This line from David Marr is one of the best descriptions I’ve ever read of the farcical sound and fury which is Question Time in the House of Representatives:
It’s a bit like an RSPCA pound: never free of the spectre of being put down, the dogs bark and howl to attract attention.
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For those interested in basic facts about temperature trends in Australia and globally over recent decades, there is a great post over at Lavartus Prodeo by Brian Banisch, who has been following the data and the various scientific reports on this issue for a long time. Very much worth having a read of for those who are just wanting some facts.
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Items on Indian students, refugees in our region and Copenhagen
Below are links to some recent pieces I have written on other sites:
- some impacts from the recent http://asiancorrespondent.com/andrew-bartlett-blog/tragic-murder-puts-spotlight-back-on-safety-of-indians-in-australia murder of an Indian man living in Melbourne;
- connections between http://blogs.crikey.com.au/thestump/2009/12/19/another-failed-summit/ the failures of a UN Summit on hunger and the Copenhagen climate change summit.
- articles detailing some more mistreatment of refugees in our region here http://blogs.crikey.com.au/thestump/2009/12/29/more-refugee-torment-in-our-region/ and here http://asiancorrespondent.com/andrew-bartlett-blog/dangers-for-refugees-in-region-highlighted-by-forced-deportation-from-thailand
Below are links to some recent pieces I have written on other sites More... ()
Many not for profit and charity groups have got a lot smarter over the years in tapping into some of the large amounts of money that get spent over Christmas. Christmas catalogues full of gifts for good cause groups have become widespread. In recent times, that has extended to bypassing a present all together, and giving someone a donation which actually goes direct to the good cause.
This form of fundraising is now also tapping into social media, so much so that even my humble blog gets occasional requests to promote a cause from people who specifically target the avenues of social media to widen their reach.
Here’s one example I recently received on behalf of World Vision.
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I’ve posted a piece over at The Stump about the links between global hunger and climate change, and the unfortunate parallels between the less than successful climate change summit in Copenhagen and an even more dismal outcome at the recent Hunger Summit in Rome, which received far less attention.
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It was 20 years ago today.
On 20 November 1989, the international Convention on the Rights of the Child (CROC) was formally adopted. According http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/11/18/us-ratify-children-s-treaty?tr=y&auid=5614841 to Human Rights Watch, the Convention became “the most widely and rapidly ratified human rights treaty in history. Twenty years on, only two countries have failed to ratify the Convention – Somalia and the USA.
In the USA, Presidential action to ratify an international treaty requires the approval of the Senate. I think this is a good mechanism and one Australia should adopt, even though it would undoubtedly be frustrating from time to time. But regardless of the distractions of health care reform and climate change legislation, this is one action the USA’s President and Senate should get moving on.
On 20 November 1989, the international Convention on the Rights of the Child (CROC) was formally adopted. According to Human Rights Watch, the Convention became “the most widely and rapidly ratified human rights treaty in history. Twenty years on, only two countries have failed to ratify the Convention – Somalia and the USA.
Somalia currently has no recognised government, which makes it impossible for it to ratify the CROC. In the USA, Presidential action to ratify an international treaty requires the approval of the Senate. I think this is a good mechanism and one Australia should adopt, even though it would undoubtedly be frustrating from time to time. But regardless of the distractions of health care reform and climate change legislation, this is one action the USA’s President and Senate should get moving on. ()
Following are links to some items I’ve had published on other sites
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8 Comments, Comment or Ping
Tony
Well the 1700 emails released last week and over the weekend will certainly add to the opposition of this foolish carbon trade scheme.
People are now starting to finally wake up to the alamists nonsense.
New York Times
and again
Bishop Hill
Tony
Nov 23rd, 2009
paul walter
The Doomajee case is cause for national shame and really shows why no real progress is made in Aboriginal affairs.
Lack of trust.
As ever, Aboriginals ask themselves “why bother”, when whites proclaim the superiority of their civilisation, centrepieced by our so called justice system and urge the victims to rehabilitate themselves to meet “civilised standards, when our “standards”, when the default measure for our “civilisation” is Palm Island and the frightful murder of Doomadjee.
.
Nov 23rd, 2009
Lorikeet
In regard to the “CPRS Endgame”, it would appear that one of the teams has split in 2.
It seems to me that an endgame could be some months off, with the entire proposal being placed in the hands of a Senate inquiry.
You have to admire the tenacity of Peter Dutton, trying to get himself into the position of Deputy Leader under Tony Abbott in order to raise his profile, after his previous plan to desert his electorate in favour of greener pastures failed.
Nov 27th, 2009
Donald Oats
Copenhagen mightn’t be enough based upon scientific evidence, but at least if it goes in the direction it seems it might, then enough countries will be heading on a path in the same direction.
From that we may apply pressure upon those that refuse to carry any burden, however slight. Even Canada has thought it had better make a showing at Copenhagen, now that the USA has.
Perhaps if Copenhagen is successful at getting the countries on the same path, roughly aligned, it may then be possible to adjust the path to be more realistic in the face of the scientific evidence. One can hope.
Cheers,
Don.
PS: Have you thought of running again, say as an independent?
Nov 29th, 2009
Lorikeet
Donald Oats:
Have you ever tried getting the Chinese government to do anything that it doesn’t want? Especially in view of the fact they are producing 55% of emissions?
Dec 1st, 2009
Tony
Donald Oats says: From that we may apply pressure upon those that refuse to carry any burden, however slight. Even Canada has thought it had better make a showing at Copenhagen, now that the USA has.
Put pressure on them for what. Havent your heard the earth is cooling.
This tax grab has nothing to do with the environment. Its all about control and enforcement with wealth distribution. Thats it.
Donald Oats says: PS: Have you thought of running again, say as an independent?
Havent you heard. Andrew threw a left turn into the greens.
Tony
Dec 3rd, 2009
Andrew Bartlett
Thanks Donald
You’re right about Copenhagen Donald. I think there is still a fair chance of some progress being made there which will at least move things further in the right direction – whether it will be far enough, fast enough is an open question, which is why it is important for the general public to keep maintaining the pressure in as many ways as possible.
One benefit of the weak CPRS being defeated is that it opens up the chance of a much stronger scheme being put in place and for there to be much fuller debate about the facts of climate change, what emissions cuts are needed to avoid serious environmental, social and economic harm as a consequence, and how best to bring that about. If the flawed amended CPRS had passed, there would have been a fair chance the government and media would have treated the issue as ‘dealt with’, at least politically, and shifted attention elsewhere.
As noted, I am running again. I’ll be pursuing much the same approach and be as independent minded as I was before – but running as an independent candidate never really appealed to me, as I prefer to put energy in building and supporting a wider group of people. Needing to find a new viable party, the Greens were the obvious choice, given the many similarities with the Democrats over a number of years, and the fact that they are now evolving to take on much of the Democrats’ previous role and approach.
(and best to just ignore Tony – he’s mostly harmless, despite his habit of dishonest propagandising. I hope he only takes that approach on this site, rather than when he’s speaking in his official role for the DLP, although sadly I wouldn’t be surprised if adopts the same tactics elsewhere too.)
Dec 3rd, 2009
Lorikeet
I don’t think Tony is the stupid one on this, but I don’t think Andrew has taken a left turn either. He has just continued down the same relentless path to Global Communism, along with wiping out the livestock industries, and legalisation of amoral recividist acts.
Dec 5th, 2009
Reply to “Posts from elsewhere: More refugee mistreatment & CPRS endgame”