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Category: General news

Managing director of Ebono Institute and major sponsor of The Generator, Geoff Ebbs, is running against Kevin Rudd in the seat of Griffith at the next Federal election. By the expression on their faces in this candid shot it looks like a pretty dull campaign. Read on

  • This captain is off target Solar Citizens

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    Quote of the Day – Clare Boothe Luce – “Courage is the ladder on which all the other virtues mount.”

    This captain is off target

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    Claire, Solar Citizens
    10:26 AM (14 minutes ago)
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    NEVILLE —

    This story begins with a promise made on the cusp of an election: that the current 41,000 gigawatt-hour Renewable Energy Target would be safe under an Abbott-led Coalition government.

    Late last year Prime Minister Abbott broke that promise calling for devastating cuts to the Target instead.

    Fast forward to this week and negotiations between the Abbott government and Labor on the future of the Target are making headlines again. Detail is thin on the ground but what’s clear is Abbott’s team have been using national media channels to deliver veiled threats: take our offer to slash the Target to around 31,000 GWh, or we’ll walk. 

    Just this morning reports say that both Labor and industry representatives will not accept such dramatic cuts to the Target.* Let’s show them we won’t stand for it either. Can you email your Coalition representative today telling them to hold their Party leader, Mr Abbott, to his election promise?

    Tell Tony Abbott to stop the attack on solar

    Since his election, Prime Minister Abbott has waged a ferocious attack on renewables. This may be a captain’s call, but we’re not convinced the crew are 100% on board. Many in his own party understand that Australians want more, not less renewable energy in the country’s power mix.

    If the past few months in politics have shown us anything, it’s that a few backbenchers with the courage to speak up can make all the difference. That’s why we’re asking you to email your Coalition MP or Senator, encouraging them to do their job and speak up on behalf of people in their communities who want to keep the Renewable Energy Target strong.

    The good news is we’re already getting through to them. Our phone calls, emails, meetings and rallies have demonstrated enormous community support for the Target. The Coalition negotiators have now edged their position up slightly from what they were proposing last year. We can’t miss this opportunity to keep the pressure on. 

    Most agree our sun drenched country should be taking confident strides towards a solar powered future. The Renewable Energy Target is one of the most successful pieces of nation building legislation in past years. Not only has the Target helped more than 5 million Australians go solar, it also benefits the entire country – increasing investment, growth, jobs and regional development.

    So why is Prime Minister Abbott intent on taking us back to the dark ages? Abbott’s broken promise has already set the renewable energy industry back 12 years and seen an 88 per cent reduction in projects due to stalled investment.** If he refuses to come to the table with a genuine commitment to Australian renewables the resulting economic vandalism will be devastating. 

    Our politicians still have a chance to make things right. But they won’t do it without some firm encouragement from you.     They’re back in Parliament today, so let’s make sure the Target is the hot topic around the Coalition water cooler. Take a minute to send your personal message to your Coalition MP or Senator using our handy tool, asking them to hold their Party leader to his promise.

    For a sun-powered Australia,

    Claire, National Director

    Claire O'Rourke, National Director

    P.S. As if the attacks on the Target are not enough, just last week Abbott’s Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, launched a scare campaign against the solar industry.*** Write today to make sure your Coalition MP or Senator hears your concerns right now while they are in Canberra and calls on PM Abbott to rein in his government’s attacks on solar and renewables. 

    *http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/labor-rejects-fresh-renewable-energy-target-offer-20150302-13t307.html

    ** http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/ret-negotiations-set-industry-back-12-years-clean-energy-finance-corporation-20150225-13ok66.html

    *** http://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/solar-industry-fears-politics-driving-rooftop-inquiry-56353

    Solar Citizens
    http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/

    -=-=-

    Solar Citizens is an independent community-based organisation bringing together millions of solar owners and supporters to protect and grow solar in Australia. You can keep up with Solar Citizens on Twitter or like us on Facebook.

  • You pay your fair share, why can’t they? LABOR

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    You pay your fair share, why can’t they?

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    Bill Shorten via sendgrid.info 
    3:15 PM (9 minutes ago)
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    .
    Neville,

    For a party that cries poor when it comes to Australia’s budget, the Liberals have a funny way of showing it: they let large multinational companies off the hook in paying their taxes.

    And who covers the shortfall? Sick Australians getting taxed to see the doctor; pensioners with cut pensions; students paying more for a degree; Australian businesses doing the right thing and paying their fair share of tax.

    Labor thinks that’s plain wrong. That’s why we will make large multinational companies pay their fair share.

    We can’t count on the mainstream media alone, but we can count on you to help get our announcement out there. We know there will only be a few seconds about this on the news so it’s down to you to help Australians hear the details. It’s up to all of us to be armed with the facts and ready to take every chance we get to explain our plans.

    www.alp.org.au/fairshare

    The Liberals’ priorities are way off when they think the way to balance the budget is to hand back $1 billion to large foreign companies, but put a tax on going to see the doctor.

    My position is simple: you pay your fair share of tax, Australian companies pay their fair share of tax, large foreign companies doing business in Australia should pay their fair share.

    Companies like Apple and James Hardie ship their profits offshore to make it look like they make no money in Australia, with all sorts of accounting tricks. Meanwhile, Australian companies trying to compete with them are paying their fair share.

    We will close those loopholes and get you your billions back. Here’s how:

    www.alp.org.au/fairshare

    You know the impact of the Liberals’ unfair GP Tax, all done under the guise of Australia not being able to afford it. Why do the Liberals care more about large multinational companies than your household budget?

    We know the lobbying power these large multinational companies have. If we want to close these loopholes, you are our last line of defence.

    Arm yourself with these facts, share them with your friends and together we can do what’s fair by Australia.

    Thanks for standing with me on this,

    Bill

    PS — The Liberals hand back $1 billion to large foreign companies, while you pay more to see a doctor. If you think that’s unfair, arm yourself with these facts and let’s close the loopholes

  • The John James Newsletter 48

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    3 The John James Newsletter 48

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    John James
    		7:54 PM (1 hour ago)

    Why is this message in Spam? It contains content that’s typically used in spam messages.  Learn moreImages are not displayed.Display images belowThe John James Newsletter 48
    28 February 2015

    The corporate grip on opinion in the United States is one of the wonders of the Western world. No First World country has ever managed to eliminate objectivity so entirely from its media – much less dissent.Gore Vidal
    I have a question:I have been told that engineers have found cracks under Warragamba dam (possibly caused by coal mining under the dam) through which our water supply is seeping away. They have tried to fix the leaks but haven’t been successful. It is worrying that the government may be keeping this problem under wraps. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS?
    Hope Among the Ruins?Fascinating suggestions for a new order in the banking worldhttp://www.monbiot.com/2015/02/17/hope-among-the-ruinshttp://www.sovereignman.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/LiquidityPyramid.pdf
    Iraqi Army Downs Two British Planes Carrying Weapons for ISILNumerous flights by the US-led coalition that airdrop weapons and supplies for IS shows US prefers a chaotic situation in Anbar Province. It is near Baghdad. The US does not want the crisis to end. http://www.globalresearch.ca/iraqi-army-downs-two-british-planes-carrying-weapons-for-isil-terrorists/5433089
    Financial War: US Wants to Trigger Russian BankruptciesIf loans due in dollars during the coming year cannot be rolled over there would be a “devastating” impact on the Russian economy The US intends to use a technical trick to shorten the duration of existing loans and credits to Russian banks, energy companies and arms companies. In another move the US is moving to exclude Russia from the SWIFT system that enables electronic transactions instead of paper. This is particularly feared by the Russians, who are rushing to install an alternative. American rating agencies have already classified Russian government bonds as junk so some large pension funds are legally obliged to withdraw, all intended to destroy the rouble. http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2015/02/financial-war-us-wants-trigger-wave-russian-bankruptcies.html
    100 reasons to ‘Audit The Fed’ We like to think that we have a government “of the people, by the people, for the people”, but the truth is that an unelected, unaccountable group has far more power over our economy than anyone else. The Federal Reserve is “independent” of the government,  “not an agency” and therefore not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/janet-yellen-is-freaking-out-about-audit-the-fed-here-are-100-reasons-why-she-should-be
    Russia ratifies $100bn BRICS New Development Bankhttp://rt.com/business/234027-russia-ratifies-brics-bank/

    Russia’s roadmap for annexing eastern Ukraine leaked from Putin’s office

    A bombshell document showing a ‘step-by-step’ guide to taking Crimea and other eastern Ukrainian provinces more than a year agohttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russias-roadmap-for-annexing-eastern-ukraine-leaked-from-vladimir-putins-office-10069203.html
    The next move on Ukraine Crimea has been reclaimed, and Ukraine’s drive to join Europe’s mainstream and possibly Nato seems more problematic now that Moscow has shown how far it will go to prevent this. …. Russia also dominates South Ossetia and Abkhazia in Georgia and signed a border agreement with South Ossetia last week.

    http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-1-303467-Putin-surveys-the-map-as-he-ponders-next-move-on-Ukraine

    And not unexpectedly:

    Putin: Gas supplies to Europe could suffer in 3-4 days if Kiev doesn’t pay

    http://rt.com/news/235459-putin-gas-ukraine-europe/

    Washington Has Resurrected The Threat Of Nuclear WarFormer US Ambassador to the Soviet Union (1987-91) Jack Matlock is astonished by the dismissal of Russia as merely “a regional power” of little consequence to the powerful US. No country armed with numerous, accurate, and mobile ICBMs is a limited regional power. This is the kind of hubristic miscalculation that ends in world destruction. The Ukraine has been part of Russia for centuries and NATO has no business being there. It is the violations of promises made to Russia not to expand NATO eastward that has recreated the lack of trust that Reagan had successfully obtained.http://www.larouchepub.com/eiw/public/2015/2015_1-9/2015-08/pdf/10-14_4208.pdfvercome.
    Dozens of new craters suspected in northern RussiaThe parapet suggests an underground explosion. “The absence of charred rock and traces of  significant erosion shows it was a gas-explosive mechanism. A concentration of 5-to-16% of methane is explosive. http://siberiantimes.com/science/casestudy/news/n0127-dozens-of-mysterious-new-craters-suspected-in-northern-russia/Lester Brown: Dust Bowl Conditions Spreading Over Africa And Asia”We are pushing against the limits of land that can be plowed and the land available for grazing and there are two areas of the world in which we are in serious trouble now. One is the Sahel region of Africa, from Senegal to Somalia where a huge dust bowl is forming that  stretches right across the continent, and it is removing the top soil – this is serious.”http://www.countercurrents.org/queally250215.htm
    Toxic water worse at FukushimaAbout 350 tons of toxic water are generated daily in the process of cooling three reactors at the Fukushima plant that suffered meltdowns during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. “The situation … remains very complex, with the increasing amount of contaminated water posing a short-term challenge”http://www.news24.com/Green/News/Toxic-water-worse-at-Fukushima-20150217 andFresh leak at Fukushima nuclear plant sees 70-fold radiation spikehttp://rt.com/news/234547-fukushima-new-leak-nuclear/
    Two unfinished Cezannes discoveredhttp://www.smh.com.au/world/two-unfinished-cezannes-discovered-20150221-13l3js.html

    StatinsDr. MaryAnne Demasi’s documentary on the activity of the pharmaceutical industry regarding cholesterol-lowering statin drugs sent shock waves through the mainstream media in Australia at the end of 2013. Published in two parts on The Catalyst, the pharmaceutical industry complained so loudly the network removed the videos from their website and from YouTube. Dr. Michael Eades has published them here. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article41045.htm
    Birth right 25 years ago we ranked 50 countries according to where would be the best place to be born. Then, America came top. The new quality-of-life index links the results of subjective life-satisfaction surveys—how happy people say they are—to objective determinants across 80 countries. Oz is second, the US now 16th.http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2013/01/daily-chart?fsrc=scn/tw/te/bl/ed/birthright
    Reading the Greek Deal CorrectlyNegotiations can continue because Chancellor Merkel preferred not to be the leader responsible for the fragmentation of Europe.http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/02/24/reading-greek-deal-correctly
    The Madrid Earthquake That Divides The US The faults responsible for the New Madrid Seismic Zone are embedded in a subsurface geological feature known as the Reelfoot Rift that formed during the breakup of the supercontinent Rodinia in the Neoproterozoic Era (about 750 million years ago). The resulting rift system have made the Earth’s crust mechanically weak and would allow the relatively small east-west compressive forces associated with the continuing continental drift to reactivate old faults making the area unusually prone to earthquakes in spite of it being far from the nearest tectonic plate boundary.http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/the-new-madrid-earthquake-that-will-divide-the-united-states-in-half

    to John

  • They’ll be watching you GET UP

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    Leah – GetUp!
    5:34 PM (3 minutes ago)
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    Citizens Not Suspects banner

    Dear NEVILLE,

    “The Australian people are being sleep walked into a system the Attorney-General cannot even articulate.”

    So says a police insider — one whistleblower who might not be anonymous for long if the Government has its way.1

    Today, it’s been reported that Labor is caving in to the Government on Abbott’s data retention bill — a law that will see every single Australian put under surveillance and our records kept for two years, regardless of who you are.2 Internet histories, calls to the doctor, location data, and emails could all be freely accessed by an undefined assortment of government and law enforcement employees.3 Basic protections, like agencies having to get a warrant before accessing your data, appear to have been turfed.

    And shockingly, despite warnings from every major media company, whistleblowers and journalists will not be protected under these laws. Without doubt, this will ‘have a chilling effect on reporting in the public interest’, as media organisations warned the parliamentary committee looking at the laws.4

    Labor and the Government are banking on Australians not caring enough to stand up for our rights, and our freedom of the press. We need to make it clear that a vote for metadata retention will have real political repercussions.

    Click here to tell your MP or Senator that supporting this legislation puts them on the wrong side of our rights, and our votes: https://www.getup.org.au/data-retention

    There’s just so much wrong with this scheme. For starters, the proposed laws would give Federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies the ability to track down journalists and whistleblowers looking to expose corruption and misconduct within government agencies. This is an underhanded attempt to suppress information that could potentially embarrass government agencies, and educate and empower voters.

    The Government’s laws aren’t even consistent — we’ve heard evidence that while Australian phone companies and internet service providers will be forced to maintain records for two years, the laws many not apply to international companies like Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook, Gmail chat and similar services.5

    There’s no judicial oversight of who gets access to these records. We don’t know exactly how much it will cost taxpayers and customers, but it will be in the hundreds of millions – a cost that internet providers will pass onto customers. And worse, the servers that this data’s kept on will inevitably create a ‘honeypot’ for hackers to intrude on our personal lives.

    And the kicker — there’s no evidence that these laws will make Australia safer.

    We have a chance right now to tell our parliamentarians to stand up against this flawed, dangerous and undemocratic legislation.

    Contact them now and make the case against this awful legislation, before it’s too late: https://www.getup.org.au/data-retention

    Leah, Erin and Aurora, for the GetUp team.

    Ps. Confused about who will access these records? You should be — it’s a total mess. Currently, local councils, the Australian Taxation office and even the RSPCA have access to metadata as well as a host of other Federal bodies.6

    ~ References ~
    [1] ‘Exclusive: police insider speaks out on mandatory data retention’, Radio National, 21 February 2015.
    [2] ‘Metadata retention laws will pass as Labor folds’, AFR, 27 February 2015.
    [3] ‘Who can access your metadata?’ Crikey, 26 August 2014.
    [4] ‘Media companies’ metadata warnings go unheeded by intelligence committee’, The Guardian, 26 February 2015.
    [5] ‘Gmail, Facebook, Skype excluded from Australian data retention’. ZDNet, 2 February 2015.
    [6] ‘Spies can access my metadata, so why can’t I? My 15-month legal battle with Telstra’ SMH, 10 October 2014.

  • 5&5 TONY BURKE LABOR

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    Tony Burke via sendgrid.info 
    5:11 PM (3 minutes ago)
    to me
    .
    Neville –
    At our Caucus Meeting on Tuesday Bill made it clear Labor is gearing up for a fight and will be ready for the next election – because millions of Australians are counting on us.  It doesn’t matter who’s in the top job, Liberal MPs share the same values; they support $100,000 degrees, a tax on going to the doctor and cuts to pensions. Join The Fight to make this Liberal-National Government a one term government.

    BEST:

    1. On Wednesday Bill asked the question many Australians are pondering: “Is Tony Abbott the worst Prime Minister Australia has ever seen?” Childcare, healthcare, education, family payments, pensions… no matter where you look this Government is hitting families who can afford it the least. Watch the full speech here.
    2. Senate estimates is when senators question ministers and high-level public servants about the running of the Government. I know it’s not the House of Reps, but this was great to watch. Have a look at Penny questioning the Treasury chief about this Government’s overblown rhetoric, it’s brilliant.
    3. Eric Abetz. I bet you never thought he’d make the best list. He started boasting about how good Tony Abbott had been since the leadership ballot.  Penny Wong asked for an example. Abetz paused, looked a bit lost and said “I’ll take that on notice.” Here’s the footage.
    4. After a spill motion with the Liberal leadership under attack and just a few months after a cabinet reshuffle, Small Business Minister, Bruce Bilson, attacked Labor pointing to us and saying: “While they were changing leaders and changing ministers.” I think Bruce might come to regret saying that; sooner rather than later.
    5. In what some Journalists are describing as the “best press release ever,” Anthony Albanese on Thursday released a statement responding to the news Sydney Airport CEO and former Howard Government public service chief, Max “The Axe” Moore-Wilton, planned to retire; it simply read: “Good”.

    WORST:

    1. Let’s face it, the Human Rights Commission report in to children in detention has strong messages for both sides of politics. Shadow Immigration Minister, Richard Marles, acknowledged this as soon as it was released. Tony Abbott’s approach has been to shoot the messenger. This week we’ve seen a disgraceful and unprecedented attack on one of the nation’s most senior independent office holders, Human Rights Commission President, Gillian Triggs.
    2. On Tuesday Prof Triggs faced an aggressive and bullying attack by Liberal Senators. Senator Ian MacDonald, admitted he hasn’t even read the report in to children in detention; and Senator Barry O’Sullivan, during questioning said: “I thought you might like to hear a man’s voice”.
    3. By Tuesday night, Shadow Attorney General, Mark Dreyfus, had asked the Australian Federal Police to investigate “A possible contravention of the Criminal Code” in relation to evidence given during the marathon senate estimates session.
    4. On Wednesday Mark Dreyfus asked Julie Bishop, who represents the Attorney General in the House of Representatives: “What was the alternative role the government wanted Professor Triggs to take?” Her reply: “No such offer was made.” By Thursday Julie Bishop’s tune had changed and when asked what role was raised said: “A role was raised that related to international affairs.” Needless to say, this issue is far from over.
    5. On a different note, on Tuesday Employment Minister, Eric Abetz, ruled out changes to penalty rates; good news! By Thursday however he was once again not ruling out changes to penalty rates. They can’t hide from who they are.

    When someone makes a comment that is considered unparliamentary they are often asked to withdraw the comment. Labor Shadow Attorney General Mark Dreyfus has one of the loudest voices in the Parliament and is easily heard throughout the House of Reps. Yesterday Christopher Pyne claimed Mark Dreyfus had called out a comment which was unparliamentary and needed to be withdrawn. As it happened I was sitting right next to Mark and pointed out that he hadn’t made a sound. In fact I added this was one of the few times ever Mark Dreyfus had been quiet. Bronwyn Bishop still asked him to withdraw. So he withdrew his silence which I guess means he’ll never be quiet again.

    ’til next week,
    Tony

    PS: The #5and5 song of the week is for Tony Abbott. Here’s Billy Joel’s “Angry Young Man”. And after starting the year with Taylor Swift and Billy Joel, I’m trying to find a way of using a song from Pearl Jam or Metallica next week.
    Australian Labor Party
    Authorised by G. Wright, Australian Labor, 5/9 Sydney Avenue, Barton 2600 ACT

  • The Koala or the Coal Mine?

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    The Koala or the Coal Mine?

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    Lock the Gate Alliance <info@lockthegate.org.au>
    10:26 AM (3 minutes ago)
    to me
    Lock the Gate Alliance
    Dear Neville,

    Did you know that this week Greg Hunt is going to choose between protecting a national icon and giving the tick of approval to one more polluting new coal mine?You probably know that the Liverpool Plains is the foodbowl of Australia, with rich black soils, productive aquifers and strong farming communities. But did you also know that it’s the “Koala Capital of the World”?

    On the Liverpool Plains, it’s the Koalas or the coal mine, and Minister Hunt is the one that will choose.

    We think maybe Greg Hunt can’t see the Koala for the coal dust, and that you should give him a call today to make sure he knows that the Liverpool Plains is more important than the huge Shenhua Watermark coal mine.

    Hunt’s decision on the mine is due any day now. Can you call him today?

    His parliamentary phone number is: (02) 6277 7920. Let the receptionist know that you would like a message to be passed on to Minister Hunt. Please be polite and friendly. Here are some points you might like to make:

    • You are opposed to the Shenhua Watermark coal mine on the Liverpool Plains and you are asking Minister Hunt to reject it.
    • We shouldn’t risk our water resources, our foodbowl, or the 11 nationally threatened species of plants and animals that make their home here.
    • The Minister can and should reject this mine. It’s a national icon in more ways than one, and he needs to act in the national interest and protect it.

    This morning, a group of people from the New England electorate at at Barnaby Joyce’s office in Tamworth, with some friendly koalas, to ask him to ensure the mine is rejected by Minister Hunt. You’re phone call will amplify their voice. Here are the quick Koala facts that will shock you:

    • The Shenhua Watermark mine will make 262 individual Koalas homeless and clear over 800ha of Koala habitat
    • The company behind the mine will forcibly translocate Koalas if they don’t move away ‘naturally.’
    • Evidence from previous translocation projects shows that it causes Koala deaths, including one project where 80-100% of translocated Koalas died.

    Can you call Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt today, and ask him to reject the Shenhua Watermark coal mine on the Liverpool Plains and to protect this national icon? Call (02) 6277 7920 today.

    Thanks very much,

     
    Lock the Gate Alliance
    http://www.lockthegate.org.au/