 29 March 2012 primarily about the Spartacus season finale which is on tomorrow called "Wrath of the Gods" and she was also asked about the Save The Arctic protest and the court case next week in Taranaki.

Lawless and a handful of other Greenpeace activists are due in court next week to face burglary charges for their nonviolent occupation of an oil ship at Port Taranaki, New Zealand, last month to protest proposed drilling of the Arctic. If convicted, Lawless could face a prison term.

“I have tremendous faith in the courts here. They’re very sensible,” she said. “A lot of people feel that protest was justified. I am your average educated New Zealander. This (sort of protest) is not just for tree-huggers any more. The average person cares.”

Source: The Boston Herald

See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Support Page for more news, photos, video and other multimedia

See more of Lucy's role as an Eco-Warrior and Greenpeace Ambassador

For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site

I received the following message from Brad Clark, the Starship Foundation CEO about the AUSXIP Charity Auction thanking all the fans:

On behalf of Starship kids and families from all over New Zealand who will benefit from your support - a huge Starship Foundation thanks to all the winners and bidders in the recent Lucy/Xena memorabilia auction!

- Brad Clark,
CEO Starship Foundation

The 2012 AUSXIP Charity Auction has come to an end and wow didn't it go out with a bang! I'm stoked beyond belief that this year we have raised $20,022 - no that is not a typo. (tentative total, not including the donations which Starship will tell me about when it sends the confirmation spreadsheet). What an amazing figure. I triple checked the amount and then went back and checked it again. I could not believe it. To say I was floored would be an understatement. Once I got over my shock, I had a smile on my face that nothing could wipe off; I'm still smiling writing this entry. I am truly humbled by the outcome of this auction.

Last year we raised $11,859.50 and of that $9501 for Starship & $2358.50 was for the Alissa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation (Renee O'Connor's charity).

This auction was initially born to celebrate AUSXIP's 10th Birthday on 15 December 2006. The second auction we held I had enough celebrating AUSXIP's birthday and switched it to celebrate someone else's birthday in March. Since without her, AUSXIP wouldn't be celebrating anything. What's a great gift to give someone who puts herself out there and gives of herself each and every time for charity and now an Eco-Warrior?

Lucille Frances Lawless turns 44 today (29 March 2012). HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCY!

The time for the Season 2 finale is upon us and we are promised that it will be "EPIC". here is the high resolution episode stills and video clips for the final episode of Season 2 called Wrath of the Gods!

The only Lucy as Lucretia episode still was the previously released photo but now available as a high resolution episode still. Click on the thumbnail to get the larger version.

Wrath of the Gods - Season 2 Episode 10
Dwindling supplies bring the rebellion to its knees; Spartacus tries restore hope.   Airdate: 03-30-2012

Credits | Official Site |  Episode Stills

VIDEO CLIPS

Ep 10 Trailer

For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site

Lucy has sent a support message to Greenpeace Philippines which is urging the Philippine delegation at WCPFC (Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission) which is meeting in Guam (see below for more details)

Click here to view video

Greenpeace Philippines has responded to Lucy's message:

Greenpeace We can’t help but share this with all of you, Lucy Lawless extends appreciation to Greenpeace folks in the Philippines.

We say, “No, Lucy, Thank you for being part of the fight.” ;-)

Petition to the Philippine Delegation at WCPFC:

If we want healthy oceans and ample tuna for the future, we need marine reserves and changes in the way we fish TODAY.

We urge you to take action to save Pacific Tuna at this year’s Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission meeting in Guam. We call on you to extend the closures on the Pacific Commons areas, ban the use of destructive Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) with purse seine nets that are wiping away young tuna, sharks, rays and turtles in the Pacific, and to cut by half the catch of bigeye tuna - already facing decline.

Save Pacific Tuna!

If we want healthy oceans and ample tuna for the future, we need marine reserves and changes in the way we fish TODAY.

Click here to add your voice to the petition

Received the following note from Starship about Lucy's generous donation to House of Travel Racing for Starship team, competing in the GODZone Adventure Race in Queenstown this Easter.

'A huge Starship thanks to Lucy for donating $1,000 to the House of Travel Racing for Starship team, competing in the GODZone Adventure Race in Queenstown this Easter.  Check out the teams latest activities and see who else is supporting and how you can help at www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/godzone."

What is the GODZone Adventure Race?

The House of Travel Racing for Starship Team will be competing in the Orion Health GODZone Adventure Challenge, this Easter, raising funds for the national children's hospital.

GODZone is an expedition-style adventure race taking place in Queenstown from this Easter (7-14 April). The race traverses a distance of approximately 450km and takes most participants around four to five days. Teams, who must remain together at all times, will be expected to navigate, trek, mountain bike and kayak on a non-stop basis over a vast array of different landscapes testing the mental and physical skills of participants.

House of Travel in conjunction with The New Zealand Rugby Players Association has put together the four-person "House of Travel Racing for Starship" team to compete in the Orion Health GODZone Adventure Challenge.
The team comprises ex-Blues and New Zealand Maori Player David Gibson, current Black Fern Huriana Manuel, ex-Blues player Ben Meyer and Players Association CEO Rob Nichol.

Other well known sporting stars and faces will also be joining them for various legs of the race. All Black and current Sky rugby presenter Ian Jones is the first confirmed to join the team for the early stages of the race with others to be announced over the coming weeks.

The team will be racing under the House of Travel and Starship Foundation banners aiming to raise funds for Starship's National Air Ambulance Service.

Year-round the Air Ambulance Service rushes medical experts to life-threatening emergencies around the country where they stabilise the children and allow them to be brought safely to Starship to receive the care they need.
The Starship Foundation raises the $1.5 million needed annually for this vital service which includes staff training and aviation costs.

House of Travel is the exclusive Gold Sponsor of the team. Škoda New Zealand is the first to come on board as a Silver Sponsor and MoleMap New Zealand is the first bronze sponsor.

You can also text STAR to 469 (ONLY IF YOU ARE IN NEW ZEALAND) to make an automatic $3 donation.

Click here to support the team

Lucy and Rob's 14th wedding anniversary is coming up on the 28 March 2012. The following mention of their anniversary will be one of many to appear in the press. The next day, 29 March is Lucy's birthday - Lucy wanted to get married before she turned 30 so Rob agreed and a day before she turned 30. On 28 March 1998 they were married in Santa Monica in front of family and friends. So Happy Anniversary to Lucy and Rob Tapert!

MARCH 28 Kokomo Tribune, USA

1998 — Actress Lucy Lawless and Robert G. Tapert, in Santa Monica, Calif. The couple got married at the Santa Monica Church. Lawless’ maid of honor was her daughter Daisy. A Rolls Royce whisked the newlyweds to the “Pretty Woman” suite at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel for a reception attended by nearly 300 guests.

8 May 1998

Message from Lucy Lawless & Robert Tapert (aka Mr & Mrs Tapert)

To all our fans on the Internet

Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the goodness many of you have shown us over the past few months. Not only were you supremely protective of our privacy in the lead-up to our wedding, and since, but have given thousands of dollars to the Marine Conservation and Rainforest Protection appeals on our behalf. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving!

Privately we were a little torn between Rainforest and Aids/Cancer charities etc but aside from loving trees we feel that our planet's rainforest, will provide not only panaceas for many diseases but ecologically, is the hope for all mankind. Truly the greatest good for the greatest number.

Thank you so much for your many kindnesses. God Bless.

Lucy Lawless and Rob Tapert

PS. There was no quarrel about marine conservation. Rob loves the sea. Rob wants you to know how particularly grateful he is for your help in keeping our wedding private. We are left in no doubt that you guys helped prevent it from becoming a circus. It was the happiest day of our lives.

A look back in the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Magazine archive found this article (one of many)

The following is from Sharon Delaney about Lucy's birthday which was posted on the Official Lucy Lawless Fan Club:

CELEBRATING LUCY'S BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR!

DO SOMETHING NICE FOR THE PLANET

Want to celebrate Lucy's birthday (3/29) this year? I asked her what she'd most enjoy having the fans do this year and she said she'd love it if the fans would do something nice for the Planet. As she's just come down from her battle with Shell Oil and trying to save the Arctic, it seems a spot on request and one I know the fans would love to participate in.

Think of something to do and then drop me a note at http://lucylawlessfanclub.com and I'll collect them all and send the list of nice things for the Planet to Lucy. Big thing or small, it all counts. Each small step we take in the right direction is a giant leap for the future of our planet and the generations to come. You have until April 14 to send them to me.

Sharon
Official Lucy Lawless Fan Club

See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Support Page for more news, photos, video and other multimedia

See more of Lucy's role as an Eco-Warrior and Greenpeace Ambassador

Here's some more Lucy Lawless as Lucretia Spartacus Promo Images

For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site

TV Guide's TV's Toughest Ladies

Xena (Lucy Lawless), Xena: Warrior Princess

Do not mess with this lady. She once sided with the bad guys, so she knows how to fight dirty. Sure, she can take down any opponent using her fists, sword, bow and arrow or chakram ? that cool, circular throwing blade ? but what makes her most intimidating is that she does it with such style. Who else can rock such bangs and don a tight-leather skirted outfit, but still strike fear in the hearts of men with her signature ululating battle cry?

See more

Episode 10: Wrath of the Gods

Dwindling supplies bring the rebellion to its knees; Spartacus tries restore hope.

Airdate: 03-30-2012

Credits | Official Site |  Episode Stills

For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site

Rittenhouse Archives has released the following info via their twitter feed about the soon to be released (4 April 2012) Spartacus 2012 Trading Cards:

@SciFiHobby: We've been busy this week hand-collating #Spartacus 2012 Premium Pack Trading Cards for next week's release! http://t.co/WNzBuCap

This all-new series will feature cards based on the original
Spartacus: Blood and Sand as well as the prequel,
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena with 2 Autograph Cards per pack!

Click here to order

Spartacus: Legends & Lore Card Premium Pack

This all-new series will feature cards based on the original Spartacus: Blood and Sand, as well as the prequel series, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. Each box will also come with a guarantee of a Lucy Lawless (Lucretia) or Jaime Murray (Gaia) autograph card! Inserts will include 18 Spartacus: Gods of the Arena Synopsis Cards (2 per pack), 9 Gladiators in Action (1 per pack), 9 Andy Whitfield Tribute Cards (1 per pack), 9 Women of Spartacus Cards (1 per pack), and 12 Spartactus Gold Plaque Cards (1 per pack). Autographs will include: John Hannah, Many Bennett, Dustin Clare, and many more (2 per pack).

CHECKLIST INCLUDES

• Autograph Cards: (Spartacus: Gods of the Arena): Lucy Lawless (Lucretia), Jaime Murray (Gaia), John Hannah (Batiatus), Manu Bennett (Crixus), Dustin Clare (Gannicus), Craig Walsh Wrightson (Solonius), Temeura Morrison (Doctore), Jeffrey Thomas (Titus), Jessica Grace Smith (Diona), Stephen Lovatt (Tullius), Shane Rangi (Dagan), Peter Feeney (Quintillius Varis); (Spartacus: Blood & Sand): Lliam Powell (Numerius), David Austin (Medicus), John Bach (Magistrate Calavius), Reuben de Jong (Theokoles) and more! (2 autographs cards per Premium Pack)

• 18 Spartacus: Gods of the Arena Episode Synopses Cards, 3 cards per episode
  (2 cards per Premium Pack)

• 9 Gladiators In Action Cards (1 card per Premium Pack)

• 9 Battle for Freedom Cards (1 card per Premium Pack)

• 9 Spartacus: Vengeance Preview Cards (1 card per Premium Pack)

• 9 Women of Spartacus Cards (1 card per Premium Pack)

• 12 Spartacus Gold Plaque Cards (1 card per Premium Pack)

Product Configuration:
9 Cards Per Premium Pack
15 Packs Per Box

Box Topper:
Spartacus Shadowbox Card
2-Box Incentive:
Spartacus Relic Card
4-Box Incentive:
Peter Mensah (Doctore) Autograph Card
8-Box Incentive:
SPARTACUS 2012 Premium Pack Archive Box, including
a complete master set of all pack-inserted cards.

Click here to order

For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site

Sciencefiction.com has a list of the top 10 female fantasy characters and topping that list is Xena at #1 and #8 is Gabrielle.

There are many great female fantasy characters, and I am sure some favorites are not on this list. I focused on leaders, on characters who demonstrated strength and authority, and on those who left a lasting impression on me. If you think I have left a character off this list, please let me know who and why a certain character should be on this list.

For this list, characters from traditional fantasy, supernatural, and paranormal works are included.

Click here to read the full article

Here is the complete Lucy Lawless related Auction Items with a link to each auction item.

You need to be registered to bid on the auction. If you have not done so please register first at http://charity.ausxip.com and once your registration is approved, you can start bidding until 27 January!

Happy Bidding!

Lucy is in the following video against Fracking - see below for the video and what is fracking. AUSXIP Lucy Lawless now has a new subsite for Lucy's stance on Fracking Whatatutu

What is fracking? The process of drilling down and creating tiny explosions to shatter and crack hard shale rocks to release the gas inside. Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well. The process is carried out vertically or, more commonly, by drilling horizontally to the rock layer. The process can create new pathways to release gas or can be used to extend existing channels.

Why is it controversial?

Much of the water used in fracking is collected from the well and processed, but there are concerns that potentially carcinogenic chemicals can sometimes escape and find their way into drinking water sources. Some American householders also claim that shale gas leaking into their drinking supply causes tap water to ignite.

Every day in the New Zealand media there are stories about fracking. But have you noticed how little real informed debate there is? How little solid information? We looked at each other and said - someone has to make a documentary about this: a comprehensive, scientifically sound look at fracking in New Zealand - a film that answers all the questions. So here we are: FRACKING WHATATUTU, economic boom or environmental bust?

With just five streets and 300 residents, Whatatutu is an East Coast town you can miss in a blink. It's a tight-knit community surrounded by forestry and traditional family farms -- and reserves so vast the area is "literally leaking oil and gas", according to Canadian mining company Tag Oil.

Armed with exploration licenses issued by the NZ government, Tag Oil and its partner Apache intend to extract oil and gas from the earth around Whatatutu using hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking".

Mining advocates claim the practice is safe; others insist it leaves a toxic legacy.

Feature film documentary Fracking Whatatutu will cross-examine environmentalists and oil companies alike. Centering on Whatatutu, the film will delve into fracking throughout New Zealand. It will cut through the spin as it drills for the truth about land ownership and mineral rights, water use and waste disposal, economic benefits and environmental impacts.

The latest Greenpeace Magazine (Summer 2012 Issue)  has an update on the Stop Deep Sea Oil - No Drill No Spill Campaign. Lucy has been involved in erecting a giant billboard outside her home in Auckland and the photo on the left is of her standing in front of it. You can find out more about Lucy's active role in the Stop Deep Sea Oil NO Drill NO Spill Campaign by visiting the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless subsite AUSXIP Lucy Lawless No Drill NO Spill subsite

COMING TO A BEACH NEAR YOU
Greenpeace Magazine - Summer 2012

The Greenpeace volunteers who assisted with the Rena clean-up
are determined that the penguins, dotterels, albatross and other wildlife that perished should not be forgotten. Using the birds and oil our volunteers cleaned up from beaches, a series of striking artworks entitled “oil on canvas” were produced and shown around the country to communicate the true impact of oil spills. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we’ve been able to air television advertisements featuring the artworks, resulting in thousands more Kiwis joining the campaign.

We are seeing a groundswell of momentum building. Throughout the summer, Greenpeace activists have been on the beaches gathering petition signatures, while supporters around New Zealand have put up ’Stop Deep Sea Oil’ billboards on their properties. However, the Government and multinational oil corporations are pressing ahead with risky plans to drill at depths even greater than those involved in the Gulf of Mexico spill.

Petrobras, whose East Cape oil exploration was confronted by the Stop Deep Sea Oil flotilla last year, was recently involved in a major crude oil spill off the coast of Brazil. Shell, responsible for a horrendous legacy in Nigeria, wants to drill for deep sea oil off the Taranaki coast.

And Anadarko, which had a 25% stake in the ill-fated Deepwater Horizon, has its eyes on Taranaki, Canterbury and even the Great South Basin – an area with conditions regarded as so hostile that even ExxonMobil withdrew its interest in drilling there.
A chilling insight into their mindset aired on TV3 news, when an Anadarko executive claimed “there is a great argument that global climate change ... has actually been a real positive. We have less people freezing to death even though we have some that are dying.”

Meet the corporations coming to a beach near you, at our Government’s invitation, to drill at depths far greater than anything occurring in New Zealand waters today. It’s up to us to stop them.

MORE NEWS ABOUT THE NO DRILL NO SPILL CAMPAIGN

February 2012

• 12 - Clean Energy - No Deep Sea Oil Lucy Lawless Mention in Organic NZ Magazine Jan-Feb 2012

December 2011

• 20 - Message From Greenpeace!
• 15 - AUSXIP Interviews Lucy Lawless 15 December 2011
• 14 - Lucy in Video of Oil on Canvas Rena Ghost Birds Exhibition
• 13 - Lucy Attends Rena Ghost Birds Exhibition - Oil On Canvas Photos
• 13 - Lucy Lawless Attends Rena Ghost Birds Exhibition
• 01 - Greenpeace News Update Lucy Lawless Strikes Again

November 2011

• 28 - New Lucy Photo from Greenpeace No Drill No Spill
• 15 - Message From Lucy To the NZ Government
• 15 - Greenpeace: Petrobras field the source of serious deep sea oil leak off

See more of Lucy's role as an Eco-Warrior and Greenpeace Ambassador

The following news is from the latest issue of Greenpeace Online Magazine. It related to the No Mining Campaign that Lucy was involved in.

Anti-Mining Campaign 2010 "Don't Undermine New Zealand"

Ours, not mine

In 2010 we all celebrated victory when the Government said it would not modify Schedule Four, and that it would let the public have say on any applications to mine public conservation land.

Now, however, the Government has gone back on its word.

Bathurst Resources, an Australian company, is planning to turn the unique Denniston plateau into an enormous 140 hectare open-cast coal mine. On the first day of its second term, Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson said that she would not allow public submissions on Bathurst Resources' application to create an access road. The mine itself has already been consented. Greenpeace will support efforts to stop the destruction of this unique area.

WATCH THE PROTEST VIDEO

See more on the Anti-Mining Campaign at the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Anti-Mining Campaign 2010 "Don't Undermine New Zealand" for more news, photos, video and other multimedia

See more about the 40,000 strong march on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Anti-Mining Protest page by Lucy Lawless & 40,000 Kiwis for more news, photos, video and other multimedia

See more of Lucy's role as an Eco-Warrior and Greenpeace Ambassador

We can enjoy a good life without extreme oil – we have to

Oil plays a crucial part in our everyday lives, as has been pointed out many since Lucy Lawless committed the selfless and very brave act of climbing the derrick of the Noble Discoverer, to delay its departure to the Arctic.

All the people who have made this point - perhaps redundantly – are, all the same, absolutely right.

Many of the items we need to live and enjoy our everyday lives are made using oil. But more importantly, in this country, and in many others, almost all goods are transported using oil-based products, oil is used to create energy, and by far and away the majority of people commute to work or school using fossil fuels. 

This is where the problem lies, given that the world is about to lose the chance to stop the global average temperature from soaring - uncontrollably - beyond two degrees.

Lucy Lawless and the other activists did not climb the ship’s drilling tower to try to halt all oil production. They made the climb to stop the oil majors from setting up new frontiers in their search for oil. The likes of Shell are pushing the limits of technology, targeting the storm-lashed pristine waters of the Arctic, and the deep water off the south of the South Island, in their search for more of what has brought the world to the precarious position it is in today.

Read More

See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Support Page for more news, photos, video and other multimedia

See more of Lucy's role as an Eco-Warrior and Greenpeace Ambassador

Lucy has been cast in the role of Caroline Platt, the estranged wife of Bob, a real estate agent who crosses drug lord Matt Mitchum. It was reported that Lucy's role was a cameo role by the Otago Daily News  but that doesn't match up with what Lucy has said that she was doing additional filming when she was interview by TVNZ Sunday programme after her Save The Arctic Protest. A cameo would mean blink and you might miss her (or near enough - anyone remember Lucy in Spiderman? That was a cameo (2 seconds long) or Lucy's role in "I'll Make You Happy" which was another cameo. We have to wait and see what comes out about Lucy's role but it doesn't seem like it's a cameo (I sure hope it's not because this sounds like a great mini-series directed by Jane Campion.

Voxy is reporting about the filming of the mini-series around Queenstown's CBD this week

Parts of Queenstown's CBD will become a movie set this week as the 'Top of the Lake' mini series begins filming street scenes.

The multi-million dollar production, directed by Jane Campion and Garth Davis has already completed six weeks of shooting around the Wakatipu and is about to shift into town for its next phase.

Film Queenstown manager Kevin Jennings said the shoot was a great opportunity for Queenstown.

Katherine Fugate wrote the fan favourite subtext to maintext episode "When Fates Collide" in Xena Warrior Princess Season 6. Katherine wrote "Say Yes" as a tribute to the fans for the "The Final Journey" Convention and recruited some of her friends to play the roles during The 2012 Xena Convention on 28 January 2012.

Katherine Fugate
Tim Omundson
David Franklin
Steven Sears
Claudia Black
Beverly D'angelo
Vanessa My Assistant
Brigid Brannagh
Crystal Chappell
Adrienne Wilkinson

and

Renee O'Connor (playing Gabrielle)

and on Sunday the proposal scene was performed by Lucy Lawless (Xena) and Renee O'Connor (Gabrielle)

You can now download the play in PDF, DOC and EPUB

Lucy and the other Greenpeace protesters from the Save The Arctic Protest on 24-27 February 2012 were to go to court today but as reported by Greenpeace yesterday, the court date has been be postponed to 5 April.  Greenpeace posted the following today when asked when the court case was going to be held:

RT @GreenpeaceNZ April 5th but subject to change.

No reason has been given as to why the court case has been pushed back.

It was a little curious that the press which have been on this case since the beginning had not reported the news at all that the court case was pushed back. I find it extremely curious. This evening the news.com.au and the Herald Sun site have an article about the postponement but not the New Zealand media.

See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Support Page for more news, photos, video and other multimedia

See more of Lucy's role as an Eco-Warrior and Greenpeace Ambassador

Lucy Lawless turns 44 (and doesn't look it) on 29 March 2012. You can now wish Lucy a very happy birthday by going to AUSXIP Talking Xena Lucy Chat Forum

AUSXIP Talking Xena is hosting the Lucy Lawless Birthday Thread:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LUCY!

Leave your birthday wishes for Lucy and these will be passed on to her when the thread is closed on Sunday, April 8th. If you currently are not a TX member, you must first register as a TX member before posting your message.

All birthday wishes will be monitored.

Submit your birthday wish here (You have to be registered to submit your birthday wish)

The New Zealand New Idea has a brief mention of Lucy in their Celebrity Greenies article in this week's New Idea Stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney and Cate Blanchett are standing up for the environment – is it time you too switched on to things green?

LUCY LAWLESS

The Spartacus star and six other Greenpeace activists spent four days occupying a drilling ship docked at Port Taranaki in a bid to stop Shell's oil Artic exploration. 'This chapter has ended, but the story of the battle to save the Arctic has just begun,' Lucy said before being arrested. She also campaigns against allowing mining in prime conservation areas and national parks.

Earth Hour

It's Earth Hour on Saturday, March 31, when more than 5200 cities and towns in 135 countries across the globe will turn off their lights for an hour at 8.30pm, saving depleting fossil fuels.

Tauranga will lead the Kiwi effort in recognition of the work done by the community cleaning up the beaches after the Rena oil spill disaster.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Australia set up Earth Hour in 2006 and Sydney was blacked out the next year as 2.2 million people and 2000 businesses put their lights out for 60 minutes.

It's now spread worldwide and is an annual event on the last Saturday of every March to coincide with the equinox, which ensures that most cities are in darkness as it is rolled out around the Earth.

Scanned by Jo

See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Support Page for more news, photos, video and other multimedia

See more of Lucy's role as an Eco-Warrior and Greenpeace Ambassador

It has been announced that the Taranaki 7: Lucy Lawless, Mike Buchanan, Shayne Comino, Naoni Hammer, Shai Nades, Vivienne Hadlow, Ilai Amir (Taranaki 7) and Zac Penman (Zac got arrested while still on the dock giving the 7 the time to scale up the derrick of the Noble Discoverer. Their court case has been postponed by 2 weeks (not sure if Zac will be in court at the same time although he has been charged with burglary as well)

@GreenpeaceNZ: Court date for the Taranaki 7, arrested defending the Arctic, has been postponed for 2 weeks #savethearctic Source

No reason has been given for the delay but I'm sure that will be revealed in time.

The UAE Gulf News has a two page article in their 18 March 2012 issue which highlight the power that celebrities have to promote a cause that they passionately believe in. They included Lucy for her Save The Arctic protest but they had a photo of Lucy at the the Join The Impact: Unite For LGBTQ Equality Prop 8 Protest Rally which was held on 15 November 2008.

Last month, actress Lucy Lawless, lead star of hit television series Xena: Warrior Princess, was arrested after protesting aboard an oil-drilling ship in New Zealand. The star, a New Zealander, was protesting with Greenpeace activists against Arctic oil drilling and promoting the message that it accelerates global warming.

Read the full article online

See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Support Page for more news, photos, video and other multimedia

See more of Lucy's role as an Eco-Warrior and Greenpeace Ambassador

The Sunday Star Times has a small article on Lucy's camping trip with her son Julius which turned into a soggy affair. Click on the thumbnail for the larger scan

See more Lucy Lawless articles by going to the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Press Archive

See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Support Page for more news, photos, video and other multimedia

See more of Lucy's role as an Eco-Warrior and Greenpeace Ambassador

I don't recall posting this photo or link. It was taken by photographer Nigel Marple during the Sign On Campaign photoshoot with Greenpeace Ambassadors. Lucy was one of those Greenpeace Ambassadors and the campaign began in 2009.

Actress Lucy Lawless signs on for Greenpeace with her unique message "There is no planet B" I was the behind the scenes photographer during advertisement filming

Click here to view larger version

See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Sign On Campaign Support Page for more news, photos, video and other multimedia

See more of Lucy's role as an Eco-Warrior and Greenpeace Ambassador

The AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Protest Support Page has been updated with images courtesy of Greenpeace NZ.

- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Day 4 - The Arrest
- Day 4 - The Police Station
- Save The Arctic Art
- Save The Arctic Support Banners

Added new art by

Artwork by MaryD

Artwork by Klippart

Artwork by Tami

See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Support Page for more news, photos, video and other multimedia

See more of Lucy's role as an Eco-Warrior and Greenpeace Ambassador

Spartacus gets a chance for revenge; intrigue surrounds Glaber.

Spartacus gets a chance for vengeance when a prominent Roman is captured, but will he satisfy desire at the cost of the greater good? The intrigue amongst Glaber and the women surrounding him heats up.

Airdate: 03-16-2012 | Credits | Official Site | Episode Stills

Click here to view all the Episode Stills

"I Do Not Move To Threaten"

For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site

This is the list of items that will be available on the auction There are some more items to be added to this list leading up to the AUSXIP Charity Auction on 21 March. It will go live just after midnight on 21 March (US, Pacific Standard Time)

http://charity.ausxip.com

LUCY LAWLESS

Autographed Xena A Good Day Shooting Draft Script With Notes and Photos (W)
Xena Prop: Xena's Whip From Show (W)
Autographed Official Britomart Fun Run Lucy Lawless T-Shirt (W)
Autographed Official Breast Cancer Research Lucy Lawless Designed T-Shirt (W)
Autographed Official Bare For Christchurch Unique Lucy Lawless T-Shirt (W)
Lucy Lawless Shark Tooth Pendant (O)
Lifesize Xena Talking Standee (W)
Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic T-Shirt
Lucy Lawless Radio Drama 4 Disc CD Set (S)
Autographed Lucy Lawless The New Frontier Comic Book (LA)
Autographed Michael Hurst 8 x 10 (W)
Autographed Lucy Lawless Hercules & The Amazon Women 8 x 10 (W)
Autographed Lucy Lawless 8 x 10 #10 (W)
Autographed Lucy Lawless 8 x 10 #9 Rizzo (W)
Autographed Lucy Lawless 8 x 10 #8 (W)
Autographed Lucy Lawless 8 x 10 #7 (W)
Autographed Lucy Lawless Photoshoot B/W (W)
Autographed Lucy Lawless Hercules Warrior Princess 8 x 10 (W)
Autographed Lucy Lawless Xena Season 1 8 x 10 #1 (W)
Autographed Lucy Lawless 8 x 10 #6 (W)
Autographed Lucy Lawless 8 x 10 #5 (W)
Autographed Lucy Lawless 8 x 10 #4 (W)
Autographed Lucy Lawless 8 x 10 #3 (W)
Autographed Lucy Lawless 8 x 10 #2 (W)
Autographed Lucy Lawless 8 x 10 #1 (W)
Autographed Lucy Lawless Bare For Christchurch Card (W)
Lucy Lawless Battlestar Galactica Costume (O)
Xena Costume - Xena's Swimming Costume (O)
Autographed Lucy Lawless Xena Anthrax Photo, Matted + Bonus! (O)
Autographed Lucy Lawless Coke Label (O)
Autographed Lucy Lawless (Xena) With Bracelet Framed Picture (W)
Autographed Lucy Lawless & Renee O'Connor Bitch Slap Lobby Card (LA)

18 Cast & Production Autographed Spartacus Season 1 DVD (O)
Spartacus S1 Ep09 Ilithyia Gold Mask - AUTHENTIC & AUTOGRAPHED (W)
Super Rare Six Autographed Spartacus Cast T-Shrit (W)
Viva Bianca & Lucy Lawless Autographed EW Magazine Photoshoot
Spartacus Season 2 Press Kit Flash Drive, Rudis Dagger & Book (W)

Oil plays a crucial part in our everyday lives, as has been pointed out by many since Lucy Lawless committed the selfless and very brave act of climbing the derrick of the Noble Discoverer, to delay its departure to the Arctic.

All the people who have made this point - perhaps redundantly - are, all the same, absolutely right.

Many of the items we need to live and enjoy our everyday lives are made using oil. But more importantly, in this country, and in many others, almost all goods are transported using oil-based products, oil is used to create energy, and by far and away the majority of people commute to work or school using fossil fuels.

This is where the problem lies, given that the world is about to lose the chance to stop the global average temperature from soaring - uncontrollably - beyond two degrees.

Lucy Lawless and the other activists did not climb the ship's drilling tower to try to halt all oil production. They made the climb to stop the oil majors from setting up new frontiers in their search for oil. The likes of Shell are pushing the limits of technology, targeting the storm-lashed pristine waters of the Arctic, and the deep water off the south of the South Island, in their search for more of what has brought the world to the precarious position it is in today.

Read More

See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Support Page for more news, photos, video and other multimedia

See more of Lucy's role as an Eco-Warrior and Greenpeace Ambassador

Added the high resolution Spartacus Episode 8 Episode Stills for the next exciting episode "Balance"

Spartacus gets a chance for revenge; intrigue surrounds Glaber.

Spartacus gets a chance for vengeance when a prominent Roman is captured, but will he satisfy desire at the cost of the greater good? The intrigue amongst Glaber and the women surrounding him heats up.

Airdate: 03-16-2012 | Credits | Official Site | Episode Stills

Click here to view all the Episode Stills

Click on the thumbnails to view the high resolution images

Upwards of two thousand people flocked to Heron park and took advantage of the glorious weather at Community Spirit Kite and Family Fun Day.

The sky was ablaze with an amazing array of colourful and dramatic kites.

Thanks to the generous support of the Rotary Club of New Lynn, over 200 free kite kits were made available for children to assemble, decorate and fly.

Funds raised from Kite Day will be used for furthering the work of the Community Spirit Charitable Trust.

Source: Auckland Now (submitted by Barbara Davies)

New Lucy Photos from Official Kite & Family Fun Day Organisers

Lucy from the Kite & Family Fun Day where Lucy was the MC. AUSXIP Reporter Jo was on the scene and had taken photos. If you hadn't had a chance to view those, click here.

Olansamuelle has created this special AUSXIP Charity Auction comic strip especially for the auction featuring the stars of Spartacus and a special appearance by Xena Warrior Princess and her fighting bard of Potadeia, Gabrielle.

The AUSXIP Charity Auction beings in 10 days time.

Register

Frequently Asked Questions 

Donate Without Bidding 

About AUSXIP & Starship Partnership

Register now for your chance to bid on some extraordinary items donated and/or contributed by:

• Lucy Lawless
• Rob Tapert
• Renee O'Connor
• Viva Bianca
• Lesley-Ann Brandt
• Erin Cummings
• Adrienne Wilkinson
• Crystal Chappell
• Campbell Cooley
• Katrina Law
• Stacy Haiduk
  
  and

donated items by fans worldwide

Starting 21 March and going through to 27 March. Let's raise some coin for The Starship Foundation

Here are some photos (you will need a Corbis account to view). High resolution of these images have been posted by Greenpeace but there a few that are different. I will be posting Official Greenpeace images courtesy of Greenpeace shortly of those images not already posted.

See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Support Page for more news, photos, video and other multimedia

See more of Lucy's role as an Eco-Warrior and Greenpeace Ambassador

Randall was a guest on hour 1 of the Cathie and Kelly show on mytalk 1071 yesterday (Sat March 10th) and mentioned Lucy briefly. (The audio file is available on demand.):

http://www.mytalk1071.com/shows/cathiecolleen

Interviewer: "Is there a celebrity that you've got to meet out of all of this?"
Randall: "I have been able to have this fantastic friendship & relationship with Lucy Lawless for some time now. Yeah, she actually appears in one of these videos that we did: The Crazy Honey Badgerette of NZ and it was such a pleasure. I mean she's so fantastic. Just such a thrill to work with and so funny."

The elusive, gross, crazyass honey badgerette (whom we later named, "Lucy") is seen here for the first time in its natural habitat. Its strange eating and sanitary habits are finally caught on tape. It is ruthless, disgusting and absolutely lawless! The film was shot throughout the South Island of New Zealand.

news submitted by Barbara Davies

Spartacus 2013 Wall Calendar: Vengeance

Due to be released August 1, 2012

Click here to order

The tale of Spartacus resumes in epic fashion in the Spartacus 2013 Wall Calendar: Vengeance--the house of Batiatus lies in ruins, the gladiators are free, and the Roman Republic will pay. Familiar characters mix with new heroes and villains as the stunning drama grows ever more bloodthirsty and provocative. Showcasing the phenomenally attractive cast of the new series, Spartacus 2013 Wall Calendar is a perfect gift for every fan. * Liam McIntyre is the new face of Spartacus, the slave who became the champion of Capua. Leading a ragtag army of escaped slaves against their former captors, he's joined by fan favorites Peter Mensah as Oenomaus and Manu Bennett as Crixus. Lucy Lawless also returns as the conniving Lucretia. * Spartacus: Vengeance turns up the volume on the bloody action, exotic sexuality, and scheming intrigue from Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Faced with a heartbreaking decision between revenge and duty, can Spartacus put aside his thirst for blood? Spartacus: Vengeance (c) 2011 Starz Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Klippart has created new artwork based on Lucy's 77 hour occupation of the Noble Discoverer.

See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Support Page for more news, photos, video and other multimedia

See more of Lucy's role as an Eco-Warrior and Greenpeace Ambassador

The Community Spirit Official Facebook page has two photos of Lucy from the Kite & Family Fun Day where Lucy was the MC. AUSXIP Reporter Jo was on the scene and had taken photos. If you hadn't had a chance to view those, click here.

Click here to view larger version

Click here to view larger version

For more Lucy Lawless at various events, please see the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Event section

For more Lucy Lawless images, please see the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Image Archive

This is an EXTREMELY rare autographed Spartacus Blood and Sand DVD. You will not get this anywhere other than the AUSXIP Charity Auction. The auction starts 21 March and runs through to 27 March.

The autographs are from the cast and production crew (excluding Andy Whitfield, Jai Courtney and John Hannah). Many thanks to Katrina Law for contributing the DVD and collecting all the autographs for the AUSXIP Charity Auction - going above and beyond. It floored me when I got it and it still floors me when I see it. This is truly one of kind and a collectible for Spartacus and Xena fans alike.

The Autographs are:

Cast

Lucy Lawless (Lucretia) (Lucy has signed it twice, once on the actual DVD and once on the plastic cover)
Katrina Law (Mira)
Viva Bianca (Ilithyia)
Lesley-Ann Brandt (Naevia)
Peter Mensah (Doctore)
Manu Bennett (Crixus)
Craig Parker (Glaber)
Nick Tarabay (Ashur)
Dan Feuerriegel (Agron)
Campbell Cooley (Cook + Voice Over)
Brooke Williams (Aurellia)
Thesala (Not sure who that is)
Ioane King (Rhaskos)

Production Crew

Rob Tapert (Executive Producer)
Chloe Smith (Producer)
Michael Hurst (Director)
Barbara Darragh (Costume Design)
Paul Grinder (Second Unit Director)

If it matters, the DVD is Region 1 :)

This radio interview was done with Radio NZ on 27 February (Day 4 of the occupation of the Noble Discoverer).

Protest on oil ship in Taranaki enters fourth day
from Morning Report on Monday 27 February 2012

A group of activists including the actress, Lucy Lawless, are beginning a fourth day of occupation high on an oil exploration ship at the Port of Taranaki.

Listen to the interview

News submitted by Barbara Davies

FOLLOW THE LATEST NEWS, IMAGES & VIDEO ABOUT THE PROTEST
(See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Event Page)

Check out the latest on AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Stop Shell Drilling The Arctic Event page or

Follow @RealLucyLawless on Twitter

Follow @GreenpeaceNZ on Twitter

When The Government Is Not Afraid

Written by Chris Trotter
Taranaki Daily News 09 March 2012

There's a line in Michael Moore's Sicko documentary that every democratic citizen should commit to memory. The radical film-maker declares: ''Governments should always be afraid of their people, but people should never be afraid of their government.''

Mr Moore was comparing France with the United States, and wondering how two countries, both with revolutionary traditions, could end up so far apart. Americans' fear and hatred of ''Big Government'' is legendary. But the French will challenge government policy at the drop of a chapeau.

In the US you strike and demonstrate at your own risk. French governments do not like to risk demonstrations and strikes. In 1968 - well within the memory of senior French politicians - demonstrations and strikes brought the Fifth Republic to the very brink of revolution. It took the active intercession of the French Communist Party, and a 10 per cent pay rise, to separate the workers from their youthful student allies.

Governments in New Zealand were also afraid of the people - once. And the people gave them good reason.

The National Party was elected for the first time in 1949 on a rocksolid promise to abolish what they called ''compulsory unionism''. In 1951 they provoked a fight with the Waterside Workers Union. If they could make an example of New Zealand's toughest and most progressive union, then abolishing compulsory unionism would be a piece of cake.

What they got was a very different sort of example. For 151 days the wharfies and their allies fought Sid Holland's government toe-totoe. The Government ''won'', but only because the Machiavellian boss of the Federation of Labour agreed to keep its 300,000 members ''neutral''.

It would be another 40 years before the National Party was prepared to have another crack at organised labour. And the only reason Bill Birch's Employment Contracts Bill passed into law without serious amendment in 1991 was because the Council of Trade Unions, dominated by ''moderate'' state-sector union bosses, lacked the courage to give Mr Birch and his mates a bloody nose.

Well, we've had 20 years to appreciate the benefits of ''moderation''. Perhaps we've all been much too polite for far too long.

Then again, civility and moderation are qualities highly prized by New Zealanders. Our country is one of the oldest, continuously-functioning democracies on Earth. As far as possible, we prefer to communicate with our political leaders through the ballot box. It's only when they deliberately and stubbornly refuse to be advised by the democratic process that we get angry.

I guess that's why Labour, the Greens, the CTU and Grey Power have opted to fight the partial privatisation of the state-owned energy companies by launching a Citizens Initiated Referendum. Between elections, it's one of the few ways of using the ballot box to make your point. CIRS are, of course, non-binding, but a Government refusal to be guided by its undoubted success would be extremely provocative. Knowing a majority of the electorate was against their policy, but proceeding anyway, the Nationalled Government would be positively inviting the people to organise a more robust response.

The precedent is there in Greenpeace's campaign against mining Schedule Four land. The spectacle of 50,000 New Zealanders marching up Auckland's Queen St was more than enough to throw Mr Key and his Government's big blue bulldozer into reverse.

Discretion will, once again prove to be the better part of National's valour if Kiwis respond to the Labour/green/ctu/grey Power call for volunteers. If anything, the spectacle of ordinary citizens, muffled against the Autumn gales, standing on tens-ofthousands of street corners clutching clip-boards and ballpoint pens, or knocking on the doors of tens-of-thousands of former National Party voters, is likely to prove even more terrifying than Robyn Malcolm, Lucy Lawless and their Greenpeace legions.

The task of gathering the 307,000 signatures required to force a referendum on asset sales is not a small one, but it can be done.

And, frankly, we need to do it. As citizens, we've been passive for far too long. As the veteran British Labour politician, Tony Benn, tells Michael Moore in Sicko: ''An educated, healthy and confident nation is harder to govern.'' Much harder than a nation that's beatendown, demoralised and genuinely frightened of its own government.

Democracy is not a political system for fearful people: to function properly it requires regular displays of unreasonable and immoderate courage.

Click here for more on Lucy Lawless New Zealand Greenpeace  Anti-Mining Campaign 2010 "Don't Undermine New Zealand"

Klippart created a new Lucy wallpaper based on the images from the NZ Woman's Weekly interview and photoshoot with Lucy.

Click on the thumbnail for the larger image

The art galleries are at the moment being redesigned so these will be moved into the new galleries when that is complete.

Miss Starbuck has sent me three new artworks of Lucy Lawless as Lucretia from Spartacus. Click on the thumnbail for the larger images.

The art galleries are at the moment being redesigned so these will be moved into the new galleries when that is complete.

For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site

Starz has released a new clip from Episode 7 called A Phoenix From The Ashes. Glaber, Lucretia and Gannicus

For more on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site

Greenpeace Magazine (In German) has been released about the Save The Arctic campaign

News submitted by Barbara Davies

FOLLOW THE LATEST NEWS, IMAGES & VIDEO ABOUT THE PROTEST
(See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Event Page)

Check out the latest on AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Stop Shell Drilling The Arctic Event page or

Follow @RealLucyLawless on Twitter

Follow @GreenpeaceNZ on Twitter

Lucy tweeted the following about a video from Robert Redford called Shell Oil Threatens a Birthing Ground of America's Polar Bears

@RealLucyLawless Please watch this video narrated by Robert Redford on Shell's Arctic oil drilling plan: http://tiny.cc/aGhf2b #savethearctic
See Original Tweet

@RealLucyLawless tell Interior Secretary Salazar to deny Shell the final permits it needs to drill in the Polar Bear Seas #savethearctic
See Original Tweet

Help Stop Shell from drilling in the Polar Bear Seas!

The Obama Administration has tentatively approved Shell’s plans to drill this summer in both of Alaska’s Polar Bear Seas. Tell Secretary Salazar to deny the company the final permits it needs to drill in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas.

Watch the Video and Send A Message

FOLLOW THE LATEST NEWS, IMAGES & VIDEO ABOUT THE PROTEST
(See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Event Page)

Check out the latest on AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Stop Shell Drilling The Arctic Event page or

Follow @RealLucyLawless on Twitter

Follow @GreenpeaceNZ on Twitter

Just added the high resolution episode stills from Spartacus Season 2 Episode 7. There is only one of Lucy as Lucretia.

Spartacus Vengeance Season 2 Episode 7 Sacramentum

Spartacus and his rebels try to free the fighters enslaved in foreign wars; Lucretia recruits one of her husbands former gladiators.

Airdate: 03-09-2012

Credits | Official Site | Episode Stills

For more episode stills from this episode - click here

SPARTACUS SEASON 2 EPISODE 7 CLIP: Only Blood Can Set Us Free

For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site

The crew of Spartacus: Vengeance discuss making the impossible possible with technology in this new season.

Oh dear. Here's a clip from Season 2 Episode 7 called "Only Blood Can Set Us Free".

Spartacus Vengeance Season 2 Episode 7 Sacramentum

Spartacus and his rebels try to free the fighters enslaved in foreign wars; Lucretia recruits one of her husbands former gladiators. Airdate: 03-09-2012 Credits | Official Site | Episode Stills

This scene looks intriguing. When I interviewed Lucy back in December, I asked her:

AUSXIP: Lucretia...natural brown, orange/redhead or peroxide blond? Which version was the most fun to play and why?

LUCY: Oh, the redhead gets in more trouble. When you see the red, look out!

Well have a look at what hair colour Lucretia is wearing...someone is going to have some mega big problems to deal with!

For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site

Susan sent me some gorgeous photos of Lucy and Renee from the 2012 Xena Convention.

LUCY LAWLESS

Click here to view 29 Photos of Lucy

LUCY LAWLESS & RENEE O'CONNOR

Click here to view 17 photos of Lucy and Renee

When not protesting for Greenpeace, Lucy Lawless is also New Zealand’s best export as an actor. She talks to Catherine Forbes about her role’s hidden agenda in TV’S steamy Spartacus. FROM the day she first appeared on our screens as Xena: Warrior Princess, Kiwi actress Lucy Lawless has been kicking some serious butt – both professionally and personally.

One of our most successful acting exports, Lawless can often be seen rubbing shoulders with Hollywood's elite, but she remains true to her beliefs, evident last week when, along with other Greenpeace supporters, she scaled a Shell oil drilling ship bound for the Arctic.

When she's not making news headlines or raising money for sick kids through her role as an ambassador for the Starship Foundation, Lawless can currently be seen on the box in Spartacus: Vengeance, reprising her role as Lucretia.

Here she talks about what fans can expect this season and how the best is yet to come.

What do you love about playing Lucretia?

I love that Lucretia's got several facets of her being operating at all times and at full speed, because the people close to her are the most dangerous. She has to survive and also she has an end game, she has a plan in mind. There are short-term plans and then she has a very long-term plan. You might try to guess it, but you won't. You won't see this coming.

How is Lucretia different in season two?

Lucretia is absolutely bereft. She has lost everything; her beloved husband, the only person she ever loved. She's lost her child, the nuclear family. She's lost her status; she's lost her home; she's lost her mind, or has she?

What struggles does Lucretia face now she has lost everything?

Roman women without a strong male in their lives were lost. It's like a long cold suicide because her only option to make a living – she has no friends to fall back on – is prostitution. I think that would give you three years, five years max, and just a miserable end. These are her options to survive and gain any kind of status. She's going to have to claw her way back. But she's been sharpening those claws for years now, so she'll be all right.

What makes Liam McIntyre such a great Spartacus?

Liam has got the heart of a lion and I think it's his goodness – he's different to Andy, and we wouldn't want him to try to be the same. That's not interesting, not possible. His goodness is at the heart of his hero. That will carry him through the introduction phase. People went crazy for him this year – he is a wonderful human being.

Are boundaries pushed even further this season?

The show is so massive I never get to work with half of them (the cast), because the rebels are off rebelling, as they will. And I'm scrambling for survival in the Ludas, what's left of it. There are whole worlds I never get to visit, but I'm mesmerised. My husband is watching dailies at home and it blows my mind what they are managing to put on screen. It's epic this season; way bigger than the first two and they were huge. We're going to blow the show's horizons wide open.

Do you still get surprised when reading the scripts?

The last two episodes of Vengeance blew my mind. I wish I could tell, I desperately want to tell you about it. I thought that now that my character is bananas that there would be no more sex for me. Wohoo! I thought it was a get-out-of-jail-free card, but sadly, no. But it is nothing like any kind of encounter she's had before. They manage to knock your socks off every single script.

For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site

From muesli bars to a global mind bomb is a blog post by the only other female protester along with Lucy to climb the derrick of the Noble Discoverer on 24 February.

Viv writes a stirring blog about what the occupation of the derrick on the Noble Discoverer meant to her and how that has impacted on her.

The Greenpeace New Zealand office gave us a standing ovation when Shai, Ra, Mike, Shayne, Lucy and I finally arrived ‘home’ from New Plymouth, and for the very first time since we set out to board the Noble Discoverer five days ago I started to panic a bit.

• Read More

FOLLOW THE LATEST NEWS, IMAGES & VIDEO ABOUT THE PROTEST
(See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Event Page)

Check out the latest on AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Stop Shell Drilling The Arctic Event page or

Follow @RealLucyLawless on Twitter

Follow @GreenpeaceNZ on Twitter

Here is a very special item which will go live on the AUSXIP Charity Auction on 21 March. It's a Spartacus T-Shirt signed by:

- Andy Whitfield,
- Lucy Lawless,
- John Hannah,
- Peter Mensah,
- Lesley-Ann Brandt,
- Manu Bennett

This is a very rare item with all these autographs including Andy who passed away on 11 September 2011.

This t-shirt was donated by a fan and 100% of the money will go to Starship Foundation.

If you haven't registered yet, please do so at http://charity.ausxip.com

Auction goes Live on 21 March. The full list of auction items will be available to view 2-3 days before the auction starts

More Auction items:
AUSXIP Charity Auction Sneak Peeks - Skype Chats and Lunch with The Stars

Here's a new wallpaper by Maria based on the recent magazine scans from The Woman's Weekly interview with Lucy Lawless

Click on the thumbnail for the larger image.

Spartacus Vengeance Season 2 Episode 7 Sacramentum Video Preview

Spartacus and his rebels try to free the fighters enslaved in foreign wars; Lucretia recruits one of her husbands former gladiators.

Airdate: 03-09-2012

Credits | Official Site | Episode Stills

This week's New Zealand Woman's Weekly has an interview with Lucy.

LUCY LAWLESS' PRIVATE PASSION

The actress' recent arrest reveals a side to the star we've never seen before.

It's not unusual to see Lucy Lawless in track pants and Jandals, picking her kids up from their Auckland schools and chatting to neighbours. But while Lucy, who turns 44 in a few weeks, is first and foremost a doting mum, last month she reveals a previously untapped side to her character.

Click on the thumbnails for the larger scans

Scanned by Jo.

FOLLOW THE LATEST NEWS, IMAGES & VIDEO ABOUT THE PROTEST
(See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Event Page)

Check out the latest on AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Stop Shell Drilling The Arctic Event page or

Follow @RealLucyLawless on Twitter

Follow @GreenpeaceNZ on Twitter

 LUCY LAWLESS-NESS?

Click here to watch video

"Xena" Princess Warrior set out to save the world, she did the same in real life and found herself in trouble.

Lucy Lawless and seven colleagues scaled a 53 metre drilling tower on a Shell drill ship in Port Taranaki.

They spent four days aloft in freezing temperatures as part of a Greenpeace protest. Could Xena go to jail?

Did the protest make a difference? And would she do it again? Xena and her commitment to saving the real world is on SUNDAY

CORRESPONDENT - John Hudson

PRODUCER - Jane Skinner

CAMERAS - Clint Bruce and Dave Pierce

Advertisement

EDITOR - Nigel McPhee

FOLLOW THE LATEST NEWS, IMAGES & VIDEO ABOUT THE PROTEST
(See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Event Page)

Check out the latest on AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Stop Shell Drilling The Arctic Event page or

Follow @RealLucyLawless on Twitter

Follow @GreenpeaceNZ on Twitter

Lucy took on the role of MC and helped in presenting awards to the kids at the Kite and Family Fun Day. AUSXIP Reporter Jo was
on the scene and took photos.

Click on the image for the full size photos

Updated the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite with high resolution images from Spartacus Vengeance Episode 1

Click here to view images

For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site

Starz released new ‘Spartacus Vengeance’ episode 7 spoiler teasers. Earlier tonight,Starz dropped a couple,new,small, spoiler teasers for their upcoming “Spartacus: Vengeance” episode 7,and it sounds like it’ll be another intense one as Spartacus will try and free up more slaved fighters to increase rebel numbers,and more. The episode is entitled, “Sacramentum.”

In the new episode 7, Spartacus and his rebels will try to increase their numbers by freeing fighters that are enslaved in foreign wars. Lucretia will seek to recruit one of her husband’s former gladiators to outmaneuver the powerful Romans.

High resolution images will be uploaded as soon as Starz releases those images. They will be added to the AUSXIP Spartacus Episode Stills for Episode 7

Following Lucy's tweet yesterday I was reminded of a poem from Pastor Martin Niemoller (a German anti-Nazi theologian and Lutheran pastor). Here is Lucy's tweet:

Lucy Lawless ? - @RealLucyLawless

Been experiencing what's known in the trade as post-protest crash. So much adrenaline is going to cause a massive low. #SaveTheArctic

I was reminded of a poem that has been sitting near my desk for many many years.  I've had this card with the poem and when I look at it, it inspires me because we all have to speak up but in this instance, Lucy spoke up with her words and her actions for all of those who couldn't speak up; who didn't have a voice on the world stage, people who Shell and other big corporations wouldn't even consider.

Lucy and her fellow Greenpeace Protesters: Llai Amir,  Jan Raoni Hammer,  Zachary Steven Penman, Vivienne Rachael Hadlow, Shayne Panayiotis Comino,Michael Ross Buchanan and Shai Sebastian Naides spoke for all of us when they climbed the derrick of the Shell OilDrill ship on 24 February and stayed there for 77 hours.

This is the well known quote from Pastor Martin Niemoller.

In Germany they first came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist
Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak up
because I was a protestant. They they came for me - and by that
time no one was left to speak up.

FOLLOW THE LATEST NEWS, IMAGES & VIDEO ABOUT THE PROTEST
(See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Event Page)

Check out the latest on AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Stop Shell Drilling The Arctic Event page or

Follow @RealLucyLawless on Twitter

Follow @GreenpeaceNZ on Twitter

Shell Sues Activists to Protect Arctic Drilling Plans

The oil giant Shell has taken preemptive steps to protect its offshore drilling plans in the Arctic Ocean by filing a lawsuit against environmental opponents in an apparent attempt to beat them to court. This week, Shell sued more than a dozen environmental groups, seeking a court ruling affirming the federal government’s prior approval of Shell’s oil spill response plan that the groups are expected to challenge. In a separate case, Shell has won a restraining order barring activists from the environmental group Greenpeace from interfering with Shell’s drilling rigs. Last week, activists boarded a rig in New Zealand that is scheduled to begin operations in the Arctic this summer. They were arrested after spending four days on the rig. The group included the actor Lucy Lawless, best known for her role as "Xena: Warrior Princess."

Lucy Lawless: "Seven of us went up the rig, but 133,000 people came down with us in solidarity that have been writing letters. And we know that new heroes are going to spring up in our fervent mission to make sure that the oil industry becomes an energy industry that is renewable and clean."

Lucy's mention appears 9:51 minutes into the video

FOLLOW THE LATEST NEWS, IMAGES & VIDEO ABOUT THE PROTEST
(See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Event Page)

Check out the latest on AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Stop Shell Drilling The Arctic Event page or

Follow @RealLucyLawless on Twitter

Follow @GreenpeaceNZ on Twitter

Spartacus heats up for Lucy
04 March 2012

CATHERINE FORBES

From the day she first appeared on our screens as Xena: Warrior Princess, Kiwi actress Lucy Lawless has been kicking some serious butt – both professionally and personally.

One of our most successful acting exports, Lawless can often be seen rubbing shoulders with Hollywood's elite, but she remains true to her beliefs, evident last week when, along with other Greenpeace supporters, she scaled a Shell oil drilling ship bound for the Arctic.

When she's not making news headlines or raising money for sick kids through her role as an ambassador for the Starship Foundation, Lawless can currently be seen on the box in Spartacus: Vengeance, reprising her role as Lucretia.

Here she talks about what fans can expect this season and how the best is yet to come.

What do you love about playing Lucretia?

How is Lucretia different in season two?

What struggles does Lucretia face now she has lost everything?

What makes Liam McIntyre such a great Spartacus?

Are boundaries pushed even further this season?

Do you still get surprised when reading the scripts?

Read the full interview

For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site

Please Join us at Kite & Family Fun Day

After the success of our Kite Days in 2010 and 2011, we will once again be providing local residents with the opportunity to enjoy a few hours of fabulous fun, food & entertainment.

Bring the whole family and come and celebrate Children’s Day with us!

Date: Sunday 4th March 2012
Time: 11am to 1.30pm

Place: Heron Park, Great North Road, Waterview

Map of Heron Park here

Come and meet our fabulous MC - Mt. Albert's own Warrior Princess: Lucy Lawless

Fun Activities: Kite making & flying, Bouncy Castle & Slide, Face Painting, Coconut Shy, Colouring in Competition; MOTAT vehicles and more!
Games / Sports: With the emphasis on good old fashioned fun!

Food Stalls: Sausage sizzle, Cakes, Coffee, and Ice-Cream ….or simply ‘Pack a Picnic’!
Entertainment: Masala Demonstration, performed by the team from Candi Soo Fitness – you are invited to join in the fun!
Local Waterview & Avondale schools have been invited to participate with Kapa Haka & other performances.
Raffle & Fun Prizes to be won!
Plus some delicious Mother Earth bars to give away!

Source

Find them on Facebook

News submitted by Barbara Davies

This letter appeared in the NZ Herald and it was from a reader:

NZ HERALD 01 March 2012 Readers' Forum

Lawless’ actions a selfless effort

It is not important what Lucy Lawless’ relationship with Shell was in the past, and focusing on that now is predictably small-minded.

While such a focus looks only at the small picture, the big picture of environmental damage and exploitation by huge, rich companies continues around us, apparently unheeded by those who would rather criticise than do something constructive.

I applaud people who are voicing their concern in emails to Shell executives, and am proud to have joined the ever-growing ranks of nearly 200,000 New Zealanders who are taking such positive action.

I also thank Greenpeace and Ms Lawless for spending their time and energy to draw national and international attention to the important issue of drilling for oil in the Arctic.

How much more encouraging and effective it would be if those with only disparaging comments about Greenpeace and Ms Lawless would harness all that negative energy and use it to do something positive for the planet for a change.

— Michelle Perkins

The Taranaki Daily News 02 March 2012

Normally I wouldn't post something like this but the matter is serious so I felt in necessary to add the Taranaki Daily News correction. This was on page 5 of the news.

The Taranaki Daily News yesterday ran a story speculating about the effect of a possible burglary conviction on Lucy Lawless’ acting career. This speculation should not have been attributed to Greenpeace spokesman Steve Abel.

The Dominion Post 02 March 2012

MARY GRIFFIN, Taupo

Given that the police prosecution of actor Lucy Lawless on burglary charges rather than a charge of unlawfully being aboard a vessel has created a firestorm of international condemnation, it seems that the tradition of no political intervention in police operational matters should be reviewed and reviewed urgently.

FOLLOW THE LATEST NEWS, IMAGES & VIDEO ABOUT THE PROTEST
(See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Event Page)

Check out the latest on AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Stop Shell Drilling The Arctic Event page or

Follow @RealLucyLawless on Twitter

Follow @GreenpeaceNZ on Twitter

Just got the following news from Mariana in Brazil.

'Spartacus Vengeance will start for the Brazilians fans on March 10,at 10 P.M on Globosat HD.

Spartacus Season 2 Episode 1 Fujitivus

Spartacus learns that being a leader of freed slaves brings great responsibilities; Spartacus tries to keep his rebellious band intact.

Credits | Official Site | Episode Stills

For more about Lucy's role on Spartacus Vengeance, visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite

Auckland, 3 March 2012 -- A federal judge in Alaska has rejected the bulk of a lawsuit brought by Shell Oil Company against Greenpeace USA which would have been one of the broadest and most restrictive in US legal history, according to the environmental group.

Following a four-day occupation last week by Greenpeace New Zealand activists -- including actor Lucy Lawless -- of the Shell-contracted Noble Discoverer drillship in New Zealand, Shell has launched a pre-emptive legal strike that intends to silence opposition against the company's controversial plans to drill in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas off the coast of Alaska.

Shell's original proposed Temporary Restraining Order, filed on February 24 with an Alaskan court, could have been applied to any of Greenpeace USA's 500,000 email subscribers who chose to take action with the organization at gas stations, regional offices or other venues around the country.
"Shell is trying to intimidate and stifle any voices who want to speak out against its reckless plans to drill in the ice-choked waters off Alaska," said Ben Ayliffe, Greenpeace International Senior Polar Campaigner, "But Greenpeace and a multitude of supporters will not be silenced and will fight this one right through the courts."

The judge rejected Shell's request as too broad but instead issued a limited order, which applies to the oil company's two drilling vessels, the Kulluk platform and the Noble Discoverer drilling ship. In her decision, Judge Gleason wrote: "Shell has failed to demonstrate that a temporary restraining order of such breadth is necessary or warranted at this time."

In support of its complaint, Shell referred to an activity almost 10,000 kilometres from Alaska in which activists from Greenpeace New Zealand joined the actor Lucy Lawless to stop a Shell drillship from leaving for the Arctic.

"Nearly 200,000 people around the world have joined with Greenpeace to protect the High North and support our actions, urging Shell to cancel plans to drill in the Arctic this summer," said Ayliffe. "This is about more than Greenpeace. Shell is also trying to gag the hundreds of thousands of global citizens who agree with us. This is an infringement on our right to free speech and to peaceful public protest."

Note: this proposed order is separate to an additional lawsuit, which attempts to preempt a legal review of Shell's oil spill response plan and involves other environmental groups.

The Temporary Restraining Order will last for 14 days unless further extended by the court. A hearing on Shell's Motion for a Preliminary Injunction (a more permanent measure) is scheduled for 14 March 2012 at 9:00 a.m. in Alaska.

In Response Lucy tweeted the following soon after the press release was issued:

Lucy Lawless ? @RealLucyLawless

@GreenpeaceNZ @shell Magnificent effort everyone!! #SaveTheArctic

FOLLOW THE LATEST NEWS, IMAGES & VIDEO ABOUT THE PROTEST
(See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Event Page)

Check out the latest on AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Stop Shell Drilling The Arctic Event page or

Follow @RealLucyLawless on Twitter

Follow @GreenpeaceNZ on Twitter

Starz has released a clip from Season 2 Episode 5 scene clip The Arena

Spartacus tries to free Crixus from Roman captivity, but a gladiator from the House of Batiatus complicates it.

Airdate: 02-24-2012

Credits | Official Site | Episode Stills | Video Promo

Lesley-Ann Brandt (Lucy's co-star on Spartacus Blood and Sand and Spartacus Gods of the Arena) has written a blog about Lucy's Save the Arctic protest which got her thinking about how all of us can get started on become greener and more environmentally aware.

In 2009 Lucy took Lesley-Ann along with her to the Greenpeace Sign-On event in Vulcan Lane in Auckland on 18 August 2009. It was part of the huge Sign-On Campaign which began in 2009 and for the event high-profile New Zealanders all appeared to have broken their arms when they gathered in to launch the next stage of the Greenpeace Sign On campaign.

Sporting blue casts, in homage to John Key's January mishap that resulted in a broken arm, the celebrities gathered signatures on their casts and on the street for the Sign On campaign, lobbying the New Zealand government to commit to a 40 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2020.

Lesley-Ann has written her blog about how you can help:

So the Greenpeace protest in New Zealand recently got me thinking. For those who don't know, co star Lucy Lawless and several other Greenpeace protesters occupied a Shell drilling vessel to try and delay it's departure for the Arctic. Shell has plans to start drilling in this pristine, delicate and extremely fragile environment and Greenpeace with the help of Lucy and hundreds of thousands of supporters, myself included, are saying "Hells No!". Why? Imagine an oil spill in one of the most remote parts of the world. Imagine the thousands of species both in the water and on land that would be destroyed or affected. Imagine the millions of dollars it would take to clean up a spill, dollars that could be spent on developing renewable energy. Because that same oil they are desperately trying to find, will only end up as fuel emissions further adding to the Global Warming problem we have. It seems incomprehensible that 3 years worth oil is worth destroying one the most beautiful places on earth. Thinking about it, we are the only species who have the capability of destroying its own habitat, but we also have the intelligence/science not to.

Read More of Lesley-Ann's Blog

FOLLOW THE LATEST NEWS, IMAGES & VIDEO ABOUT THE PROTEST
(See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Event Page)

Check out the latest on AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Stop Shell Drilling The Arctic Event page or

Follow @RealLucyLawless on Twitter

Follow @GreenpeaceNZ on Twitter

Oil protest had international cast
Taranaki Daily News

Lucy Lawless' Greenpeace protest action at Port Taranaki last weekend had a distinctly international flavour, court documents reveal.

Aucklander Lawless, former star of Xena Warrior Princess, is charged with one count of burglary under her married name, Lucy Tapert.  At 44 years old, Lawless is the oldest of the eight arrested whom police have jointly charged with burglary at Port Taranaki last Friday.

Those charged are: Tapert aka Lawless, Llai Amir, 25 (Israel, living in Auckland), Jan Raoni Hammer, 30 (Christchurch), Zachary Steven Penman, 21 (Auckland), Vivienne Rachael Hadlow, 28 (United Kingdom, living in Auckland), Shayne Panayiotis Comino, 33 (Australia, living in Christchurch), Michael Ross Buchanan, 28, Christchurch, Shai Sebastian Naides, 28 (Israel, living in Wellington).

Read More

FOLLOW THE LATEST NEWS, IMAGES & VIDEO ABOUT THE PROTEST
(See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Event Page)

Check out the latest on AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Stop Shell Drilling The Arctic Event page or

Follow @RealLucyLawless on Twitter

Follow @GreenpeaceNZ on Twitter

Warrior Princess Lucy Lawless created global headlines joining the Greenpeace direct action against Arctic drilling. On Sunday this week John Hudson asks Lucy and co-activist Viv Hadlow if a successful protest now requires a celebrity prepared to break the law.

See Lucy Lawless tell us why she spent four days up an oil drill tower. On Sunday this week.

WATCH THE PREVIEW:

View images from the Sunday Facebook Page

Click here to view larger photo 

Click here to view larger photo

FOLLOW THE LATEST NEWS, IMAGES & VIDEO ABOUT THE PROTEST
(See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Event Page)

Check out the latest on AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Stop Shell Drilling The Arctic Event page or

Follow @RealLucyLawless on Twitter

Follow @GreenpeaceNZ on Twitter

Rob Salem interview Lucy regarding the Save The Arctic protest and also upcoming court case. The court case was scheduled for 1 March but it was pushed back to 20 March. This was done by Lucy's lawyer (and the lawyer for all the protesters from Greenpeace).

Lucy said:

(They) moved the hearing to March 20 to give some of us time to get our homes and businesses in order," Lawless, a native New Zealander, told the Star exclusively Wednesday.

"It probably won't be as late as that, but it's easier to move it earlier than later, I'm told. It'll be better this way."
"I don't know what the actual charges will be," Lawless says. "The police have full discretion to charge what they want.

"But I signed my bail bond today. Never thought I'd see the day."

Read the full article here

FOLLOW THE LATEST NEWS, IMAGES & VIDEO ABOUT THE PROTEST
(See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Event Page)

Check out the latest on AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Stop Shell Drilling The Arctic Event page or

Follow @RealLucyLawless on Twitter

Follow @GreenpeaceNZ on Twitter

You can now pre-order the Spartacus Vengeance DVD & Blu-Ray sets. Both sets are due for release in September 2012 (according to Steven DeKnight)

DVD - Pre-Order Now $44.99

Blu-Ray - Pre-Order Now $44.99

Special Features
Includes never-before-seen bonus features including featurettes, extended scenes and content too risqué for cable television.

No other information about extras on the Blu-Ray edition yet.

NEW ZEALAND

Coming up on Sunday: March 4

Published: 11:55AM Thursday March 01, 2012 Source: Sunday

LUCY LAWLESS-NESS?

"Xena" Princess Warrior set out to save the world, she did the same in real life and found herself in trouble.
Lucy Lawless and seven colleagues scaled a 53 metre drilling tower on a Shell drill ship in Port Taranaki.

They spent four days aloft in freezing temperatures as part of a Greenpeace protest. Could Xena go to jail?

Did the protest make a difference? And would she do it again? Xena and her commitment to saving the real world is on SUNDAY

CORRESPONDENT - John Hudson
PRODUCER - Jane Skinner
CAMERAS - Clint Bruce and Dave Pierce
EDITOR - Nigel McPhee

*News submitted by Barbara Davies*

FOLLOW THE LATEST NEWS, IMAGES & VIDEO ABOUT THE PROTEST
See more on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic Event Page

Check out the latest on AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Stop Shell Drilling The Arctic Event page or

Follow @RealLucyLawless on Twitter

Follow @GreenpeaceNZ on Twitter

Spartacus Season 2 Episode 6: Chosen Path

Spartacus urges his rebels to train for the defense of their new sanctuary; Lucretia and Ilithyia become close; Glaber's forces swell with some deadly new recruits.

Airdate: 03-02-2012

Credits | Official Site |  Episode Stills

VIDEO PREVIEW

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? Spartacus Vengeance Marathon on 25 February on Starz
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? New Starz Video - What The Critics Are Saying About Spartacus Vengeance
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? Spartacus Season 2 Episode 4 High Resolution Episode Stills
? TV Guide Spoilers on Lucretia's New Man
? Spartacus S2 E4 Episode Clip Petition The Gods For a Different Union
? Spartacus Season 2 Episode 4 Empty Hands
? New Spartacus Store Designs - Lucretia Payback's a Bitch T-Shirt
? Spartacus Vengeance on German TV 11 April 2012
? Daily News TV Spotlight Lucy Lawless And Her Music 11 February 2012
? Lucy Photo - Lucy in New York with Liam McIntyre January 2012
? Spartacus Season 2 Episode 3 The Greater Good Episode Preview
? Spartacus Season 2 DVD and Blu-Ray Pre-Order

You can find out more about Lucy's role on Spartacus in the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite

This article just had me shaking my head. It's just one of those times that nothing I say can do this article justice. I'll let the article speak for itself

Arctic Ocean Drilling: Shell Launches Preemptive Legal Strike

By Kim Murphy

February 29, 2012, 5:12 p.m.

Reporting from Seattle—

Royal Dutch Shell launched an extraordinary preemptive legal strike Wednesday against opponents of offshore oil drilling in the Arctic Ocean, filing suit against more than a dozen environmental organizations likely to challenge its plan for drilling exploratory wells in the Chukchi Sea this summer.
In a petition for declaratory relief filed in U.S. District Court in Anchorage, the oil giant seeks to have the court rule that the U.S. government complied with federal law when it approved Shell’s oil spill response plan for upcoming exploratory well-drilling in the Arctic.

The move is a clear attempt to beat environmental organizations to court and avert potentially costly delays for a project on which Shell has already spent $4 billion without drilling a single well.

The oil company launched a separate petition against Greenpeace, whose activists last week boarded the drilling rig now moored in New Zealand and scheduled to begin drilling in the Arctic in July. Six activists, including television actress Lucy Lawless, climbed the rig before being arrested.

A hearing was underway Wednesday afternoon in federal court in Anchorage on the company’s request for a temporary restraining order prohibiting Greenpeace from engaging in “illegal and dangerous actions” tied to the upcoming offshore drilling program.

“This is a very unique legal approach. I’m not sure anything like this has ever been done before,” Shell spokeswoman Kelly op de Weegh told the Los Angeles Times.

The suit names the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, Defenders of Wildlife, the National Audubon Society and several other groups which for years have filed lawsuits and appeals challenging the federal government’s offshore leasing programs in the Arctic, the lease sale under which Shell gained the right to explore in the Chukchi, and the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of air quality permits for drilling operations.

Op de Weegh said Shell attorneys were convinced that conservationists would probably file suit against the oil spill response plan recently approved by the federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and wanted to make sure that didn’t occur on the eve of drilling — an outcome that, since drilling can be done only during the ice-free summer months, could delay operations for another full year.

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Following the AAP report last night, here's another article from The Taranaki Daily News with more information as to why the court date for Lucy and the other protesters has been pushed back from today (1 March) to 20 March:

Lucy Lawless and six other Greenpeace protesters have had their court appearance deferred almost three weeks.

The activists were to appear in the New Plymouth District Court today but yesterday police approved a request from the protesters' Auckland solicitor to adjourn their appearance until March 20.

The seven were arrested on Monday after four days' protest atop the 53m drilling rig on the Noble Discoverer, headed for an oil drilling campaign in the Arctic, in Port Taranaki.

Yesterday, Greenpeace climate campaigner Steve Abel, of Auckland, expressed concern at the serious nature of the burglary charges.

"It is a more-severe charge than expected ... it would be more appropriate to charge them with unlawfully getting on a vessel or trespass," he said.

Greenpeace lawyers would be representing the activists in court, Mr Abel said.

The first activist who came down from the rig on Saturday because of personal reasons was initially charged with trespass in that he unlawfully got on a vessel but he, too, had now been charged with burglary, Mr Abel said.

"The activists – including Lucy – took the action as a protest against Shell's intention to drill for oil in the Arctic. They understood they faced police arrest and charges, so they didn't take it lightly," he said.

"Obviously, Lucy Lawless has a completely clean record so it's an indication of how strongly she felt," Mr Abel said.

Mr Abel declined to discuss the case any further because it was now before the courts and sub judice.

It is likely the Greenpeace lawyers will strongly argue against any conviction that could result in Lawless, the star of Xena Warrior Princess and Spartacus, being barred from entry to countries such as the United States.

The maximum sentence following conviction – which is unlikely to be handed down – is 10 years' jail.

However, in the past similar protest actions had resulted in trespass convictions for activists who received penalties from fines through to community work.  Even a conviction without penalty brought consequences for the activists, he said.

Lawless, the mother of two school-age boys and an older daughter, is believed to be working in Queenstown later this week.  Mr Abel said the protest action had a resounding impact, with Shell receiving 190,000 letters, and the number continued to climb.

Taranaki Daily News stories of the protest online have attracted many comments critical of the Greenpeace action.

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At least someone in the media making some sense about this Shell Advert Lucy did when she was 20 years old in 1988 (NOT early 1990's as Shell has been spreading) Lucy fans have known about this advert for a VERY VERY VERY LONG time so it's nothing new but is it really a shock horror kind of thing to the general joe public..not really but Shell would like you to think it is. I've had this advert up on the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless site or on  AUSXIP Video Lucy Lawless channel for quite a while. It's not new, it's not shocking, it's an advert of a young woman starting out and having a paying gig.

Lucy commented on this advert and the Shell beatup of it:

"I remembered only when we were up there (the rig) that I actually did. I was pumping gas and somebody, and I don't think it was me, said `it's the fuel of the future'. I don't think it was my character but I always remember that line. And ah, sadly it isn't the fuel to take us into the future, we've got to get something clean."

What an absolute beat up over something so innocuous as a paying gig for a 20 year old.

The following is from AdWeek

Lucy Lawless got arrested this week, but not for any of the usual sad/funny/pathological celebrity reasons. The actress, whom Adweek interviewed earlier this month, joined a Greenpeace protest of Shell's drilling practices and stormed a ship, and now she's being charged with burglary. Top that, Susan Sarandon! Seems she's changed her stance since she appeared as a gas station attendant in a Shell commercial, although a gig she took as a struggling actor 20 years ago isn't really a valid counterpoint against any principles she's gained since then. And even if her actions were a hypocritical left turn, have you seen the ad? I'd be carrying a grudge too if that crap show was on my résumé.

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