Tonight's This Is Australia event at Richmond St. nightclub This Is London promises to "transform London into the outback" with DJ Chris La Roque's outback mash-up sounds, a chance to win a trip to Australia and... live kangaroos?

blogTO reader Michelle Palmer brought this event to our attention via a Facebook thread initiated by her animal-loving friends. A number of people contacted the club, organizers and animal rights groups such as PETA, protesting the planned appearance of live kangaroos, which would have been caged around the club premises.

I spoke with This Is London's Sherry Rampersaud, who confirms that "the club has reconsidered and there will be no kangaroos at tonight's event." Party organizers INK have not responded as of press time.

Activism is not usually the main reason why people sign up on online networking sites, but it is good to know that social and ethical issues are being addressed alongside who's poked who and who's in an open relationship, whether the actions of the thread members and their friends were directly involved in the organizer's final decisions or not.

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UPDATE (as of July 29, 2008):
From Kristine Okolita, Public Relations at INK re: cancelation of the kangaroos at This is London

"INK strives to find new and innovative ways to entertain its guests. However in this case animal safety was our first priority. Upon discovering that Kangaroos are a hypersensitive, and easily stressed animal, we found that despite the fact that they were to be kept outside with certified animal handlers, and away from guests, no chances should be taken, and we cancelled the appearance."