One of the first really bad ideas of 2012?

From ABC TV AM program on January 13, 2012:

STEVEN GAINES: Scientists determine what the maximum sustainable harvest (of whales) could be and then the maximum quota. Shares for that quota would be allocated around to both countries and interests that want to whale and countries and interests that want to see whaling ended. Then it becomes a tradable market.

The article which raised this idea again - Whales for Sale

ABC TV News relocated Tabulam: can its residents seek relocation allowances?

The 7.00pm news on ABC TV provided a giggle at our place last night. In the weather report Tabulam, which we had been very confident was located on the upper Clarence in northern NSW, was reported to have had the heaviest rainfall in NSW with 70mm. That in itself wasn't earth-shattering news but the next bit was! According to the ABC, Tabulam is in the Hunter valley!

See Tabulam's latest weather observations here, courtesy of the Bureau of Meteorology.

Betcha Joe Hockey has to get someone to tie his shoe laces for him

Spooner's piece in Saturday's Age was a genuine gem.

Credit: The Age, 14/1/12

Turtles stranded on NSW north coast beaches

Forty dead or dying turtles stranded themselves on beaches between Tweed Heads and Ballina during November-December 2011. Australian Seabird Rescue's Kathrina Southwell said they were mostly "critically endangered" hawksbill turtles, and the amount was normally representative of a year's strandings. (Colin Gilmour, Tweed Daily News)

TDN's editor, Ron Goodman, added:

The loss of 40 turtles might not be an environmental disaster but it cannot be a sign that all is well and it should prompt some action from the State and Federal Governments to ensure that anything that can be done to protect them is being done.

The human and economic impacts of the flood disasters of 12 months ago are well known but it is becoming increasingly apparent that there are other environmental effects that could take years to see the ultimate outcome of.

It is beholden on us to keep watch, and to act where necessary.

Read TDN's report  here.

Source: TDN, 14/1/12

And mainstream media wonders why it is shown so little respect......

The Oceania region traditionally consists of Australia, Fiji, Kirbati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and a number of territories and dependencies of these countries. It is a physically wide and culturally diverse group.

On 7 January 2012 The Lancet magazine published a study* by Prof Louisa Degenhardt PhD and Prof Wayne Hall PhD  (Volume 379, Issue 9810, pp55 – 70) which estimated cannabis use across Oceania in 2009 as between 9.3%-14.8% of 14 to 64 year olds in the total combined populations.

The study noted a number of countries in which cannabis use had stabilised or decreased and Australia was mentioned in this context.

Professor Degenhardt’s university issued a media release which covered the global prevalence of the use of illicit drugs. Professor Wayne Hall in an interview with 3AW Radio pointed out that Australia and New Zealand has similar cannabis use levels and, in fact, levels had been in Australia falling for a number of years. Hall also pointed out that alcohol abuse was a very real issue in this country.

One print journalist actually stated a truth:

The study leader, Louisa Degenhardt, of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre and the University of NSW, said Australia and New Zealand's similarity in drug use patterns pushed Oceania figures so high.

''There are some countries with similar use to Australia, but combined with other countries in their region their average decreases,''

So we have research which apparently shows Australian and New Zealand societies as not alone in their relatively high cannabis use and, that in the case of Australia at least this use has been declining over a number of years.

What headlines did the Australian mainstream media run with – the fact that we are one country among many with high use levels or that we are using less cannabis than before?

No, these are the headlines Australia woke up to on 6 December 2012:

High society - Australia tops list of drug users

Australians biggest users of marijuana and speed

AUSTRALIANS are world-class dopes

Australians biggest cannabis users in world: report

While New Zealand’s press managed a rousing:

NZ's world-high drug use no surprise - Experts

* Full transcript of Extent of illicit drug use and dependence, and their contribution to the global burden of disease  (sign-in required)

It's official, Mr. Gulaptis, CSG mining chemicals can enter groundwater bodies. When are you going to act on mining in the Northern Rivers?

In response to complaints by domestic well owners regarding objectionable taste and odor problems in well water, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency initiated a ground water investigation near the town of Pavillion, Wyoming under authority of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. The Wind River Formation is the principal source of domestic, municipal, and stock (ranch, agricultural) water in the area of Pavillion and meets the Agency's definition of an Underground Source of Drinking Water. [Investigation of groundwater contamination near Pavillion, Wyoming, December 2011]

On 8 December 2011 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued this media release:

(Denver, Colo. –December 8, 2011) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released a draft analysis of data from its Pavillion, Wyoming ground water investigation. At the request of Pavillion residents, EPA began investigating water quality concerns in private drinking water wells three years ago. Since that time, in conjunction with the state of Wyoming, the local community, and the owner of the gas field, Encana, EPA has been working to assess ground water quality and identify potential sources of contamination.

EPA constructed two deep monitoring wells to sample water in the aquifer. The draft report indicates that ground water in the aquifer contains compounds likely associated with gas production practices, including hydraulic fracturing. EPA also re-tested private and public drinking water wells in the community. The samples were consistent with chemicals identified in earlier EPA results released in 2010 and are generally below established health and safety standards. To ensure a transparent and rigorous analysis, EPA is releasing these findings for public comment and will submit them to an independent scientific review panel. The draft findings announced today are specific to Pavillion, where the fracturing is taking place in and below the drinking water aquifer and in close proximity to drinking water wells – production conditions different from those in many other areas of the country.

Natural gas plays a key role in our nation’s clean energy future and the Obama Administration is committed to ensuring that the development of this vital resource occurs safely and responsibly. At the direction of Congress, and separate from this ground water investigation, EPA has begun a national study on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources.

“EPA’s highest priority remains ensuring that Pavillion residents have access to safe drinking water,” said Jim Martin, EPA’s regional administrator in Denver. “We will continue to work cooperatively with the State, Tribes, Encana and the community to secure long-term drinking water solutions. We look forward to having these findings in the draft report informed by a transparent and public review process. In consultation with the Tribes, EPA will also work with the State on additional investigation of the Pavillion field.”

Findings in the Two Deep Water Monitoring Wells:
EPA’s analysis of samples taken from the Agency’s deep monitoring wells in the aquifer indicates detection of synthetic chemicals, like glycols and alcohols consistent with gas production and hydraulic fracturing fluids, benzene concentrations well above Safe Drinking Water Act standards and high methane levels. Given the area’s complex geology and the proximity of drinking water wells to ground water contamination, EPA is concerned about the movement of contaminants within the aquifer and the safety of drinking water wells over time.

Findings in the Private and Public Drinking Water Wells:
EPA also updated its sampling of Pavillion area drinking water wells. Chemicals detected in the most recent samples are consistent with those identified in earlier EPA samples and include methane, other petroleum hydrocarbons and other chemical compounds. The presence of these compounds is consistent with migration from areas of gas production. Detections in drinking water wells are generally below established health and safety standards. In the fall of 2010, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry reviewed EPA’s data and recommended that affected well owners take several precautionary steps, including using alternate sources of water for drinking and cooking, and ventilation when showering. Those recommendations remain in place and Encana has been funding the provision of alternate water supplies.

Before issuing the draft report, EPA shared preliminary data with, and obtained feedback from, Wyoming state officials, Encana, Tribes and Pavillion residents. The draft report is available for a 45 day public comment period and a 30 day peer-review process led by a panel of independent scientists.

For more information on EPA's Pavillion groundwater investigation, visit: http://www.epa.gov/region8/superfund/wy/pavillion/index.html

A pilot coal-seam gas well run by Metgasco on a private property outside of Casino [Northern Rivers]. A pump is pictured fenced in the foreground while burning gas is pictured in a flare in the background. (Samantha Turnbull)

"The NSW Nationals went to the last election with a strategic land use policy that ensured the primacy of aquifers, surface water and agricultural lands. It was the policy then and it is the policy now"  [Nationals Chris Gulaptis MP speaking during the Clarence by-election campaign,November 2011] 

Can we take a minute to celebrate Wikipedia?

There are two solid facts about Wikipedia that one can be sure of:

i) primarily the content is organically driven by the Internet community; and

ii) while the entire body of content is not error free, it is a marvellous springboard for further investigation of almost any topic to which one could turn one’s mind.

As one can drown under a global cyber-tsunami of astroturfed, biased or bizarre websites (often littered by outrageous advertising graffiti) while searching for legitimate sites, perhaps it’s time to pause and give thanks for the philosophy behind Wikipedia.