About Civil Liberties, and About Climate Change, in Australia
On Civil Liberties. I can’t help noticing how Australian mainstream media, and the Australian government, make a huge fuss about the rights of their convicted drug dealers in Asian countries. Also about an Australian Rio Tinto executive, convicted of bribery, in China.
But what happens when it’s an Australian citizen, who is not charged with any crime, but who has managed to offend the sensibilities of Australia’s master – the USA? So – not only is Julian Assange’s plight ignored by Australia’s mass media and government – but Prime Minister Julia Gillard denounced him, and actually said that he had acted “illegally”.
On Climate Change. I wonder whatever Tony Abbott will make of the new carbon tax plan. We know that he’s a Climate Change Denier. BUT, – as a pusher for nuclear power, surely Abbott should be toeing the BHP Billiton line – about nuclear power being the solution to climate change – therefore action on carbon emissions is good? – Christina Macpherson
Julia Gillard ‘complicit in defamation’ of Julian Assange.
AUDIO Wikileaks’ Julian Assange in ‘David and Goliath’ battle: mother – ABC Melbourne – Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 25 Feb 2011, A
British judge has ruled that Julian Assange must be extradited to Sweden to face sex crime allegations.Julian Assanges lawyers have already announced that they will appeal the decision.His mother, Christine Assange, says that her son is in a ‘David and Goliath situation’.She says that Prime Minister Julia Gillard is ‘complicit in defamation’ of Julian Assange.Christine Assange talks to Jon Faine onon 774 ABC Wikileaks’ Julian Assange in ‘David and Goliath’ battle: mother – ABC Melbourne – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
London court rules on Julian Assange’s extradition to Sweden
JULIAN ASSANGE: Why is it that I am subject – a non-profit, free speech activist – to a $360,000 bail? Why is it that I am kept under electronic house arrest when I have not even been charged in any country?
Wikileaks founder to appeal extradition decision, ABC 25/02/2011 TONY EASTLEY: A London court has ordered that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be sent from the UK to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault.His defence lawyers have argued the former computer hacker won’t get a fair trial in a country where they say he’s regarded as “public enemy number one”.Mr Assange has already flagged he’ll appeal against the British ruling. Continue reading
Nuclear waste dump imposed on Northern Territory
“Territorians have a right to have the laws passed
by their Parliament respected in the same ways that states’ laws are respected.”
Nuclear dump laws ‘show need for NT statehood’, – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Jane Bardon Feb 24, 2011 The imminent passage of national nuclear waste dump legislation is another argument for the Northern Territory to become a state, the Territory’s Statehood Committee says. Continue reading
USA scientists urge Congress to set carbon tax
UCS is urging Congress to take devise a more holistic clean energy policy by placing a tax on carbon. “ All low-carbon energy technologies would be able to compete on their merits if the government established an energy-neutral playing field and put a price on carbon,”
Scientists: Nuclear power isn’t viable without corporate welfare, SmartPlanet, By David Worthington | Feb 23, 2011“…….. President Obama’s FY2011 budget proposal allocates an additional $36 billion in federal loan guarantees for the construction of new nuclear reactors. Continue reading
Carbon tax for Australia might help renewable energy
Plan for carbon price to fan the winds of change, Sydney Morning Herald, Ben Cubby,February 25, THE government’s pledge to bring in a fixed carbon price is expected to help unleash a wave of investment in wind and solar energy, but most investors said they were waiting for detail and the outcome of the brewing political battle over climate change before opening purse strings. Continue reading
Julia Gillard playing it smart with carbon tax
This time, Julia Gillard is playing a cannier game. There were almost no policy details released yesterday beyond the decision to implement a fixed price, and the decision to include transport but to leave out agriculture. That left little for industry critics to go on, and allowed Gillard to cleverly foreshadow Abbott’s anti-tax attack.
It’s Getting Hot In Here | newmatilda.com, 25 Feb 2011, By Ben Eltham Whether you call it a carbon tax or a carbon price, the carbon wars are back on. This time round, Gillard is playing it smart on climate policy. Continue reading
Only corporate welfare can save USA nuclear industry
The report finds that taxpayers have subsidized the nuclear fuel
cycle through every stage from mining to long-term storage of radioactive waste. It identified a total of 30 different subsidies that when combined have repeatedly exceeded the average market price of any power produced.
Scientists: Nuclear power isn’t viable without corporate welfare, SmartPlanet, By David Worthington | Feb 23, 2011 Nuclear power was supposed to be too cheap to meter, but a science-based nonprofit that advocates for environmental and public health issues has published a new report that casts doubt that it was ever really economically viable. Continue reading
1.This month.
Zoom webinar – “Nuclear Winter: The Environmental Consequences of a Nuclear Exchange.”
April 7th at 11:30 am PST / 2:30 pm EST
Nuclear Winter: The Environmental Consequences of a Nuclear Exchange”
Join us for an informative webinar with renowned atmospheric scientist, Professor Brian Toon, as he discusses the environmental risks and global impacts of a nuclear war. Despite the potential damage caused by the blast from even small nuclear weapons, many countries continue to invest in and expand nuclear arsenals. Professor Toon will provide a scientific assessment of civilian fatalities, agricultural failures, climate concerns, and complications with food supply that would follow any international nuclear conflict. We need to plan how to prevent nuclear conflict and avoid catastrophe. Politicians and military planners must be made aware of global climate and agricultural complications that would ensue. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from, and engage in, this vital conversation
The Road to War brings a sharp focus to why it is not in Australia’s best interest to be dragged into a war with China which will almost inevitably go nuclear very quickly. The filmmaker has interviewed some of Australia’s senior foreign policy analysts who have vast experience behind them in analysing what really is going on here as the United States rattles its sabres with China. And sets us up to be its proxy, like the poor Ukranians have been fed into the Meatgrinder. So America can remain the Top Dog. The Road to War reveals how the United States through its spy base at Pine Gap and by stationing six nuclear capable B52 bombers in the Top End (without permission from the traditional owners) is making Australia a prime nuclear target if the current war of words suddenly melts down into full scale war.
The Road to War shows the implicit connection between Carbon emissions (the US military uses a whopping 70% of America’s annual petroleum to move its armies and vast War Machine around the globe to its 800+ military bases..but under a loophole wangled at Kyoto, the US military does not have to report its C02 annual emissions). The Road to War starts screening at selected cities and regional centres in March. See the trailer end for details.
Antinuclear 