Hat tip to Clarrie Rivers for sending me this
canine planking LOL
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
Clarence MP performs somersault
The Member for Clarence Steve Cansdell has had to eat his words. Today's Daily Examiner reports on its front page that Cansdell has been forced to make a public apology in relation to comments he made about people acquitted in the Yamba "riot" trial.
Grafton Sisters of Mercy saying yes to a price on carbon pollution
According to Say Yes Australian campaign:
Over 140 Australian leaders and community groups have thrown their support behind Australia saying “yes” to cutting carbon pollution and “yes” to a clean energy economy. The ‘We Say Yes’ statement launched in Canberra today and featured in a full page ad in
The Australian, has been endorsed by prominent Australian scientists, doctors, writers, religious leaders, actors and community groups.
One of these community groups was the Sisters of Mercy at Grafton in the Clarence Valley on the NSW North Coast. Well done to Barbara Bolster and the rest of the convent community!
STATEMENT
“We Say Yes” to a Price on Carbon Pollution
Climate change is already affecting our country, our communities, and the survival of the world’s poor. This year, we have an opportunity to tackle climate change through a price oncarbon pollution.
To reduce pollution and embrace a cleaner and healthier future Australia urgently needs to put a fair price on pollution. It’s reasonable to ask the big polluters to pay a fair amount per tonne ofcarbon they emit so they have an incentive to pollute less.
We say yes to embracing a cleaner and healthier future by placing a fair price on pollution. We say yes to rewarding businesses who do the right thing, and giving other businesses a reason to clean up their act.
Saying yes to a price on pollution means saying yes to investment, innovation, and new jobs based on renewable energy that never runs out. In a country abundant with sun and wind, these industries have waited years to flourish while Australia has delayed.
Putting a price on pollution will release billions of dollars that will be used to support lowincome households, protect jobs, drive innovation in adaptation and clean energy projects and technologies, and support Australian farmers who want to protect the land for future generations.
We say YES to a price on pollution and renewable energy investment, YES to jobs and YES toprotecting our ecosystems, health and environment before it’s too late. Will you join us?
1 million women
350.org Australia
Adam Kilgour, Board Member, The Climate
Institute
Alternative Technology Association
Ann Kantor, Philanthropist
Ararat Greenhouse Action Group Inc
Assoc. Prof. Grant Blashki, Nossal Institute
of Health, University of Melbourne
Association for Berowra Creek
Australia Tibet Council
Australian Conservation Foundation
Australian Council of Social Service
Australian Council of Trade Unions
Australian Religious Response to Climate
Change
Australian Solar Energy Society
Australian Youth Climate Coalition
Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero
Emissions Inc. (BREAZE)
Ban Uranium Mining Permanently
Benalla Sustainable Future Group
Bishop Patrick P. Power, Bishop of Canberra
and Goulburn
Blue King Brown
Chelsea Heights EarthCarers
CHOICE
Climate Action Sydney Eastern Suburbs
Cimate Change Balmain-Rozelle
Clare Martin, former NT Chief Minister,
former CEO ACOSS
Climate Action Burwood Ashfield
Climate Action Network Australia
Climate Action Newcastle
Climate Action Newtown
Climate Action Tomaree
Climate and Health Alliance*
Climate Change Australia Clarence
Climate Change Australia Hastings
Climate Change: Our Future (Glen Eira &
Monash)
Climate Emergency Netwotk
ClimateWorks Australia
Colong Foundation for Wilderness
Communities Combating Climate Crisis,
Healesville
Community Environment Network, Lake
Macquarie Planning Committee
Conservation Council of South Australia
Conservation Council of Western Australia
Cool Melbourne
Corinne Grant, comedian and writer
Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy
Association Inc.
Darebin Climate Action Now
David Pocock, Australian Wallabies and
Western Force rugby union player
David Shelmerdine, Deputy Chair,
ClimateWorks Australia, philanthropist
Doctors for the Environment
Dr Richard Charlesworth AM, Olympian,
Australian hockey coach
Dr. Chris Riedy, Research Director, Institute
for Sustainable Futures
Dr. Denis Saunders AM
Dr. John Hewson, former leader of the
Liberal Party
Dr. Rosemary Stanton OAM, nutritionist
Dylan Lewis, entertainer
EarthSong
Edmund Rice Centre
Environment Centre Northern Territory
Environment Victoria
Environmental Farmers Network
Eva Cox AO, writer and social commentator
Felix Riebl, musician
Fr. Bob Maguire AM
GetUp!
Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand
Great Lakes Environment Association
GreenCoast Catalysts
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Healesville Environment Watch Inc
Ian Lowe, Emeritus Professor, Griffith
University
Ian Robertson, Secretary, DEPA and Chair,
Investment Committee LGS
Jon Dee, Founder & Chairman, Do
Something!
John Quiggin, Federation Fellow, University
of Queensland
John Thwaites, Chairman, Monash
Sustainability Institute, Monash University
Julian Burnside AO QC
Katie Noonan, entertainer
Katoomba Area Climate Action Now
Ken Done AM, artist
Kevin Dupé, CEO and Director
Lighter Footprints
Locals Into Victoria's Environment (LIVE)
Malcolm Fraser, former Prime Minister of
Australia
Moonee Valley Climate Action
Moreland Energy Foundation
Mosman Clean Energy for Eternity
Mount Alexander Sustainability Group
National Parks Association of Queensland
National Parks Australia Council
Nature Conservation Council of NSW
Nicholas Gruen, CEO Lateral Economics
Nick Earls, author
North Shore Climate Action
Oxfam Australia
Pacific Calling Partnership
Parramatta Climate Action Network
Peter Doherty PhD AC FAA FAS, Nobel
Laureate
Peter Martin, Founder, Hamer/Martin
Environment Fund
Phillip Adams AO, writer and broadcaster
Plug-in Australia
Portland Sustainability Group
Prof. Dave Griggs, Director, Monash
Sustainability Institute
Prof. David Karoly, University of Melbourne
Prof. Jeffrey Sheen, Macquarie University
Prof. Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Global Change
Institute, University of Queensland
Prof. P.N. (Raja) Junankar, University of
New South Wales
Prof. Patrick Dodson, Indigenous Leader
Prof. Tony McMichael, The Australian
National University
Public Health Association of Australia
Public Transport Users Association
Queensland Conservation Council
Rebecca Gibney, actor
Rob Gell, Director and former television
weather presenter
Robert Purves AM, Purves Environmental
Fund
Samah Hadid, former Australian Youth
Ambassador to UN
Sara Gipton, CEO Greenfleet
SEARCH Foundation
Sisters of Mercy Earth Link
Sisters of Mercy Grafton
St Johns Wood Sustainability
Surf Coast Energy Group
Sustainability in Stonnington
Suzie Wilks, television personality
Sydney Youth Climate Action Network
TEAR Australia
Ted Egan AO, former Administrator of the
Northern Territory
The Climate Institute
The Hon. Bob Carr
The Hon. Dr. Barry Jones AO
Tilman A. Ruff, Chair, International
Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
Australia
Tim Winton, author
Tom Long, actor
Total Environment Centre
Transition Town Kenmore
Uniting Justice Australia
UQ Climate for Change (University of
Queensland)
Warrandyte Climate Action Now
Western Climate Action Now
Wodonga & Albury Towards Climate Health
Women's Environment Network Australia
WWF-Australia
Yarra Climate Action Now
*"This position reflects the views of the Alliance but may not reflect the full or particular views of all of
the members."
Right-wing think tank Menzies House & Australia's neo-cons don't get the response they desire
Menzies House poll result 6.30pm 29 May 2011 Poll has been online since 16 February 2011
The Failure of Multiculturalism
Cory Bernardi post
Menzies House 8 February 2011
Bronwyn Bancroft is one of five children's fiction authors short-listed for the 2011 Prime Minister's Literary Awards
Congratulations to author and artist Bronwyn Bancroft for making this impressive short-list for the 2011 Prime Minister's Literary Awards.
Tenterfield-born Bronwyn is descendant of the Djanbun clan of the Bundjalung nation and details of her career and art can be found here.
Images from Dept. of Prime Minister and Cabinet Office of the Arts
What retired alleged war criminals earn these days
iwatch news 20 may 2011 on the subject of former U.S. President George Walker Bush:
“When George W. Bush declined President Barack Obama’s invitation to a ceremony at New York City’s Ground Zero after Osama bin Laden was killed, the former president cited his desire to keep a low public profile.
But Bush has been high profile on the private, paid speaking circuit: he has raked in millions of dollars since he left office by making scores of speeches that typically earn him six figures a pop.
In the week after Obama’s Ground Zero event, the nation’s 43rd president made time for three separate speeches to hedge fund executives, a Swiss bank sanctioned for keeping secret bank accounts, and a pro golf event underwritten by the accounting firm involved in the Tyco International financial scandal.
Bush’s standard speaking fee is reportedly between $100,000 and $150,000.
David Sherzer, a spokesman for the former president, told iWatch News that since Bush left office he has delivered almost 140 paid talks, at home and abroad. Those speeches have earned Bush about $15 million, a conservative estimate, following in the golden path blazed by his predecessor, Bill Clinton.
Almost all of Bush’s speeches are closed to the press. Bush uses the Washington Speakers Bureau to arrange his paid speaking gigs.”
When you add what wife Laura earns from speaking engagements I imagine the family retirement pot grows larger.
Listed under “similar speakers” at the Washington Speakers Bureau is none other than that antipodean retired alleged war criminal John Winston Howard. Although Jackboot Johnny is not in the same fee league as his mentor, he is charging $40,000 or up for his pearls of wisdom. It comes as no surprise that the third member of that sanguinary trio, Tony Blair is also on the Bureau’s books. Who said alleged crime did not pay?
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Ludwig partially bans live export to Indonesia but fails to follow Saffin's well-grounded lead
The Australian Online 31 May 2011:
Saffin says no more excuses for live exports
Page MP Janelle Saffin says there are no more excuses for industry, governments or anyone to continue supporting the live export trade.
Following last night’s Four Corners program, Agriculture Minister, Senator Joe Ludwig today called for the complete suspension of live animal exports to the Indonesian facilities identified in the footage gathered by Animals Australia.
Ms Saffin today said she approves the suspension of live animal exports to the Indonesian facilities identified in the Four Corners program.
“Along with other Labor MPs, I met with Minister Ludwig on the live exports issue yesterday, and following today’s Caucus meeting, the Minister announced the action.
“And yes, I have put forward the view that we have a cessation of live exports.
“I first raised the issue in Parliament early last year and this year my private members motion calling for the phasing out of live exports and an increase in chilled and frozen meat exports was debated in Parliament.
“I’ve been leading this debate with colleagues for some time, particularly promoting changes within our Labor party, in terms of policy.
“Like so many people, I could barely watch the footage from Animals Australia that was screen on last night’s Four Corners program.
“There is now a groundswell of support within the Labor Party to change the practices of live export on the humanitarian grounds, and also because it exports jobs.
“There has been an incredible response to the Four Corners program, and I have had farmers contacting me saying that if this is what’s happening, it has to stop.
“We as Australians have a way of treating animals, and if we export animals we expect those standards to prevail.
“I’ve been told by the Meat and Livestock Association and Livecorp that they operate with best practice, but seeing last night’s program put paid to that.
“I don’t have faith that they, as industry bodies, are looking after those they represent, let alone the public interest.
“We have a responsibility to make sure that animals are treated in the same way that we treat them here.
“Some years ago when confronted by the same scenes of cruelty in Egypt, the trade was stopped almost overnight.
“I am pleased that Minister Ludwig has taken the action he took today,” Ms Saffin said.
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator the Hon Joe Ludwig and the Government, have undertaken the following actions:
- asked the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to conduct an investigation into the footage
- announced an independent review to investigate the complete supply chain for live exports up to and including the point of slaughter
- asked for orders to enforce the suspension of live animal exports to the facilities identified by the evidence provided by RSPCA and Animals Australia
- the Minister will add further facilities to the list of banned facilities in future, if required
- Implemented a moratorium on the installation of the restraint boxes, seen being used in the footage. This will apply to the instalment of any new boxes with Commonwealth funds across all global markets and
- Asked the Chief Veterinary Officer to co-ordinate an independent, scientific assessment of the restraint boxes used in Indonesia.
Media Release, 31 May 2011
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