Free EarthScan webcast "Reconnecting Nature and Culture", Wednesday, November 24, 2010 4:00 am Sydney AEDT

A hatip to Margi Prideaux over at Wild Politics for alerting the blogosphere to this event:

Earthcasts are monthly free one-hour interactive web events from Earthscan

In November the subject is:

Reconnecting Nature and Culture

>> Understand the concept of biocultural diversity
>> Learn how to integrate cultural and spiritual values into conservation, tourism and heritage management practices
>> Discover how embracing the values of local people can dramatically increase the success of conservation and sustainability efforts, for the benefit of all

Tuesday 23rd November 2010
17:00 (UK time – GMT), 12:00 (EDT), 9:00 (PDT)

Click here to register

There must be something in that there Canberra water!

There must definitely be something extra in the water down Canberra way……..
This week we were all treated to the decidedly unholy sight of Tony Mad Monk Abbott scurrying into the back pews of the House of Reps clad in singlet and shorts sans shoes, because after all as Leader of the Opposition a personal exercise regime is more important than anything else.

The shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey was heard monumentally wasting the House’s time on a housekeeping measure; “Mr Speaker, I am reluctant to raise this, but I have raised this matter previously with Parliament House departmental officials. Early in the morning on sitting days there is a tendency for lawnmowers and air blowers to be used outside offices during radio interviews. On one occasion I actually had to stop the interview—I know it is hard to believe, Mr Speaker—until the noise had passed. Given that there is a considerable amount of time when parliament is not sitting and that we do not sit on Fridays, I again request that we do not have the extraordinary noise from lawnmowers and various other machinery being used outside our office windows between 7 am and 9 am.”

And later in the week telling another member; “Just keep your hands well displayed there, Bill! Keep them up; keep them above the table! We do not know what you have in your holster, old son; we can only guess! He is the one who has to go through the metal detector on the way into parliament! You have to be careful of the smiley ones! I am having a great time paying out on this guy..”
Does everyone in the Opposition think that the Xmas silly season began early this year?
All that was needed was to spot Bronnie in an Ascot hat to confirm the lack of political direction.

Pic taken from ABC The Insiders on 21st November 2010.

Quotes from Hansard

One in the eye for Windsor and Xenophon

From A Clarence Valley Protest on 19 November 2010:

Clarence Valley Council responds to Windsor, Xenophon and the rest of those would be water raiders

From the Minutes of Ordinary Monthly Meeting of Clarence Valley Council on 16 November 2010:

COUNCIL RESOLUTION – 10.017/10
(Cr Williamson)
That:
1. The Council again register it strong opposition to any plans to divert waters out of the Clarence catchment.
2. Council makes a submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia inquiry into the proposed Murray-Darling Basin Plan (MDBP), noting Council’s opposition to any plans to divert waters out of the Clarence catchment.
Voting recorded as follows:
For: Councillors Williamson, Comben, Dinham, Howe, Hughes, McKenna, Simmons, Tiley and Toms.
Against: Nil

Gillard Government to remove cap on redundancy payments says Saffin

Media release from Member for Page Janelle Saffin on 19 November 2010:

Page MP Janelle Saffin has welcomed new redundancy provisions that mean from next year workers will receive redundancy pay for every year of service if their company goes broke.

From January 1, 2011, the Gillard Government will remove the cap on redundancy payments so that workers’ payouts will be based on how many years they have served.

Ms Saffin said at present, if an employer becomes insolvent and cannot fund redundancy entitlements, the redundancy pay is capped at 16 weeks.

“This means that an employee who has been with a company for 35 years can receive the same as someone who had worked there for only five years.

“It is a big blow to any employee if the company they work for goes broke and they lose their job, but it is even tougher for those who don’t get their full entitlements

“However, under the Government changes, from next year workers will receive a payout of up to four weeks pay for every year of service.

“This is a fairer system, and ensures employees are paid what they deserve if their employer goes into liquidation,” Ms Saffin said.

“The global financial crisis led to an increased need for redundancy payments and the Government is committed to funding entitlements.”

The changes will be made by amending GEERS (General Employee Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme) Operational Arrangements.

Clarence water diversion? He said, she said.

A classic He said She said from The Daily Examiner on 19 November 2010.

Craig William Isherwood said:

A RIGHT wing Victorian-based independent political party wants to build six dams and a hydro-electric power station to divert Clarence River floodwaters.
The Citizens Electoral Council of Australia wants the Murray Darling Basin authority to consider the diversion, which it says is costed out at $230 million.
The party claims diverting the Clarence floodwaters could be the best solution to revive the nation’s “food bowl” rather than the proposed irrigation allocation cuts....
Citizens Electoral Council leader Craig Isherwood said the scheme, if implemented, would harvest 1000 gigalitres annually of floodwater and would not be detrimental to the river’s health, but would mitigate floods.

Jan Marsh said:

I say:

Read these Citizens Electoral Council official party flyers on the Murray Darling Basin Plan and the Clarence River - then try not to weep with laughter.

According to Maud Up The Street every time Tony tells a pork pie.......

.....another hair follicle dies.

NSW North Coast beaches receive mixed review in latest DEWCC report

Photograph of Wategoes Beach at sunrise from World Tourism

Thirty-seven ocean beaches and river swimming spots on the NSW North Coast in Byron, Ballina, Richmond Valley, Clarence Valley and Coffs Habour local government areas, were included in the recently released State of Beaches 2009-2010.

A total of 265 swimming locations along the New South Wales coast were monitored during 2009–2010 under three programs: Beachwatch, Harbourwatch and the Beachwatch Partnership Program.

However, not all popular northern ocean and river sites were included in this NSW Dept. of Environment, Climate Change and Water report.

Of those included, The Strand, Belongil Beach, Wategos Beach, Tallow Beach (Byron Bay), Tallow Beach (Suffolk Park), Seven Mile Beach, Lighthouse Beach, Airforce Beach, Main Beach (Richmond Valley) and Shark Bay received the highest rating given “Very Good”.

Nineteen other locations were awarded a “Good” rating, two more were classified as “Fair”, three “Poor” and three “Very Poor”.

What was surprising was how Clarence Valley river sites fared in comparison with other North Coast areas – with not one location in the highest category.

Gradings used in the report:

Very Good – Location has generally excellent microbial water quality and very few potential sources of faecal pollution. Water is considered suitable for swimming for almost all of the time.

Good – Location has generally good microbial water quality and water is considered suitable for swimming for most of the time. Swimming should be during and for up to one day following heavy rain at ocean beaches and for up to three days at estuarine sites.

Fair – Microbial water quality is generally suitable for swimming, but because of the presence of significant sources of faecal contamination, extra care should be taken to avoid swimming during and for up to three days following rainfall or if there are signs of pollution such as discoloured water, odour, or debris in the water.

Poor – Location is susceptible to faecal pollution and microbial water quality is not always suitable for swimming. During dry weather conditions, ensure that the swimming location is free of signs of pollution, such as discoloured water, odour or debris in the water, and avoid swimming at all times during and for up to three days following rainfall.

Very Poor – Location is very susceptible to faecal pollution and microbial water quality may often be unsuitable for swimming. It is generally recommended to avoid swimming at these sites.