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...