Miscellaneous comments from 9 August 2011

Tue, 2011-08-09 16:27 by admin

If you have anything you would like to raise, which is likely to be of interest to our site's visitors, which is not addressed by other articles, please add your comments .

An unsolicited advertisement posted on 11 August to candobetter was for software which checks for plagiarism, Normally, we immediately delete unsolicited advertising, but I decided not to in this case. This time it wasn't an advertisement for an obvious financial scam or pornography. Even though I don't have a particular need for the product and it looks to be beyond my own budget, it seems possible to me that some visitors to candobetter just might be be interested. It can be found at . - Ed, 17 August.

Topic:

Comments

Bandicoot

Wed, 2011-08-10 11:36

England used to be a great and powerful force when they controlled an Empire. However, the sting on the tail of colonialism came back to haunt them with mass reverse immigration to the UK! There is no excuse for rioting, looting or violence, but London has exploded in discontent. The trigger points are due to a city of 12 million people who are suffering from unemployment, loss of social and monetary support, and a fragmented society that can easily explode. Years of mass immigration means sub-cultures and excessive "diversity". This needs to be avoided on Australia. A nation is not like a large corporation that can be massaged and manipulated for economic growth and economic benefits, and forget about the welfare of the citizens. They are not employees, or economic units to be exploited and collected for growth. We need to start a media campaign to encourage patriotism, and love for Australia. Too many sub-cultures creates division and cross-purposes. A nation divided cannot stand. The decline is from overpopulation. sub cultures, and over-reliance on welfare. We don't need a "white Australia" but too many minority groups means we don't have a collective conscious towards like-mindedness and unity. Some multiculturalism is stimulating and broadening, but too much means disunity and social isolation, and higher costs on lifestyles. Multiculturalism is a nice concept used to justify mass immigration, but there are limits to human nature. Lofty ideals don't alway work in reality. The benefits of perpetual growth end up as negative returns and social fallout. Could it happen here? Yes! With governments more interested in economic growth than providing for and servicing the public is about putting vested interests above the welfare of the masses. It's a decline in living standards, rising costs, loss of financial safety-nets, alienation and social dis-chord.

Paris G (not verified)

Wed, 2011-08-10 14:30

The violence in Britain needs to stop. It is the job of the police to suppress and 'hold' these suburbs, with the help of the army, if necessary, and for heads of community organisations to call for calm - those who still have finance, whilst recognising that such appeals have limits. Hundreds of poor whites, culturally impoverished, are in the streets with the 'immigrants'... Then, the guilty parties who started the looting and who are responsible for people being injured need to be taken and judged as fast as possible and severely in order to make an impact on people; its the role of the Justice sstem, without weakness, and in particular if members of the police have made errors they need to be judged with the same severity, possibly with even more severity (they represent the state) as the rioters. It would be intolerable to apply different measures for the different sides. The rioters should be identified and put in prison since the country where everything is videoed should be able to do that (we can actually see the limits of this video surveillance now; (the rioters couldn't care less about the cameras, which they pulled down with enthusiasm...) After people will have to ask political questions: the population of poor people to the North of London and those of other big English towns are actually desperate - without jobs and therefore without money - with social assistance drastically reduced. David Cameron's neoliberal government has put in place policies with deletorious powers; associations that usually help the most vulnerable, educational, social and sporting association, have lost their finance. Social assistance services are pulling out of the suburbs more and more, the police itself has lost the means it once had to patrol, to secure suburbs and to make contact with inhabitants, for instance via foot patrols... Studious children from the lower classes no longer have the means to enrol in universities and schools which are now extremely expensive, with no social perspective except to 'reduce the costs for you' and 'we are quadrupling the cost of university education, which is the only thing that guarantees a decent job" Blair was in power for a long time, with the SAME communities and immigrant populations, without having similar urban revolts. He also absorbed crises, but he NEVER forgot to keep communications open with the lower classes. It is striking that these 'riots' bring to mind the worst hours of the Thatcher government. The combined effect of the financial crisis which has hit the UK hard and of blind, catastrophic neoliberal policies that only benefit the extremely rich who aren't affected by the fall-out is what has fueled these revolts which may still get worse. The English, even poor ones, are traditionally calm and trust the police and the public authorities, the community, with its representatives, have always been the cement of social calm The death in these troubled circumstances of a delinquent was therefore only a catalyst of profound social injustice inflicted on the most vulnerable populations of the UK. Jobs are rare, sometimes non-existant, and the cost of living is out of control, social assistance is 'triaged' and leaves tens of thousands of people who have no work or lodging in absolute poverty.

Save Leadbeater... (not verified)

Wed, 2011-08-17 18:36

Protesters honed in on Sylvia Creek, near Toolangi, today along with the media. The devastation was immediately visible, but not the loggers. There was a brave tree-sitter high up, and the machinery was locked down by ropes attached to the tree. There were no arrests. Our State government is responsible for the protection of endangered species, yet they are their main threat. Leadbeater's Possums managed to survive Black Saturday and now are under threat from logging. They are nocturnal creatures that live in tree hollows. The DSE failed to see them, so conveniently the logging can continue. It's a case of the fox in charge of the hens! With vested interests in woodchips for Japan, the government contradictorily is destroying the habitat of the creatures it has responsibility to manage. There was a protest outside VicForests' office at Healesville, but they decided to lock the door. If there was nothing to hide from, they wouldn't have to hide.

Bandicoot

Thu, 2011-08-18 17:20

Australia is the driest continent on earth and as we push towards an ever increasing population we must be mindful of the fact the less than 9 per cent of our continent's surface is arable land. This limited area for producing food for the nation is under threat from coal seam gas mining. It seems that the human race is genetically designed to build their (our) own funeral pyre! With a blow-out of human numbers, diminishing soils, loss of fertilizers, climate change, and the energy crisis, we are converging to catastrophes. Coal seam mining destroying what could be needed in the future - arable land for agriculture - is self-fulfilling our final destiny - overpopulation and hunger. Commercial patronage of governments at all levels ended. There is too much collusion with businesses and corporations, and they are running and ruining our country. The nation of our fore-fathers is being destroyed by greed. We need an economy to provide our clothing, food, and income. But the Economy and it 's growth should not be to our detriment. The raison d'etre for our government should be to make policies and plans for the benefit of Australia and Australians. However, they have been hijacked by the elite, such as mining companies, globalised businesses, the livestock industries and property developers. Those with money and power have the ability to sway government decisions. Now they are all about sacrificing our land, our resources, our living standards and our welfare for "big" profits, population and "small" and finite future. Selling off prime agricultural land for coal profits is vandalism and it's a case of too many human "rights" and not enough human "responsibilities". Maybe due to our "success" as a species, we are evolutionarily designed to self-exterminate ourselves? Modern humans have been on the planet for 200,000 years. It's seems inevitable we won't see the next 200,000 years, and maybe not the next century. Even if the public are concerned and conservative, governments are driven by such idiotic and fatalistic greed and short-term-ism.

nimby (not verified)

Mon, 2011-08-22 09:54

Prominent business and union leaders have endorsed a new strategy on asylum seekers that would have mandatory detention phased out within two years and Australia's intake of refugees significantly increased over five years.

Read more: in the Age of 22 August 2011 bu Michael Gordon.

Predictably, Heather Ridout and Janet Holmes a Court, along with ACTU chief are among more than 30 well-known Australians to back the strategy. More people will ensure the "big Australia" policy heads towards reality.

After the refugee swap with Malaysia, there are doubts about whether Kuala Lumpur is capable of honouring its commitment under the deal to uphold the human rights of the asylum seekers returned.

A spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner argued that until Australia can overcome its "collective paranoia" about boat arrivals, it will be difficult to achieve sensible decision-making.

He says that Australia is the only nation with mandatory detention, yet "we see far fewer asylum arrivals than other countries and host far fewer of the world's refugees". Maybe that's because we are the driest continent, and the country with the most un affordable housing, climate change threats, irregular water supplies, and rising poverty. It our environment that supports our survival and our "carrying capacity", not economics or government policy.

The obvious way to solve the asylum seeker issue is to dis entangle ourselves as a nation from the UN's 1951 refugee convention. We shouldn't be directed by the UN. We should uphold our sovereignty and make our own decisions on how we deal with refugees. Our immigration program is completely discriminatory and biased towards economic immigrants - mainly students and the well-off to buy into our property market.

People are scared of asylum seekers as they fear their numbers will push us closer a "big Australia". However, this is not the case. We are heading there anyway, not because of refugees but because of our government's policy. Humanitarian intake is only about 14,000 per year, yet overall it is 185,000. The media focus is cleverly on a "solution" for the asylum seekers, but it's pathetically easy to live in Australia if you are young and willing to pay hefty education fees. Only the well-off can get here without political or media attention.

nimby

Thu, 2011-08-25 09:27

Dear Mr Burke

I respect and support your stance against our Victorian government for allowing livestock to use our Alpine National parks. There are further breaches happening by our Liberal-National State government.

They are illegally logging in Sylvia Creek Toolangi in the Central Highlands. This is for woodchipping, mainly for Reflex paper.

Leadbeater's Possums are our State's native symbol. However, their numbers are dropping. Those at Toolangi were fortunate to survive Black Saturday, but they are under threat from VicForests - logging in an area they are supposed to be. There is only a reported 1000 left.

They have failed to make the necessary surveys and there is even reports that the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act is to be watered down to ignore endangered species - for more logging. Protesters have been arrested, and a legal suit is being sent to the Supreme court to stop the logging, but it is continuing.

This is an urgent situation. Logging is also threatening koala numbers in the Strzelecki ranges. Ranges in South Gippsland are being replaced by shining gums in plantation areas after mountain ash harvest.

Please exercise our common-sense and duty as a Federal Minister of the Environment to stop this vandalism. I have emailed Ted Baillieu, but it makes no difference.

The EPBC act should enforce the protection of our endangered animals, and while we have an obligation to cut our carbon emissions, we need more than a carbon tax to do so. These forests are some of the most carbon dense in the world!

All this is happening for a few dollars - myopia at its worse! Please take action as a Federal Environment Minister.

Thank you
Vivienne Ortega
Victoria

Editorial comment: Thank you, Vivienne, for having posted a copy of your letter Tony Burke to candobetter. Please feel more than welcome to also post here any responses from Tony Burke (or please let us know if he fails to repond). - Ed

BeattyK (not verified)

Thu, 2011-08-25 12:46

Vivienne: so you sent an actual letter to the Minister, Hon. Burke? Thanks for putting a copy of it on here, too. Can you believe that there exists an agency called VicForestry, one that's exactly the logging branch of the Victorian State Government?? So our state government (is meant to) manage our Parks in the form of Parks Victoria - as well as illegally log the leadbeater's habitat and trees in a non-N.P forest? I hope you might hear something from Hon. Burke. So he should respond. Seriously!!

Anonymous (not verified)

Thu, 2011-08-25 21:37

Logging will be temporarily halted in a Victorian forest said to house endangered possums under a court order. MyEnvironment applied to the Victorian Supreme Court for an urgent injunction to stop VicForests logging trees in the Sylvia Creek Forest near Toolangi. In addition to the two remaining tree-sitters from yesterday, another was put in place overnight to protect the area that was being logged yesterday. Nevertheless the large group of community members who were standing by could hear chainsaws in the coupe this morning, though no falling trees. A barrister for the group, Kristen Walker, told the court the area provided a habitat for the endangered Leadbeater's Possum.

Sheila Newman

Thu, 2011-08-25 22:20

We welcome these forest posts. Please use candobetter to build a history of these cases and our battles to save our trees. The volunteer writers and reporters and editors cannot do everything so, yes, please take initiative here.Thanks.

End logging at ... (not verified)

Fri, 2011-08-26 18:30

All logging has been halted at Sylvia Creek until 19th September. See The portaloo was transported out of Gun Barrel at 10:30am and the gates were thrown open at 3:00pm. People still need to visit in case logging takes place without surveys. The vigil hasn't ended yet!

End Jumps racing (not verified)

Sun, 2011-08-28 17:34

Six-year-old jumps racehorse Fergus McIver became the fourth horse to die in a jumps race this season in Victoria when he crashed at the last obstacle in the Houlahan Hurdle at Sandown. Activists were there at Sandown at the time, protesting.

Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) announced in November 2009 it would stop jumps racing because of a rising incidence of falls and fatalities, despite changes made to improve the safety of the sport. However, the "safety" of the "sport" are misnomers! Horses are simply tools, or throw-away items in an industry that cares not for animals but uses them for gambling profits.
Deputy Premier Peter Ryan said there would be a review of jumps racing after two years. How many more fine-tuned racehorses must graphically die in the meantime before we see some leadership from the (denis.napthine [AT] parliament.vic.gov.au, ph 03 9095 4170)?

Desalination madness (not verified)

Mon, 2011-08-29 17:15

Documents from the Victorian Environment Protection Authority published in August 2008 show that the boron level in water from the proposed Wonthaggi desalination plant would be at least two times the level specified in the contract between the state government and the international consortium AquaSure. It could kill the deadly contract. According to the contract, desalinated water with boron levels greater than 0.5 milligrams per litre will attract penalties, and that with boron levels in excess of 1 milligram per litre the plant will have to cease operations Read more: of 28 August by Kenneth Davidson at . AquaSure must meet its contract to build a plant with the capacity to produce 200 gigalitres of water with only 0.5 milligrams per litre of boron. If it can't, the state government should be legally entitled to break the contract and avoid the $24 billion contractual obligation. The availability of water, a prime basic human need, should be set the tipping point for our population growth limits. Artificially supplying water means great expense, denying other areas of water, and risks communities. The desal plant was based on greed, and a way of supplying a water solution to swelling population numbers. It's the elephant in the room - Brumby's drive to increase our economy through population growth is the root cause of this mess. The result of this mess is Brumby - and we have the costs of water set to rise, increase in greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, polluted water and unknown effects on the marine ecosystems. It's about being "sustainable" - a word often thrown about but never taken seriously. Boron is a cumulative toxin. The desalination plant may not be able to meet these objectives. Our unrealistic population growth rate is outstripping natural resources. Droughts could happen again, and other disasters too. With our rampant population growth, the public were encouraged to be "sustainable" by using less water and installing tanks, but with a population growth rate of 2% per year, our growth will jeopardize a basic - water that we shouldn't need to pay luxury prices for. It's all about appeasing the real estate investors, and consumers. It's time governments had "sustainable" policies too. Vote:

James Sinnamon

Wed, 2011-08-31 11:47

This morning, I attempted to 'phone 's to put some views about recycling and Australian politics.

The phone was cut off and I was not able to get back before the 11.00AM news, despite repeated attempts.I kept getting the engaged tone, in spite of Jon Faine and the voices of others on ABC Melbourne Local Radio (774) repeatedly urging their listeners to dial 1300 222 774. ("thirteen hundred, triple two, seven, seven four"). Just possibly this was bad luck on my part, however I am placing my experience on the record here to see whether or not others have had similar experiences.

I was motivated to call by talk of the use of renewable solar and wind energy (which I considered to be addressing only a tiny fraction of the environmental problems now faced by humankind.) That motivation was added to by Jon Faine's announcement that , now visiting Melbourne was to appear on Jon Faine's show. She was said to have said that she considered Brisbane the Capital city of Queensland, and not Melbourne, to be the world's most livable city.

I had stood in the 2009 elections as an Independent candidate in order to oppose privatisation and let Queensland electors, whom I knew to be opposed to privatistion, where all candidates, particularly candidates from the major parties, stood on privatisation. I even wrote an in order to get a straight answer from them as to whether or not they intended to privatise any more of Queensland's public assets.

was the Labor candidate for the seat of Mount Coot-tha, against whom I was standing as an Independent candidate, Both failed to answer my question, but soon after being re-elected announced plans to privatise hundreds of millions of dollars worth of publicly owned assets to the outrage of Queensland residents. Polls showed at times over 80% of Queenslanders and always well over 70% were opposed to privation.

I wanted to raise these and other issues when I phoned 1300 222 774.

A lady called 'Katrina' answered. I got off to a good start when I told Katrina that I thought that Brisbane was the world's most unlivable city until I move to Melbourne. Now I thin that Melbourne is the world's most unlivable city. This seemed to have gotten a small laugh from Katrina. Had I left it at that I think I might have got on the program, but I went on to add that I was disappointed with the reporting of politics where the press presume that voters will only ever consider voting for one or other of the major parties and never for independent candidates. After that the phone went dead and I could not get on.

I intend to try again in coming days but it would be interesting to see if others who also wish to express viewpoints considered by most of the mainstream media as fringe have better luck than I had.

nimby (not verified)

Wed, 2011-08-31 15:20

In a major upset for the Government, the full bench of the high court has this afternoon found the plan to send 800 asylum seekers to Malaysia be legally flawed. "Asylum seekers who entered Australia at Christmas Island can be taken for processing of their asylum claims,” a statement said. The "welcome mat" has now got larger, thanks to the High Court.

The flow of asylum seekers is very small compared to the massive number of economic immigrants coming to live in Australia each year. However, they are able to grab all the media attention on "immigration" issues, while the elephant in the room - students, "temporary" workers, skilled immigrants, and family reunions - are not only ignored but any discussion is deliberately shunned.

There can be no appeals to the High Court on this decision, however the Government may seek to amend the legislation in the parliament in order to get its plan through.

The ruling is a massive blow for the Gillard government, which had hoped the Malaysian refugee swap would be the deterrent it needed to halt the flow of asylum-seeker boats to Australia.

Australia will still be bound under the deal to accept 4000 extra refugees from Malaysia, while being unable to send 800 asylum-seekers there for processing
.
How many Federal governments continue to muddle around with various "solution" to control asylum seekers, and now this last deal has been over-ridden by the High Court?

Our government, and Julia Gillard, needs to show some leadership. Why are we enslaved to the UN and their outdated 1951 refugee convention? All the detention centres, armed guards, riots, off-shore processing, claims etc. We are a sovereign nation, and we are free to make our own policies, and decide who and how many people come here. Our massive economic immigration program should be declared illegal and discriminatory. Our government only wants the ready-education and well-off to save money on education, and people to buy into property - not the displaced and poor.

Alienated National (not verified)

Wed, 2011-08-31 22:36

Nimby writes: "We are a sovereign nation, and we are free to make our own policies, and decide who and how many people come here." Are we really a sovereign nation? I thought we were a colony.

From Tigerquoll (not verified)

Wed, 2011-08-31 23:11

I'm a taxpayer, and the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) is funded from our taxes. Yet, despite ABC promotions about its new iView service, the bloody online service has been inoperable for over a week! Consistently one gets the message: " The server at is taking too long to respond." I am about to lodge my tax return, and I want a massive refund, the bastards! I've even tried going to the source of most decent ABC programmes, the BBC, but the BBC p[rohibits access outside teh UK, the bastards! Are we expected to put up with commercial crap with all those torturous insulting Harvey Normous ads? Where's my local member? Tigerquoll Suggan Buggan

admin

Fri, 2011-09-02 17:57

Update 4.15 PM: I managed to talk on Ben Fordham's program, but was given a hearing barely fairer than on 23 Oct 2010.

I have just sent the following e-mail to Ben Fordam (ben [AT] 2gb.com.au):

Dear Ben Fordham,

Of course, I apologise for getting your name wrong and calling you Glen, but I would have thought that that mistake would be understandable on the part of someone who lived inter-state in Melbourne.

I don't see how that honest mistake on my part could have justified my being cut off just as I was about to tell your listeners where to find my public submission made to the National Human Rights Commission in 2009 [here][1] so that they could read it for themselves and form their own judgement. I don't see how the listeners to that program would thank you for having withheld that information from them.

Contrary to your claim that you "treated both sides in the debate equally", you did not.

Those who wanted to put sound arguments based on evidence against the Official 9/11 Conspiracy Theory were talked over and cut off as I was. Those who supported the Official 9/11 Conspiracy Theory were given a sympathetic hearing. Official Conspiracy Theory arguments which have been demolished time and time again in the past were repeated over and over by you almost as if you think that such arguments had not even been considered before by those who don't accept the Bush Government's explanation of 9/11.

If it had been a fair debate there is no way that you or your Official Conspiracy Theory guest would have been left standing in your viewers' eyes at the end, but of course a debate in which one side is able to talk over, shout down and cut off those with whom they disagree as you did, cannot be considered fair.

Yours sincerely,

James Sinnamon
Melbourne

Any response from Ben Fordham will be posted here.

Further update 5.34 PM: I phoned 02 8514 9500 a second time, basically to ask if Ben Fordham would be replying to my e-mail. The woman who answered me told me that he would try.

I also put to her, in the course of the phone call, some of the substance of my complaint. She gave me the familiar lame excuse that it is hard for Ben to handle with all of his callers when he had ten waiting in the queue.

Before I could respond, I was cut off and left listening to Ben Fordham's program.

In spite of the claimed lengthy queue, it seems that Ben Fordham found himself better able to 'handle' the calls of some, that is those who agreed with his Official 9/.11 Conspiracy Theory views.

Footnotes

1. Please also see article on candobetter of 7 Sep 2009

Frustrated (not verified)

Sat, 2011-09-03 12:33

Subject was: Media Bias.

James I have read your comments above (September 2nd, 2011) claiming Ben Fordham’s bias in giving persons of particular viewpoint the short shift. I make no judgement on that as I did not listen to the program and thusly am not qualified to do so.

Candobetter.net is often critical of mainstream media bias, being but one of the many reasons I initially took interest in your site.

Though after years of making contributions to this site I have noted a marked inconsistency in editorial standard after butting heads with your co editor Sheila Newman a number of occasions. I now remain convinced Candobetter.net is in reality no better at upholding free speech and fairness of expression than those they often accuse, despite oft claims to the contrary. It is my opinion that Editor Newman has on numerous occasions cited reasons for censorship of my comments I have submitted in good faith to this site, though in perusal of this site it is clearly evident that the same standards are not adhered to by her when it comes to publishing comments of others which are strongly aligned with her own personal viewpoint. Consequently I no longer afford any credibility to Candobetter.net to upholding the aforementioned standards this site purportedly represents. Perhaps your own glass house could do with some maintenance before you continue throwing stones toward others.

Your criticism of Ben Fordham whether perception, or factually based invokes no sympathy from me but I remain in a position of empathy. It is certainly discouraging when you take the time and effort to put forth an opinion you value but are denied opportunity due to opportunist advantage taken by others in control of the forum.

Surely we can all do better.

Editorial comment: The only recent incident that Sheila recalls that could possibly be construed as censorship is when she objected to someone standing for election to public office being labeled, in a submitted article, an "immigrant arse-licker" and asked for that wording to be changed before the article was published. The intending contributor refused and so it was not published.

Only on rare occasions have our editors ever prevented any comment or article from being published.

We would not publish material that has illegal content or material or which is personally abusive.

To protect ourselves, we cannot publish material for which candobeter could be sued under Australia's defamation laws. As well as lowering the tone of candobetter, the description "immigrant arse-licker" could well be in breach of Australia's defamation laws. More than likely candobetter would lose a defamation suit for the use of that term even under Australia's newer laws, which allow truth as a defence.

Other than that, one example and possibly one or two others (as well as spam that we have to constantly remove) candobetter prides itself on never having refused to publish any comment. The reason that we never have felt the need to refuse publication (unlike a good many other supposedly alternative web sites) is that we are completely confident that all of the claims made on candobetter can be shown to be true by evidence and logic and so we have nothing to fear from fair and open debate on these pages. That so few of those of whom candobetter is critical ever even attempt to argue their case on these pages is further confirmation to us of the strength of the evidence and logic behind the claims made here.

This is not to say that we would always allow anyone to publish anything he/she wishes to on this site. Good reasons to refuse publication on this site would include needless verbosity and irrelevance.

However, as Sheila has put to me, if we were to ever refuse publication on those grounds, we would still allow the intending contributor to link with a URL from any relevant page on this site of his/her choosing back to his/her own article together with some descriptive text. (This conforms to a proposed Truthseeker's Code of Conduct as described .)

For example, if the person who wrote that article were to have published that article, referred to above, elsewhere on the web, he could have posted a comment on this site with a link to that article. (Of course we would also reserve the right to post our own comments next to the link.)

Frustrated (not verified)

Sun, 2011-09-04 10:50

Notably absent from this website is a ‘terms of use’ policy.
The editorial comment above (3-9-2011) makes a good start. Candobetter will not publish material which is considered;
1. illegal content
2. personally abusive
3. defamatory (recognising truth as legitimate defence)
4. spam

... and may not publish:

5. needless verbosity
6. irrelevance

Items 1 - 6 do not address the editorial tampering and suppression of my submissions past.

I still visit Candobetter with some interest but since the episodes of indiscriminate censorship have been reluctant to contribute very often, not willing to waste my time and effort on submissions and much less on post publication arguments ( most probably futile) on editorial decision.

IMO, a published terms of use policy may serve well as a checklist to both contributors & editors alike to better define what is or is not suitable for publication here. Publication of policy could only lead to increased consistency, which I consider can only raise the standard and appeal of the site.

For the record I have no connection at all with the "immigrant arse-licker" slur cited as example. It clearly breaches item 2 above and probably a number of others, I agree with the decision not to publish.

Editorial comment: I am glad to know that you agree with our policy stated in the editorial comment in response to the previous comment. Still, neither Sheila nor I have any recollection of anything else occurring recently that could conceivably be labelled censorship. Please tell us specifically what you tried to post and when you claim it was censored. - Ed.

Paris N (not verified)

Sat, 2011-09-03 00:15

After the USA and France, Germany has the most millionaires. Four of them have said they want to pay more tax to help Germany through the debt crisis. (Source: French News 1 September 2011)

Bandicoot

Wed, 2011-09-07 15:13

This is the anniversary of the last day in the life of the last Tasmanian Tiger that died in 1936 at Hobart Zoo. Australia's landscapes and species have been severely impacted by over 200 years of habitat loss and fragmentation. Little has changed since the Colonial days, despite modern understandings of ecology and environmental awareness. The devastation continues, with logging in prime threatened species' habitats, land clearing, human population growth, and livestock competition. The World Wildlife Fund says Australia's list of threatened species is growing by the year. Michael Roache, the threatened species program manager with the WWF, says the day should be used to reflect on how vital many of these animals are to our ecosystems. Humans as competitors are just too successful, and animals larger then mice have never before had so much dominance on our planet. The spot-tailed quoll, a unique Australian animal, is facing the same sad fate as the Tasmania tiger. Like the thylacine, the endangered spot-tailed quoll is a meat-eating marsupial. Plans to drop bait from planes over vast tracts of land in Victoria to wipe out wild dogs threaten the little creature's existence. The power of a few livestock farmers is such that their interests over-ride all other concerns, and their demands for instant action rather than regulation, control of dog ownership and breeding, and targeting the actual problem animals rather than including endangered species. Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh said baiting would be carried out. However, Victoria's Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act and the Federal government should be able to over-ride this hasty and ill-thought-out decision. There are electric fences, alpacas, and other non-lethal options to avoid wild dog attacks without killing the endangered quolls. With little regard for the value of native species, Australia is going through the process of being generalized as an international repository of resources to be plundered, raped and pillaged instead of having it's uniqueness ensured and guaranteed. Contact Victorian Ag minister Peter Walsh:

Anonymous (not verified)

Wed, 2011-09-07 16:52

With gas reserves under as much as 46% of the country, even inner-city suburbs are under threat from coal seam gas. Coal seam gas (CSG) mining involves using large machines to bore holes deep into the earth and then inject an assortment of chemicals to crack underground rock and release the trapped methane gas. The impact of CSG mining is too hazardous to health and the environment to be allowed. It should be banned. The mining process includes fracking - a process where industrial chemicals and sand are pumped at high pressure deep into the earth to fracture the rock. Water supplies are often contaminated. Independent MP Tony Windsor will introduce a bill to Parliament to pause the expansion of coal seam gas mining until scientists have time to assess the impacts on health, land and our ancient water aquifers. There is deep and genuine public disquiet over the effect of these developments on the water tables and basins. This is an industry that is making huge investments on the back of poor community management. In today’s world, that is very dangerous. Our government has become a voice, the protagonist, for mining companies and are strangled by their heavy demands and strong lobbying power. Australia will be left devoid of life unless we get some leadership. Australia is not a nation any more, but an economy with a workforce to increase, and a resource to be justified by profits and the GDP. Our nationhood is very fragile.

nimby

Thu, 2011-09-08 10:29

ABS - Measures of Australia's progress. "The projections are not predictions or forecasts, but are simply illustrations of the growth and change in population which would occur if certain assumptions about future levels of fertility, mortality, internal migration and overseas migration were to prevail over the projection period. The assumptions incorporate recent trends which indicate increasing levels of fertility and net overseas migration for Australia". According to their graph, we are "projected" to have 42.5 million by 2056, and about 63 million people by 2010. With the devastation of Australia's environment, the further threats of climate change, and our extinction rate, surely our "carrying capacity" has already been reached, or overshot? While we have multiple converging threats to our ongoing safely and growth, and multiple challenges in these decades, the problems - and finding solutions - will be magnified and thwarted by a growing number of people. These are more than "projected" population growth numbers, but targets set by our governments in consultation with businesses and lobby groups. Our population growth is driven by immigration levels -decided politically - and the resultant fertility levels. It's all justified economically, in isolation of the other more pertinent questions of morality, of natural resources, of living standards, of national welfare, the nation we pass onto our descendants, of social and economic and environmental conditions in a land already stressed by human demands and irrevocable changed already.

Bandicoot

Fri, 2011-09-09 08:19

Heritage Vic. decision dated 31/8/11, just handed down their decision about the developments at Banyule Homestead. This is a very disappointing decision although not completely unexpected, given the legislation's emphasis on economic factors and preference to developer profits over public concern and heritage values. Funds from the subdivision are to assist in paying for renovation/repairs to the heritage property, but it is simply token amounts that won't be sufficient to complete the job. There are 10 conditions attached to the Permit which apply largely to the schedule of works to be carried out within four years, a bank guarantee of $400,000 to be lodged as part of the permit process. Considering the potential sale price of the proposed units which will have attractive and sought-after views across Banyule Flats to the Ranges, they are likely to be sold in excess of $1 m each. That it compromises the public walking trail and the view over the wetlands hasn't been taken into account. The decision will set an unfortunate precedent for similar developments elsewhere in Banyule and is of real concern for the future protection of our heritage generally. It obviously has little value, even for "Heritage" Victoria - ironically. They are simply administrators with no real understanding of our history. It should be noted however, that the owners will still need to apply for a planning permit under the Planning & Environment Act, which would still have to be approved by Council. Lobbying of Councilors should commence to ensure that give a firm "NO". The pressure should be kept up, and the proposal not allowed to simply go through without continuing the fight. The matter may eventually end up at VCAT, which was always a possibility. However, with VCAT's strong preference for developers over public concerns, this could be a challenge too. With little industry in Victoria except construction and housing, we continue to build over native bushland, grasslands, heritage properties, and the integrity of Melbourne and Victoria is under threat, and our history is being eroded by ignorance and greed.

nimby

Fri, 2011-09-09 16:33

The response from “Heritage” Victoria ironically mentioned nothing about the heritage or historic values of Banyule Homestead. The only concession was that the owners, in return for the privilege of being able to profit from this site that should be in public hands, is that he contribute $400,000 to renovations. This is nothing compared to the amount devalued from the integrity of the property, and that this amount is just a token to the real cost of upgrades. Economic values were the only criteria mentioned, and the number of people and the Council against the proposals were ignored. This should mean that Heritage Victoria’s green light is invalid due to inadequate and shallow decision-making at its worst!

nimby

Mon, 2011-09-12 09:12

Dear Mr Burke, Minister for the Environment, The Victorian government plans to drop 1080 poison bait from an aircraft into forests which could result in the extinction of the already critically endangered Spot-tailed quoll. The purpose of this antiquated and vandalistic method is to poison wild dogs. Endangered Spot-tailed quolls in northeast Victoria and east Gippsland are meat eaters, as well as some species of possums, reptiles, bandicoots and birds. They would be all at a serious risk of being poisoned. Further more, most of this bait would be wasted because of the dogs not being able to find them and this is where non-target animals will rather find and eat them. This is a destructive and draconian way of "managing" wild dogs! It's a threat to the animals that are protected, legally. There is a well researched and efficient method for the poisoning of wild dogs and foxes. It is a target specific bait station system which is successfully used throughout Victoria. There are some other non-lethal ways of protecting livestock - such as alpacas, Maremmas and electric fences. It will be of great benefit to not only the quolls by removing the competition by dogs and foxes of their natural prey species, but also for the survival of Kangaroos, wallabies, bandicoots, possums, echidnas etc. We can't have our native species exterminated and threatened with further extinction threats because of a few demanding, whinging and lazy farmers! Victorian Environment Minister Peter Walsh has promised farmers he will do as they want. Why are they allowed to have such a powerful lobbying influence, over reason and the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act? With the destruction of some of the last remaining Leadbeater's Possum habitat at Toolangi being logged - suspended for the moment - the threats of grazing in Alpine National parks and further un-welcomed tourist "developments" in Victorian national parks, the lack of environmental regard, and callousness towards native species in Victoria, is disturbing. Please, use your Federal powers to impose some law and order on our elected State Baillieu government. Extinction is forever, and our wildlife are struggling against multiple challenges, mostly human-induced. They don't need to be poisoned as well! It's the same ignorance the killed off the last Tasmanian Tiger - and attitudes have changed little. Thank you Vivienne Ortega