Monday, December 28, 2009

MYTHBUSTING: manageing climate change will loose jobs!

I recently read an interesting article on the myth that is propagated by government that tackling climate change will result in job loss. This appears to be a factless statement when you read what DR Richard Denniss f the Australia Institute has to say. This article has been partially reproduced from Issue 29 of the Green Mag.


The main argument against tackling climate change is that we can't do anything untill we have figured out where all the people who might lose their jobs will work.  A history review will expose past practices.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, employment in coal mining fell from 30,400 employees to 16500 in 1999. So in one decade, employment in the coal industry fell by more than half. Apparently, when the introduction of labour-saving technologies wreaks havoc on regional communities we don't care but if  we are tackling climate change its quite a different story.

"Ah, but that was due to market forces", I hear you say. "The difference with the Carbon Pollution Rediuction Scheme (CPRS) is it's the introduction of governmnet policy that will cause the job losses. Responsible governmnets would never introduce policy that would cause job losses." Yeah right.

Lets start small. The introduction of National Competition Policy (NCP) and the associated privatisation and contracting out resulted in the direct destruction of tens of thousamds of jobs. This was not an unintended consequence: it was the specific aim of the policy. According to the Electricty Supply Association, employment in electricty generation in Victoria alone fell from 9382 employees in 1994 to 5420 in 1998. That's 4000 workers in four years and at the time when Australian unemployment was substantially higher than it is today.

The impacts of the NCP were small compared to the longer term devastation of the manufacturing industry associated with 20 years of tariff reductions and the pursuit of free trade. Hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs in the search for a level playing field but, of course, these jobs were not seen as a barrier to the pursuit of this policy agenda. On the contrary, the language was that of  'freeing up' unproductive labour for employment in other areas of the economy. At the time, it was not seen to be necessary or even possible to forecast where these 'freed up' workers would end up.

And then we get to the big one, the recession we had to have. In the fight against rising inflation and rising imports, it was deemed necessay to drive interest rates so high that more than one million people lost their jobs. This was not just Paul Keating's folly: Treasury and the RBA was right behind the approach. We had to break the back of inflationary pressure even if it meant breaking the backs of many Australian families.

The point is..unemployment is destructive, wasteful and unequitable..but it is important to analyse the past in order to understand what is really going on in the current debate around mining jobs, green jobs and con jobs.

Firstly many industry groups, which are expressing concern about job losses, are crying crocodile tears to impress their workers. They were unconcerned in the past and will be unconcerned in the future. Nobody should think for one minute that, if some labour-saving technology were to be invented tomorrow, industries wouldnt install it at the expence of their regional workforces...

The simple facts are that no-one could envisage how many people would be employed in the mobile phone industry, or the internet industries and no one declared 'wait' we don not know were the photo lab workers will go- when we embraced the digital camera era.

If you want to read this article in full- go to Issue 29 of Green Magazine page 12.



Sunday, December 13, 2009

Church Bells Ring for Copenhagen



At 3pm today (Sunday 13 December) the Church bells rang out- not with a sound of warning but to offer hope that the world can tackle climate change.

An intiative of the Alliance of Religions and the World Combined Churches, the religious orders have joined political leaders and activists to send an important message of 350 parts per million as a peak amount for carbon pollution.

Churches across the world rang their bells 350 times, locally churches in Kiama participated in the event.

In a show of solidarity those who attended Rasberry Day at Foxground also put down their plates and cups and joined in to make as much noise as possible on this important issue.

A passionate speach from Howard highlighted to the gathering that in some respects we are ushering in the decade of cooperation, as humans had no choice but to listen to their neighbours and find ways of working together to make global change.

Let me know of any events that happened around your town today at 3pm- did you hear the Church Bells ring and wonder why!

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Alcohol Ban on Shoalhaven Reserves.

 A couple of weeks ago the Mayor of Shoalhaven dropped a mayoral minute on our laps at the beginning of a meeting asking for alcohol bans in 37 reserves across the Shoalhaven.

The ban was suggested as a 24 hour ban on Christmas Eve, New Years Eve, New Years Day and Australia Day, it was a hotly debated item that took well over an hour to discuss. I voted against this ban at this point for a variety of reasons.

Firstly we had been given no opportunity to discuss this issue prior to debating it. No data had been supplied to Councillors in regards to alcohol related incidents in the Shoalhaven. No community consultation had taken place to gauge the impact that such a ban would have on the community, and finally one that I feel strongly about- Civil Liberties- for it is my opinion that some of the regulations we live with are draconian and unnecessary. I was of the opinion that this was an increase in police power that was not required as police already have many powers to arrest those doing the wrong thing, move on large groups and confiscate alcohol.

Fast forward to Tuesday 8 December and we were back in the chamber to discuss the issue once again. this time it was a whole lot different to the previous fortnight. The local radio talkback had been in overdrive and their seemed to be a considerable amount of community support for the ban.

As the meeting commenced there were 12 uniformed police in the gallery- some obviously on duty as they had hand guns etc. These guys and girls had brought along a contingent of supporters.
The local commander was given the opportunity to speak and gave a video presentation of police footage from local riot days at Huskisson and some CCTV footage that was quite disturbing. The Councillors who had strongly supported the ban from the outset constructed an argument that basically framed any non supporters as not supporting police, a very difficult position to be in and intimidating.

The local command gave a commitment to turn a blind eye to any family groups enjoying a few quite drinks in the park and to use sense and discretion.
I found this to be a paradox-How could it be OK for one group of people to be drinking and another group alongside them in trouble with the law! Is booze banned or not!

After a long and passionate debate that included tears, accusation and the usual grandstanding style of some, a compromise position was reached.

This year a trial 24 hour alcohol ban will be in place across Shoalhaven reserves, results of the success or otherwise is to be reported back to Council, and police will continue to discuss reducing alcohol abuse in general.

Connect to friends!

A few of you have asked how to be kept up to date with the content of this blog.

I have just added a followers Widget-its on the right hand side of this page.

Click on FOLLOW and put in your details, this should help you to stay connected.

You must have a google account which many of you already have thru google groups.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Children have a right to sex education!

Locally I am the pariah...responsible for making statements only in this blog on the issue of sex education at our local high school. Statements that some people are in violent disagreement too.

When my daughter came home from school and told me that she was told you can get pregnant from pashing, I immediately went to work on researching the program being taught.

I did eventually speak informally to one of the women who delivered the program at school that day and it seems my daughter misheard it wasnt pashing that would get her pregnant but passion that could lead to pregnancy.

I have maintained throughout this debate that the problem lies in the material that is given to the children for them to further research. I also spoke to Dr Leslie Cannold about the issue and heres what she had to say. (if you want the full version click on the text to go to Dr Cannold's website)

Your children have a right to sex education. This right is a component of their sexual rights, themselves a subset of the human rights guaranteed to them in international laws, human rights documents and other consensus statements.


But don't cry out for joy or fly off the handle with rage just yet. Because whatever abstract entitlement our kids have to accurate, relevant and age-appropriate information about sex, relationships and reproduction in the classroom, most aren't getting any. Education, that is. They are getting plenty of sex, some of it unwanted, as well as sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies and, if they are same-sex attracted, a worrying dose of suicidal thoughts.

On the flip side to Dr Cannolds comments I thought I should show a sample of the information that is available on the Choices Decision Outcomes recommended link ..Gravity Teen, you should go visit this sight and look at the emotion laden messages that are clearly one sided and in my opinion designed to induce guilt.

Two nights later, it was still bothering me. My mom, dad, and I were out to dinner and in the middle of my parents' conversation, I blurted out "Mom, were you pregnant when you were 16?" She just looked at me with tears filling her eyes. She explained to me how she had an abortion, and as an eight-year-old, I could only imagine what it was. She said something about my sister, whom she had named Elizabeth, being in Heaven. At that moment it clicked for me that I had lost my sister.


Over the next three years, my mom became more active in the pro-life movement. She became the executive director of NOEL: The National Organization of Episcopalians for Life. I grasped the concept of what an abortion really was and got used to the fact that I was deprived of a sister I should've had. It was scary to know that my mom had killed someone that was so important to me.

When I turned 11, I was invited to speak at the Memorial Service for the Unborn as a sibling of an aborted child. I talked about how much I missed having an older sister and how I missed out on the little things, like watching her get ready for Prom or for her wedding. Spreading my experience of abortion was a big deal for me because it had been so much to overcome. Even though it wasn't me that had had the abortion, I felt bad and cried a lot about it.

Again you can click on the text for the full story and follow the tabs around the site- it makes for interesting reading. CDO doesn't appear to have anything to do with the site, but the fact remains that it is recommended to anyone who visits CDO.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Today's lesson: condoms in the classroom cause controversy

Sydney Morning Herald and ABC Radio today picked up on the issue of Choices Decisions Outcomes program delivering a message thats not compliant with NSW health.


the following was reported by Journalist Heath Gilmore

Today's lesson: condoms in the classroom cause controversyHEATH GILMORE


December 3, 2009


Picture from Q and A ... the Choices Decisions Outcomes’ website.





A PRIVATELY run sex education program operating in NSW public high schools questions the effectiveness of condoms for preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Real Choices Australia operates the program, Choices Decisions Outcomes, mainly in government schools across Australia. One of its directors and spokeswoman, Debbie Garratt, has links to the Catholic Church and has worked with anti-abortion groups.

The program is used at Ulladulla High School. Teams are trying to promote it in the Newcastle, Kempsey, Macksville, Port Macquarie and Taree regions. On the Choices Decisions Outcomes' website, students are warned that condoms are not 100 per cent effective in stopping sexually transmitted infections. It highlights that children who engage in sexual activity are ''flirting with danger''.The website goes on to say there is ''no scientific evidence that condoms prevent the transmission of most sexually transmitted diseases''.

The NSW Greens MP John Kaye said the program compromised the State Government's public health strategy, which says the use of condoms during casual sexual encounters ''significantly'' reduced STI transmissions.

''The program is using subterfuge to infiltrate the classroom and indoctrinate young people with a minority viewpoint, putting their sexual health at risk,'' Dr Kaye said.

Ms Garratt said the program, which catered for the first four years of secondary schooling, encouraged adolescents to make healthy lifestyle choices regarding their sexuality as well as health and relationship issues.

Asked whether the website was designed to dissuade students from using condoms, she said some readers may have inferred the wrong meaning. ''The message is that condoms are not 100 per cent safe,'' she said. ''We don't promote abstinence as the preferred option.''

Nicholas Parkhill, the chief executive of ACON, formerly the AIDS Council of NSW, said questioning the effectiveness of condoms put the lives of young people at risk.
''It is very concerning to learn that groups are questioning the effectiveness of condoms in relation to the prevention of HIV and other STIs,'' Mr Parkhill said.

Ellie Freedman, medical education co-ordinator of Family Planning NSW, said scientific evidence existed that condoms prevented the transmission of most STIs. She said laboratory studies showed latex is impermeable to STIs.

''At Family Planning NSW we advise that consistent condom use is the most effective way of protecting against STIs,'' Dr Freedman said.

A spokesman for the Department of Education and Training said Real Choice Australia did not require departmental authorisation for its presentations, only approval from principals.

''Where an external speaker addresses students on a topic, the regular classroom teacher remains present to ensure the information is consistent with the curriculum,'' he said.

''Condom use is included as one of several options for minimising the risk of infection.''

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Liberals anti CPRS and Trees!



Federal Liberals are doing their best to block Labors pathetic Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, and now with Tony Abbott as the new leader an even more extreme conservatisim is born.

Meanwhile on the home front- Local Conservative Liberals Guile and Ward
 (oops thats right Im supposed to call them independents) are dishing up there own brand of anti-green, with their latest attack on the City tree policy.

Clr Guile has got a bee in his bonnet that rural hedges are unsightly and a blight on the rural landscape. For someone who one day hopes to grow grapes- he had better start looking into the benefit trees provide.
 He also thinks that it should become the elected Councils job to get involved in tree removal disputes and give us the opportunity to debate and overturn the technical officers advice in regards to the removal of trees. Clr Guile has consistently argued that Council should be a more professional outfit and yet he wants to reduce our fortnightly debates to trees trees trees!

The other problem that has not been considered is that if we create a policy that protects rural views, then there is an expectation that those living close to the ocean should have their views protected also. Yet this would be a direct conflict in the attempts that are being made to stabilise coastal vegetation as a first line defence with rising sea's.

What if you want to farm carbon and plant out your 100acres with trees- how would that work in a landscape protectionist policy.

The tree policy may not be the best peice of policy, but it looks like that certain group of Shoalhaven Clrs ( Watson, Proudfoot, Guile, Ward, Kearney, Green) may take this opportunity to create an even worse policy than current.

So I am off to research tree policies around the state and see if we can actually improve things rather than make it easier to cut down trees in the Shoalhaven

Photograph of the Largest Spotted gum in the Shoalhaven- Thankfully safe in a reserve.

Shelter to Close it doors as letter requesting more rentals goes out.

Salt Care - follow link to see their services  I received the sad news that our local homeless shelter needs to close it's doors on Sund...