Welcome to The Stringer’s weekly newsletter - NEWS update: The Stringer went live February 20. The Stringer comprises thirty-odd contributors, from most States and Territories of Australia, from an increasing number of locations around our world. If you would like to become a regular contributor, or contribute an article, photograph/s, a radio or video piece, we would be glad to hear from you.
Why has the Jewish lobby “forgiven” Labor MP Tanya Plibersek...and why has Plibersek changed her position on the Middle East conflict?
By Gerry Georgatos - courtesy of The Stringer - http://thestringer.com.au/ It has been touted that $25.4 billion annually is invested in Aboriginal peoples – in order to raise those among them out of abject poverty –“through 86 initiatives”. This claim has dangerously washed through the Australian consciousness as ‘fact’ but it is instead a crock of shit. It is claimed this $25.4 billion spend represents 5.6 per cent of the national budget – for 2.6 per cent of the population.
In a radio interview with Neil Mitchell, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said that the Head of the UNFCCC, Christiana Figueres, is "talking through her hat" for connecting the NSW bushfires with climate change and that "these fires are certainly not a function of climate change, they are just a function of life in Australia." It seems Mr Abbott is in denial on all the wildfire research done on the increase in fireweather and increase in frequency and intensity in bushfires both in Australia and globally.
Related: Raging Bushfires surround Sydney with early start to Fire season | Mega bushfire feared as State of Emergency declared in NSW | Guardian Australia: Australian prime minister denies 25 years of research linking climate change to bushfires.
By Gerry Georgatos - care of The Stringer - http://thestringer.com.au/ Photo: There was great hope following Mapoon, Yirrkala, Lake Tyers, Wave Hill, Aboriginal Tent Embassy.
"The indigenous Mayan rebels of Chiapas, Mexico have practiced 'learning while walking' during their 30 year-old effort to build a new and better world guided by dignity, democracy, and justice," commented public school teacher Peter Brown. "I hope that the traditional caretakers of your lands will grant us permission for a productive and meaningful exchange during the month of November 2013."
Researchers from the University of Hawaii have estimated the year when we depart the climate variability we have historically known for cities around the globe. For Sydney that year is 2038. But we are well on the way to that with recent record temperatures and heatwaves. The global oceans past their climate departure point in 2008. They are now wholly outside their historical variability. While polar regions are warming at 2 to 3 times the global average, the study highlighted that the greatest impacts will be felt in the tropics where minor climate variation can put it outside of it's historical bounds. This will have a major impact on biodiversity hotspots and ecosystems in the tropics.
Widespread October bushfires in NSW are unusual, but have happened before, such as in 1991. This year there was an Early start to Australian bushfires, record temperatures in early September.
It is now the 7th time this bushfire season a total fire ban has been declared in Sydney. Very Unusual. If the fire weather is this bad so early in the season, it can get worse over the coming months as Summer heats up, especially if we have extreme summer heatwaves similar to 2013.
Update: Sunday 20 October: Premier Barrie O'Farrell has declared A State of Emergency across NSW for 30 days as weather conditions are now forecast to be worse than anticipated. Indefinite Total fire bans, and increased powers for emergency personnel. The State Mine fire in the Blue Mountains has burnt 38,000 hectares and is burning on a broad front from Lithgow to west of Bilpin.
Newsletter date: 20 October 2013
WGAR events postings for each State and Territory: http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/03/about-wgar-news-wgar-events-postings
Click on the links for details of the events ...
Event: Tue 22 October 2013: Perth, WA
Free seminars - Engaging Indigenous communities and improving community governance
"Closing the Gap is hosting free seminars in Perth and Canberra
discussing the evidence on engaging with Indigenous communities
and improving community governance."
Dr Janet Hunt, Australian National University
Sydney and NSW Aboriginal rights events for your diary
WGAR events postings for each State and Territory: http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/03/about-wgar-news-wgar-events-postings
Click on the links for details of the events ...
Event: Wed 30 October 2013: Redfern, Sydney, NSW
Redfern Now special event
Redfern Celebrates Redfern Now with a special outdoor event on the Block!
"Join the stars of ABC1's award-winning Redfern Now,
special guest Gurrumul Yunupingu, local celebrities and
people from all over Sydney for a premiere screening from
