Every Monday morning during my radio show on community radio 4ZzZ FM, I chat with Peter Black, a constitutional lawyer, follower of social and political issues and obsessive user of social media. I don’t normally put links to those chats on this blog, but given that our talk this morning was all about the federal election, I thought it was worth putting a link to it on this occasion.
You can have a listen to it by clicking on this link.
()
Given I am now running as a Greens candidate, I suppose it is no surprise that I am indicating my agreement with a comment that Bob Brown made today. But I would also say that it isn’t any secret that I haven’t agreed with every public comment that Bob has made, and I would agree with the following comment about the schoolyard level nonsense regarding another possible leaders debate even if it had been made by Steve Fielding:
“What we’re seeing now between the two leaders is an absolute farce and people everywhere are rolling their eyes at Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard not having the maturity to get together to agree to the series of debates which would have enlightened the electorate,“
It is a joke and a sad reflection on the optic and image driven nature of political media coverage in Australia. A couple of weeks ago, there was a three way debate at the National Press Club on important ICT issues such as internet filtering, broadband and wider communications policy. More... ()
A couple of years ago I wrote a blog post about mountaintop mining in the USA. All mining has some impact, but the sheer destructiveness of this type of mining is astonishing – and that’s before you take into account the greenhouse impact of the coal.
This article in the New York Times details the potential impact of a similar project in West Virginia. The significance of this proposal is that there is the possibility it may be stopped, or seriously curtailed, by the Obama administration, which would be a signal of a positive shift on this issue.
()
Following are links to a couple of recent radio interviews I’ve done, plus an online one
More... ()
As I noted in my previous post, this week’s Newspoll saw the Greens register 16% support – the highest that party has ever achieved, comparable to the Democrats best Newspoll result of 17% back in 1990. History suggests it is unlikely that this peak will be maintained right through to election day (or even the next Newspoll) but it is part of a continuing trend of solid Greens results. I’ve written a piece expanding on this, and how the party might approach the challenges ahead, at The Drum/Unleashed on the ABC’s site – which you can read by clicking on this link.
()
Contention over Queensland’s Wild Rivers legislation has been bubbling along for quite a while now. Unfortunately, as with many issues which become polarised, each “side” is focused on defending their position, which has meant that some important underlying issues are not getting the attention they deserve.
I’ve just had a piece on this topic published at The Drum on the ABC’s website. It’s fairly long, so they published it in two parts – the first part is at this link and the second part is at this one. I should emphasise that the article reflects my personal views, and is not a formal view of the Greens, nor of ANTaR Queensland, who I am also involved with.
()
Hip hop fans in Brisbane might be interested in tuning in to my radio show on 4ZZZ FM this Monday morning around 7:30am. I’ll be talking with the Gold Coast based duo Choose Mics, who are launching their debut full length album Beggars Can’t Be Choosers at the Step Inn in the Valley this coming Friday night as part of what will be a big night for fans of hip-hop/rap/urban sounds, with Brisbane’s The Optimen also launching their second album “The Out of Money Experience” as part of the same event.
Even though there is a steady stream of musical offerings in Brisbane, a double album launch of this magnitude doesn’t come along every day of the week, so I’ll dedicate a half hour or so to exploring not just the words and sounds of Choose Mics, but getting a broader overview from them of the hip hop related scenes locally and nationally.
More... ()
8 Comments, Comment or Ping
philip travers
Yes at the end of Rudd meets Chinese Helmsman and Pakistan Carers of Borders.Inc.one can see the good Senator Andrew,supporting something that is Australian,and not full of the perfected windbaggery of Diplomacy.May the great kayaker helmsman succeed for Queenslanders and Australians.Perhaps a song should be dreamt up to words by the Posselt..music by the Bartlett!?
Apr 12th, 2008
Michael Blundell
Healthy water pure uncontaminated rain water
We are wanting to work with yous.
To help all with water
.
ABN 74292270486
Business No BN98277226
Patent No 2006906579
Kind Regards
Michael Blundell
Water Harvesting Rain Catching.Pty
Thank you
We are wanting to work to help all live with climate changes that are here to stay.
We have been waiting the 12 month Grace period , since November last year. We are wanting to get our products
into the public arena .
All is made from existing materials.
With free standing frames no digging they site on the ground and will float .
This product will not harm the environment,
[It will fill existing dams]
Pure uncontaminated rain water.
With country towns boiling water to survive. Farmers going to court over stealing next door neighbours water .We have to change the way we catch and contain our natural resource , rain.
If a farmer is able to catch 10% of rain on his land area and contain it ,then there wont be the need for him to take the water from else where eg. Rivers.
We are at the end of our 1 year grace and are ready to produce our products.
to help with water and our Rivers.
Please take the time to look below and on our website, we are offering a way to help farmers live with climate changes that are here to stay.
Without hurting the environment or ripping up native land to build new dams .To have the same problems dams are suffering from now we can live with what we have using our products to help contain and fill existing dams.
At a fraction of the cost of building new dams .
We have towns , farmers boiling water to survive.
With our products and your help to provide them all with a clean source of pure rain water which we all should be drinking.
Not water that has to be run through treated water plants that who knows how many chemicals are added.
All designs come with solar powered pump to stop evaporation and water contamination .
With floating
Apr 14th, 2008
Lorikeet
Surely the mistakes made with the Murray River, once recognised, could be avoided???
Apr 15th, 2008
Nancy Jakeman
Thanks Michael Blundell. I would like info. on your product as I am aware that if each of us was able to harvest the rainwater from our own roofs? we would be well ahead nationally as water conservationists. We would have pure rainwater, filtered if we felt, and not the same inclination to stand under a ten minute shower. Also I regularly watch beautiful water flooding down the gutters in front of my house. Surely we can harvest some of this without endangering estuarine systems! I absolutely absolutely cannot fathom why the Q. Govt. wants to perpetrate this dam on our beautiful Mary Valley! IT WON’T EVEN WORK! I with my friend Marlene, visited her sister last month who lives at Tuchekoi and as we sat looking down over the beautiful valley with 360 degree views there was such a timelessness present that I said to myself… I have to do SOMETHING for the Mary real soon. I did go to the first rally at Gympie and noticed that Prem. Peter Beattie, for whom I feel quite an affection, had totally closed ears. Prem. Anna Bligh has the same closed mind. THEY JUST AREN’T LISTENING! Not good government eh! What to do?
I read in the Sunshine Coast Daily of Steve Posselt’s epic adventures and decided I would be at the Kandanga Hall on April 27th at midday for a rally and BBQ and also at the West End Boat Ramp on Sun. May 11th at 11am… for a march along the riverside boardwalk. Please join us! To check Steve’s progress go to http://www.kayak4earth.com We may not have many more chances to demonstrate how strongly we feel about this tragic, bloody silly decision. Yes!
Apr 17th, 2008
muzzmonster
You’re assuming, Lorikeet, that people (particularly politicians) actually look to the lessons of history in order to make decisions. I get the distinct feeling that most of us (and them) do not. (self included)
Apr 17th, 2008
Lorikeet
Yes, Muzz. And we still keep blindly following the mistakes of the USA.
Nancy:
There may come a time when no water is available to “harvest” directly from the sky. Home water tanks will quickly empty.
With our rapidly growing population, we need more water storage facilities so that people can continue to drink!
Apr 18th, 2008
Michael Blundell
Nancy Jakeman Sorry it`s taken so long to get back .
Please
Some new innovative product.
“Rain Catchers Water Harvesters” can be placed in any open area to catch
and contain rainwater.
Sounds easy? It is made from existing proven Australia products, its
light weight, portable and able to contain large amounts of rainwater,
and can easily moved or stored.
Australia is in crisis, our soil is damaged, and our dams are dry. A lot
of water is wasted, and rain isn’t falling in the most desperately
needed areas. Following weather patterns rainfall can be tracked, we
believe this capacity can help people on the land.
Only 3% of the worlds rain fall is caught and contained, with our
products we can increase that percentage significantly. Capturing
drinkable fresh water, before becoming storm water is a great idea.
Due to the limited supply of water, people and plants have a significant
demand for an increasingly scarce resource. The products I am promoting
are called Rain Catchers. These products come in various sizes and have
various applications.
Australia is the driest continent on the planet, it is critical for our
survival that efficient and effective water strategies are put in place.
These strategies must be able to store water efficiently and promote
effective use of this water. However over most of the country rainfall
is not only low, but highly erratic.
Australia is also currently in a very serious drought – the worst on
record, following a run of very dry seasons. As a result many farming
families are under significant financial and emotional pressure. This
situation has implications for not only the families involved but for
there regional communities and, given the economic contribution
agriculture make to the nation economy, the nation as a whole.
Rain Catchers are aimed particularly at those areas that are unable to
store or retain large quantities of water. People are now more
Apr 22nd, 2008
Michael Blundell
People are now more aware of
the need for water and the effect it has on the economy and household
incomes. 2005-06-07 farm income was $26 billion and is projected to fall
for this next year.
Following recent rains, the farming sector is feeling more confident
anticipating further rainfall. Our designs aim to “drought proof”
properties as both town and on farm water sources become more expensive.
These products will have applications in all areas and be a cost
effective and versatile alternative to rainwater tanks.
We have had a lot of interest from both Australia and countries
overseas. We wish to gain support for this initiative, if you are
interested or would like more information, please visit our website.
www.
waterharvestingraincatching.
bigpondhosting.com
Please e-mail any comments to: blundell2006@bigpond.com
0449970314
24 Bangaly
Queanbeyan
NSW
With thanks
Apr 22nd, 2008