Monday, May 30, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
"No, let's have you pay a fair share of tax', Mr Dick Smith
There is no doubt that they talk amongst themselves...just as we do! And so this week's revelation of the richest people in the land and the fact that they earn millions and many billions in their digging, exporting and investments, has the risk of having them account for their excessive riches. And so what better man than Dick Smith, that man with the gold tongue and man about town, to be the good spokesperson to invite Mr Murdoch to head up a philanthropic foundation in which their guilt can be salvaged, the criticism can be muted and their pet projects can be supported with the anticipated photo opportunities. Call me cynical and having a rich bitch problem but I would prefer they paid an appropriate tax ( maybe even a Resources Rent Tax!) on their wealth... just as I have to do!
Let's share the wealth: call to rich
The Age
ENTREPRENEUR Dick Smith wants to see a $1 billion philanthropic foundation established to encourage more wealthy people to give.
The idea was first put forward by the head of philanthropic services at the Myer Family Company, Peter Winneke, who says publicity created by such a foundation would encourage more people to give.
Mr Smith says he has written to News Ltd media leader Rupert Murdoch to gauge his interest in setting up a foundation, which could be named after his mother, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, to recognise her philanthropic work over many years, or simply called the Murdoch Foundation.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/lets-share-the-wealth-call-to-rich-20110527-1f8ld.html#ixzz1NcOi4hJR
Let's share the wealth: call to rich
The Age
ENTREPRENEUR Dick Smith wants to see a $1 billion philanthropic foundation established to encourage more wealthy people to give.
The idea was first put forward by the head of philanthropic services at the Myer Family Company, Peter Winneke, who says publicity created by such a foundation would encourage more people to give.
Mr Smith says he has written to News Ltd media leader Rupert Murdoch to gauge his interest in setting up a foundation, which could be named after his mother, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, to recognise her philanthropic work over many years, or simply called the Murdoch Foundation.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/lets-share-the-wealth-call-to-rich-20110527-1f8ld.html#ixzz1NcOi4hJR
This is worth a read!
Forget facts, it's personality that rules reactions to climate change
The Age
Jo Chandler
The Age
Jo Chandler
May 28, 2011
In the foreword to a new book debunking scepticism of science - Climate Change Denial: Heads in the Sand - Oreskes argues that fear is the major driver of denial. ''Fear that our current way of life is unsustainable. Fear that addressing the issue will limit economic growth. Fear that if we accept government interventions in the market place … it will lead to a loss of personal freedom. Or maybe just plain old fear of change.''
As economist John Kenneth Galbraith observed, all great leaders share one common characteristic - ''the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time''.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/forget-facts-its-personality-that-rules-reactions-to-climate-change-20110527-1f8dl.html#ixzz1NcNKKSP9
As economist John Kenneth Galbraith observed, all great leaders share one common characteristic - ''the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time''.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/forget-facts-its-personality-that-rules-reactions-to-climate-change-20110527-1f8dl.html#ixzz1NcNKKSP9
Friday, May 27, 2011
The Age agrees with me!
Dishonest debates are crippling urgent structural reform.
THE annual rich list shows just why last June's protest rally led by Gina Rinehart and Andrew Forrest against a new federal mining tax looked ludicrous. Ranked No.1 and 3, the mining magnates' estimated wealth greatly exceeds any extra tax take from coal and iron ore profits in budget estimates. More seriously, this points to imbalances in budget revenues and between states.
Ms Rinehart's $10.3 billion fortune is almost as much as the budgeted revenue of $11.1 billion in three years after the tax takes effect from July 2012. Four of the top five in BRW's Rich 200 list made their $30 billion from resources, mainly coal and iron ore, to which the tax is now limited - slashing the first two years' revenue from $12 billion to $7.7 billion. The difference in the impact of the mining boom on individual fortunes and federal revenue is startling.
The worth of the three most outspoken tax critics, Ms Rinehart, Mr Forrest and Clive Palmer (fifth on the list), jumped by $8.62 billion, or 67 per cent in a year, to $21.53 billion. Treasurer Wayne Swan budgeted for an extra $8.27 billion, up 12 per cent from a year ago, from all company and resource taxes.
THE annual rich list shows just why last June's protest rally led by Gina Rinehart and Andrew Forrest against a new federal mining tax looked ludicrous. Ranked No.1 and 3, the mining magnates' estimated wealth greatly exceeds any extra tax take from coal and iron ore profits in budget estimates. More seriously, this points to imbalances in budget revenues and between states.
Ms Rinehart's $10.3 billion fortune is almost as much as the budgeted revenue of $11.1 billion in three years after the tax takes effect from July 2012. Four of the top five in BRW's Rich 200 list made their $30 billion from resources, mainly coal and iron ore, to which the tax is now limited - slashing the first two years' revenue from $12 billion to $7.7 billion. The difference in the impact of the mining boom on individual fortunes and federal revenue is startling.
The worth of the three most outspoken tax critics, Ms Rinehart, Mr Forrest and Clive Palmer (fifth on the list), jumped by $8.62 billion, or 67 per cent in a year, to $21.53 billion. Treasurer Wayne Swan budgeted for an extra $8.27 billion, up 12 per cent from a year ago, from all company and resource taxes.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Gittens gets it right!
Climate inertia shows ugly side of the Australian character
The AgeRoss Gittens
It's a sore test of faith when people put power bills before their children's future.
Like most people, I'm an instinctive optimist. In any case, I see no margin in pessimism. If you concluded the world was irredeemably wicked, or destined for certain destruction, what would be left but to curl up and die? Since we can never be certain the end is nigh, much better to keep living and keep plugging away for a better world.
I confess, however, I've needed all my optimistic instincts to avoid despair over the terrible hash we're making of the need to take effective action against global warming. We're showing everything that's unattractive about the Australian character.
We pride ourselves that Aussies are good in a crisis, but until the walls start falling in on us we couldn't reach agreement to shut the door against the cold.
Poor Rina can't afford the resources tax!
Rinehart cracks rich list glass ceiling
The AgeGina Rinehart's $10.3 billion mining fortune has propelled her into the position of Australia's wealthiest person, taking the crown from Frank Lowy who topped last year's BRW Rich 200.
Not only is she the first woman in the list's 28-year history to lead it, but she also made the biggest fortune ever to be recorded by the BRW Rich 200, with her wealth more than doubling from $4.75 billion last year.
"This is the first time anyone has cracked $10 billion," said BRW Rich 200 editor, Andrew Heathcote.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Conservatives make it look easy!
Climate change model? Just look at old Blighty
The AgePaddy Manning
NO, YOU don't have to live in a cave to tackle climate change. Just look at Britain, where the coalition government led by Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron this week bound itself to halve greenhouse gas emissions against 1990 levels by 2027 - the most ambitious target in the developed world.
Read it and weep. As Australian politics sinks deeper into a sleazy mire, making progress impossible, dear old Blighty - amid a crippling recession and austerity cuts - is lighting a path to a clean economy.
Britain, with 62 million people, emits about 574 million tonnes of greenhouse gas a year (say nine tonnes a head). That should drop to roughly 380 million tonnes a year by 2023-27.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Never never means never, Malcolm. ....even (r)Abbot knows that!
The Australian Newspaper
Malcolm Turnbull will never lead again: Liberal MPs
SENIOR Liberals have declared that Malcolm Turnbull will never again lead the party after he questioned the Coalition's direct-action climate change policy, undermining Tony Abbott's attack on Julia Gillard's carbon tax.
Mr Turnbull, who was ousted as Liberal leader over his deal on the carbon pollution reduction scheme with Kevin Rudd in 2009, is under fire after saying the Coalition's direct-action policy would not achieve deep emissions reductions without putting a financial strain on the budget.
The remarks on Wednesday night angered colleagues, some of whom yesterday described them as a deliberate attempt to destabilise the Opposition Leader.
But the Prime Minister said Mr Turnbull had "told the truth" that the Coalition's plan would not work and would blow the budget. Ms Gillard accused Mr Abbott of "running around the country trying to scare Australian families, trying to scare Australian businesses, trying to scare people and convince them that they're going to lose their jobs".
Malcolm Turnbull will never lead again: Liberal MPs
SENIOR Liberals have declared that Malcolm Turnbull will never again lead the party after he questioned the Coalition's direct-action climate change policy, undermining Tony Abbott's attack on Julia Gillard's carbon tax.
Mr Turnbull, who was ousted as Liberal leader over his deal on the carbon pollution reduction scheme with Kevin Rudd in 2009, is under fire after saying the Coalition's direct-action policy would not achieve deep emissions reductions without putting a financial strain on the budget.
The remarks on Wednesday night angered colleagues, some of whom yesterday described them as a deliberate attempt to destabilise the Opposition Leader.
But the Prime Minister said Mr Turnbull had "told the truth" that the Coalition's plan would not work and would blow the budget. Ms Gillard accused Mr Abbott of "running around the country trying to scare Australian families, trying to scare Australian businesses, trying to scare people and convince them that they're going to lose their jobs".
It never rains...it pours!
Climatologist: Flooding the Result of Climate Change
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Connecticut rivers have been high this spring, but nothing like the record-breaking, devastating flooding of the Mississippi River. Some climatologists point to climate change as a direct cause of these extreme weather events.Kevin Trenberth, senior scientist with the National Center for Atmospheric Research, says the environment in which all these storms are occurring is different than it was, for instance, 30 years ago.
"When we look at the statistics, we find that the very heavy rains are increasing at a substantial rate. In general, it has become wetter in the U.S., especially east of the Rockies."
The increase in the earth's temperature has led to an even bigger increase in the amount of water vapor over the oceans, he explains, contributing to massive storms.
The time is past when all these storms could be attributed just to natural cycles, Trenberth says.
"You can't simply blame this all on natural variability. Natural variability is certainly playing a role, but equally, climate change that we humans have something to do with is also playing a role."
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Innovating the Cities - David Owens
Worth a listen....
Author of Green Metropolis, David Owen reflects on how moving to the country means more cars, why Manhattan has the smallest carbon footprint of any US city and how public transport can work.
Author of Green Metropolis, David Owen reflects on how moving to the country means more cars, why Manhattan has the smallest carbon footprint of any US city and how public transport can work.
Lake Macquarie a climate change champion
Lake Macquarie Council has been named a "Champion of Climate Adaptation" for its proactive response to planning for rising sea levels.
The Council's Sustainability Manager, Alice Howe says Lake Macquarie was one of the first Councils in the country to begin planning for rising sea levels.
"In relation to our sea level rise policy, we adopted that in August 2008," she said. "That was two years before the State Government policy and was almost exactly the same measure, so we feel that we've provided a leading edge to the State Government in this area."
It's the economy stupid....
The Conversation
This week’s budget, with its withdrawal of subsidies for renewable energy, has left many commentators wondering if we’ve turned our back on carbon-neutral power.
They should focus on the main game – the introduction of a carbon tax later this year. Without this, our renewable industry really will be left behind.
A typical Australian climate skeptic like Andrew Bolt or Alan Jones tends to ask: if Australia emits just 1.5% of the world’s carbon emissions why should we bother with a carbon tax?
But focusing on emissions, morals or the environment misses the most important element in introducing a carbon price and supporting renewables: the economy.
This week’s budget, with its withdrawal of subsidies for renewable energy, has left many commentators wondering if we’ve turned our back on carbon-neutral power.
They should focus on the main game – the introduction of a carbon tax later this year. Without this, our renewable industry really will be left behind.
A typical Australian climate skeptic like Andrew Bolt or Alan Jones tends to ask: if Australia emits just 1.5% of the world’s carbon emissions why should we bother with a carbon tax?
But focusing on emissions, morals or the environment misses the most important element in introducing a carbon price and supporting renewables: the economy.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Insiders maybe keeping some comments in-house!
I am a frequent watcher of the Insiders on the ABC on a Sunday morning. The Sunday paper is well and truly over by 9.00am! Though this is not always a relaxing experience it is informative and provides a snapshot of the week in politics. 'Talking Pictures' is always enjoyable as it is pithy and mostly accurate reflection of the issues that confronted politicians and the public alike.
Last Sunday there was much talk about the Budget and Tony rAbbot's (sic) response. This was an enlightening dump on the media in which all journos commented on the misinformation and the inaccuracies that the dailies, radio shock jocks and others delivered on the Budget's content and impacts and the hysteria they created by describing middle class welfare recipients as 'rich'.
There was criticism of the usual anti-Labor media suspects including by two on the the panel who write for one of the most trenchant newspapers! So it was with some disquiet that I looked at the program on the web and found no video excerpt that reflected this analysis and criticism. Why? Well I have asked Insiders for an explanation! But don't hold your breath on getting inside the Insiders!
Last Sunday there was much talk about the Budget and Tony rAbbot's (sic) response. This was an enlightening dump on the media in which all journos commented on the misinformation and the inaccuracies that the dailies, radio shock jocks and others delivered on the Budget's content and impacts and the hysteria they created by describing middle class welfare recipients as 'rich'.
There was criticism of the usual anti-Labor media suspects including by two on the the panel who write for one of the most trenchant newspapers! So it was with some disquiet that I looked at the program on the web and found no video excerpt that reflected this analysis and criticism. Why? Well I have asked Insiders for an explanation! But don't hold your breath on getting inside the Insiders!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
At last the facts!
Free Access
A group of climate scientists, people who actually know what they’re talking about, have made a rap music video to criticize climate change skeptics. And it’s pretty damn good.
And entertaining.
A group of climate scientists, people who actually know what they’re talking about, have made a rap music video to criticize climate change skeptics. And it’s pretty damn good.
And entertaining.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Thanks Kes....so it is happening!
World Renewable Energy Congress
Yesterday, I attended and presented at the World Renewable Energy Congress held in Linköping, Sweden. There were some 600 delegates from over 70 countries, and you could feel the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives in the presentations and questions.But the story was the same - renewables are growing fast and there are lots of exciting developments, but we need renewables to grow much faster to meet the challenges of the 21st century - namely climate change, but just as important, poverty reduction and social development.
I presented on the emerging bio-economy in Europe and talked about the many opportunities and the immense challenges to ensure we have a sustainable bio-economy.
Give me a break!
The vocal few cry no to 'tax on air'
Sydney Morning HeraldAN ANTI-CARBON tax rally in Brisbane's CBD yesterday drew only a tiny crowd of protesters, despite reports that 60per cent of people are opposed to a carbon tax.
About 300 people attended the rally outside Parliament House - less than a quarter of the number that turned out for the April 9 climate change rally in King George Square - and cheered as Logan City councillor Hajnal Black labelled the Labor government's plan as a "tax on air".
"They want to impose a tax on the air we breathe. Not even the most backward, communist regimes have come up with a tax like it," Ms Black said.
"I would urge you to continue to protest, say to them that we are taxed enough already and that a tax on air is ridiculous."
Media gets it right...one way or another!
Snippet: This morning the ABC News is running the story that Abbott will deliver a 'big picture' response to the Budget in Reply in Parliament tonight. Fairfax media on its radio stations on the other hand is running the line that Abbot in response to the Budget will detail cuts and how the Coalition will reduce the deficit and get into the black...or the red! Is the media wrong or right as the case maybe or are Joe and Tony still working on the spin!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
It's not rocket science Joe...it is happening!
Joe Hockey is a dyed in the wool follower! He followed Howard to his loss; Nelson to his plank; Malcolm to his demise; and then Tony to his disgrace! Only once has he stood to be a 'leader' and then he tweeted to ask if he should back an ETS. So Joe as economic guru for the Coalition would have his hands on Australia's long term sustainable future wheel. So read on Joe...
Clean technology growing fast
China's production of green technologies has grown by a remarkable 77 percent a year, according to the report, which was commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature and which will be unveiled on Monday at an industry conference in Amsterdam.
Clean technology growing fast
Amsterdam - Denmark earns the biggest share of its national revenue from producing windmills and other clean technologies, the United States is rapidly expanding its clean-tech sector, but no country can match China's pace of growth, according to a new report obtained by The Associated Press.
China's production of green technologies has grown by a remarkable 77 percent a year, according to the report, which was commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature and which will be unveiled on Monday at an industry conference in Amsterdam.
“The Chinese have made, on the political level, a conscious decision to capture this market and to develop this market aggressively,” said Donald Pols, an economist with the WWF.
Denmark, a longtime leader in wind energy, derives 3.1 percent of its gross domestic product from renewable energy technology and energy efficiency, or about euro 6.5 billion ($9.4 billion), the report said.
China is the largest producer in money terms, earning more than euro44 billion ($64 billion), or 1.4 percent of its gross domestic product.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
On a roll?...well maybe!
By Michael Casey, The Associated Press
DOHA, Qatar — The world's top scientific body concluded that renewable energy in the coming decades will be widespread and could one day represent the dominant source for powering factories and lighting homes, according to a draft report obtained by The Associated Press Thursday.
But the report also warned that such expansion will be costly and policy changes will have to be enacted to ensure that renewable energy can achieve its potential in helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
It called for better balancing competing demands for land, addressing "institutional barriers" that prevent the installation of solar energy as well as overcoming the constraints to transmitting renewable energy to users.
.......... And despite its rosy predictions for renewable use, at least one environmental group observing the talks say the report falls short of their expectations.
"IPCC delivers a landmark report that shows the rapid growth potential for renewable energy — but unfortunately does not endorse a 100 per cent renewable energy pathway until 2050," said Stephan Singer, director for Global Energy Policy at WWF International.
"We need to be fast if we want to tackle pressing issues as varied as energy security and efficiency, and at the same time keep climate change below the danger threshold," he added.
DOHA, Qatar — The world's top scientific body concluded that renewable energy in the coming decades will be widespread and could one day represent the dominant source for powering factories and lighting homes, according to a draft report obtained by The Associated Press Thursday.
But the report also warned that such expansion will be costly and policy changes will have to be enacted to ensure that renewable energy can achieve its potential in helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
It called for better balancing competing demands for land, addressing "institutional barriers" that prevent the installation of solar energy as well as overcoming the constraints to transmitting renewable energy to users.
.......... And despite its rosy predictions for renewable use, at least one environmental group observing the talks say the report falls short of their expectations.
"IPCC delivers a landmark report that shows the rapid growth potential for renewable energy — but unfortunately does not endorse a 100 per cent renewable energy pathway until 2050," said Stephan Singer, director for Global Energy Policy at WWF International.
"We need to be fast if we want to tackle pressing issues as varied as energy security and efficiency, and at the same time keep climate change below the danger threshold," he added.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
What's true in print is not true on radio!
This morning on RN Breakfast Gail Kelly emphatically told Fran Kelly that the story in The Australian was not true and that Westpac supported a carbon price moving to a market mechanism. So who do you believe!? The story was still running on The Australian web edition so perhaps it takes longer than we thought to make the correction. So much for fast news! Or why spoil a good (bad) story on a carbon price!
The Australian Thursday 5 May, 2011
WESTPAC chief executive Gail Kelly has joined the growing criticism of Labor's carbon tax, declaring an emissions trading scheme better for business and warning the "uncertainty" caused by the lack of policy detail is affecting her customers.
Mrs Kelly's criticism came as Julia Gillard met key business leaders at her Kirribilli House residence in Sydney last night in a bid to win support for the tax, but that fanned anger from brown-coal producers and electricity generators who were not invited.
They will meet Climate Change Minister Greg Combet in Canberra next week as the government battles increasingly dismal polls and Labor backbenchers fend off opposition from constituents increasingly concerned about cost-of-living pressures.
The Australian Thursday 5 May, 2011
WESTPAC chief executive Gail Kelly has joined the growing criticism of Labor's carbon tax, declaring an emissions trading scheme better for business and warning the "uncertainty" caused by the lack of policy detail is affecting her customers.
Mrs Kelly's criticism came as Julia Gillard met key business leaders at her Kirribilli House residence in Sydney last night in a bid to win support for the tax, but that fanned anger from brown-coal producers and electricity generators who were not invited.
They will meet Climate Change Minister Greg Combet in Canberra next week as the government battles increasingly dismal polls and Labor backbenchers fend off opposition from constituents increasingly concerned about cost-of-living pressures.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Carbon copy Royal Weddings!
Royal Weddings and Climate Change
Data journalist, Climate Central - David Kroodsma
At Climate Central, we are excited about the Royal Wedding not because it's an opportunity to fawn over the wealthy and powerful, but because of history. And not just because of history like the fact Queen Victoria was the first to popularize white wedding dresses when she donned one for her marriage to King Albert in 1840.We are excited because in central England, where Prince William and Kate Middleton wed today, people have directly measured temperature for longer than anywhere else in the world. Ever since 1659 — more than a century before the U.S. Revolutionary war — scientists have continuously taken thermometer readings in this region of England. This data set has been compiled by the Met Office of the Hadley Center, and it represents the average temperature across a triangular area of the U.K. between Bristol, Lancashire, and London.
For most places on earth, weather data stretches back only a few decades. In central England, we have three and a half centuries of directly measured climate data.
Below we’ve plotted the average yearly temperature in Central England, and also marked Royal Weddings over the centuries. Click on a wedding to see what that year’s climate was like in Central England. Please note, we are not implying any relationship between Royal Weddings and climate change! In fact, you'll see that the weddings are quite out of sync with the warming trend.
Chaser's Note: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpOjnLATfAs&NR=1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpOjnLATfAs&NR=1
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