A Sunday smile.....

From xkcd

From Ned the Bear

All things greenhouse in New South Wales

While all things greenhouse appear to be marking time at a national level and, many who voted for Kevin 07 are unhappy and some horrified at the thought of his budgie-wearing counterpart Tony 10, matters chug along at NSW state level with average equivalent emissions this week running 15% above the level required to stop global warming and dirty energy prevails according to The Weekly Greenhouse Gas Indicator.

Queensland is a shocking 90% over equivalent weekly emissions levels for 1990 and South Australia is 12% below. The Northern Territory and West Australia are not tracked it this longtitudinal data collection.

New south wales

This week's (7 May to 13 May) NSW Indicator is 1.908 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, the breakdown is as follows:

In tonnes:

Electricity from coal: 1.106 million; 58.0%

Natural gas: 0.171 million; 8.9%

Petroleum: 0.632 million; 33.1%

This week

NSW's emissions from energy grew by 2.2% or 42,000 tonnes, due to an increase in emissions from both gas and coal-fired generation.

Emissions sources

Emissions from coal-fired electricity, which accounted for 87% of electricity generation in NSW this week, grew by 0.9% or 10,000 tonnes with a number of generation units operating at a higher capacity.

Emissions from gas grew by 23% or 32,000 tonnes.

Emissions from petroleum products continued at the same low level as last week – the lowest level of petrol emissions for the state in over two years.

Demand & Import/Export

Electricity demand grew 1.5%.

NSW imported 5.7% of its electricity demand from other states, compared to 6.9% last week.

Comparisons

This week's Indicator is 9.2% lower than the same week in 2009 and total emissions to this stage of 2010 are 5.5% lower than the similar stage last year.

This week's Indicator is 15% above the average equivalent 1990 weekly emissions and 1.3% below the equivalent 2000 weekly average.

The bloke ought to keep his mouth closed and let people think he's a racist idiot, rather than provide the proof

Patricia Laurie, Councillor for the North Coast Region of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council, has very neatly put a gigantic racist ignoramus on his backside.

Last week James Mackenzie told Byron Shire Council that the Aboriginal nations Arakwal and Bundjalung are a fiction. McKenzie claimed there was no Bundjalung nation, tribe, people, language, culture, clan, nor horde. "No Bundjalung anything." (The Northern Star, 14 May)

Here's Ms Laurie's piece Bundjalung nation 'very much alive'. It's in today's Northern Star.

Some days you wake up better than others. But last Friday, I awoke to discover that I wasn't real.

In the May 14 edition of The Northern Star, a story appeared entitled 'Arakwal, Bundjalung don't exist'.

You can imagine my surprise, given that I am both a Yaegl woman and a member of the Bundjalung nation.

I pinched myself, just in case, and can confirm for Northern Star readers that I am, in fact, real.

I can also confirm that the Bundjalung nation is very much alive, and is one of the best known in the country.

Tens of thousands of Aboriginal people alive today - myself included - identify with the Bundjalung nation, either as their country, or the country of their ancestors.

The bizarre and ridiculous claims have come from 'James McKenzie, a great grandson of pioneer James MacKenzie, who was called Wollumbin Gum Jimmy'.

Mr McKenzie somehow managed to grab a microphone at a meeting of the Byron Shire Council.

By the end of his rant, Mr McKenzie had abolished two nations and called for 'a parliamentary inquiry into the scandals and the politicians involved'. What, all of them?

I'd respectfully suggest to The Northern Star that while coverage of council is important - and in The Star's case generally comprehensive - you don't have to report absolutely everything that is said.

If a man stands and makes a fool of himself, it might make for a colourful headline, but given the ridiculous and divisive nature of what's been said, reporting it doesn't make for harmonious relationships in the community. That, I would suggest, is in everyone's interests.

To my black brothers and sisters I'd make two points: Firstly, you reap what you sow; if you want to help other people question Aboriginal identity because it suits your political agenda, then expect to have your own identity questioned. Secondly, since the British arrived in 1788, Aboriginal people have been kept busy fighting among themselves. It's one of the great 'tools of the oppressor'.

Finally, to Mr McKenzie: I note that you claim to be a 'descendant of the famous MacKenzies', who helped build this region since colonisation.

The fact is, Mr McKenzie, I don't get to define your identity, any more than you don't get to define Aboriginal identity.

You can advance all the bizarre conspiracy theories you like, but it doesn't change who we are. All that's changed is what we think of you.

Sources: The Northern Star and The Daily Examiner (pic)

McDonald's versus Yamba: BOYCOTT, BOYCOTT, BOYCOTT!

What one would expect; after the very pro-McDonald's Cr. Margaret McKenna snarled back at the council meeting gallery last Tuesday that if they didn't like the way she was voting they could vote with their wallets and not go to McDonald's when it opened in Yamba.......

A selection from the initial reaction on Facebook the day after Clarence Valley Council's infamous decision to allow a 6am to midnight eat-in and drive through fast food outlet in the small NSW coastal town of Yamba:

NO to McDonalds in YAMBA Disappointment tonight from CVC but Yamba stand proud! We showed a united, committed community against this inappropriate development because that's what we are and not a generic McDonalds town. 4000 signatures and 455 letters apparently not enough. Cindy Rawiri, Kerry Mcdonough, Kylie Leisinger and 10 others like this.

Judith Robinson
How much is McDonalds paying the council? With all those signatures and letters your council isnt listening :(
Dianne Schwinghammer
sorry to hear the result. The face of our Yamba will be changed forever and not for the better.
Kim Mcgowan
I'm with you Judith..........it sounds like something dodge has gone on.......anyway i will not eat there.......if i feel like treating myself and the family we will still drive to Grafton...........Yamba is just another town with another maccas nothing special about us !!!!!!!!
Theresa Bennett
smells like vomit fullstop remember that next time you walk past or open that paper bag bbbbaaaarrrrfffff council will allow it because their the only fat idiots that will eat the shit : p
Kaz Whitty
Good on you Yamba! Yes contact ACA! What did the State Govt do to our planning laws that ignore the majority vote of the people of a particular area..making our councils back down to the big end of town for fear of $$$ loss in court? We elected them to serve our interests...there has to be a loophole here!!
Ben Redlich
we had our honeymoon in yamba last year, the first time we've been there. i remarked at the time how refreshing it was to see no fast food chains, just local business. sigh...
Janet Purcell
Need to change this page to boycott McD's. Not sure, but I think that Newtown had a boycott campaign and McDs closed down. Very disappointing, but everyone should send a big thank you to Councillors Ian Tiley and Sue Hughes who spoke really well against this abominable development. And send a no thanks to Clrs Ian Dinham (Yamba), Jim Simmons(Maclean), Margaret McKenna (Grafton), Craig Howe (Grafton) and most disappointingly Clr Pat Comben (Grafton) sold Yamba out on this one!!!!!
Sharon Uthmann
So sad to hear that public opinion did nothing to the outcome. Welcome to increased litter and increased social problems - have come from an area full of take away venues and all you get is a dirty town where those who need to be feeding their families healthy meals, instead end up with cheap fat filled meals. Such a shame! I for one will be boycotting McDonalds in Yamba when I visit and I hope that will result in a closure.
Marilyn King
Go broke Macca's!!!!! Will not step a foot inside, am so sorry our Council could not see the light! BOYCOTT!!!!!
Marion Uithol
Is there a link to the proposed affordable housing residential development planned for West Yamba? Who is behind the scenes for both propositions?
Shayne Louise
let them put Macca's on the highway, then it can taste even more like mud when it floods... keep fighting... need more media coverage... ACA, sunrise, anything... knock down the security fences and pickets each time they go up... they cant arrest everyone in town...
Kym Thornton
how sad, i for one won't be going there..
Karlen Holloway
Support our local businesses. Boycott maccas don't let ur children eat it. Don't give in to it's conveniece.
Karlen Holloway
Also! Yamba slsc uses a shed on the site where maccas has been proposed to store competition equipment. We will now loose this space and have no where else to store this equipment. So much for them helping sporting and local community
Sandra Mason
That is really sad, hate McDonalds. You know who to vote out in the next election
Yesterday at 5:44am
Matthew Ellks
There goes the nieghbourhood.....
Tash Keys
This is the most right wing council and bunch of councilors ever (alebit for a couple)! It was a shoo in once they passed west yamba. Just look at what they are doing! They are saying its ok to over develop sensitive coastal areas, its ok to destroy habitat without the proper consent (Gulmarrad), its ok to snuff your nose up at the community. If anyones interested in taking this council and its councilors on - i'm in!
Jen Smith
Very disappointing that community wishes have been ignored. As a community we can elect & not elect councillors but what happens to the non elected decision makers in council. Who are they responsible to and what was their rationale for ignoring what the community wants and what are they getting out of this.
Trudie Brown
money ALWAYS talks over peoples words...ITS DISGUSTING!!
Frank Lucas
Well they didn't get into Byron so hang in there.
Aloha
Dave Schwarz
Shame - just remember the names of the 5 idiot councillors - Simmons, Comben, Dinham, Howe, McKenna - while we can get rid of them next council election, it may take a lot longer to get rid of McDonalds but I support the boycott calls, no way will I be seen in the Yamba business ever (and yes, I do use them when travelling, clean toilets, quick food, they are fine on a highway!).
Dave Schwarz
Can I suggest everybody sends the infamous 5 a short but succinct email telling them what we all think -
addresses are:
margaret.mckenna@clarence.nsw.gov.au
craig.howe@clarence.nsw.gov.au
ian.dinham@clarence.nsw.gov.au... See More
pat.comben@clarence.nsw.gov.au
jim.simmons@clarence.nsw.gov.au
Now nothing too rude, I just said "Disgraceful decision re McDonald's - you've lost this vote next election!"
Dave Schwarz
Just letting you all know I've had councillor Comben reply to my email telling me that was the only decision he could make under "reason and law" and how good it was and how many people were congratulating him on it (15 congratulatory emails and 4 happy people on the street is his total to date) - so please, send the infamous 5 an email or they'll think they've made an intelligent decision!
Ruth Condran
If everyone who said they don't want Maccas in town stick to there convictons and boycott it they won't last long in town.
Cate Murphy
Thank You to all the people that came into" Smokos" today to reassure me that they will still eat with us and not sell out to the ultra cheap McHeartattack and Lies. I wonder how quickly maccas will fund a roundabout on Treelands and Yamba Rd.?.....I wonder how much council earns in all the various stages of development and inspections.?.....I ... See Morewonder how the short sighted five sleep at night ? Wonder I may...no point asking council anything about this as they couldn't lie straight in bed it's easy to see why they voted the way they did. I hope everyone remembers this at election time. You can bet I will be campaigning to remind everyone. I intend to do my own economic impact study of the effect this has on Yamba local businessess. BOYCOTT BOYCOTT BOYCOTT send the bastards broke show them that Yamba is committed, true and resilient....and vote NO to the fools that voted Yes
Michelle Higgins
So sorry to hear about this. When I come back to visit I will not be eating there. I will support the local community not Mccas. Wonder how much they paid the Council???????

After the Intervention: income management research

Conclusion: Income management independent of the government stimulus payment appears to have had no beneficial effect on tobacco and cigarette sales, soft drink or fruit and vegetable sales. Click on image to enlarge.

Two of the researchers writing in Crikey after Federal Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin was dismissive of the latest independent study:

However, in contrast to the government report, we found that spending on food and drinks and fruit and vegetables did not change with income management. Soft drinks sales increased.

The one time during income management that spending went up for all store commodities was when people actually had more money: at the time of the government stimulus payment.

Telling people of low income how they can use 50% of their income may make no difference to their spending, but giving a lump of cash does.

I know who I'm inclined to believe and it isn't the Minister.

The natural as art.....

Caged Beauty (above) and Swimming Upstream (below)
Photographs taken at Bundjalung National Park by the talented scml displayed at Panoramio

Guttermen Adam Walters and Peter Meakin = Public Enemies #1 & #2

What right did low-life, Adam Walters (above left), a gutter newsperson with Channel 7, have to invade and dispossess another individual of their civil liberties?

Answer: NONE!

Walters deserves all the sh*t that he cops as a consequence of his efforts.

However, Walters did not act alone in his small-minded exercise.

Channel 7's news boss, Peter Meakin (above right), gave Walters the green light to air the item so he, too, stands condemned.

Pics from The Daily Telegraph and ABC News