(We) can do better

Mornington Peninsula at Arthurs Seat (Wonga) is under threat -  we must say NO to a proposed EXCESSIVE EXPANSION.

Developers are proposing a $25+ million expansion in a STATE PARK, which includes:

A roller coaster like luge up and down the hill, altering the natural landscape
An intrusive bridge over Arthurs Seat Road at the summit
An eight-story viewing platform
A second restaurant at the top station
A major redevelopment of the lower station

On Saturday, 2 November, SPA attendees at the "Curtin Sustainability Fair," sponsored by Teal politician Kate Chaney in Perth, faced an unexpected disruption. Their aim was to raise awareness about the ecological impacts of population growth. However, their efforts were met with unexpected resistance.

(PDF containing transcript can be found here) Genocide is reliant on the dehumanisation of others to justify inhumane action. Since 7 October, we have heard Netanyahu describe Gaza as a city of darkness and ask people to flee or face certain death. Of the Palestinians, Netanyahu says: 'We are facing monsters.

(PDF containing transcript can be found here) I heard you Madam Ambassador, but what nerve you have t

A few days ago on a trip to Bali I went for a walk with a friend through the rice paddies near Sebatu.  2./3 of the way through our circuit we came across 2 new roofs (traditional style terra cotta like material) We peeked in and saw that the new owners were there doing some finishing touches to one of the new villas. My friend chatted to them in Indonesian and it turned out the male of the partnership had studied at Monash Uni .

A new report released today by Women’s Health Victoria (WHV) reveals major ongoing inequities in abortion and contraception access across the state, disproportionately affecting disadvantaged communities in some regional areas.

The Realising Access report provides, for the first time, data showing that people from disadvantaged communities in Victoria are more likely to seek abortions after nine weeks, which drastically narrows their healthcare options.

The Queensland government faces the voters every 4 years on the last Saturday of October; this year it’s the 27th. What are the issues? Our two-party system offers up a smorgasbord of options. The Laberal duopoly are truly diligent in their effort to identify their differences at election time. Given how studiously they avoid addressing the underlying causes of our most pressing issues, they are to be congratulated for fooling as many people as they do that there’s a choice.

"Australia is clearly taking sides and showing disregard for the many Australians currently in outright despair." The Independent Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) has expressed alarm about Australia getting involved in the fighting in the Middle East by letting other countries use our air bases up north. IPAN advises that Australia should quickly pull back and not help with the fighting.

What moral right does CHIA, a large, well-auspiced professional organisation, have in fueling animosity against local government candidates who defend their communities' planning powers and their right to veto subdivisions - key pillars of self-determination?

"Protection for consumer deposits in Australia's construction sector is vital as insolvencies rise, threatening the stability of the homebuilding industry," writes Dr Bradley Hastings[1] and Professor Peter Swan.

Click on the image to read Report No. 44.

You know those big infrastructure projects, and activity centres, that the Victorian government is ramming down our throats, telling us it will bring 'jobs' and 'affordable' housing? Well, Australian industry is being sidelined on these projects. Weld Australia—which represents thousands of local welders and fabricators—is calling for immediate action against the Victorian Government’s offshoring of steel for major infrastructure projects.

Update, 2/10/24: Of 25 submissions I could only find one that supported this legislation. The remaining 24 were strongly opposed. Unfortunately, I narrowly missed the dead-line, so my own submission, included below, was not included.

IPAN Public Meeting Friday 4 October, 6 pm, Perth Library, with speaker Dr Carmen Lawrence, "Sleepwalking into War ? Breaking the US stranglehold on Australia: Peace or War? Also Senator Fatima Payman, Dr Carmen Lawrence, Professor Lisa Natividad and Senator Jordon Steele-John; Wakeley Award Winning Journalist Sophie McNeill will be the MC.  There will also be a press conference.
 

While the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024 purports to aim to enhance transparency and accountability among digital platforms, it does not adequately protect users from arbitrary actions by governments regarding the content they post.

Without a mature discussion on population growth, the housing crisis will extend for years to come, according to Sustainable Population Australia (SPA). SPA National president Peter Strachan says there is deep denial within the government that population is the main factor driving housing demand.

Once upon a time, the Australian government declared it did not support Israel nor the Islamic, in the Six Day war — it was to stay ‘neutral’.

Whitlam says his government was “blackmailed by some Jewish hero’s, on the other side of the world to the conflict.”

History reveals… https://t.co/uwvD88ePjw

September 13 marks thirty years since ideologues took control at the United Nations International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo to stigmatise the idea of stabilising population numbers, falsely claiming it led to human rights abuses.

Click on the image to read Report No. 43.

Click on the image to read Report No. 42.

Click on the image to read Report No. 41.

The seventh of September is a sombre day to acknowledge raising the plight of all our threatened species in Australia. As some politicians will have the opportunity to hold cute furry wildlife and many will advocate for stronger laws to protect nature and seek to increase funding for species recovery.

In the week of 8 – 14 September, Melbourne/Naarm is hosting a huge international weapons expo called Land Forces at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.

"It's really a disturbing that a government like the Victorian government, [...] repeat parrot-like the Property Council Mantra that there hasn't been enough dwelling approvals in Melbourne and in the state, [...] yet their own reports showed with graphs that was a false narrative. Their ultimate aim really, is to remove citizen interaction and involvement and local government involvement in decisions over the future of a city. And this is completely incompatible with the democratic ideal. It's a very authoritarian model.

POSTPONED. Anyone in or around Brisbane might be interested in this event – please share with anyone you know who might be interested:  Doctors for the Environment Queensland is hosting the debate on the topic of Whether Moderating Population Growth is an Important Measure in the Climate Crisis: Monday 16 September 2024. 19.00h -21.00h.  UQ St Lucia, Gordon Greenwood Building, 32-207 Collaborative Room & online. See inside for bookings.

Elephant seals have extraordinary sexual dimorphism where sexual competition has led to massive size and aggressive fighting between the males. Whilst the fighting between alpha elephant seals does not cause significant declines in their overall populations or life-support system, imagine if they had access to global finance and nuclear weapons.

Drop Site News has published phone-calls recording the beating of an Australian-Pakistani citizen's brother as an inducement to stop tweeting in support of an Imran Khan government for Pakistan via Citizen Action overseas Pakistani voters (https://x.com/OPVoters).

Transcript added. In this highly informed speech, for those who want to know, Robert Fitzgerald Kennedy Junior whistleblows on US corporate Deep State as, sadly, he resigns from presidential campaign. BTW, Australia takes orders from the same rotten US Deep State. We are no more a democracy than America. Our governments are in an undeclared war with us.