EcoRadio

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

  • The John James Newsletter 56 Inbox x

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    The John James Newsletter 56

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    John James
    		4:52 AM (2 hours ago)

    The John James Newsletter 55
    17 April 2015

    Politicians are put there to give you the idea that you have freedom of choice. You don’t. . . . You have owners.George Carlin,
    Why more immigrants are dying in Mediterranean watersA careful discussion of the failed state of Libya, the advantages IS is taking of the situation, the fear in Italy which gets most of its oil from Libya and the EU reaction to the deaths that is throwing European well-mannered affairs into disarray.http://www.smh.com.au/world/why-more-immigrants-are-dying-in-mediterranean-waters-20150421-1mpeqk.html
    Ethiopia’s Economic Miracle Is Running Out of SteamEthiopia’s state-led development model has run its course and now faces diminishing returns. Many of the abuses associated with that model are galvanizing large segments of the population against the government.https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/04/16/ethiopias-economic-miracle-is-running-out-of-steam-east-africa/
    Second Sydney airport to eclipse MascotConfidential maps reveal Badgerys Creek will rival JFK airport in size. Construction will require moving 100 million cubic metres of earth and could take 80m passengers per year by 2050. Rail costs not included in the estimatehttp://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/badgerys-creek-airport-sydneys-bold-plan-is-taking-wing/story-fni0cx12-1227304121459
    Animals on the brink of extinction: Maps reveal the countries with the most endangered mammals. Despite only occupying 1 per cent of the Earth’s land mass, Indonesia’s rainforests are home to 12% of mammal species. The region tops the list with the most threatened mammals and Madagascar is second, with 114, while Mexico is third with 101. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3037027/Animals-brink-extinction-World-maps-reveal-countries-endangered-mammals.html

    How America Became an OligarchyUsing data from over 1,800 policy initiatives from 1981 to 2002, the rich, well-connected individuals on the political scene now steer the direction of the country, regardless of the will of the majority. America’s political system has transformed to where power is wielded by wealthy elites.http://www.resilience.org/stories/2015-04-07/how-america-became-an-oligarchy
    Twitter moves non-US accounts to Ireland away from the NSATwitter Inc is governed by US law, it is obliged to comply with NSA-driven court requests for data, so data stored in Ireland is not subject to the same obligation. http://betanews.com/2015/04/17/twitter-moves-non-us-accounts-to-ireland-away-from-the-nsa/
    Iran Is Winning the War for Dominance of the Middle EastWe are witnessing a struggle for regional dominance between two loose and shifting coalitions — one roughly grouped around Saudi Arabia and one around Iran. Despite the sectarian hue of the coalitions, Sunni-Shiite enmity is not the best explanation for today’s regional war. It is a naked struggle for power.https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/04/14/yemen-iran-saudi-arabia-middle-east/ It is hard to see how a deeply risk-averse China could step into a leadership role in any of the region’s fiery disputes. https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/04/20/china-middle-east-saudi-arabia-iran-oil-nuclear-deal/
    Ruble on the reboundThe Russian ruble is outpacing all other currencies against the dollar. The 20% recovery this month stands in stark contrast to last year, when US officials smugly pointed to Russia’s plummeting currency as proof that Western sanctions against Moscow for meddling in Ukraine were working.https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/04/15/ruble-rebound-russia-putin-ukraine-sanctions-economy/
    The Dow when priced in the average blue-collar wage is now at an all-time high. This means that it takes the typical worker more hours of sweat and labor to buy the Dow than ever before in at least the last five decades. Investing… saving money and trying to build wealth… is simply out of reach for the average guy.http://www.sovereignman.com/investing/somebody-show-this-chart-to-jim-cramer-16814/
    Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad S-300s? The executive order issued by Putin, which lifts the ban on the export of weapons systems to Iran signals a significant shift in the geopolitics of the region.http://landdestroyer.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/whos-afraid-of-big-bad-s-300s.html S-400 missile defence strength doubled in Russia’s far easthttp://rt.com/news/251213-russia-kamchatka-s400-deployed/
    Russia’s Missile Wall in IranThere is a risk that should Israel or the US launch an attack on Iran once the S300s are in place and significant numbers of aircraft are lost, not only will the operation fail and an expensive and humiliating blow be dealt to the forces involved, but the veil of invincibility of Western military might, especially its airpower, will be lost forever. Could this trigger a cascade of rebellion the West has created primarily under the threat of military force?http://landdestroyer.blogspot.mx/ Obama: US could ‘penetrate’ Iran S-300 defense system:The US could penetrate any air defense system that Iran has.http://www.timesofisrael.com/obama-us-could-penetrate-iran-s-300-defense-system/   US Intelligence: Houthis Are Not Iran ProxyIranian representatives discouraged Houthi rebels from taking the Yemeni capital… the rebels follow a different branch of Shiite Islam than Iran’s leaders and are believed to care more about corruption and the distribution of power than the spread of Shiite influence. “It remains our assessment that Iran does not exert command and control over the Houthis in Yemen, It is wrong to think of the Houthis as a proxy force for Iran,” a US intelligence official.http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2015/04/us-intelligence-houthis-iran-proxy.html
    World on Fire: UN Helpless as Crises Rage in 10 Critical Hot SpotsThe UN is fighting a losing battle against a rash of humanitarian crises in 10 of the world’s critical “hot spots.” Ban Ki-moon says even the UN’s 193 member states cannot, by themselves, help resolve these widespread conflicts. Last year the number of attacks on aid workers set an record at 460.http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/04/21/world-fire-un-helpless-crises-rage-10-critical-hot-spots
    Imagine having a net worth of $57 billion.That sounds like a lot. But not if you’re the US Federal Reserve.http://www.sovereignman.com/trends/take-a-look-at-what-they-buried-in-this-obscure-report-16809/
    Officer Under Saddam Hussein Drew Up Islamic State Master Plan An ex-intelligence officer under the Saddam Hussein was “the strategic head” behind the IS and drew up the blueprints for the jihadists’ capture of northern Syria.http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article41613.htm
    Deepwater Horizon Disaster: Five Years LaterDespite the dangers of drilling deep underwater, offshore drilling has only increased – there are 37 percent more wells since the spill and the average well is 40 percent deeper now than five years ago. http://thinkprogress.org/progress-report/deepwater-horizon-disaster-five/
    In Landmark Case, Dutch Citizens Sue Their Government Over Failure To Act On Climate ChangePublic arguments are scheduled to begin Tuesday as nearly 900 Dutch citizens have filed a lawsuit against their government for failing to effectively cut greenhouse gas emissions and curb climate change. “We feel that there’s a shared responsibility for any country to do what is necessary in its own boundaries to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions as much as is needed.”http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/04/14/3646690/pass-that-dutch-climate-change-action/

    to John

  • Radioactive pollution in Pilbara’s river catchments? ACF

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    Radioactive pollution in Pilbara’s river catchments?

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    Dave Sweeney, ACF via bounce.bluestatedigital.com 
    2:43 PM (29 minutes ago)
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    Hi NEVILLE

    Environment Minister Greg Hunt is holding the fate of the Parnngurr community’s lands in his hands.

    Have you seen the beautiful Rudall (Karlamilyi) river catchments, permanent water holes, ephemeral rivers and salt lakes of Karlamilyi National Park? It’s a beautiful part of WA’s Pilbara.

    Right now, one of the largest uranium corporations in the world, Cameco, is seeking the Minister’s approval for its Kintyre uranium mine in the area excised from the national park, in the river’s watershed.

    Between 1981 and 1993 Cameco was responsible for over 150 spills of radioactive material and contaminated water at uranium mines. They are under active investigation from the Canadian tax agency and have been heavily criticised for incompetency by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. Cameco can’t be trusted to protect life from radioactive pollution.

    It’s like the Ranger uranium mine in Kakadu all over again.

    Tell Minister Hunt: Don’t let Cameco recklessly endanger these beautiful, life sustaining lands with radioactive pollution.

    Protect Karlamilyi 

    In the past couple of years, many thousands of you have taken action with us to protect life from harmful pollution.

    Together, we stood with the Muckaty community to oppose plans for a nuclear waste dump on their land, and we won.

    The Kintyre uranium mine presents yet another challenge to the existence of a remote Aboriginal community, this time Parnngurr. The mine plan endangers their water, bush food and the country that sustains culture and life.

    What’s more, 39 Australian doctors have publicly condemned Cameco for spreading discredited information that exposure to low-level radiation is harmless. Cameco have been telling the Parnngurr community that radiation is safe!

    As the Parnngurr community wait to hear the fate of their country at Karlamilyi, you can stand up again to protect life from pollution, with them.

    ACF is working with the Conservation Council WA to support the Parnngurr community and halt the approval of the Kintyre uranium mine. Australian uranium fuelled Fukushima and we need to phase this trade out, not expand it.

    We are stronger when we stand together with Aboriginal people to protect the shared country that sustains us all.

    Say no to pollution now: https://www.action.org.au/kintyre

    Yours,

    Dave

    Dave Sweeney
    Nuclear free campaigner
    Australian Conservation Foundation

  • Super trawler = 4 dead dolphins + 2 dead seals

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    Super trawler = 4 dead dolphins + 2 dead seals

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    Stop The Trawler Crew <stopthetrawler@et.org.au>
    7:01 AM (2 hours ago)
    to me
    stopthetrawler.net
    Hi Neville
    We warned them but they didn’t listen. Four dolphins and two seals have died in just the first two weeks of the massive factory trawler Geelong Star operating in Australian waters. Sign the petition to Environment Minister Greg Hunt asking him to stop these deaths!

    redbait_and_dolphins2_JonathanPoyner.jpg

    We prefer dolphins and redbait this way. Image: Jonathon Poyner.

    Senator Colbeck has assured us repeatedly that our protected marine life will not be threatened by this massive factory trawler. Clearly they are threatened.

    Senator Colbeck has assured us repeatedly that the Australian Fisheries Management Authority is consulting stakeholders. They didn’t listen.

    Senator Colbeck has assured us there is enough science to ensure our fisheries won’t be depleted or our recreational fishing impacted. We are still not convinced.

    The Minister for Environment Greg Hunt and the Minister for Agriculture Barnaby Joyce are responsible for protecting our threatened species and ensuring our fisheries are sustainably managed for the benefit of ALL Australians and future generations. They are failing.

    The operators of the factory trawler Geelong Star have a history of breaking the law. The trawler have already killed four dolphins and two seals in just two weeks. And the Australian Fisheries Management Authority is letting them go fishing again.

    Every day it fishes, more dolphins and seals could be killed.

    We can stop this boat, and others like it, from driving Australian fisheries down a path of ocean destruction seen globally.     But we need to make sure our voices are heard loud and clear. Please send the responsible Ministers a strong message with your signature on this petition today.
    Thank you for standing up and again taking action. I know it’s a lot to ask, but we can do it, and nothing less than the future of our oceans depends on it.
    Bec, Erika and the Stop the Trawler crew
    p.s. Please sign the petition to Minister Hunt and Minister Joyce here and make sure they know it is not acceptable to allow dolphins and seals to die from this factory trawler’s operations.
    p.p.s Thanks to everyone for joining the National Day of Action on the weekend. We will collate all of the images from the actions into a big collage and send it to the Prime Minister. You can see some of the pictures on our facebook page here.

  • 1 of 21

    10-year-old explains super tax reform in less than 2 mins

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    Bernie Fraser via GetUp!
    6:17 PM (35 minutes ago)
    to me
    Below is an important message to GetUp members from Bernie Fraser, former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Treasury Secretary, and independent director of several industry superannuation funds. Your details have not been shared with anyone.

    Dear NEVILLE,

    We need a fresh perspective in approaching tax reform.

    Nowhere in the near 200 pages of the Government’s ‘Re:think’ tax discussion paper, or in its 60 odd discussion questions, is the most fundamental of questions raised: what kind of society do we aspire to nurture in Australia, and how might tax reform best contribute to establishing such a society?

    The present tax breaks for superannuation ignore this question entirely. They are very expensive and poorly targeted. Treasury put the costs of these concessions at $32 billion in 2011-2012.1 And the Australian Council of Social Services has stated that half of these concessions go to the wealthiest 20 per cent of Australians.2

    Timing is critical for all reforms and momentum for tax reform is now building. Just yesterday, the Labor party announced a super tax reform policy that would go some way to addressing the inequity of the current system. Even so, sustained public pressure will be required to break through the vested interests defending these unfair concessions.

    A key part of building that pressure is providing Australians with a fresh perspective on tax reform, in a clear and convincing manner.

    So I invite you to watch and share this video, featuring a precocious young economist – just 10-years-old! – explaining the inequities of super tax breaks (with some assistance from myself).

    Then join us in the campaign to make the super of the future FAIR.

    Like most past reviews, the Government’s ‘Re:think’ tax discussion paper focuses on possible ‘reforms’ (often code for ‘reductions’ in personal and company taxes) to promote economic growth.

    The need for a strong, competitive economy is a given. The ultimate goal of policy making, however, is not to maximise the growth in GDP but to nurture a prosperous society which is also fair and compassionate. A society with opportunities for all Australians to access decent standards of education, health and other services, and with safety nets for those who – for whatever reasons – fall through the cracks.

    This is the kind of society promised profusely by all major parties in every election campaign, only to be rolled back by ideologies and lobby groups when they assume government. That is why it is important to build on the growing momentum for reform.

    In regards to super tax reform, this video is part of the fresh perspective we need when starting out to build a better tax system and a better country. I encourage you to watch it and share it with those you know, to make the case for fairer superannuation: https://www.getup.org.au/supertax

    Kind regards,
    Bernie Fraser

    PS – This graph shows just how skewed super tax breaks are towards the wealthy (those in the highest income deciles).

    Super Tax distribution by income decile

    REFERENCES:

    [1] ‘Distributional Analysis of Superannuation Taxation Concessions’, Treasury, 2011-2012

    [2] ‘ACOSS calls on Government to tackle sacred cow of super tax breaks’, ACOSS, 2014

    Graph: ABC Fact Check (Source: Financial System Inquiry Final Report)

  • The small country holding the key to divestment history 359 org
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    The small country holding the key to divestment history

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    Charlie Wood – 350.org Australia <350@350.org> Unsubscribe
    4:04 PM (38 minutes ago)
    to me

    Dear friends,

    At US$867bn, Norway’s Global Pension Fund is the largest of its kind in the world. But with great (financial) power, come great (moral) responsibilities.

    We know that the Fund understands the need to divest as it’s already shed dozens of coal companies including Whitehaven, responsible for the disastrous Maules Creek mine, and Adani Power, whose parent company owns Abbot Point and the proposed Carmichael mega coal mine in the Galilee Basin. But the Fund is yet to give coal or fossil fuels the full flick.

    With a crucial Norwegian parliamentary hearing coming up on May 4th, we have a real opportunity to get the world’s largest fund to divest from coal altogether.

    Ask Norway’s political leaders to divest the country’s Global Pension Fund from fossil fuels, starting with coal.

    If the Fund fully divests from coal, the impact would be game-changing. With enough pressure from outside of Norway, we have a real chance of securing the largest act of fossil fuel divestment ever. If enough of us make our voices heard, it could send a strong signal that the writing is on the wall for the fossil fuel industry, and that it’s time to end coal once and for all.

    On May 4th, the Finance Committee of the Norwegian parliament will start debating the Fund’s investment policy. We already have some allies in parliament, and with your voice added to the voices of frontline communities who are fighting coal here in Australia to overseas in India, Poland, the Philippines and more, we can get a strong group of political parties to back our demands.

    Call on Norway to lead the way to a just transition towards a clean, 100% renewables future by divesting from fossil fuels.

    Norway has built its huge wealth off its oil and gas revenues for decades, but it’s also a leader in renewable energy, producing more than its entire energy needs last year. Now it’s time for Norway to get its investments in order too.

    Yours for a brighter future,
    Charlie

  • I love a sun-blessed country Kate- Solar Citizens

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    I love a sun-blessed country

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    Kate, Solar Citizens
    9:52 AM (5 minutes ago)
    to me
    Dear Neville —

    When I was ten we had to learn Dorathea Mackeller’s My Country by heart at school. The poem’s most famous line, ‘I love a sunburnt country’, always feels so quintessentially Australian to me. We are a sun-blessed country. We have this incredible resource that we can tap into to create the industries and jobs of the future.

    Kate Read

    Me and my son Harvey.                 

    But I’ve been reading in the papers that Australia is one of the only countries in the world that is going backwards on solar policy. Federal Government uncertainty around the Renewable Energy Target means that solar businesses are going under or struggling to keep staff on. This just seems absurd when the rest of the world is adding more renewable energy per year than coal, natural gas and oil combined. That’s the story I want my country to be part of.

    Governments should have innovative policies that switch us towards the energy sources of the future. But they’re only going to do this if we as citizens make it super clear that we’ll stand for nothing less. That’s why I’m 100% standing up for solar to make sure it happens. In the coming months my hope is that hundreds of thousands more solar owners and supporters across the country hear the call and join me.

    With more than 70,000 Solar Citizens Australia-wide, we can make it happen. This month we’re kicking things off with launch events in 5 cities, but we need your support to make them big, bright and high impact. Can you chip in $50, or whatever you can afford, so our Stand Up For Solar launch events go off with a bang? Click here to donate.

    The launch events are set to sweep the country beginning this Monday in Brisbane and finishing in Adelaide in late May. Inspiring expert speakers on solar and renewables, like Nigel Morris and Giles Parkinson, will be presenting in each city. This is our chance to reach out to thousands more solar supporters and show our politicians and the media we mean business.

    To make these events as big, vibrant and high impact as possible we need your support. Your donation will help print and mail flyers and posters across the country so volunteers like me can spread the word in our neighbourhoods. Donations will also help cover travel and accommodation for our expert speakers who are generously giving their time because they believe in the power of ordinary people like us to make change. Click here to to make your donation via our secure website today.

    I’m proud that we’re now one of over 1.3 million Australian households that have put solar on their rooftops. Seeing the meter ticking over and knowing that we’re contributing to a better energy future for my four year old son Harvey and my nephews and nieces makes me enormously happy.

    But at the moment, it’s hard to feel proud of our government’s solar policies. I’m making it my mission to change this, and I hope you’ll join me. Click here to chip in today and help Solar Citizens make a huge impact across the country this coming month.

    For a sun-blessed future,

    Kate Read, Solar Citizens Volunteer, Sydney

    P.S. If you live in Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Melbourne, Sydney or Adelaide and you haven’t RSVP’d for a launch event yet, click here to do it today – it’s going to be a great night. No event in your city or town? You won’t miss out. RSVP to the online launch Webinar here: http://www.standupforsolar.org.au/launch_webinar


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