In the June of 2007 the government under John Howard declared a national state of emergency in the Northern Territory, staging a massive intervention under claims of widespread child abuse, as well as an epidemic of alcohol, drugs and violence. In little time, the government moved into action, sending in the troops to seize 73 remote aboriginal communities and install white officers to take control of them. Draconian new laws were introduced in the communities, and 50% of welfare payments cut off , further increasing poverty and disenchantment. Community leaders and village elders were at no stage consulted before the implementation of this policy. In order to implement this program, known as the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Plan 2007, the government "suspended" the Racial Discrimination Act of 1975, due to the laws included in this act protected the aboriginal people from discrimination and compulsory land acquisition. They also created new legislation to circumvent the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976.
The government went on a media frenzy at the time, proclaiming boldly the state of a national emergency. The media circus was headed by PM John Howard and the former Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, who declared on ABC Radio that "Every single one of these communities has a number of active pedophiles in them". A statement that turned out to be a blatant lie. Following three formal police investigations, a number of 7,433 children where checked for signs of sexual abuse, of which only four children showed any sign that they may have been abused.
The government came in with promises to improve medical facilities and education and childcare, bringing in with them a budget of 672 million dollars to spend on building these new facilities and more houses for people to live in. What they didn't tell us is that the communities are being bribed. The government is refusing to build houses and infrastructure unless the lands that the aboriginal people had won back from 1976 onwards , and after "Terra Nullius" was overturned in 1992, is handed over to the government on a 40 year lease. They are being forced to give away their homelands and their rights in the name of a handful of cheap demountables. Quite a number of communities have been essentially forced to give up their land rights, such as the Guliwinku people in Arnhem Land, who signed off the rights to their land in exchange for a promise of 50 new homes, which the government later downgraded to 15. As of yet, no homes have been built for them, and in actual fact the number of homes built for the 73 indigenous communities of the NT is less than ten all up. Meanwhile, over 75 homes have been built for the police and federal forces who have assumed control of the communities.
Conditions in these settlements are still very grim. Alcohol and drug use is still rampant, and old ways are getting lost to the ugly side of westernised culture. Australia is the only "civilized" country yet to have eradicated the blindness-causing eye infection trachoma. Other diseases and infections are widespread, especially among the kids. Diabetes is also at staggering levels due to processed food and soft drinks sold at the shops in the communities, which by chance happen to carry the highest prices for groceries of anywhere in Australia. We are a rich country, and yet we hide the third world in our backyard. Australian indigenous life expectancy is the lowest of all global indigenous peoples, being some 17 years less than that of Australian white people. Child mortality rates are three times higher than that of white Australians also.
More and more aborigine families are being forced into these settlements from their traditional homelands and healthy age-old lifestyles as the government forces them out to make way for mining projects to dig up more uranium to provide for the obviously retarded nuclear industry. It seems uranium is worth more than the livelihood of these people, more than their freedom. This is what this whole thing is really about, and it's so blantantly obvious and contemptible it makes me sick. Where is the TV media on this one? No surprises actually.
I just cannot believe that this is still happening in this day and age, where our government claims things like "a land of opportunity", "equal rights", "justice", "freedom". Bullshit and hypocrisy. It's the same racist fucking system as it was when the constitution was made back in 1900. Even after the Mabo case, and giving them the right to own land and vote and saying "sorry", our Aborigines are been faced with what can only be described as genocide. Their situation continues to get worse. Australia is the only Commonwealth country without a bill of rights or a constitution for the rights of the people. Some democracy, hey?!
Still we take their land and their dignity and their way of life, forcing them to live in filth and poverty in mission camps at the fringes of our highly civilized lie. Out of sight, out of mind, out of the way so we can mine. Because, fuck it. Human rights don't fill the coffers and keep an economy strong do they? We must ensure that those numbers stay green so we can call ourselves brilliant world leaders and responsible economists. Look how smart and strong we are! Yes! Go Australia! Ah yes, Growth! Prosperity! Yay Capitalism!
Yet who exactly is prospering from all this? Sure as hell isn't those poor bastards whose land they steal, that's for sure. Is it You, or Me? No. Well, maybe. Spare a little caviar for the locals wont you, ERA and Rio Tinto? It's the least you can do.
Below is a documentary called "Our Generation". It is ESSENTIAL viewing for every single Australian. Please watch it.. Follow the link below. Watch it, show your Mum, tell your pals. Do it.
http://thoughtmaybe.com/video/our-generation
http://thoughtmaybe.com/video/our-generation
http://thoughtmaybe.com/video/our-generation
http://thoughtmaybe.com/video/our-generation
http://thoughtmaybe.com/video/our-generation
I'm Sorry.
Generation One.
TREATY
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
At the Going Down of the Sun...
...We will remember them.
As indeed we must.
On distant fields they fought and died,
and did it just for us.
Australian and Kiwi sons,
Hearts brave and true
On distant fields they fought and died
For their country,
For me and you.
So.
Let us remember them
Let us remember them
And learn from them some lessons.
They fought for freedom,
Stood tall through fear.
Stood tall through fear.
Taught us that we all can be heroes,
Brave sons and daughters,
Just like you and me.
Just like you and me.
In their stories and their memory
lies our very history.
Therein lies the Australian Spirit,
Unbreakable and strong.
Even in the face of death,
When all hope seems gone.
Through their sacrifice,
We have also learned
Of the ugliness of war.
The Hatred and Fear.
Death.
The need to kill somebody
Just the same as you..
Innocence and lives lost,
At Immeasurable cost
Innocence and lives lost,
At Immeasurable cost
On distant fields so far from home.
War.
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing.
Though some things are worth fighting for.
We will remember you.
Brave Diggers,
Sons and daughters.
Lest we forget what you fought for,
Lived and died for.
We stand together in remembrance.
We salute and thank you.
We owe to you our Australian Spirit.
So raise a glass, hands on hearts,
And Advance Australia Fair.
Lest we forget.
Friday, April 15, 2011
The Climate Change Debacle
Hello all. A long time between drinks indeed. I've been wrapped up trying to finish this book that I'm writing, but anyway, I'm back!
There's been a lot of debate over the last few weeks about the government's proposed carbon tax. It's a contentious issue, and everybody seems to have an opinion on it,so I'm going to throw my hat in the ring here. I went along to the pro-tax rally up here in Brisbane last weekend. 4000 people turned up in support, which tells me that there are a lot of people out there keen for green energy and looking after our big blue home better.
I do like the tax in theory. Apart from a small percentage of dinosaurs and rich businessmen, (and the federal opposition, it seems), who still refuse to believe the facts concerning the effects that carbon emissions are having on our climate, I recokon 95% of people want to see a move away from fossil fuels towards the renewables like solar, and at least a concerted effort to clean up our act in general. The government has proposed that the top 200 polluters in the industry sector be made accountable for the damage they are doing, and pay for it accordingly. And why not? It is they who are doing the majority of the damage to our environment and our air supply, and they are making a good deal of money in the process, so I see no problem with that proposal.
I am worried about this thing though. I just can't bring myself to trust it. I think it has been rushed in without any real planning, I mean it is two months at least since the scheme was announced, and still there is nothing more than hearsay on what it all actually means, what the rate of tax will be or where the money is going to go. I am worried also about the stipulations regarding to be the accountability of the big corporations. This is big business that we are talking about here. These bastards will lie and cheat and steal and just about do anything to keep their profit margins in the green, make no mistake about it. The majority of these companies do have the money also to avoid downsizing their operations, and therefore avoiding reducing their carbon emissions.
I also have doubts about what exactly the government will do with the money gained from the scheme. Common sense would dictate that the money be used to directly fund invenstments in the renewable energy sector and possibly more rebate schemes like the successful solar rebate scheme. This, however, seems unlikely. At best a fairly small cut of the money will be used to make substantial moves forward in this direction. Most likely the money raised will go towards the government's plan to get the nation's budget back to surplus. Funny that. As long as the budget is in surplus it appears, at least figuratively that all of the country's financial issues are sorted and everything is fine and dandy. What the figures don't say though is that the rest of us have less money than we used to. But that's another story altogether.
Unfortunately I feel that the all too likely scenario to come out of this whole fiasco will be this. A relatively small reduction in carbon emissions, higher prices for consumers across the board, escpescially for energy, and fairly poor return towards renewable energy. The government is too cozy in bed with the big polluters because it is ultimately they who are in the drivers seat of the nation's economy.
I have to say that I think this tax will be a failure. I hate to say it and I hope i'm wrong. It will probably make life a little tougher for little result. That being said, I hope that it goes through. Otherwise we are back at square one. At least the foot is in the door now to a cleaner future. Let's get this thing happening and see how it goes and move on from there. There is a long way to go with this fight, so let's take a look and see what happens I reckon. Maybe another rise in energy rates is exactly what we need. Everybody is already pissed off about the price of power these days, so I see another rate hike will do nothing but encourage more people to become involved in the debate and get behind green energy. It's going to be shockingly mismanaged, you can count on that, but at least Gillard is doing something in the name of positivity for once in her life.
Go carbon tax.
There's been a lot of debate over the last few weeks about the government's proposed carbon tax. It's a contentious issue, and everybody seems to have an opinion on it,so I'm going to throw my hat in the ring here. I went along to the pro-tax rally up here in Brisbane last weekend. 4000 people turned up in support, which tells me that there are a lot of people out there keen for green energy and looking after our big blue home better.
I do like the tax in theory. Apart from a small percentage of dinosaurs and rich businessmen, (and the federal opposition, it seems), who still refuse to believe the facts concerning the effects that carbon emissions are having on our climate, I recokon 95% of people want to see a move away from fossil fuels towards the renewables like solar, and at least a concerted effort to clean up our act in general. The government has proposed that the top 200 polluters in the industry sector be made accountable for the damage they are doing, and pay for it accordingly. And why not? It is they who are doing the majority of the damage to our environment and our air supply, and they are making a good deal of money in the process, so I see no problem with that proposal.
I am worried about this thing though. I just can't bring myself to trust it. I think it has been rushed in without any real planning, I mean it is two months at least since the scheme was announced, and still there is nothing more than hearsay on what it all actually means, what the rate of tax will be or where the money is going to go. I am worried also about the stipulations regarding to be the accountability of the big corporations. This is big business that we are talking about here. These bastards will lie and cheat and steal and just about do anything to keep their profit margins in the green, make no mistake about it. The majority of these companies do have the money also to avoid downsizing their operations, and therefore avoiding reducing their carbon emissions.
I also have doubts about what exactly the government will do with the money gained from the scheme. Common sense would dictate that the money be used to directly fund invenstments in the renewable energy sector and possibly more rebate schemes like the successful solar rebate scheme. This, however, seems unlikely. At best a fairly small cut of the money will be used to make substantial moves forward in this direction. Most likely the money raised will go towards the government's plan to get the nation's budget back to surplus. Funny that. As long as the budget is in surplus it appears, at least figuratively that all of the country's financial issues are sorted and everything is fine and dandy. What the figures don't say though is that the rest of us have less money than we used to. But that's another story altogether.
Unfortunately I feel that the all too likely scenario to come out of this whole fiasco will be this. A relatively small reduction in carbon emissions, higher prices for consumers across the board, escpescially for energy, and fairly poor return towards renewable energy. The government is too cozy in bed with the big polluters because it is ultimately they who are in the drivers seat of the nation's economy.
I have to say that I think this tax will be a failure. I hate to say it and I hope i'm wrong. It will probably make life a little tougher for little result. That being said, I hope that it goes through. Otherwise we are back at square one. At least the foot is in the door now to a cleaner future. Let's get this thing happening and see how it goes and move on from there. There is a long way to go with this fight, so let's take a look and see what happens I reckon. Maybe another rise in energy rates is exactly what we need. Everybody is already pissed off about the price of power these days, so I see another rate hike will do nothing but encourage more people to become involved in the debate and get behind green energy. It's going to be shockingly mismanaged, you can count on that, but at least Gillard is doing something in the name of positivity for once in her life.
Go carbon tax.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
A Prayer
O Lord, why is it so?
Why has man gone this way? What is the meaning for all this suffering, all this chaos?
Why ia it so that the evil in man prevails? From heaven it must appear that we are the most depicable things in all creation. From Heaven, we have created hell.
We have been blessed with great intelligence, and a seemingly limitless ability to learn and create and grow. We have evolved oh so fast, my Lord.
We have been blessed with consciousness, the most subtle and sublime gift of all.
This is what makes our plight the worst and least excusable.
We have the power to care, to love, to give. To share and adapt and make the world a beautiful place.
Yet our species is in shambles. We stand at the very edge of damnation, allowing ourselves to be led by those with a thirst for greed and power and blood.
When men become pawns in a game of greed and war and terror and starvation and suffering, well there are no words for it.
I feel great sadness, great anger and fear, Boss. I have finally learnt what the world has become, and suddenly it isn't the beautiful thing I always thought it was.
The beautiful place it should be. And, given time, can and will be again.
For many thousands of years, the people of Earth lived in harmony with the planet and each other.
Sure, men have probably always killed men, but nowadays things are different. At least I hope so.
I believe still in the good in man. In the greater good. Inherently human beings are just and fair and compassionate.
Of course there is the exception to the rule, when evil controls the heart of a man.
I wonder if it is a thing that is there inherent, in the genes and the soul since birth,or if it the world that instills it.
It is also a wonder that these are the people who inherit the power over the rest of us. They are strong, deadly and malicious.
They dominate those with good hearts through fear and lies, with a vast array of tricks and well thought out schemes and the illusions of absolute power.
They say that absolut power corrupts absolutely. Does one come to a position of absolute power without being corrupt to begin with?
I believe that there are those among us without a price, who are stong enough and smart enough to beat these people.People with heart and will and courage who can wrest power from the hands of those who would enslave and kill us all.
It is written my Lord, that the meek shall inherit the earth. This may be true,but it must be the brave and the strong and the humble and true that carry the fight to bring it home for them.
A hundred of the meek can be roused into a strong and proud group, with a collective voice and collective power. A million would be unstoppable.
Strength through unity. we outnumber them a hundred, a thousand even, to one.
right now they have us stranded in a state of apathy, a state of laziness and ignorance.
They are slowly stripping us of the essential things that ultimately make us human.
We are kept from a sense of togetherness by the promotion of senses of difference.
Fearing those who appear to be different from us, but are ultimately the same.
We all want the same things from life. To be free, to be fed, to be loved, to share and give and be happy. We just wanna live.
All of this is possible. All of it. The world can be ruled by Love. It is well within our means to have peace and forgiveness and fairness and rights for all peoples..
It is not too much to ask, it is possible and it is not crazy to think so.
Our big beautiful bright new future will probably not happen in our lifetime, matter of fact it definately won't.
But it has to start somewhere. And indeed it has already begun. People all over the world have had enough of tyranny. People are out on the streets marching for freedom. From Libya to London, even America.
If you don't fight for your rights, there are people who will take them from you and laugh all the way to the bank as they do so.
We're all in this together. Worldwide. We have to be smart and strong. All you need is love kids.
Peace.
Good Lord, bless this house, Selah.
Why has man gone this way? What is the meaning for all this suffering, all this chaos?
Why ia it so that the evil in man prevails? From heaven it must appear that we are the most depicable things in all creation. From Heaven, we have created hell.
We have been blessed with great intelligence, and a seemingly limitless ability to learn and create and grow. We have evolved oh so fast, my Lord.
We have been blessed with consciousness, the most subtle and sublime gift of all.
This is what makes our plight the worst and least excusable.
We have the power to care, to love, to give. To share and adapt and make the world a beautiful place.
Yet our species is in shambles. We stand at the very edge of damnation, allowing ourselves to be led by those with a thirst for greed and power and blood.
When men become pawns in a game of greed and war and terror and starvation and suffering, well there are no words for it.
I feel great sadness, great anger and fear, Boss. I have finally learnt what the world has become, and suddenly it isn't the beautiful thing I always thought it was.
The beautiful place it should be. And, given time, can and will be again.
For many thousands of years, the people of Earth lived in harmony with the planet and each other.
Sure, men have probably always killed men, but nowadays things are different. At least I hope so.
I believe still in the good in man. In the greater good. Inherently human beings are just and fair and compassionate.
Of course there is the exception to the rule, when evil controls the heart of a man.
I wonder if it is a thing that is there inherent, in the genes and the soul since birth,or if it the world that instills it.
It is also a wonder that these are the people who inherit the power over the rest of us. They are strong, deadly and malicious.
They dominate those with good hearts through fear and lies, with a vast array of tricks and well thought out schemes and the illusions of absolute power.
They say that absolut power corrupts absolutely. Does one come to a position of absolute power without being corrupt to begin with?
I believe that there are those among us without a price, who are stong enough and smart enough to beat these people.People with heart and will and courage who can wrest power from the hands of those who would enslave and kill us all.
It is written my Lord, that the meek shall inherit the earth. This may be true,but it must be the brave and the strong and the humble and true that carry the fight to bring it home for them.
A hundred of the meek can be roused into a strong and proud group, with a collective voice and collective power. A million would be unstoppable.
Strength through unity. we outnumber them a hundred, a thousand even, to one.
right now they have us stranded in a state of apathy, a state of laziness and ignorance.
They are slowly stripping us of the essential things that ultimately make us human.
We are kept from a sense of togetherness by the promotion of senses of difference.
Fearing those who appear to be different from us, but are ultimately the same.
We all want the same things from life. To be free, to be fed, to be loved, to share and give and be happy. We just wanna live.
All of this is possible. All of it. The world can be ruled by Love. It is well within our means to have peace and forgiveness and fairness and rights for all peoples..
It is not too much to ask, it is possible and it is not crazy to think so.
Our big beautiful bright new future will probably not happen in our lifetime, matter of fact it definately won't.
But it has to start somewhere. And indeed it has already begun. People all over the world have had enough of tyranny. People are out on the streets marching for freedom. From Libya to London, even America.
If you don't fight for your rights, there are people who will take them from you and laugh all the way to the bank as they do so.
We're all in this together. Worldwide. We have to be smart and strong. All you need is love kids.
Peace.
Good Lord, bless this house, Selah.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Plastic Fantastic
Plastic. It really is everywhere. Possibly one of man's most important inventions. It has undoubtably been a huge part of our development in the 100 or so years that it has been around, allowing us to move forward in leaps and bounds, in terms of technology and the goods that we use in our day-to-day lives.
As incredibly useful this stuff is, it has it's downsides. Huge downsides really. Considering that no organisms on Earth have the capacity to break the stuff down, a simple plastic bottle is estimated to have a life span of around 450 years. Even cigarette butts can take up to 20 years to decompose, given the fact that they are largely created from plastic. According to some, styrofoam apparently lasts as good as forever, and glass bottles up to a million years. In essence, just about every single piece of plastic that has ever been made, except for stuff that has been burned, still exists today. Most of it makes it's way over the course of it's lifetime to the place that is downhill from everywhere, the ocean. The UN released some statistics a couple of years ago that blew me away more than a little. They estimate that for every square mile of ocean in the world, there are around 46,000 peices of plastic in it on average. Either floating or on the sea bed. Nasty stuff dudes.
Only around 46 percent of the plastic we dispose of actually gets recycled here in Australia. While this is indeed a pretty good figure in contrast with most of the world, especially in comparison to the US's shocking 5 percent, a lot of what we actually throw away makes it's way to landfill or the sea.
It's all pretty bad and fucked up for the planet, but it's actually not all doom and gloom. There are several new sciences devoted to the relatively new technology of biodegradable plastics, which are being created with all kinds of materials, from orange peels to chook feathers, marking a separation from the current methods, with which plastic is created using fossil fuels, most notably crude oil and natural gas. Finite resources with a limited lifespan. Even Sony, one of the technlogogical superstars of our world, who pruduce plastic goods on a tremendous scale, have begun to get on board and are utilising the new degradable plastics in the creation of their TV's and Playstation 3's. One of the world's leading innovators in renewable plastics is actually an Australian company, named Plantic. The dude who makes it even eats it to show that it is non toxic and completely biodegradable. This is great news!
But there is a long way to go, and the battle is not yet won. There is still alot of near indestructible plastic being pumped out, still a lot of waste. Truth be told, it will get a lot worse before it get's better. All that we can do as consumers is to be watchful and clever about it. Always try to recycle, take your reusable bags shopping, chuck your butts in the bin, etcetera etcetera. You know the drill. It's imporant though. The old adage still stands. Don't shit where you eat. So let's all try not make a mark as long as we can help it.
Good ol' Clean Up Australia have put together a little fact sheet with a bit of extra information and some tips to cut down on your waste. You should look into it! Riiiiiight here,
http://www.cleanup.org.au/PDF/au/cua_plastic_recycling_fact_sheet.pdf
And guess what? Another supersweet doco for you freaks! Bonus Bonanza! Huzzah! This one is actually pretty good. A Canadian bloke goes all over the world finding out the story of plastic and the effects of it. He also uncovers some of ways that it is being reused and recycled, and spends some time on the new technologies and stuff. Recommended.
Here's a few more video's for those interested, courtesy of my friend Danica, specifically to do with the giant garbage patch floating out there in the middle of the Pacific.
http://www.tedxgreatpacificgarbagepatch.com/category/watch-our-videos/
.... And thanks to Frazzy for this Awesome VBS special
http://www.vbs.tv/en-gb/watch/toxic/toxic-garbage-island-1-of-3
Peace.
As incredibly useful this stuff is, it has it's downsides. Huge downsides really. Considering that no organisms on Earth have the capacity to break the stuff down, a simple plastic bottle is estimated to have a life span of around 450 years. Even cigarette butts can take up to 20 years to decompose, given the fact that they are largely created from plastic. According to some, styrofoam apparently lasts as good as forever, and glass bottles up to a million years. In essence, just about every single piece of plastic that has ever been made, except for stuff that has been burned, still exists today. Most of it makes it's way over the course of it's lifetime to the place that is downhill from everywhere, the ocean. The UN released some statistics a couple of years ago that blew me away more than a little. They estimate that for every square mile of ocean in the world, there are around 46,000 peices of plastic in it on average. Either floating or on the sea bed. Nasty stuff dudes.
Only around 46 percent of the plastic we dispose of actually gets recycled here in Australia. While this is indeed a pretty good figure in contrast with most of the world, especially in comparison to the US's shocking 5 percent, a lot of what we actually throw away makes it's way to landfill or the sea.
It's all pretty bad and fucked up for the planet, but it's actually not all doom and gloom. There are several new sciences devoted to the relatively new technology of biodegradable plastics, which are being created with all kinds of materials, from orange peels to chook feathers, marking a separation from the current methods, with which plastic is created using fossil fuels, most notably crude oil and natural gas. Finite resources with a limited lifespan. Even Sony, one of the technlogogical superstars of our world, who pruduce plastic goods on a tremendous scale, have begun to get on board and are utilising the new degradable plastics in the creation of their TV's and Playstation 3's. One of the world's leading innovators in renewable plastics is actually an Australian company, named Plantic. The dude who makes it even eats it to show that it is non toxic and completely biodegradable. This is great news!
But there is a long way to go, and the battle is not yet won. There is still alot of near indestructible plastic being pumped out, still a lot of waste. Truth be told, it will get a lot worse before it get's better. All that we can do as consumers is to be watchful and clever about it. Always try to recycle, take your reusable bags shopping, chuck your butts in the bin, etcetera etcetera. You know the drill. It's imporant though. The old adage still stands. Don't shit where you eat. So let's all try not make a mark as long as we can help it.
Good ol' Clean Up Australia have put together a little fact sheet with a bit of extra information and some tips to cut down on your waste. You should look into it! Riiiiiight here,
http://www.cleanup.org.au/PDF/au/cua_plastic_recycling_fact_sheet.pdf
And guess what? Another supersweet doco for you freaks! Bonus Bonanza! Huzzah! This one is actually pretty good. A Canadian bloke goes all over the world finding out the story of plastic and the effects of it. He also uncovers some of ways that it is being reused and recycled, and spends some time on the new technologies and stuff. Recommended.
Here's a few more video's for those interested, courtesy of my friend Danica, specifically to do with the giant garbage patch floating out there in the middle of the Pacific.
http://www.tedxgreatpacificgarbagepatch.com/category/watch-our-videos/
.... And thanks to Frazzy for this Awesome VBS special
http://www.vbs.tv/en-gb/watch/toxic/toxic-garbage-island-1-of-3
Peace.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Fracked.
Right now we have a whole new environmental war spilling over onto our shores. State and Federal government have recently approved applications from major gas and energy companies, which enable these companies to have access to a vast amount of land, right across Australia, including thousands of properties, national parks, the lot. These lands are to be used for the development of the new goldmine for mining and energy, coal seam gas.
It is being pushed forward under the guise of being a new fix-all green energy, when in fact this statement could not be further from the truth. It is also marketed as being carbon-free, and therefore supposedly the way to reduce the effects that current fossil-fuel technologies are having in terms of global warming. Also a misleading statement. Though indeed carbon-free, the problem is merely replaced with another problem gas, methane, which is a byproduct released into the atmosphere in tremendous quantities during the process. Methane is also a greenhouse gas, equally as nasty as carbon dioxide.
This gas lies under a vast amount of land, deep below the earth. Several companies, such as QGC, AGL and Origin Energy, amongst others, share private ownership of these resources, which lay deep below the earth and rock. This in itself is a travesty, as all natural resources in our soils should be held in the public domain. In many, many cases, the gas lies directly beneath farms and communities.
Many farmers are being offered seemingly lucrative "compensation" packages by the companies to be allowed onto the privately owned properties and extract the gas below. Quite often the spokespeople of the companies offering said compensation, are doing so with a great deal of misinformation and non-disclosure of important information.Smoke and mirrors and persuasion.
The gas itself is mined by setting up a bore to dig a well deep down into the earth, where coal seams are located. The gas is extracted from the surrounding rock by pumping huge amounts of water in combination with, in a lot of instances, a combination of salt and chemicals specifically designed to fracture the rock, known as "fracking fluid", to shatter the rock below in order to release the gas.
A vast amount of water is required for the process. The project in Queensland alone will reqire the use of 45,000 gigalitres. That is 450,000,000,000 litres of fresh water. Four hundred and fifty billion litres. Only half of this water will be returned to the water cycle. This will lead to a MASSIVE drop in the water table, most notably in the Great Artesian Basin, which provides the vast majority of fresh drinking water for the people of Queensland. And we wonder why the water companies have recently annonced a planned hike in the price of drinking water. The other half of the water is permanently infused with the multitude of chemicals used in the fracking process. These chemicals do not break down naturally, and are highly poisonous.
These chemicals are used to dissolve and shatter rocks. They are terribly dangerous for humans and wildlife. Many of these chemicals are carcinogenic and present in high doses. The waste water, or as the industry has tagged it, "produced water", is pumped back into the earth, where it runs the very dangerous risk of intermingling with the groundwater and thus entering the natural water system. Needless to say this is potentially very very dangerous for the ecosystem, and people and communities in the areas affected. Quite often excess waste is dumped in fields and streams, which is even worse. It is all pretty horrifying stuff and I am not making this up.
In quite a few instances, the gas itself has been escaping through the water system. Some farmers, who's lands have been used as sites for the wells and gas pipelines, are able to actually set their tapwater alight as it comes out from the tap. The gas itself has various extreme health problems associated, such as cancer on the brain, amongst other things.None of this is disclosed to the public of course, and the companies are in a state of denial and inaccountability.
So how can all this be happening? It just shows how weak courts and governments are in comparison to big business. These companies have successfully forced new laws to be passed exempting themselves from normal standards regarding to drinking water standards and those regarding the environmental impact of the project. There are not regulated at all, and their chemicals are not up to any real scrutiny. They almost have complete impunity from the law or regulation, and do not recognise normal laws of disclosure. It is ugly and has to be stopped. Our whole backyard, beautiful Australia, stands to be raped beyond recognition, and our farmers are set to be pushed out of their livelihoods forever. Our health and way of life is at threat.The air we breathe and the water we drink will be poisoned.
There are plans for around 40,000 wells in Queensland alone, and a similar amount in New South Wales, indeed no state will be unaffected. A site is even proposed merely 20 kilometers from Warrigamba Dam, which is the prime water supply for Greater Sydney itself..
A couple of weeks ago, 4 Corners did an expose on the subject, which you can and should watch online HERE,
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/special_eds/20110221/gas/default.htm
The indusrty is a carry over from the United States, where the industry has been going on across the nation for quite some time now. The situation over there is grim, and stands as a dire warning for what may be to come here, if the goldrush for Coal Seam Gas gains full flight here in Australia. There are some real lessons here that we simply cannot ignore.
The following movie shows how the Natural Gas battle is having some horrific effects on the people of rural America. It was even nominated for an Oscar, apparently. It's well made and is absolutely essential viewing. It's Called Gasland. You should watch it.
THIS IS SERIOUS!
So tell your friends and your government or your local member how you feel. http://www.directory.gov.au/quicklinks.php?agency
TAKE ACTION, SIGN A PETITION OR TWO!
QLD: https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/EPetitions_QLD/Confirmation.aspx?PetNum=1592&lIndex=-1
NSW: http://huntervalleyprotectionalliance.com/
This just in! I've just been sent a link to another blog with heaps of further information... go here.
http://frackedagain.blogspot.com/2010/11/no-worries-fracking-down-under.html
It is being pushed forward under the guise of being a new fix-all green energy, when in fact this statement could not be further from the truth. It is also marketed as being carbon-free, and therefore supposedly the way to reduce the effects that current fossil-fuel technologies are having in terms of global warming. Also a misleading statement. Though indeed carbon-free, the problem is merely replaced with another problem gas, methane, which is a byproduct released into the atmosphere in tremendous quantities during the process. Methane is also a greenhouse gas, equally as nasty as carbon dioxide.
This gas lies under a vast amount of land, deep below the earth. Several companies, such as QGC, AGL and Origin Energy, amongst others, share private ownership of these resources, which lay deep below the earth and rock. This in itself is a travesty, as all natural resources in our soils should be held in the public domain. In many, many cases, the gas lies directly beneath farms and communities.
Many farmers are being offered seemingly lucrative "compensation" packages by the companies to be allowed onto the privately owned properties and extract the gas below. Quite often the spokespeople of the companies offering said compensation, are doing so with a great deal of misinformation and non-disclosure of important information.Smoke and mirrors and persuasion.
The gas itself is mined by setting up a bore to dig a well deep down into the earth, where coal seams are located. The gas is extracted from the surrounding rock by pumping huge amounts of water in combination with, in a lot of instances, a combination of salt and chemicals specifically designed to fracture the rock, known as "fracking fluid", to shatter the rock below in order to release the gas.
A vast amount of water is required for the process. The project in Queensland alone will reqire the use of 45,000 gigalitres. That is 450,000,000,000 litres of fresh water. Four hundred and fifty billion litres. Only half of this water will be returned to the water cycle. This will lead to a MASSIVE drop in the water table, most notably in the Great Artesian Basin, which provides the vast majority of fresh drinking water for the people of Queensland. And we wonder why the water companies have recently annonced a planned hike in the price of drinking water. The other half of the water is permanently infused with the multitude of chemicals used in the fracking process. These chemicals do not break down naturally, and are highly poisonous.
These chemicals are used to dissolve and shatter rocks. They are terribly dangerous for humans and wildlife. Many of these chemicals are carcinogenic and present in high doses. The waste water, or as the industry has tagged it, "produced water", is pumped back into the earth, where it runs the very dangerous risk of intermingling with the groundwater and thus entering the natural water system. Needless to say this is potentially very very dangerous for the ecosystem, and people and communities in the areas affected. Quite often excess waste is dumped in fields and streams, which is even worse. It is all pretty horrifying stuff and I am not making this up.
In quite a few instances, the gas itself has been escaping through the water system. Some farmers, who's lands have been used as sites for the wells and gas pipelines, are able to actually set their tapwater alight as it comes out from the tap. The gas itself has various extreme health problems associated, such as cancer on the brain, amongst other things.None of this is disclosed to the public of course, and the companies are in a state of denial and inaccountability.
So how can all this be happening? It just shows how weak courts and governments are in comparison to big business. These companies have successfully forced new laws to be passed exempting themselves from normal standards regarding to drinking water standards and those regarding the environmental impact of the project. There are not regulated at all, and their chemicals are not up to any real scrutiny. They almost have complete impunity from the law or regulation, and do not recognise normal laws of disclosure. It is ugly and has to be stopped. Our whole backyard, beautiful Australia, stands to be raped beyond recognition, and our farmers are set to be pushed out of their livelihoods forever. Our health and way of life is at threat.The air we breathe and the water we drink will be poisoned.
There are plans for around 40,000 wells in Queensland alone, and a similar amount in New South Wales, indeed no state will be unaffected. A site is even proposed merely 20 kilometers from Warrigamba Dam, which is the prime water supply for Greater Sydney itself..
A couple of weeks ago, 4 Corners did an expose on the subject, which you can and should watch online HERE,
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/special_eds/20110221/gas/default.htm
The indusrty is a carry over from the United States, where the industry has been going on across the nation for quite some time now. The situation over there is grim, and stands as a dire warning for what may be to come here, if the goldrush for Coal Seam Gas gains full flight here in Australia. There are some real lessons here that we simply cannot ignore.
The following movie shows how the Natural Gas battle is having some horrific effects on the people of rural America. It was even nominated for an Oscar, apparently. It's well made and is absolutely essential viewing. It's Called Gasland. You should watch it.
THIS IS SERIOUS!
So tell your friends and your government or your local member how you feel. http://www.directory.gov.au/quicklinks.php?agency
TAKE ACTION, SIGN A PETITION OR TWO!
QLD: https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/EPetitions_QLD/Confirmation.aspx?PetNum=1592&lIndex=-1
NSW: http://huntervalleyprotectionalliance.com/
This just in! I've just been sent a link to another blog with heaps of further information... go here.
http://frackedagain.blogspot.com/2010/11/no-worries-fracking-down-under.html
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Reasons for Ranting
I tend to rant pretty heavily about Governments and Corporations and the Banks. Between these guys and market economists they have deivised and incorporated the current system of "growth" and money that dictates every single facet of the way our society works, hidden behind a web of lies and trick and decietful language and flat out social engineering. It's no help that the own the Law, too. It's ugly stuff. And unless we wake up and realise it and do something about it, its going to end badly. I don't know what is to be done, but it has to be soon and it has to be done by the numbers. Otherwise our kids will beat the shit out of us for being so fucking useless probably just before the whole world goes straight to hell. Anyway, I just want everybody to know all this stuff and be aware of it and be angry about it. It's serious shit we're talking about here. Life seems pretty good here in Australia, but it will get worse and worse and worse if it keeps going the way it is. It cannot get better unless we change the whole fucking system. Do yourself a favour and watch this video. It's important. it pretty much covers EVERYTHING. Gotta fight for our right to party yo. Sooner or later we're going to have to hit the streets. Fuck these clowns, let's take it back!
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