EcoRadio

Author: admin

  • Gunns court claim against Greens `unintelligible’

    Tasmanian timber giant Gunns Ltd has to pay two Greens politicians it wants to sue nearly $70,000 in legal fees, reported The Courier-Mail (10 August 2006 p5). The Victorian Supreme Court on 9 August assessed what Gunns owed Australian Greens leader Bob Brown and Tasmanian Greens leader Peg Putt following the striking out of writs against the pair last year.

    Two high profiles out of 20 defendants: Senator Brown and Ms Putt are among 20 environmentalists and groups being sued by Gunns over alleged protest activities.

    Confusion reigns in courtroom: Two statements of claim lodged in the Victorian Supreme Court by Gunns have already been thrown out of court. Defendants had argued the document was so unclear it was impossible to-know what they had to respond to.

    Round three decision pending: The judge hearing the case described parts of the claim as "unintelligible" and legally "embarrassing". A third statement of claim is before the court. Defendants have applied to have the 66,000-word claim thrown out and are waiting on a decision.

    Gunns feeling it in hip pocket: The court assessed that Gunns owed Senator Brown and Ms Putt $69,385 for their legal costs fighting the first writs. It also assessed Gunns owed fellow defendant Helen Gee $17,544 for her legal costs. Costs for the remaining 17 defendants are yet to be determined.

    Still being damaged financially – by court costs: Gunns alleges the defendants engaged in actions which damaged it financially and is seeking damages of $6.9 million. It lodged its first claim against the defendants in December 2004.

    The Courier Mail, 10/8/2006, p.5 Mercury

    Source: Erisk Net  

  • LPG conversions all the go in current fuel price crisis

    The cost of converting to Autogas varies between $1500 and $3400, depending on the type of vehicle and system used, and it could be even less if the Government goes ahead with its proposed $1000 subsidy, reported The Sydney Morning Herald (10 August 2006 p2).

    High demand creates supply shortage: Some mechanics have turned customers away as there was a two-month wait for LPG tanks in some areas.

    Happy customer: John Ferlandes, of Punchbowl, had his car converted to Autogas’ two weeks ago as he was fed up with rising petrol prices. Mr Ferlandes previously spent about $120 a week to fill up his four-wheel-drive Nissan Patrol, but now pays only $50.

    Well worth the expense in long run: The conversion cost about $2500 – "more than worth it", according to Mr Ferlandes, who has travelled 700 kilometres in the car over the past four days. "I would estimate it will pay itself off in about six months," he said.

    But do your sums: However, the fuel was not appropriate for all cars, said Dominic Iacullo, the owner of Glow Automotive in Campsie. "If you’re doing only 10,000 kilometres in your car a year, I would advise against LPG conversion as it would take about six years to see any financial benefits."

    The Sydney Morning Herald, 10/8/2006, p.2

    Source: Erisk Net  

  • ACT records craziest winter temperatures

     

  • What’s goining on?

    ACT records its coldest and warmest winter temperatures, both on the same day. Full story

  • New Ruler’s of the World

    A documentary film by John Pilger, based on his 2003 book of the same name.
    Global economy’ is a modern Orwellian term. On the surface, it is instant financial trading, mobile phones, McDonald’s, Starbucks, holidays booked on the net. Beneath this gloss, it is the globalisation of poverty, a world where most human beings never make a phone call and live on less than two dollars a day, where 6,000 children die every day from diarrhea because most have no access to clean water.’ Click here to see the video . Running time: 60 minutes

    Source: Information Clearing House  

  • Timeline: Key events in Middle East crisis

    Timeline: Key events in Middle East crisis

    Sunday, June 25: Palestinians attack army post on Israel-Gaza border, killing two soldiers, capturing a third. Israel starts to mass forces around Gaza, from which it withdrew in September 2005.

    Monday, June 26: Three Palestinian groups – the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), the armed wing of the ruling Hamas movement and the Army of Islam – say they captured 19-year-old Corporal Gilad Shalit. They demand Israel free detained women and minors.

    Tuesday, June 27: Hamas, which dominates the Palestinian government, signs agreement to end bitter internal conflict and which implicitly recognises Israel’s existence.

    Wednesday, June 28: Israeli ground forces enter southern Gaza. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says Israel will use "extreme measures" to rescue Cpl Shalit. Washington says Israel has the right to defend itself.

    Thursday, June 29: Israel detains scores of Hamas members, including one third of the Palestinian cabinet. International community steps up calls for restraint. Mr Olmert suspends a ground offensive expected in northern Gaza as Cairo tries to mediate.

    Friday, June 30: Israeli jets blitz Gaza, set interior ministry ablaze. Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh insists government working to free Cpl Shalit.

    Saturday, July 1: Israel rejects Palestinian demand to free 1,000 prisoners.

    Sunday, July 2: Israel hits Mr Haniyeh’s Gaza office.

    Monday, July 3: Israel sends troops and armour into northern Gaza. Palestinian militant is killed. Cpl Shalit’s captors give a 24-hour deadline for Israel to free Palestinian prisoners. Israel rejects ultimatum.

    Saturday, July 8: Israeli forces advance toward Gaza City, killing four Palestinians. Other units pull back from northern Gaza. Mr Haniyeh calls for mutual cease-fire.

    Monday, July 10: Exiled Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal says Cpl Shalit will not be freed without prisoner swap, pledges he will be protected. Israel says some Palestinian prisoners could be released, but only after safe return of Cpl Shalit.

    Wednesday, July 12: Hezbollah captures two Israeli soldiers and kills eight, prompting first Israeli ground operation into Lebanon since its 2000 pull-out. In Gaza, 23 Palestinians are killed by Israeli air strikes.

    Thursday, July 13: Israeli planes bomb Beirut airport, kill at least 44 civilians in air strikes across Lebanon. Two Israelis are killed, more than 35 wounded by Hezbollah rockets. Russia, France, Britain and Italy criticise "disproportionate" use of force by Israel. US blames "terrorists who want to stop the advance of peace". US vetoes UN resolution calling Israel to halt military operations in Gaza.

    Friday, July 14: Israel bombs Beirut home of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. He declares "open war" on Israel. Israel sets conditions to end offensive: halt rocket attacks, release its soldiers, and Lebanon to implement UN resolution calling for Hezbollah’s disarmament. Two Israelis killed by rocket fire from Lebanon.

    Saturday, July 15: Hezbollah attacks Israeli warship. Israel recovers body of one of four missing sailors, bringing Israeli servicemen toll since Wednesday to nine dead.

    Monday, July 17: Israeli strikes kill 43 Lebanese. Hezbollah rejects Israeli terms for a cease-fire. UN secretary-general Kofi Annan calls for end to hostilities, suggests UN "stabilisation force" along Lebanon-Israel border.

    Tuesday, July 18: Fifteen people, most of them soldiers, killed in Lebanon as Israel pushes on with attacks. Helicopters, ferries and cruise liners commandeered to retrieve trapped foreign nationals.

    Wednesday, July 19: At least 70 civilians killed by Israeli bombing on deadliest day of its Lebanon offensive, pushing overall toll to 325. Two Arab-Israeli children killed by Katyusha rocket fired from Lebanon on northern Israeli town of Nazareth. Two Israeli soldiers killed, nine wounded in border clashes.

    Thursday, July 20: Israeli troops battle Lebanese guerrillas and planes bomb suspected Hezbollah bunker as Lebanon pleads for international help. Thousands of foreigners pour out of Lebanon by land, sea and air, leaving homes and possessions to head for the safety of Cyprus, Syria and Turkey. Israel warns civilians in the Gaza Strip that every home storing weaponry is now a target.

    Friday, July 21: Israel calls up thousands more troops, warns of possible invasion of Lebanon. Israeli raids hit Baalbeck and Tyre, killing at least five Lebanese. Lebanese civilians flee from south; foreign nationals’ exodus gathers pace. Rockets hit north Israel town of Haifa, wounding 19. Hezbollah rejects UN plan for immediate halt to hostilities and release of two Israeli soldiers.

    Saturday, July 22: Israel masses thousands more reservists on Lebanese border; warns it would not rule out full-scale invasion despite increasing calls for cease-fire. Foreign governments step up efforts to evacuate remaining nationals.

    Tuesday, July 25: An Israeli air strike kills four United Nations (UN) military observers at their base in southern Lebanon. UN secretary-general Kofi Annan condemns what he calls the "apparently deliberate targeting" of the base in Khiam. Israel expresses sorrow for the deaths, which it calls a mistake, and promises an investigation.

    Saturday, July 29: An Israeli air strike in the south of Lebanon kills at least 51 Lebanese civilians, including 22 children, in the village of Qana. Hamas vows to carry out attacks on Israel in response to the air strike on Qana.

    Wednesday, August 2: Fierce fighting between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters intensifies as tens of thousands of Israeli forces pour across the border on four new battlefronts.

    Thursday, August 3: Eight Israeli civilians and four soldiers are killed on bloodiest day for Israel so far. Hezbollah’s chief threatens to rocket Tel Aviv.

    Friday, August 4:Israeli jets bomb bridges on a coastal highway north of Beirut, killing five. At least 23 people, mostly Syrian, are killed in an Israeli raid at Qaa on the Lebanese-Syrian border. Israel hits the Sohmor power station, cutting electricity to Bekaa Valley and south Lebanon. Hezbollah fires 220 rockets at Israel, including one at Hadera, 40 kilometres north of Tel Aviv.

    Saturday, August 5: Israel pounds Lebanon in its heaviest bombardment yet. One Israeli is killed near Taibe and eight commandos are wounded in a raid Israel says killed four senior Hezbollah members in Tyre. The UN, US and France at odds over the first UN resolution on the conflict.

    Sunday, August 6:Ten Israelis are killed in rocket attack on Kfar Giladi near the border. Israeli jets kill at least eight civilians in attacks on south Lebanon villages. The UN Security Council debates the Franco-US draft resolution demanding "full cessation of hostilities" – but Lebanon, Iran and Syria reject it.

    Monday, August 7:An Israeli air raid kills more than 40 people in the Lebanese village of Houla. Seven people in the Palestinian Prime Minister’s office in the West Bank fall ill after opening a letter containing an unknown substance, government and hospital officials say.

    Tuesday, August 8:Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Alexander Downer, says about 100 Australians are still trapped in southern Lebanon and it will be highly risky to get them out. Lebanon says it is ready to deploy 15,000 troops near the southern border when Israel pulls out all soldiers from the area.

    Wednesday, August 9:Israel’s Navy shells Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp, killing one person and wounding several others. Palestinian officials say Israel has also attacked a Palestinian refugee camp in the West Bank, killing two members of Islamic Jihad in a helicopter strike.

    Thursday, August 10:Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah vows to turn southern Lebanon into a "graveyard" for invading Israeli troops. The Israeli army pushes up to 10 kilometres into southern Lebanon just hours after Cabinet approves an extension of ground operations.

    Friday, August 11:Hezbollah fires up to 70 rockets into Israel, killing a woman and a toddler in an Israeli Arab village. France announces a breakthrough could come soon in diplomatic efforts to end the war, and Israel says plans for a deeper ground assault into southern Lebanon are on hold to give diplomacy a chance.

    Saturday, August 12: The United Nations Security Council votes unanimously for a resolution calling for a "full cessation of hostilities". The resolution calls on Hezbollah to stop all attacks immediately and Israel to end "all offensive operations". It also authorises the deployment of a 15,000-strong peacekeeping force.

    –AFP