Abuse by any other name

In any other context Tony Abbot's behaviour towards Julia Gillard would be classified as workplace harrassment, family violence, schoolyard bullying or road rage.
Why is thisbehaviour tolerated in Parliament House?
If this is his behaviour on the global stage, one can't help but wonder how he behaves in private.

Letter

To: Mr Peter Walsh MLA
Minister for Agriculture and Food Security

Re: Native Forest Harvesting
(Your Letter)

Dear Mr Walsh

Thankyou for your responses to my email.

However, your letter has raised a number of questions some of which I have included below. Could you please supply me with answers where possible, or point me in the direction where I might be able to find the information so I may be better informed.

You mentioned that I was incorrect regarding harvesting in Special Protection Zones. I am aware that the Threatened Species Verification Report conducted by the DSE on July 18^th 2011 in the Gunbarrel and Froddo reserves and submitted on July 29^th 2011 recommended Vicforests carry out further surveys. So, it seems the correct delineation of the SPZ is a matter still being debated.

Has Vicforests undertaken additional surveys as a result of these recommendations? What survey methods were used, who evaluated the survey results and are the results publicly available. If so where?

Are you aware of an Action Statement or Forest Management Plan for the Leadbeater’s Possum?

You may not be aware that there are an estimated 1000 individual Leadbeater’s Possums left on the planet, placing it amongst the 50 most endangered mammals on earth, and yet DSE has no Species-specific Standards for monitoring this nocturnal creature as it has for other some species.

Why has DSE not published Species-specific survey standards for Leadbeater’s possum as it has for other species? Are the existing Survey-standards followed when Vicforests undertakes surveys for other species prior to logging? Are the survey results publicly available and if so where. And if not why not?

Does the current State Government stand by the stated aims of the Department of Sustainability and the Environment Flora and Fauna Guarantee Action Statement –

“To guarantee that Leadbeater's Possum can survive, flourish and retain their potential for evolutionary development in the wild. In quantitative terms this may be described as to ensure the survival of Leadbeater's Possum by managing its forest habitat towards a target of no more than a 1% probability of extinction over 250 years?”

You may be aware that David Lindenmayer, has recently said that Leadbeater's possum will probably only last for another 30 to 40 years.

You have also stated that no timber harvesting is permitted within the reserve system designed to protect Leadbeater’s possum habitat. However, according to the United Nations Redlist for Endangered Species, approximately 31% of its Ash forest habitat is protected, while about 69% is allocated for timber production. Who is responsible for determining the extent of this reserve system and under what criteria?

You have acknowledged that “forestry and native timber harvesting has endured a “history of … debate” and has “tended to divide communities.” And you have also noted that there are 6.6million hectares of public native forest 3million of which are in protected reserves.

Why, when there is, by your figures, an alternative 99.92% of native forest annually available for logging, have you chosen to allow Vicforests into areas of the Central Highlands and East Gippsland which are amongst the most sensitive to disruption, most fought over, most fire ravaged and most important to our endangered species, especially the Leadbeaters Possum and the Long Footed Potoroo, the Powerful Owl, the Spot Tailed Quoll to mention just a few that rate amongst the most endangered species on the planet.

Have you read any of the peer reviewed papers or published books by our world recognised forest experts David Lindenmayer or Judith Adjani, both lecturers at ANU, regarding fire in Victoria’s forests, the sustainable management of Ash Forests and the sustainability of the forestry industry and its future in plantations? If not then who are the people and organisations you turn to for expert opinion in determining forestry policy and who reports to you on research and development in the debate on forestry operations in the Central Highlands and East Gippsland?

Do you have any update on Vicforests’ attempts to regenerate of logging coupes? You will be aware if the most recent DSE report on Monitoring Annual Harvest Performance findings that over 7000 hectares of harvested forest required additional treatment to achieve satisfactory regeneration and a further 19000 hectares were overdue for regeneration surveys. It would seem this is an area where more personnel are necessary.

In your letter you state that 11,000 people are employed in the timber and wood products industry yet the DSE reports that only 9% of these are employed in forestry and logging, and with currently 14% of forest products coming from native forests it would seem that our endangered species and our environmental heritage is being sacrificed for fewer than 150 jobs. The forestry industry itself refers to a declining numbers wanting to enter the industry. Why has no thought been given to employment in the eco-tourism industry? Tourism in Victoria is at risk from forestry activities despite considered to be one of the fastest growing employment industries for the past 25 or more years. (I have experienced unemployment myself and I understand how challenging it can be to retrain and start a new career late in life, but it can be done.)

And finally, given all the evidence publically available and the persistent breaches of conditions, is there a reason why Victorian Governments, both past and present, continue to support the activities of Vicforests so passionately?

Yours Sincerely

Pretty Helium balloons turn into colorful streamers

Today we hear that a third of turtle deaths are attributable to soft plastic.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2011/06/07/3237848.htm
Take a walk along the Ninety Mile Beach or the coast alongside Waratah Bay and look out for colorful shredded balloons - many with ribbon and plastic seals attached.
Drop litter on firm ground and you cop a fine, but send thousands of balloons onto the wide blue yonder and it's a celebration.
I may be a party pooper but the rubbish on the beach can only be a small percentage of that in the ocean or in sea creatures' guts.
Biodegradable balloons are NOT the answer - NO MASS HELIUM BALLOONS is the answer!

Logging Errinundra 2011 on Youtube

Latest videos of logging of the corridor promised by the then Victorian Government prior to the election in 2006 are now at http://www.youtube.com/user/wallabyjlw
I've also added a few photos to Flickr... Logging Errinundra 2011
This is part of Vicforests' 'essential' annual harvest of 5500ha of native forest.
When you have a look at the forest before the logging commenced, and see how much timber has been left behind and torched, ask yourself how much timber was taken.
What was so vital to Vicforests' requirements that it was necessary to destroy so much for so little.
Becase this 'harvest' was not for use in building fine furniture. At best it was for fence palings, but more likely is was for chipboard, cardboard or woodchips. If Vicforests gets its way, these timbers will be used to fuel furnaces for so-called green energy.
Look at the forest as it was. Can you see what is missing? Can you see what is lost?
And after the fire, the 'Prescribed Burn' that is carries out for "both fuel reduction and ecological purposes' according to the notice nailed to the tree, 1080 baits are laid to prevent wallabies, such as those pictured, from eating the new shoots.
Yet research shows logging and burning increases the risk of fire.
And common sense would say that an ancient ecosystem is self perpetuating - it does not need human intervention.

Dargues Reef Mine Proposal

Jackie French, author of many books for children and young adults on Australia's history and wildlife is asking for support for a petition demanding that a proper and complete environmental assessment is conductied prior to the approval of
The Dargues Reef Gold Mine Project - Reference Number: 2010/5770
which is directly threatening the gully which is home to the wombats she has written so much about, numerous other endangered plants and animals, and an area identified by the Commonwealth Government as a High Conservation Value Aquatic river system.
A comprehensive submission can be found at
http://www.acr.net.au/~coastwatchers/sub122010darguesreef.html
A list of background material is being compiled at http://www.delicious.com/bimbimbi/DarguesReef
And if you would like to support this call for assitance and common sense, sign the petition at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/dargues-reef-mine-proposal/
And go to Jackie's website and start your own petition - http://www.jackiefrench.com/petition1_darguesreef.html
Why don't we value our wildlife higher than pieces of silver?
The precautionary principle demands that a proper and complete study be done of the area. Let us not drive our native animals to extinction before our children even learn of their existance.

Victoria's Youth Parliament

For all you 16-25s interested in doing more than just talking about how you'd like to change the world, Youth Parliament Applications Open Now 2011
or go direct to http://www.victoria.ymca.org.au/youthparliament
2011 marks the 25th year of Youth Parliament in Victoria.

Libyan Mission to the UN Now Flies the Opposition Flag

This news on February 24, 2011 at 3:05 pm PST

http://www.good.is/post/awesome-photo-libyan-mission-to-the-un-now-flies-the-opposition-flag/

Now for a peaceful end

Quote

The unexamined life is not worth living.

Socrates, in Plato, Dialogues, Apology
Greek philosopher in Athens (469 BC - 399 BC)

Lightbulb statistics

How much fuel does it take to power a lightbulb for a year?
Energy sources are compared in this infographic...
http://awesome.good.is/transparency/web/1012/lightbulb/flat.html
While you're at this site, have a look at some of the other infographics or go to the main page at http://www.good.is/departments/transparency/
Or go to http://www.good.is/the-energy-issue/ and contemplate what it means to turn on a light bulb!

Reality Check

(Something to ponder)

This is a straightforward article explaining that life on earth will not be exterminated by climate change and anyone who says so is being alarmist.

It’s very tongue in cheek and you need to read between the lines…

http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/features/print/4090/the-sky-not-falling

For example, it briefly mentions that half the world’s population are living in areas that will be flooded, but it is also quick to reassure us that they’re not the wealthy ones so it won’t really have a great impact on our GDP.

It also mentions biodiversity (in passing) but brushes it off easily.

Interesting how a different perspective (and priority) can change the impact of the same facts – seems we’ve got another 1000 years before we have to worry about the last glacier!

Hattah Kulkyne National Park

It was difficult to choose my favorites from the December trip to Hattah Kulkyne National Park north of Ouyen in North West Victoria.
But here they are on the Flickr link...

Dear Mr Marsden

I dialed your number by mistake a few weeks ago (four weeks ago to be exact). It just happened to be a bit of a co-incidence, but although I’d thought to tell you about it, life got in the way. Until today, when another strange co-incidence indicated that I should relay the story for your amusement…

By way of background, I am a teacher librarian in a secondary boys’ school and promote the Tomorrow series as one I discovered, and enjoyed, when my son brought it home as his year 8 text in 1997. As a family, every December we’d eagerly await publication of the next in the series and frequently the new arrival would have two or three bookmarks as none of us could wait for the others to finish.

So, four weeks ago, when I walked into the video shop and discovered that TWTWB had been released to DVD, there was no contest - it was in my backpack when I arrived home that night.

My dad was in hospital at the time, recovering from heart surgery and my Tassie dwelling uncle had left a message enquiring about his brother. So TWTWB was waiting for me when, returning his call, I dialed 05 instead of 06 and heard your voice.

A good story don’t you think? One I have been telling my classes this past week as I introduce them to a selection of my favorite books in their Wider Reading program.

But today, explaining to the boys the usefulness of encyclopedias (this time in an Information Literacy class), I happened to open the volume in my hand to a random page and guess who was on the bottom right corner of the page!? It was not the John Marsden born in 1950, but it did seem to indicate that I should tell you my tale. I hope you’ve enjoyed it.

Best Wishes

Judith Wakeman (Marcellin College Librarian)

PS – Loved the movie and eagerly anticipating release of the soundtrack.

Mining timber resources

After the 2009 fires in Victoria the reeling communities called for tourists to return in order to help restore a sense of normality, as they did after the 2006 fires, and as Queensland and Victorian towns have after the floods. Not once did I hear a call for loggers to resume operations as quickly as possible. Yet tourism and the fire ravaged forest are both threatened by the inflexible forestry industry and its "harvesting operations."
Harvesting is defined as the product of any action, or the outcome of any effort. Vicforest is not harvesting timber. Vicforests is mining timber - extracting the timber from its natural source.

Another timber salvage operation

If Victoria’s hardwoods are so valuable and so highly prized for furniture and furnaces that Victorian tourism opportunities are stifled and critically endangered species are pushed further towards extinction, then why is not more done to salvage timber from demolition sites?

Truckloads of hardwood framing and flooring end up as landfill while so-called green councils turn a blind eye.

Is this another example of knowing the cost but not the value? Or is the developer’s dollar worth more than our natural heritage?

Submitted to The Age 15th February 2011