Did the Japanese whaling fleet pollute Antarctic waters?

 

http://youtu.be/8Iu8JbTQ8-c

 

Sea Shepherd 17 February 2013:

 

In the early hours of the 17th of February, while the SSS Sam Simon was tailing the South Korean owned Sun Laurel, fuel bunker ship to the Japanese whaling fleet, the Sam Simon crew noticed the smell of diesel fumes coming from the wake of the Sun Laurel, over one mile ahead.

Captain Luis Pinho radioed the Sun Laurel at 3:00 am AEDT, approximately 15 minutes after the Sun Laurelentered Australian Antarctic Territory, informing them that they smelled diesel fumes, could see fuel slicks in the wake of the Sun Laurel, had collected water samples, and would be reporting the Sun Laurel to the authorities.

On the 17th of February at approximately 4:00 pm AEDT the Sam Simon recorded an audio transmission between the Captain and Bosun of the Sun Laurel - the Japanese whaling fleet's refuelling vessel. In this recording, the Captain of the Sun Laurel refers to the oil spill that the Sam Simon had documented and collected samples of hours earlier. The Sun Laurel Captain informed his Bosun to take care covering refuelling hoses, and that if oil dropped into the water there would be a “big problem”, as the Sam Simon had caught the Sun Laurel leaking fuel into the wake behind them earlier that morning.

Sea Shepherd Australia believes this transmission is further proof of an oil spill by the Sun Laurel in Antarctica's pristine waters, and has reported the incident to Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).

 

Greens Split From Labor: what took them so long is a question not only just being asked by a cartoonist dog

Crikey.com.au

Resolve firming against coal seam gas mining on the NSW Northern Rivers

The Northern Star 17 February 2013:

 

Since 1975, Jennie Dell has been a constant presence in the Northern Rivers media firmament.

This week she retires from the Northern Rivers Echo, the paper she was founding editor of in 1991, to devote more time to her family and gain the freedom to express herself politically.

"One of the reasons I am retiring is to join the Knitting Nannas Against Gas, to take part in demonstrations and to be free to express my very strong views against coal seam gas mining," Jennie said.

"I was at Terania Creek (protests in 1979) and at Mount Nardi saving the Nightcap National Park forests and I see the real necessity for a huge demonstration of people power to move the CSG issue into the courts and into the parliament."

Bellingen Readers & Writers Festival, 22-24 March 2013

 

 

Click on program to enlarge

Quotes of the Week

Whale theory

The Japanese claim their whaling expedition is for research (''Anti-whaling ships hit'', February 21). Are they researching how long it takes a protest vessel they ram to sink?

Thos Puckett Ashgrove

{Brisbane Times 22nd February 2013}

Coal Seam Gas

When is he going to stop rabbiting on about the previous government granting licences. HE RENEWED THEM LAST YEAR!

Norally Ewingar

{Daily Examiner 21^st February 2013}

Politics

@TonyAbbottMHR - when you say you "wouldn't do deals" like Labor did, am I to understand you're not in a COALITION with the Nats?#auspol

James Raynes ‏@jimmyraynes

{Twitter 20^th February 2013}

Polling

Driving all this public speculation are the opinion polls. Who creates the opinion polls? The media. Who drafts the questions? The media. Who promotes the results? The media. Who acts as if opinion surveys are surrogate elections? The media. Who profits from the publicity and the speculation? The media.

Paul Sheehan columnist
{The Sydney Morning Herald 21^st February 2013}

Economics 101

Too much water so the price goes up. An over-supply of electricity so the price goes up. I thought conservative governments championed market-based economies. Will the price come down when there are shortages?

Scott Winspear Marrickville

{Brisbane Times 22^nd February 2013}

Northern Rivers communities to celebrate three months of sustained peaceful protest against CSG in the Northern Rivers

                                                                                                                              

Communities to celebrate three months of sustained peaceful protest 

against CSG in the Northern Rivers

Local communities and CSG free groups that have sustained the Doubtful Ck blockade will scale down the action at the site following yesterday’s announcement by Metgasco that drilling work has been completed. The drill rig is expected to leave the Northern Rivers once the drill hole has been concreted as Metgasco have finished their current core hole drilling program in the region.

“The imminent departure of the drill rig from Doubtful Creek will mark the end of more than three months of ongoing and effective peaceful protest against CSG operations in the region,” said Boudicca Cerese, spokesperson for CSG Free Northern Rivers.

“In that time we have seen Metgasco abandon one drilling site, drastic falls in Metgasco share prices and the departure of Arrow Energy from the region.”

“There can be no doubt that the persistence of our local communities to resist the gas invasion is having a positive effect,” she said.

“It’s not only the companies that are feeling the heat, local federal politicians of all shades are now responding to community pressure and coming out in opposition to the unconventional gas industry,” said author and activist Aidan Ricketts of CSG Free Northern Rivers.

“This week the NSW government also started offering exclusions to politically sensitive areas of the state.”

“Unfortunately the government’s new policies will not necessarily protect rural communities in the Northern Rivers so we expect local opposition to the industry to continue into the foreseeable future,” he said.

“I commend all the efforts of the thousands of people from all walks of life who have attended rallies, protests, vigils, concerts, meetings and other events across the region and congratulate them for their restraint in difficult circumstances and for maintaining good relations with local police,” said Gordon Fraser of CSG Free Lismore.

“With the return of the drilling rig to Queensland there is time to pause and consider what the next steps will be in tackling the insidious invasion of the unconventional gas industry in our region.”

 “Future action will be necessary to protect our families, land, and animals from the unconventional gas industry and we will continue to stand united across the region in our opposition to this industry,” he concluded.

 “A music event will be held in Lismore on Saturday 23 March at Lismore Workers Club commencing at 7.30PM to celebrate the achievements of our communities in maintaining persistent opposition to this unsafe industry,” said Mr. Fraser.

More information about future activities can be obtained from csgfreenorthernrivers.org.au

Media Release: 22^nd February 2013

Research into the quality of Australian Health Services

 
Quality of Health Care Service & Communication and Cultural Issues

Macquarie University is researching the quality of services in the Australian health care sector.

Have you visited a doctor in the past 6 months in Australia? 

Are you between 18 and 80 years of age?
 
If you answered YES to these questions you are eligible to participate in this research.
 
The purpose of this research is to understand your opinions about the quality of health services you have received, your relationship with the doctor and also communication or cultural issues you might have experienced with the doctor or staff.
 
The outcomes of this research will help the health sector improve its services based on patients’ feedback, preferences and needs.
 
The questionnaire will take 10 minutes of your time.

If you would like to participate and share your views please click here to complete the survey.