If like me you thought that bludgeoning baby seals to death was something that ended years ago, then think again: this year over 60,000 harp seal pups were slaughtered, and the figure would have been five times larger if fear of a European Union ban on seal products had not led many fishermen to stay at home (source: http://www.harpseals.org/).
The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts was in town to deliver a speech on energy saving, but environmentalists staged a welcome designed to remind him of speeches he delivered before he joined the ALP, in the days when he vigourously and vocally opposed policies he now defends ...
50 kilometres south east of Melbourne, a local bee keeper is concerned that genetically modified crops could affect his honey production. “I believe that at this stage we know very little about these products,” said Chris, who lives three miles from a property that is growing GM canola. He worries about the effects of GM crops on both the bees and the humans living in his local area.
Is it hot enough for you yet in Melbourne? We are in the midst of a heatwave of Several days of highly unseasonal 30+ temperatures in early November. At 4 days of heat in excess of 30 degree so far... it is the longest spell of heat in Melbourne in November since 1925. The record of six days over 30 degrees in November, which occurred in 1896, might very well be broken this week.
A Perth Aboriginal Elder Albert Corunna and other local Nyoongar Elders fear for the destruction of a cultural heritage site complex at Red Hill in the Darling Range, north-east of Perth. Global German-based quarrying giant Hanson Construction Materials Pty Ltd has recently lodged a Section 18 application with the Department of Indigenous Affairs to seek approval to destroy the sites.
by Albert Corunna
http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=148440
Suprise surprise, U.S. oil giant and the European company Shell have won acess to the best oil fields in Iraq worth tens of billions of dollars. Although the Chinese have won some access to Iraqi oil fields the plum fields are going to the U.S. and its allies as the trophies of war.
http://www.theage.com.au/business/iraq-oil-prize-for-exxon-shell-2009110...
Iraq oil prize for Exxon, ShellMARTIN CHULOV, BAGHDAD
November 7, 2009
Starting in July 2009, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists fielded an eight-country team of reporters to uncover the special interests attempting to influence negotiations on a global climate change treaty. A story emerged of far-reaching, multinational backlash by fossil fuel industries and other heavy carbon emitters aimed at slowing progress on control of greenhouse gas emissions.
Just when you thought the ALP could not sell out anymore, we saw this week Defence Minister John Faukner gave General David Petraus, the general who oversaw the "surge" in Iraq and now head of U.S. Central Command an honoury Order of Australia medal for his work in Iraq. As the World Socialist Website points out, this move highlights the subservient relationship of the Australian governmnent to U.S. imperialism regardless of the party in power.
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/nov2009/faul-n06.shtml
A story is unfolding in Melbourne's Western suburbs that, unlike the happy ending in that seminal Australian movie "The Castle", where an Australian "battler" was able to use the Australian constitution to stop his home being forcibly acquired by the local council, 162 families in Rockbank in the West face the very real prospect of being forcibly evicted from their homes.
During October '09, Ampilatwatja's spokesperson, Richard Downs, conducted a speaking-tour along the east coast of Australia, talking at Universities, Workers' Unions, Indigenous communities and at public rallies in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, raising awareness of the walk-off against the NT Intervention and appealing for funds to help the walkoff camp to remain self-sufficient. A new video by Juice Media of this tour has been made.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nJKEl9asqQ
This is a cartoon regarding the power of the corporation over Government. I drew it with the Gorgon Gas venture in mind.
There are 2 versions, one is censored as I havent used the company logos. I don't know what the policy is on such things but wouldn't mind knowing.
Refugee advocates and the Australian Union Movement have called on the Rudd Government to take the 78 Sri Lankans on the Oceanic Viking to Christmas Island where their claims as refugees and asylum seekers can be processed. Many of them have languished in Indonesian Immigration Detention for several years and already have been determined as refugees. They are refusing to leave the Australian Customs ship Oceanic Viking to go to the Tanjung Pinang Detention Centre resulting in a standoff between the Australian Government and the Indonesian Government.
See also: Australia's refugee resettlement program from Indonesia grossly inadequate | Tell Kevin Rudd: respect refugees’ rights
Media Release - Climate Institute
Wednesday, 04 November 2009
Up to a million new jobs could be created over the next 20 years if Australia's politicians and business leaders adopt strong policy action to combat climate change, a coalition of union, environment and social service groups told a public forum in Brisbane today.
Once again we are witnessing a public hysteria building about asylum seeker boat people seeking the safety of a new home in Australia. A new report ‘Behind Australian Doors: Examining the Conditions of Detention of Asylum Seekers in Indonesia’ (PDF) describes poor conditions across many Indonesian immigration detention facilities. Produced by lawyer and refugee advocate Jessie Taylor, the report highlights cramped conditions, grossly inadequate hygiene and sanitation, rodent infestations, inadequate and inappropriate food, polluted water, and a lack of medical care available to asylum seekers. Pitifully few people from these camps are selected for resettlement in Australia with an average of 50 people per year achieving resettlement.
Related: Behind Australian Doors Blog | Help bust the asylum seeker myths on Melbourne Cup day | Tell Kevin Rudd: respect refugees’ rights
By GetUp!
With the tragic news over the weekend that another group of asylum seekers may be missing at sea, it is time for our politicians to stop using their plight as a political football.
For years GetUp members have stood shoulder to shoulder with like-minded Australians to defend some of the world's most vulnerable people. We all thought that shameful chapter of Australian history had closed forever. In 2009, sadly, it hasn't.
Below is an article from John Pilger that highlights the absurdity of Obama winning the recent Nobel Peace Prize whilst escalating the war in Afghanistan, Pakistan and threatening war in Iran. He also outlines how Obama at the behest of U.S. Imperialism is building 7 new military bases in Columbia, hoping to build on the "success" of the coup Honduras and turn back the tide of democracy in the U.S.'s backyard and bring back the era of death squads and neo-liberal economics.
War is peace. Ignorance is strength 15 Oct 2009
** ***MEDIA RELEASE*** **
Monday 2nd November 2009
Church Service for the Mary River
Father Mark Franklin has been so moved by the social injustice that has occurred to the people of the Mary Valley over the proposed Traveston dam near Gympie that he has offered his church for an ecumenical prayer service dedicated to the Mary River and its communities.
“We will pray that our federal decision makers are guided by wisdom, and pray for those affected to date,” said Father Mark.
Hundreds of building workers rallied in cities across Australia on Friday, October 30, in support of Adelaide construction worker Ark Tribe, who is charged with 'failing to attend to answer questions' at the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) about a stop-work meeting. The commission has the power to compulsory interrogate and impose fines and jail building workers who do not co-operate. A Jail term of up to 6 months could be imposed.
Between the 16th and the 18th October 173,045,325 citizens gathered at over 3,000 events in more than 120 countries,
demanding that their governments eradicate extreme poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). “Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now!”, now in its fourth year, has been certified by Guinness World Records as the largest mobilization of human beings in recorded history, an increase of about 57 million people over last year.
