Blogs

About George Monbiot

George Monbiot has written a number of very incisive and damning critiques of our corrupt corporatised New World Order, but his downplaying of the threat posed by human overpopulation stands in contrast to his claimed environmentalist credentials, and, as with Noam Chomsky, his denial of of the evidence implicating senior figures in the administration of former President George W Bush in the false flag attack of 11 September 2001, stands in stark contrast with his purported opposition to US Imperialism.

About the Citizens Electoral Council

The Citizens Electoral Council of Australia is a political group, which derives its policies and political philosophy from Lyndon La Rouche in the United States. It is often dismissed by the political establishment and supposedly alternative political figures as being extreme right wing and conspiracy theorist. However, many of their policies were once mainstream Labor positions and, if adopted, would be of enormous benefit to ordinary Australians: ending the scam of private banking, opposition to privatisation, opposition to war, as examples. However, they are seriously marred by their refusal to recognise the global ecological crisis and the problem of overpopulation,

Why privatisation is wrong

In 2006 Justice Michael Kirby argued compellingly the case against privatisation which is now being forced upon the NSW electorate by the Iemma government with the aid of, amongst others, former Prime Minister Paul Keating, former NSW Labor Premier Bob Carr, former Victorian Liberal Premier Jeff Kennett and the Murdoch newsmedia.

See also: NSW electricity privatisation, democracy, government, The deep intellectual, financial and political dishonesty of privatisation

Quolls fleeing loggers on NSW South Coast

It' another one of these licensed to kill 'Regional Forest Agreements' (RFA's). RFAs are no more than a bastard fork tongue instrument - one side used by immoral pollies to spin motherhood environmentalism to the public and 'yes' media, the other side that orders in the heavy artillery for the loggers.

This time the bastard loggers have tried to rape and pillage the South Brooman State Forest of its Quoll habitat, between Ulladulla and Batemans Bay. 'State Forest' in logger terms is akin to mercenary speak for 'virgins of the vanquished' and so government lets loose the dogs of logging.

Sea Shepherd has shut down illegal Japanese whaling

When whalers aboard the Nisshin Maru trained their water cannon on the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's Steve Irwin, they were shocked to find themselves on the receiving end of an even more powerful blast of frigid Southern Ocean water from a water cannon on the Steve Irwin. As a result, the Nisshin Maru and the rest of the Japanese whaling fleet are fleeing Northwest pursued by the Bob Barker and the Steve Irwin without having killed a single whale in the three days since they were intercepted.

Originally published on www.seashepherd.org on 8 Feb 10. See also: "Bob Barker Rammed by Illegal Whaler" of 6 Feb 10, "Ban whaling vessels from using our ports" of 16 Jan 10, "Twilight Samurai pride clinging to a right to pillage distant whales in foreign oceans" of 7 Jan 10, "Japanese whaler rams and sinks anti-whaling vessel in Antartic" of 7 Jan 10.

France & Australia - per capita and national oil consumption 1965-1997

Graphs comparing per capita and National petroleum consumption in Australia and France, also showing population numbers and rate of growth.

Verbal Emetics For Neo-Malthusians

It sometimes becomes medically necessary to expel toxic growthist propaganda before it is fully absorbed in the bloodstream leading to a brain seizure. Exposure to growthist buzzwords can induce the nausea required to induce vomiting. Here is a tentative list that can serve as a quick reference when immediate relief is called for.

Gunns' exploitative arrogance maintains it will sue anyone to protect its ‘commercial interests’

Last month, on 29th January 2010, Tasmania's infamous corporate logger, Gunns Ltd, dropped its multi-million dollar defamation suit against the remaining 13 environmental activitists protesting against its immoral pulp mill logging threat to Tasmania's old growth native forests.

But Gunn's Neanderthal arrogance persists. According to Gunns 13 spokesperson Warrick Jordan, "the world needs to know..that Gunns continues to sue Tasmanians who oppose their environmental vandalism.” [Tasmanian Times].

Cost of housing and cost of dependency in Australia

The sector in Australia that has the most costly dependency ratio must be the property sector, since it costs all Australians an enormous and unreasonable amount just to cover the cost of land for housing, business and agriculture. Most of the very high costs involved are completely unnecessary, except in the eyes of greedy developers and their hangers-on. The only reason that the costs are so high is that the industry wants it that way and our state and federal governments are in cahoots with it.

GLOBAL POPULATION SPEAK OUT

This month of February a new mass initiative will kick off marking the event of The Global Population Speak Out 2010 (GPSO 2010), a public discussion on the Issue of Population. see:?http://gpso.wordpress.com/2010-actions/

Delfin development threatens critically endangered bushland

Both the NSW and Australian Government have upgraded Cumberland Plain Woodland from Endangered to Critically Endangered. You would assume any development that proposed to clear over 200 ha of critically endangered bushland would be struggling to get approval. We can assume nothing these days in Australia. Here is another focus where Australians need to unite to help each other get back democracy and protect fauna and flora from the growth lobby. The community has fought to save this area for nearly 20 years.See also related articles.

Mark O'Connor's take on Bernard Salt's Ageist article

The Australian has run yet another beat-up by KPMG corporate partner, Bernard Salt, trying desperately to justify continued high immigration. Mark O'Connor, author of Overloading Australia comments.

There is really only one kind of sustainability

(Ed. The subject of this article may seem hackneyed, but it is well worth reading.) The word "sustainable" or "sustainability" has been rendered meaningless and oxymoronic by its attachment to the most invasive development proposals and economic activity. But authentic sustainability does not lend itself to semantic pluralism. It can only mean the viablility of the whole, not its constituent parts. There is really only one kind of sustainability.

God, Peak Oil and Population

A retired Australian farmer writes, "Three of the bigger questions in my life have been: Is there a god ? Will the oil run out ? Are humans smarter than lemmings ?"

Who's Shilling for Whom?

This not, repeat, NOT, an argument for or against AGW theory. It is about green hypocrisy and double-standards. If we are to follow the corporate money trail, we must follow it wherever it leads, even if it leads to the door of a CBC-annointed demi-god so beloved internationally by those who know him even less than Canadians do.

Sue Pennecuik calls for Victorian laws against corporate SLAPP harassment of environmentalists

Following Gunns' complete abandonmment of its case which has tied up 20 Tasmanian anti-logging campaigners and their supporters for up to five years of their lives, Victorian Greens parliamentarian Sue Pennicuik MLC called for the Victorian Government to introduce legislation to prevent corporations from ever again similarly abusing the courts with Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP) suits to harass citizen who organise to stop their environmentally destructive projects.

Adapted from media release originally published as "Gunns case shows we need anti-slapp laws in Victoria" on the Victorian Greens MPs web site, mps.vic.greens.org.au.
See also: "Gunns urged to drop 'Triabunna 13' case" of 3 Feb 10, "Gunns 20 in the dust" in the Hobart Mercury of 30 Jan 10, "Gunns settles with last pulp mill opponents" in the Australian of 30 Jan 10, "Gunns abandons legal chase" on ABC online of 30 Jan 10, "Gunns payout ends case" in the Age of 30 Jan 10.

News from Wildlife Sanctuary: Recovery is slow but sure after Victorian Bushfires last year

In the aftermath of the Black Saturday Victorian bushfires of 2008, Stella and Alan Reid picked themselves up from the ashes of everything they had lost - especially the native animals they had rehabilitated and released on their property. Almost a year has passed and they are beginning to heal and rebuild their lives and starting over with a new better Wildhaven. The photos clearly show that the animals who somehow survived are deeply grateful for their second chance....

We already have a "big Australia"


Kevin Rudd has expressed his desire for a "big Australia", contrary to public interests, an independent scientific assessment of our "carrying capacity", and without any population plan or policy.
Our wealth is our natural heritage.
Deliberate population growth is all about greed and consumerism and a failure to appreciate what is naturally "big" about Australia.

The Ten Stages of SPIN on population numbers

On ABC TV Jan 28th 7.30 report the Australian PM appears to have backtracked on the idea of a "Big Australia" for which he said previously that he would make "no apology"

Are stages of governmental and media spin and treatment of forced population growth akin to the stages of grief-predictable and identifiable?

See also: "Rudd facing a Queensland backlash" by Bill Hoffman in the Sunshine Coast Daily of 30 Jan 10, "Rudd cools on a 'big Australia'" in the Age of 29 Jan 10, "Rudd on a 'big Australia'" on the 7.30 Report of 28 Jan 10, "Future Australians could face starvation: Dick Smith" on ABC online of 25 Jan 10, "Population debate needed: opposition" in the Mackay Daily Mercury of 25 Jan 10 (also published in the Shepparton News), "Poll shows Australians do not share rudd's vision for 'Big Australia'" of 10 Nov 09 by Bruce Billson MP, (former) Shadow Minister for Sustainable Development and Cities, "Population to now hit 35 million by 2049" in the Australian of 18 Sep 09.

Stop developer Bob Ells from taking major koala habitat (NSW)

Tweed Valley Community levied for unwanted and disastrous development in region's main koala habitat.
Koalas are in danger of extinction within two years in Queensland and NSW cannot be far behind. No state is keeping proper wildlife statistics and development is ruining their habitat and ours. See where to send objections inside article.

Koalas need protection from logging in NSW


There was an outcry about the illegal and brutal attack on baby koala Doug, and his consequent death, yet loggers will be allowed to destroy the habitat of a colony of koalas in the state forest on the NSW South Coast. They need protection before they are legally wiped out, simply because their homes are for woodchip profits!

Victorian Elections: A Midsummer Night's Meeting with MPs about what's going on

2nd FEB 2010: Victorian State Election meeting held by Kew Cottages with Rod Quantok, MC and featuring a number of Members of Parliament
Topics for discussion: * How has the State of Victoria managed to loose $17 million building and selling 55 houses in Kew ? * What will each of our local MP's do about protecting all of the remaining Kew Cottages Public Land if re-elected ? * Do our MP's support the Kew Coalition's Alternative Plan ? * How can the community help ?
[An article on the current sell off of the Kew Cottages site and its background may be found on this site entitled 'Victorian Madness with Kew Cottages']

Snowy River - selfish Murray River irrigators downstream continue to castrate the Snowy River


The Snowy River was one of the wildest rivers in Australia. But political ambitions destroyed the legend and now 99% of the Snowy is diverted by the Snowy mountains scheme. By the time it reaches the sea it has only 5% of the flow because of the Jindabyne Dam and other major dams.

The Snowy River Alliance is right. Australia's most famous wild river, the Snowy River, deserves to have its natural flows restored. The Alliance argues that if Snowy Hydro schemers releasing 28% of the Snowy's original flows, its ecology could be restored. But the current life sucking 5% dished out by the Snowy Hydro is exploitative, selfish and wrong.

The population debate: do you want 'a big Australia'??

35 million Australians by 2050. Will we all live in a cohesive, dynamic, more productive society? Or will more people just mean more social dischord and disharmony? (taken from: abc.net.com & 7.30 Report/Debate/Online)

CRIKEY! - Where is Crikey heading?

If one visits our Australian CRIKEY website and scrolls down the ENVIRONMENT menu to its current subject listing: 'The case against school veggie gardens' and clicks...one is instantly redirected away from the CRIKEY website to another remote website. In this case away from CRIKEY to 'The Atlantic'

Why is CRIKEY auto-redirecting its readership?

Why is CRIKEY redirecting/outsourcing its content without explanation? Is this laziness? Is this content padding? Where is CRIKEY heading?

Wong sticks to guns on emissions target


One of the most important principles internationally when referring to greenhouse gas reduction schemes it that the polluter pays. This means that national targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions should be based on the historical contribution of each nation to global emissions. It is obvious that Australia's population growth policies have a enormous impact on our greenhouse gas emissions.

Poem: Wake up Australia ... Be Fair! by Brian Spittle

Wake up Australia...Be Fair !
Camels are our models here
They drink but once a week

Global warming melts Peruvian peaks


Heavy rain triggered the slides and swept away roads, leaving the tourists stuck in Aguas Calientes, a small town near the Inca ruins. Peru has the most tropical glaciers in Latin America and has already lost 20 percent of the 2,600 kms of glaciers running through its central and southern Andes in the past 30 years. By the end of the 21st century, the tropical Andes may experience a massive warming on the order of 4.5–5 °C.
(photos courtesy of Wikimedia commons)

A Hamster takes growth economics apart

Click image for film. This is a short film that all politicians and economists and most religious people should see. It is about economics and exponential growth. It is funny and really short.

EU President supports ban on kangaroo products

Someone else who isn't impressed by the Australian and state governments' statistics and treatment of wildlife. 6000 signatures already on the petition!
See alsoDamning Auditor General Reports on Fauna protection in Australia
(Photo by Brett Clifton)