The GMO lobby creates a LOL

So which contributor in the BIOfortified: stronger plants, stronger science and stronger communication online community was responsible for telling the world that the humble macadamia nut (eaten by indigenous Australians for thousands of years) is a relatively new food?

franknfoode Frank N. Foode

@HerbRealm How many years have Kiwifruit and Starfruit and Macadamias been trialled on humans to ensure their safety? (relatively new foods) 13 Jan

The joke gets better when we remember that 'Starfruit' is merely the commercial branding of a fruit cultivated and eaten for hundreds of years in Asia and, that 'Kiwi Fruit' is the marketing re-brand of a conventionally created cultivar of another ancient food.

* This post is part of North Coast Voices' effort to keep Monsanto's blog monitor (affectionately known as Mr. Monsanto) in long-term employment.

Ethanol production link to modern slavery confirmed?

This is an extract from an August 2008 U.S. diplomatic cable 08SAOPAULO432 (coordinated with and cleared by the Embassy in Brasilia) speaking of forced labour and posted on Wikileaks this month:

1.(SBU) Brazil's high profile, high-tech ethanol industry has fallen under an international spotlight for alleged use of forced or slave labor to harvest sugarcane. The press focus on sugarcane has drawn attention away from other sectors which may be at higher risk for forced labor/slave exploitation (cattle ranching, charcoal production, the sex industry). Top NGO labor experts have stated that while isolated problems remain in the sugarcane industry, the situation is improving and these other industries should be of more concern. Singling out or over-emphasizing sugarcane could play into the hands of some in the GOB who allege that U.S. TIP policy is only a cover to attack Brazil's flagship ethanol industry (Ref B). Mission suggests a broad anti-TIP strategy that enlists the large, more advanced sugarcane producers as allies in the fight against forced labor. Our efforts should also emphasize that the USG commitment to TIP is global in scale and rooted in our commitment to human rights. End Summary. Sugar is (Again) King

2.(U) Brazil has been a sugar producer for centuries and the development of ethanol as a promising green fuel has lent new energy to this key industry. The country's contemporary sugar industry is worth $40 billion, or 2.35 percent of GDP. It directly employs 1.1 million people, and its prospects for growth are tremendous (Ref A). Understandably, Brazil's leaders take great pride in their country's world class status as a leader in green fuels production. The Evidence for Forced Labor/Slavery

3.(U) Reports of forced or slave labor in sugarcane harvesting have marred the image of Brazil's ethanol industry. In May, the State Department's Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report characterized forced labor on sugarcane plantations as a growing trend. Days later, Amnesty International echoed the TIP report's assessment. With Brazilian ethanol production for export on the rise, the issue has caught the attention of the international press, particularly in the U.S. and Europe (Ref A).

How Eastern Australia begins its Saturday 15 January 2011

From the Bureau of Meteorology webpage National Warnings Summary:

Queensland

Warnings current:

High Seas Warning for TC Zelia,

Tropical Cyclone Information Bulletin for TC Zelia,

Ocean Wind Warning from Fiji,

Ocean Wind Warning from NZ,

Flood Warning - Fitzroy River,

Flood Warning - Burnett River,

Flood Warning - Mary River,

Flood Warning - Lockyer, Bremer, Warrill & Brisbane below Wivenhoe.,

Flood Warning - Logan-Albert,

Flood Warning - Condamine-Balonne Rivers,

Flood Warning - Macintyre/Weir,

Flood Warning - Moonie River,

Flood Warning - Thomson/Barcoo/Cooper Ck,

Queensland flood warning summary,

Forecast Track Map (QLD) for TC Zelia.

NSW and ACT

Warnings current:

Coastal Waters Wind Warning for New South Wales waters between Port Stephens and Point Perpendicular, between Moruya Heads and Gabo Island,

Cancellation of Severe Weather Warning for Snowy Mountains forecast district,

Flood Warning - Richmond/Wilsons,

Flood Warning - Clarence River,

Flood Warning - MacIntyre River,

Flood Warning - Macquarie River,

Flood Warning - Bogan River,

Flood Warning - Murrumbidgee River,

Flood Warning - Murray River,

Flood Warning - Culgoa, Bokhara, Narran,

Flood Warning - Warrego River,

Flood Warning - Barwon-Darling US Bourke,

Norfolk Island Tropical Cyclone Advice for TC Vania,

Ocean Wind Warning 1 - South Eastern area.

Victoria

Warnings current:

Coastal Waters Wind Warning for Victorian waters between Mallacoota and 60nm east of Gabo Island,

Brown Rot Advice for Northern Country, North Central and North East forecast districts,

Cancellation of Severe Weather Warning for East Gippsland and North East forecast districts,

Flood Watch for Greater Melbourne,

Flood Watch for Barwon, Hovells Creek and Otway Ranges,

Flood Watch for the Glenelg and Hopkins Basins,

Flood Watch for North East Victoria,

Flood Watch for the Goulburn and Broken Basins,

Victoria Flood Warning Summary,

Flood Warning - Maribyrnong River,

Flood Warning - Yarra River,

Flood Warning - Dandenong,

Flood Warning - Werribee River,

Flood Warning - Barwon River,

Flood Warning - Hopkins River,

Flood Warning - Glenelg River,

Flood Warning - Ovens and King Rivers,

Flood Warning - Broken River,

Flood warning for Seven Creeks / Castle Creek,

Flood Warning - Goulburn River,

Flood Warning - Campaspe River,

Flood Warning - Loddon River,

Flood Warning - Avoca River,

Flood Warning - Wimmera River,

Flood Warning - Murray River,

Ocean Wind Warning 1 - South Eastern area.

Tasmania

Warnings current:

Coastal wind warning 1,

Boating Weather - Wind Alert SW and Central Plateau Lakes,

Flood Warning Summary,

Flood Warning - Forth/Mersey,

Flood Warning - Meander,

Flood Warning - North Esk,

Flood Warning - South Esk,

Flood Warning - Macquarie,

Flood Watch Advice,

Severe Weather Warning 2,

Road Weather Alert,

Ocean Wind Warning 1 - South Eastern area.

This page last updated at:-
Friday January 14 2011 13:36 UTC (GMT) -- January 14 2011 21:36 WST -- January 14 2011 23:06 CST -- January 15 2011 00:06 CDT -- January 14 2011 23:36 EST -- January 15 2011 00:36 EDT

Best flood evacuation centre in Australia 2011?

Tweet sent out on 14 January 2011:

VictoriaPolice VictoriaPolice
Town of Great Western to be evacuated due to being inundated. Evac to Great Western Winery. Emergency alert will be sent to homes #vicrains

One of those great odd pics posted during the January 2011 Northern Rivers floods

Dad's found a use for this newfangled technology "colour TV"

@davcams contribution to the hysterical historical record.
Cane farmer removing flood debris from his fields

Posted on Moby Picture Nswfloods group stream

A word from Petering Time

Pete has been in contact to say he is staying north of the border for the foreseeable future to help mates rebuild after the floods and, will be exchanging PC keyboard for hammer and screwdriver.

He insists that this has been the most dramatic excuse he has ever had for not catching the biggest fish of his life.

Hopefully we will see him back home before mid-year.

Disaster-affected in Electorate of Page urged to apply for income loss payment

Because an ABC North Coast Radio segement yesterday indicated the possibility that some Centrelink staff were incorrectly telling flood victims that they were ineligible for this benefit if they had a spouse/partner earning an income, I am posting Ms. Saffin’s media release of 14 January 2011 which very clearly sets out the criteria for assistance.

If you are unsure of the advice you have received to date, make a formal verbal or written application anyway and have your own particular circumstances assessed.

Disaster-affected in Electorate of Page urged to apply for income loss payment

Member for Page Janelle Saffin MP urges people in Page Electorate who have lost their incomes as a direct result of recent natural disaster to apply for the newly activated Disaster Income Recovery Subsidy following information provided by The Hon Tanya Plibersek, Minister for Human Services and Minister for Social Inclusion.

Employees, small business owners, and farmers affected by disasters between November 29 last year and January this year, now have until February 28 this year to lodge claims for income recovery.

“The subsidy applies to eligible people all 5 Local Government Areas in the Page Electorate,” Janelle Saffin said. These LGAs are Ballina, Lismore, Richmond Valley Kyogle and Clarence Valley.

“It is a fortnightly payment of up to the maximum rate of existing Newstart Allowance for a period of 13 weeks.”

“The subsidy will be available to those who have experienced a loss of income as a direct result of recent disasters and are not currently receiving, or eligible for, any other income support payment.”

You are eligible for the subsidy if you:

• are 16 years of age, or older, and are not a dependent child;
• are an Australian resident and living in Australia for the period of time you receive the assistance; or a foreign national living or working in Australia at the time of the disaster and for the period of time you receive the subsidy;
• derive an income from the area affected by the disaster, or reside in the area affected by the disaster; and
• have experienced a loss of income as a direct result of the disaster;
• can show evidence supporting the claimed loss of income within 28 days;
• are not currently (at the time of lodgement) receiving another income support payment or pension (such as Age Pension, Newstart Allowance, service pension from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, or Exceptional Circumstances Income Relief Payment); and
• each member of a couple must qualify in their own right.

If you are eligible you will receive:

• $469.70 per fortnight for a single adult;
• $424.00 per fortnight per adult who is a member of a couple;
• $508.20 per fortnight for a single adult with a dependent child;
• $388.70 per fortnight for a person who is under 21 years of age.

Ms Saffin said claims can be made through the Emergency Assistance Hotline on 1802266, at Centrelink offices, or online at www.centrelink.gov.au

The subsidy is in addition to the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and the joint Commonwealth/Queensland Government payments being made under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements.