Australian Journalism 101: Never let the facts get in the way of a good rant

A published letter to The Daily Examiner editor by Holly Shiach on 23 January alerted me to the many errors packed into so few lines by one notorious repeat offender employed by the APN regional media group.
See how many factual errors you can spot in the opinion piece below after reading a little about Greenpeace.

Whale of a PR machine by Graham Orams on Page 8 of The  Daily Examiner,  16 Jan 2012:  

WHALE activists aren't doing themselves any favours with some of their antics.

Greenpeace activists are losing a lot of support among the mainstream public because of their eco-terrorism approach to this matter.

For a start, despite its ostensible outrage, Greenpeace would have been rubbing its hands together when three of its crew members were detained on board a whaling ship recently.

In fact, I wouldn't mind betting that was the plan all along.

After all, a big PR firm like Greenpeace needs to constantly find new and exciting ways to get media attention.

That's not to say whales are not worth saving; it's just funny how activist organisations like Greenpeace never seem interested in saving endangered spiders, for instance.

That type of endeavour would unlikely stir the public's emotion enough for them to donate money (cynical, aren't I?).

And having to send an Australian rescue team to bring the "captured" activists back to Western Australia hasn't gone down well with many in the community, who are less than impressed at the cost to taxpayers.

Now we hear anti-whaling activists are throwing acid at Japanese whaling boats to get their message across.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Greenpeace claim to care about the environment?

I'm no marine biologist but isn't it bad for our oceans to have acid poured into it?

No matter what I say, though, there are many people who believe the means justifies the end.

But all too often that attitude amounts to hypocrisy.

How long will Nationals Chris Gulaptis hold his seat if the O'Farrell Government allows toxic mining in the upper reaches of the Clarence River Catchment?

The Nymboida River system is part of the larger Clarence River catchment. It is predominately from the Nymboida River that Coffs Harbour and Clarence Valley local government areas draw their drinking water.

Based on his public statements so far, it seems that Nationals MP for Clarence Chris Gulaptis is refusing to back a ban on mining in the headwaters of the major northern rivers in New South Wales.

However, the call for action from local communities continues.

ABC Mid North Coast News January 23, 2012 :

Coffs-Clarence conservationists are calling for a ban on mining and exploration in the headwaters of the region's major rivers.

One company exploring for antimony on the Dorrigo Plateau, Anchor Mining, has already been fined over the impact of its activity on the Orara and Nymboida river catchments.

It is in relation to activity at the old Wild Cattle Creek mine near Bielsdown.

Coffs Harbour councillor and mining opponent Mark Graham says exploration exposed ore bodies containing toxic minerals like antimony, lead and mercury.

"There's been major damage to rainforest and contamination of the catchment," he said.

"Mining must be prohibited in sensitive catchment areas, particularly drinking water supply areas.

"We've already seen poor practice, we've seen the law being breached and fines being issued.

"The only way to protect the catchment is to prohibit mining and further exploration activities."

Cr Graham says the New South Wales Government will be lobbied to place a ban mining and exploration in the region's river catchments.

"There is huge community support for banning mining in the Orara and Nymboida catchments because of the drinking water supply," he said.

"That community support will translate into political will and pressure will be brought to bear upon the State Government to set no-go zones such as the Dorrigo Plateau."

Is Monsanto hearing the far-off sound of the fat lady warming up her vocal chords?

BioMedReports January 20, 2012:

On Tuesday, January 24 at 1:30 PM Monsanto officers and shareholders will vote on a shareholder proposal to create a study of "material financial risks or operational impacts" associated with its chemical products and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
The proposal represents one of the strongest signals to date that the biotech food conglomerate is facing growing consumer, legal, and regulatory uncertainties. As of today, however Monsanto has told John Harrington that they will not recognize his proxy who would speak on behalf of the resolution for only three minutes under normal circumstances.
The meeting itself is only open to shareholders but concerned citizens will be demonstrating outside the northeast entrance to Monsanto's Lindberg campus beginning at 12:00 noon. Monsanto Headquarters is located at 800 North Lindberg Boulevard in St. Louis, MO.

Mosquitoes are not just a nuisance - this small insect is a health hazard

NSW Ministry of Health media release, 18 January 2012

Warning to Take Precautions and Avoid Mosquitoes

The NSW Ministry of Health is reminding the public to protect themselves against mosquitoes after one person contracted Murray Valley Encephalitis (MVE) in the New England area, and another contracted the Kunjin virus.
Both people experienced relatively mild symptoms and are now recovering from the infection.
“The two cases, which are both caused by infections carried by mosquitoes, are a timely reminder for people to take precautions against mosquito borne infection,” NSW Health Director of Health Protection, Dr Jeremy McAnulty, said.
“The person who had MVE was infected from mosquitoes west of the ranges in late 2011. It’s unclear when the person with Kunjin was infected, as the person had travelled both in coastal NSW and west of the ranges before infection,” he said.
“Mosquito numbers increase in summer and with an increase in rainfall. Most people with MVE or Kunjin will not develop symptoms but the infections can have serious consequences for others.”
Symptoms of MVE include fever, headache, nausea and vomiting and muscle aches. In more severe cases encephalitis can develop and this causes neck stiffness, lethargy, drowsiness, confusion, delirium, tremors, neurological problems and coma.
Symptoms of Kunjin include mild illness with fever, enlarged lymph nodes, rash, swollen and aching joints, headache, muscle weakness and fatigue. Some also develop encephalitis.
Anyone with these symptoms of severe MVE or Kunjin infection should immediately seek medical assistance.
In NSW, Kunjin is usually found west of the Great Dividing Range, although Kunjin activity was detected in horses in coastal NSW last year. Water birds are also important hosts for the virus in Australia.
Several viruses including MVE and Kunjin and also Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses are transmitted by infected mosquitoes which breed in flooded, grassy and swamp areas and around rivers and waterways.
Simple steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes include:

·         When outside cover up as much as possible with light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing and covered footwear.

·         Use an effective repellent on all exposed skin. Re-apply repellent within a few hours, as protection wears off from perspiration, particularly on hot nights. The best mosquito repellents contain Diethyl Toluamide (DEET) or Picaridin.

·         Light mosquito coils or use vapourising mats indoors. Devices that use light to attract and electrocute insects are not effective.

·         Cover all windows, doors, vents and other entrances with insect screens.

·         When camping, use flyscreens on caravans and tents or sleep under mosquito nets.

“Preventing these viruses depends on avoiding mosquito bites, especially in the warmer months of the year when mosquitoes are most active,” Dr McAnulty said.
For a copy of the NSW Health fact sheet on Murray River Encephalitis (MVE) virus and Kunjin go to:
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/factsheets/infectious/murray_valley_enceph.html
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/factsheets/infectious/kunjin.html
NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) advises that Murray River Encephalitis (MVE) and Kunjin virus can also affect horses. Further information on the disease in horses and how to protect horses is available at: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/horses/health

Mosquito gifs from Google Images

Obama wants the world to know that yes he can croon

About the only thing Obama gives away for free as he gears up for the U.S. presidential election……………………..

http://youtu.be/T-hDt2E8MoE

Snapshot from http://www.barackobama.com/

Copy of formal agreement between Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and then MP-Elect Andrew Wilkie, 2 September 2010

As the political waters are likely to be muddies by vested interests of all political persuasions this week - here is the Gillard-Wilkie Agreement 2010. Read the source and then read those media opinions on current poker machine gambling policy and political rants as they roll out over the next few days.

More bad news concerning coal seam gas mining - fugitve methane

REPORT: NATURAL GAS FROM SHALE NOT SUITABLE AS “BRIDGE FUEL,” MAY WORSEN CLIMATE CHANGE

Researchers Note Gas Emissions From Marcellus Shale and Other Sites Linked to Significant Increased Risk of Near-Term Climate Change

ITHACA, NY 19 January 2012

Far from being a “solution” to climate change, natural gas extracted from shale is a huge contributor of greenhouse gases when both methane and carbon dioxide are considered, according to a major new study by three Cornell University researchers.

The natural gas industry already accounts for almost a fifth (17 percent) of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions inventory, when analyzed using recently available new evidence. This percentage is predicted to grow to almost one quarter (23 percent) as shale gas continues to replace conventional natural gas.

Methane, which is a far more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, is the culprit, according to the new report.

Just accepted for publication in Climatic Change and available online now at http://216.250.243.12/shalegasghgreport.html, the study titled “Venting and Leaking of Methane from Shale Gas Development,” is the work of professor Robert Howarth and Renee Santoro, researchers in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, and Anthony Ingraffea, a professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Cornell.

The study follows up on the author’s groundbreaking April 2011 paper, which provided the first comprehensive analysis of greenhouse gas emissions from shale gas obtained by hydraulic fracturing, with a focus on methane emissions. Rather than understating the impact by looking only at shale gas used for electricity generation (just 30 percent of U.S. usage), the studies also look at heat generation (the largest use) over both a 20- and 100-year time frame. The new paper emphasizes this 20-year time frame, and analyzes the US national greenhouse gas inventory in that context.

The 20-year time frame is particularly important, the authors explain, because it may well be the timing for a “tipping point” for climate change if emissions are not brought under immediate control. The new paper builds on major new findings from the United Nations and from researchers at NASA published over the past six months, highlighting the urgent need to immediately reduce methane pollution globally.

Robert W. Howarth, David R. Atkinson professor, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, said: “We believe the preponderance of evidence indicates shale gas has a larger greenhouse gas footprint than conventional gas, considered over any time scale. The greenhouse gas footprint of shale gas also exceeds that of oil or coal when considered at decadal time scales, no matter how the gas is used. We stand by the conclusion of our 2011 research: ‘The large [greenhouse gas] footprint of shale gas undercuts the logic of its use as a bridging fuel over coming decades, if the goal is to reduce global warming.’”

Anthony Ingraffea, Dwight C. Baum professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, said: “Can shale-gas methane emissions be reduced? Clearly yes, and proposed EPA regulations to require capture of gas at the time of well completions are an important step. Regulations are necessary to accomplish emission reductions, as economic considerations alone have not driven such reductions. And it may be extremely expensive to reduce leakage associated with aging infrastructure, particularly distribution pipelines in cities but also long-distance transmission pipelines, which are on average more than 50 years old in the U.S. Should society invest massive capital in such improvements for a bridge fuel that is to be used for only 20 to 30 years, or would the capital be better spent on constructing a smart electric grid and other technologies that move towards a truly green energy future?”

According to the report:

• The natural gas industry dominates methane emissions for the U.S., contributing 39 percent of the nation’s total methane emissions.

• On an overall basis, methane makes up 44 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions when considered on the 20-year time frame after emission, including all gases and all human activities.

• The methane emissions from natural gas systems make up 17 percent of the entire man-made greenhouse gas emission inventory of the U.S., when viewed through the lens of the 20-year time frame.

• When viewed on the time scale of 100 years following emission, the importance of methane is substantially reduced, but the shorter time frame is critical, given possible tipping points in the global climate system over the coming few decades.

MEDIA CONTACT: Leslie Anderson Maloy at (703) 276-3256 or landerson@hastingsgroup.com.