Close the door on the way out

From The Onion, a clear case of Earth to Humans?

“EARTH—According to a statement released to the press Tuesday, the planet Earth has "just about run out of ways" to let its roughly 6.9 billion human inhabitants know it wants them all to leave.

Following a recent series of disastrous floods along the Mississippi River and destructive tornadoes across much of the United States—as well as a year of even deadlier natural catastrophes all over the world—the Earth said its options for strongly implying that it no longer wants human beings living on it have basically been exhausted.

"At this point, I think I've stated my wishes quite loudly and clearly," the Earth's statement to all of humanity read in part. "I haven't exactly been subtle about it, you realize. I have literally tried to drown you, crush you, starve you, dehydrate you, pump you full of diseases, and suck your homes and families into swirling vortices of death. Honestly, what more is it going to take for you people to get the message?"

"Do I have to spell it out for you?" the statement continued. "Get the f**k out of here. I want you to leave now."

Sorry for nicking your logo Mr. Fore!

Senator John Faulkner speaks his mind

Australian Labor Party Senator for NSW John Faulkner when delivering the annual Neville Wran Lecture at New South Wales Parliament House, Sydney on 9 June 2011:

When I joined the ALP, it was the political face of a broad social movement. Many of the tensions and disagreements within the Party were precisely the result of the depth and breadth of its appeal as a party that promised reform through government. All of us were deeply and passionately committed to the Labor promise of a “bringing something better to the people … working for the betterment of mankind not only here but anywhere we may give a helping hand.”

Opinions, however, varied on what should take priority in that struggle, and what policies and legislation would best achieve it. Ending Australia’s involvement in Vietnam, defending unions and unionists in the workplace, fighting apartheid in South Africa, free tertiary education and health care, decriminalising homosexuality, better sewerage for the suburbs, workplace equality for women, preserving Australia’s environmental heritage, modernising Australia’s censorship laws, preventing nuclear proliferation – the list of Labor’s concerns was a long one.

People were attracted to the Labor Party because they wanted to make the world a better place. Their involvement in the Party was often only one facet of their pursuit of that goal. And, while the Party has never welcomed those who seek to make it the servant of another organisation’s agenda – and endured a devastating split for that very reason in the 1950s – the Party I joined accepted that membership was, for many, one aspect of active community engagement.

These days, as Party membership dwindles, ALP strategists talk about ‘reaching out’ to organisations active on particular progressive issues, ‘gaining endorsement’ of our policies.

That idea, with its implications of ‘us’ in Labor and ‘them’ in community organisations, is wrong. The frequency with which it’s raised by hand-wringing apparatchiks makes many wonder if Labor has lost its way.

Progressive, socially aware activists passionate about social and economic reform must never be outsiders to the Labor movement.

Labor cannot thrive as an association of political professionals focused on the machinery of electoral victory and forming, at best, contingent alliances with Australians motivated by and committed to ideals and policies.

A Party organisation staffed by experienced and competent strategists and managers is necessary to serve the campaign and organisational needs of Labor’s members and supporters, not to substitute for them.

Nor should Party membership be a useful and engaging experience only for those with ambitions to secure preselection…….

The Party has now become so reliant on focus groups that it listens more to those who don’t belong to it than to those who do. This makes membership a sacrifice of activism, not a part of it.

Full transcript overleaf here.

McDonald's Yamba: a marketing and public relations disaster

The word around the traps, which is said to be coming from "informed sources", is that the Big M in Yamba is in big, big trouble, perhaps heading towards going belly up.

The other day I journeyed to Yamba for a spot of fishing with a couple of mates, Blue and Snow. When we were putting Snow's tinnie in the water at the boat ramp an old-timer (OT) who said he's lived in Yamba for over forty years started yarning to us about a thing or two.

OT told us that Maccas in Yamba is in big strife with its turnover being a lot less than was anticipated. OT reckons its staff turnover is probably higher than its cash turnover.

We drove around to check out the place for ourselves. We didn't venture into the place but had a good 'Captain Cook' from outside. The car park said it all. We suspected the few cars that were there all belonged to staff. While we were there (about 15 minutes) we didn't see a solitary soul enter or leave the premises on foot or drive-through.

Our group also saw a Macca's sign on a bus stop that's been "touched up". Another local said, "That's been like that for ages. You'd reckon they (Maccas) would either fix it up by restoring it or having their logo totally removed."

While not condoning the behaviour responsible for the sign's current appearance, something is terribly wrong with the local management's marketing and public relations to allow the sign to stay like that for so long. 

Gene Ethics: Grain traders snub GM canola

Excerpt from a Gene Ethics media releases of 3 March and 26 May 2011:

Major grain purchaser Co-operative Bulk Handlers (CBH) has confirmed that strong demand for non-GM canola has resulted in premiums of $50/tonne over the price for GM canola (See MR attached). The co-operative's March 3 Grain Weekly says: "By far and away the biggest development this marketing season has been the increased demand for Australian non-GM sustainable canola.

European and Australian demand for GM-free grain is so strong that leading grain traders Elders-Toepfer and Glencore Grain refuse to buy any genetically manipulated (GM) canola this year. And traders that buy GM will pay up to $45/tonne less than for non-GM grain.

“This market is a bonanza for the majority of Australian grain growers who wisely stayed with non-GM canola varieties,” says Gene Ethics Director, Bob Phelps.

“Ninety five per cent of Western Australia's canola sold to Europe last year and strong demand is expected to continue, but only for non-GM. European shoppers have zero tolerance for GM canola.

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

When science became opinion and Abbott became a scientist

From the Don’t Know Whether to Laugh Or Cry files……………

Abbott and Joyce are like Copernicus and Einstein

Frank O'Shea says just because the overwhelming majority of scientists believe humans are changing the climate, it doesn't mean they're right; science, after all, is just a matter of opinion.

According to the website Independent Australia “Frank O’Shea is a retired mathematics teacher. He lives in Canberra and writes for The Canberra Times, The Irish Echo and Eureka Street. His book Keeping Faith: 40 Years of Marist College Canberra was published in 2008.” He is a former staff member of the Marist College.
I suspect that Frank is being deliberately provocative. Surely nobody could be that much of a dill in real life?

'Grafton Goss' bites the dust as Facebook responds to community concern

Snapshot taken 8 June 2011
Click on image to enlarge

Before going to bed on 3 June 2011 a Clarence Valley resident sent an email to Mark Zuckerberg (see below). I’m told that a Facebook Inc computer had read this email shortly after midnight and by 5am AEST on 4 June 2011 the Grafton gossip page had become unavailable and was no longer cached by Google.

Facebook’s online complaint facility is rarely capable of reacting swiftly, so it was good to see the company respond to a personal email in this manner.

To date the gossip page is unreachable and hopefully it will remain so.

From: [redacted]
Sent: Friday, 3 June 2011 9:55 PM
To: 'MZuckerberg@fb.com'
Cc: 'SSandberg@fb.com'; 'legal@fb.com'; 'press@fb.com'; 'abuse@fb.com'

Subject: COMPLAINT TO CEO: Offensive content, sexually graphic language, defamation of students/minors at Facebook webpage "Grafton Goss"

Chief Executive Officer
Facebook Incorporated
1601 South California Avenue
Palo Alto CA 94304
USA

3 June 2011

Dear Sir,

Re: Offensive, sexually graphic and defamatory Facebook webpage titled “Grafton Goss” - Account ID 100002421426059

This letter is a formal complaint about the existence of a Facebook webpage titled “Grafton Goss” and its offensive, sexually graphic and defamatory content which can be found at [redacted] and [redacted].

I request that you personally inspect this webpage and come to a decision concerning this page in relation to breach of the company’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities and other terms of use.

Further, I request removal of the webpage in question as in multiple posts it compromises the privacy of high school students and minors.

For your information I supply a snapshot of the last few entries on the “Grafton Goss” wall, which mirror the content and tone of the majority entries made by the anonymous creator of this page.

Additionally, I attach a link to an Australian media report concerning Facebook and “Grafton Goss”:
http://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/story/2011/05/25/site-spews-vile-goss/.

I make this approach to Facebook in the first instance in preference to contacting the Australian Federal Police.

In anticipation and appreciation of your assistance with this matter.

Yours faithfully,


[redacted]

*********

Community Action Grants application round open to local clubs, community & environmental groups until 1 August 2011

From a Dr. Mike Kelly MP media release:

Community groups around Australia can now apply for small grants to help fund local environmental and sustainable agriculture projects.
Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Dr Mike Kelly, today announced that $5 million will be available through the 2011-12 Community Action Grants round.

“Community Action Grants are helping rural, urban and Indigenous community groups around Australia take action to conserve and protect their local environment and natural resources,” Dr Kelly said.

“Grants of between $5,000 and $20,000 are available to help local community groups undertake activities such as planting trees, revegetating landscapes, rehabilitating dunes, removing weeds, controlling pests, holding field days, recording traditional ecological knowledge and improving sustainable land management practices.”

Since Community Action Grants were announced in 2009, 877 projects have received funding worth more than $15 million (GST exclusive).

“We have listened to feedback from the community and this year eligibility has been broadened to include all local community groups that deliver environmental and sustainable agriculture projects,” Dr Kelly said.

“Eligible community groups may include rotary clubs, surf clubs and scout groups, in addition to Indigenous, Landcare, Coastcare and other local community groups.

“The Australian Government is committed to supporting local community and volunteer groups which play a vital role in restoring the landscape.”

Community Action Grants are part of the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative.

Funding allows volunteers and local community groups to contribute to the Caring for our Country priority areas of protecting biodiversity and natural icons, coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats, and using sustainable farm practices.

Applications for the 2011-12 Community Action Grants will close Monday 1 August 2011.

More information on Caring for our Country and Community Action Grants, including how to apply, is available at www.nrm.gov.au or by calling 1800 552 008.