Global warming blamed for weather disasters doubling in 30 years
Global warming blamed for weather disasters doubling in 30 years
- From: The Times
- August 12, 2010
THE number of weather-related disasters has more than doubled in the past 30 years.
And global warming is the only logical explanation, according to a comprehensive analysis of storms, floods and droughts.
There were 828 “weather catastrophes” involving loss of life and major economic damage across the world last year, compared with 317 in 1980.
The analysis by Munich Re, the reinsurance company, found 385 such events in the first six months of this year – the second highest in any January to June period since records began in 1974. The report does not include this week’s flooding in Pakistan, landslides in China and wildfires in Russia.
Liz Bentley, of the Royal Meteorological Society, said the figures were evidence that man-made emissions were having an impact: “It is possible to make the link when you look at 30-year trends.
Honour your commitment Abbott GET-UP
Always display images from info@getup.org.auDear NEVILLE,
Yesterday Tony Abbott sent a campaign email entitled, “We will stop the boats.” Ahead in the polls, he’s announced that the Pacific Solution will return on day one of an Abbott Government. It seems Tony Abbott has a lot to say on refugees, except to those he promised to meet in June after GetUp members won a charity auction.
GetUp members chipped in more than $16,000 to help secure the winning bid in a charity auction for a surfing lesson and meeting with Tony Abbott. We gave the prize to a group of refugees because we know how powerful human stories are. But his office, having suggested the meeting would occur before the election, have now stopped returning our calls. They are refusing to hold up their end of the deal.
If Tony Abbott won’t come to meet us, we’ve got to go and meet him. That’s why today, with your help, we’ll begin rolling out (literally – they’re mobile!) massive billboards to follow him around on the campaign trail and remind him of his broken promise to go surfing for charity with a group of refugees.
Catholics divided over Pell’s criticism of Greens
Catholics divided over Pell’s criticism of Greens
A division has emerged in the Roman Catholic Church over whether or not Christians should vote for the Greens.
The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, warned Catholic voters on the weekend to be wary of the Greens, describing them as “sweet camouflaged poison”.
But other Catholic leaders disagree. They say it does not reflect well on the Church when a man of Cardinal Pell’s position uses that kind of language.
Labor’s illegal timber ban wins applause
Labor’s illegal timber ban wins applause
Updated
Under the plan, companies will have to test the timber they source and provide a trade description. (ABC News: Andrew Fisher)
Conservation groups have welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement that it will ban the importation of illegal timber if re-elected.
Australia currently imports about $840 million worth of products sourced from illegal logging, including a quarter of all outdoor furniture.
Greens will protect Coral Sea
10 AUGUSTGreens will protect Coral Sea The Australian Greens today announced a new plan to protect the CoralSea environment from oil and gas extraction, unsustainable fishing andpollution. Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said a new Coral Sea Marine Reservewould protect one of Australia’s most magnificent marine areas. “The Coral Sea is home to many endangered Continue Reading →
Young voters silenced as they fall through electoral cracks
In less than two weeks time, while the majority of Australians flock to the polls and cast their ballots, young people across the country will sit in silence, stripped of their democratic rights by our cumbersome and anachronistic electoral system.
First-time voters Amjad Saleh and Mohamed Saleh enrol to vote. Would have been nice to do it over the internet though. Pic: Jeremy Piper
Last Friday, the High Court overturned the Howard government’s 2006 changes to the Electoral Act. The amendments had resulted in the electoral roll being closed a matter of hours after the writs were issued.
In an action brought by political advocacy group GetUp!, the court held these changes to be unconstitutional, thereby restoring the original seven day grace period in which individuals may place themselves on the roll.
As a consequence, an estimated 100,000 additional Australians, predominately youth, are now able to take part in this year’s election.
Although this decision represents immense progress, systemic limitations in our electoral system still persist. In particular, the lack of an automatic enrolment mechanism causes widespread and ongoing disenfranchisement among Australia’s youth.
Recent statistics from the Australian Electoral Commission reveal an alarmingly high proportion of eligible young people are absent from the electoral roll. At the beginning of July, over half a million people aged between 18-24 had not enrolled to vote, including one in two 18 year olds and one in three 19 year olds. Similar levels of disengagement were recorded during the 2007 election.
It would be easy to dismiss these figures as evidence that Australian youth are simply lazy and apathetic. Young people, however, vehemently deny this claim. Instead, they point to the high burden of the current enrolment process, which involves completing and signing a physical enrolment form and sending it to the AEC, as well as advising the commission of any changes in address.
This requirement of material postage constitutes a barrier to the political participation of today’s youth – a generation which has grown up relying on new technologies such as mobile phones and the internet. Similarly, the obligation to inform the AEC of residential movements weighs heavily upon young people, many of whom move states following secondary school, leave the family home for the first time, or shift between rental accommodations.
Furthermore, given Australia’s status as the only English-speaking country in the world with enforced compulsory voting, many young people assume they are automatically placed on the electoral roll when they turn 18. The lack of adequate education concerning the enrolment process serves to perpetuate such misunderstandings.