Articles
Bees Survival: Ban More Pesticides?
ScienceDaily, via Dr Alison Bleaney
06.05.13 2:50 am
But scientists now warn that other nerve agents targeting insect pests may also be harming bees and other pollinators. “These neonicotinoids are just one of hundreds of compounds being used and I would be surprised if it was all down to just these chemicals,” says Christopher Connolly, a neuroscientist at the University of Dundee, UK. He argues that we should not allow farmers spray a toxic soup of chemicals onto their crops.
AND
• Your body is a corporate test tube
Politics | National | State | Economy | Environment | Health | History | SocietyPhilip Lynch
06.05.13 2:48 am
“Yes, coffee’s good,” she said. As I turned on the grinder, I wondered about her fur wrap; a seldom worn item of clothing these days, and hardly a summer accessory. It was hot and humid and I was beginning to sweat just looking at her. But I focussed on the task at hand. It’s easy to make mistakes, especially at the end of the day and I didn’t want her to be disappointed.
Writers | Philip Lynch | PersonalOld things can be desirable, can’t we?
Lindsay Tuffin
06.05.13 2:45 am
But aesthetically this is a non-no. The chain angle from the 39 to the 12 is skewed to the right because of a lip on the cog and the need to fix it to the right on the axle ...and not that exquisite alignment my slightly obsessive/compulsive nature demands. So, back to Stuey (who is long-suffering).
Writers | Lindsay Tuffin | Personal | SportLessons from Senator Hubert Humphrey
Buck Emberg
06.05.13 2:40 am
In the years I knew him, the Senator gave me two lessons I still carry: first, if you are serious about life, make fun of yourself; second, choose your enemies carefully and then make friends of them. Frequently, when driving his election car, Byron and I heard him take on unreceptive, antagonistic crowds, turning them into laughing, yelling supporters. His special Hubert tricks were smiles, humor and self-deprecation. When the fish were hooked he began his real speech and, like the wily fisherman he was, played them to an appropriate crescendo, landed them and then quit; the ‘lunker’ fish was in the canoe. Yes, he was long winded but I never saw him lose a hooked crowd…even in the deeply dozing village of Sleepy Eye.
Writers | Buck Emberg | Politics | International | HistoryIs this what our planning schemes are designed to do?
Trevor Grant
06.05.13 2:25 am
Is this what our planning schemes are designed to do?
Politics | Local | Opinion | Planning/HeritageSimon Warriner
06.05.13 2:00 am
Am I alone at wondering how an inquiry is to be run when there is still no mechanism for those with relevant information to make submissions?
Politics | State | Economy | Environment | History | SocietyDenholm, The Weekend Australian
06.05.13 12:30 am
Lennon immediately broke his precious January leave and made a 200km dash up the Midland Highway to Launceston. Here he soothed Gay, promising that the mill assessment would be concluded “as quickly as possible” and that his government would do all it could to make the process work for Gay. And so he did ...
Politics | State | Democracy Tasmania | Forestry | Gunns | Gunns 20 | Environment | Legal | MediaNestlé CEO Says Water Is Food That Should Be Privatized – Not A Human Right
Carl Jackers, American LiveWire
06.05.13 12:13 am
Nestlé CEO Peter Brabeck (above) says that with the global population rising water is not a public right, but a resource that should be managed by businessmen.
Politics | International | Economy | Environment | Health | Opinion | SocietyDominique Portet 2012 Fontaine Rosé
John Rozentals
06.05.13 12:05 am
French-born winemaker Dominique Portet quite aptly describes this as a serious wine that shouldn’t be taken too seriously.
Travellers’ Good Buys for weeking beginning May 6
Compiled by John Rozentals
06.05.13 12:01 am
The voyage departs Sydney on November 28 and stops at Melbourne before cruising to Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park, Dunedin, Akaroa, Wellington, Tauranga and Auckland.
Travel | John Rozentals
Montgomery, Nelson, Pembroke ...
Dr Kevin Bonham, http://kevinbonham.blogspot.com.au/
04.05.13 4:49 am
Dr Kevin Bonham live comments at http://kevinbonham.blogspot.com.au/
• 8pm:
Pembroke: CALLED: Vanessa Goodwin (Lib) re-elected on first preferences
Nelson: CALLED: Jim Wilkinson re-elected
Montgomery: CALLED: Leonie Hiscutt (Lib) elected
• 7pm:
Pembroke: Goodwin leading strongly
Nelson: Wilkinson leading strongly
Montgomery: Hiscutt leading Fuller and currently in strong position.
• Rodney Croome: Majority of Tas voters back gay marriage candidates
Politics | State | The Psephologist | Kevin Bonham | Economy | SocietyEgypt cruelty leads to live export trade suspension
Animals Australia
04.05.13 3:21 am
Animals Australia investigators have recently returned from Egypt. The evidence they gathered is damning, showing Australian cattle being subjected to brutal treatment in the country’s only two accredited abattoirs.
Use the TT NEWS Dropdown for breaking news/comment on this issue
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Economy | SocietyLindsay Tuffin
03.05.13 4:02 am
Mary and Mohammad ... Credit: Kristy Dowsing
Taking a direct cue from the political masters, the locals – who only a decade or so before had welcomed with open arms the desperate refugees from Muslim Kosovo - rail against ‘these people’ who have managed somehow to breach the borders.
• Ahmet Bektas, in Comments: If you only make one visit to the cinema this year, make it this one. The story may make you sad, angry, ashamed. But it will also warm your heart - maybe with a smile and a joyful tear. I’m sure it deeply moved those at the packed premiere at the State Cinema last night - reflected a little in the long standing ovation given to the documentary’s maker, Heather Kirkpatrick. And as much as the documentary has a big heart, so too does Heather. Her drive to tell this story from both sides of the razor wires has overcome the huge obstacles she faced as a first-time documentary maker. She’s worked day and night, mastering new skills, battling technology and used all her savings, but boy has it been worth it! See this film. Talk about it. Write about it. And you might just help the seed sown by Mary and Mohammad’s friendship grow into our nation’s consciousness.
Writers | Lindsay Tuffin | Politics | International | Local | National | Arts | Review | SocietyJan Davis' Tasmanian Country Column today. Pic: of Jan Davis
03.05.13 1:53 am
Its opening remarks included “Tasmanian rural confidence has continued its downward slide…record low levels…lowest net confidence reading since the survey began…”
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Economy | SocietyWhy we voted for the Bill. Silence, says Gillard. Never, says Milne
Nick McKim MP, Leader of The Tasmanian Greens. Pic: of Nick McKim. First pub Wed May 1
02.05.13 5:00 am
In his own words I want to be clear that those amendments, which allow either House of the Parliament to use protest or market disruption as an excuse to try and block new reserves do not in any way constitute a ban on protests or market campaigns as some have claimed. A final consideration included our responsibility to play a constructive role in Tasmanian politics, and to help guide Tasmania to a more prosperous and united future. We considered the need for a co-operative approach, for people working together to solve Tasmania’s problems rather than lobbing grenades from the trenches. We believe that’s what the vast majority of Tasmanians want. And that’s what the Greens want to be a part of.
• Tony Mulder MLC, in Comments, HERE: Delayed gratification is sweeter! This is not about my performance. The time for words has passed, now is the time for deeds. The industry, government and the ENGOs have all committed to deliver. They have committed to deliver on reserves, FSC certification, speciality timbers, exit packages, investment, etc. It will be hard, I hope they succeed, but if they fail, walk away or give up, then they deserve to be ‘put to the sword!’ I did not fundamentally change anything, all I asked of the Milne, Brown and the Green priesthood is that they delay gratification and earn their rewards - they are much sweeter that way.
• Lara Giddings, Bryan Green: Forest Industry Future Secure
• Peter Brenner, in Comments: Governments of the day gave Forestry Tasmania free reins and big dollars to pursue their ruinous forest management practices for decades, and now they let the same FT loose again to establish what they have steadfastly boycotted for decades, namely a successful triple bottom line forest operation? “Immediately(!) pursue Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification”! A one-liner, described as a sweetener! FSC certification is not something you need to do quickly, like swatting an annoying fly. FSC certification is in fact the last step in a policy development process. First there needs to be ...
• tom de kadt, in Comments: In response to all the posts above, I’d ask, ‘What is Plan B?’. The answer is either there isn’t one or business as usual - both amount to the same thing. When it comes to the choice of these seismic conservation wins actually being permanent or zero conservation wins, how can anyone who purports to be an environmentalist not support the TFA? At least with it, there’s a chance, without it, there’s none.
• Neil Smith, in Comments, HERE: Your thoughts that “Milne, Brown and the Green priesthood” are the ones who needed to delay their gratification are distasteful. What about the chopper-downers and the money-grubbers? You and most of the rest of the MLCs act as though the latter categories are angels and anyone who has conservation as an aim is simply a public nuisance who may eventually need to be given some sort of scrap because you and the rest who are on the side of right can’t work out a better approach to make them go away. In short, you don’t see any point in nature conservation at all. Just like the Liberals in the lower house yesterday, who didn’t once mention it as desirable, just something that gets in the way of what we should be doing. Exploiting this planet to the max.
• Richard Colbeck: Sham forest peace doesn’t even last until the final vote
• PM: Loggers, conservations must seize deal “The obligation is on the signatories that first came together, the parties who started this process, to do everything they can to use their abilities to silence those who haven’t gone with the mainstream consensus.” • HERE
• Christine Milne: Community and The Australian Greens will not be “silenced” Prime Minister “My fears of a crackdown on democratic freedoms have been realised within 24 hours. I call on the Prime Minister to withdraw her attack on those who have the courage to not be part of the mainstream consensus. “On day one, the Prime Minister of Australia has thrown her weight behind an assault on a fundamental democratic freedom, namely, freedom of speech and non-violent protest by saying: “The obligation is on the signatories that first came together, the parties that started this process, to do everything they can to use their abilities to silence those who haven’t gone with the mainstream consensus.” “It is wrong to threaten the community that if they speak out about what is happening in our forests, or if FSC certification is not given to Forestry Tasmania, then the magnificent forest areas under a logging moratorium will not be reserved. “I will stand with conservationists and the community and will never be silenced, Prime Minister.” • HERE
• Christine Milne: Transcript: National Disability Insurance Scheme, Tasmanian Forest Agreement JOURNALIST: Is Bob Brown, yourself and Peg Putt have all said that apart from Kim Booth the Tasmanian Greens did the wrong thing yesterday, is Nick McKim’s position as leader untenable now? CHRISTINE MILNE: Not at all, Nick’s the leader of the Tasmanian Greens and he has done a great job as leader of the Tasmanian Greens. He has the full confidence of his party room and the Greens party and he will continue to lead the Tasmanian Greens. You have to put yourself into the difficult position that he and his colleagues were in trying to make a decision about what was salvageable. Now there is a difference of opinion as to what was salvageable and the costs of that salvage operation but that’s as far as it goes. We are all committed to getting forest conservation in Tasmania and my job now is to work with everyone on the ground to make sure that those reserves which are out there on the never-never actually become reserved. • HERE
• Nick McKim: Historic step forward for conservation “The right to protest is essential for democracy and must be preserved, but we hope that over time people will see that this legislation can deliver the high levels of forest protection that everyone in the environment movement wants to see.”
• HERE
• Christine Milne: I will never be silenced Prime Minister, HERE
• Peter McGlone, in Comments: The grassroots conservation groups which have campaigned for years for reserves in the Tarkine region, the north-east, Weilangta, Bruny Island and elsehere will be gutted to hear that these areas cannot be reserved until after the state election, which makes their reservation very unlikely. If the Liberals win the April 2014 state election they are committed to no further reserves and if the Green/Labor alliance wins there is no legal requirement nor any political imperative for them to create reserves. Why would Labor want more reserves if the forest industry has its money, wood guarantees, a weakened forest practices system and possibly FSC certification? They will deliver more reserves only if we keep demanding it - stay quiet and you are guaranteed nothing.
• Christine Milne: Forest industry assistance package exposes hollow intergovernmental deal “It is sobering to see that some millions are allocated to communications to sell the Gillard- Giddings Forest Industry package whilst conservationists prepared to communicate with the community and for the forests are to be ‘silenced’ for not being part of the ‘mainstream consensus’”. • HERE
• Lara Giddings: Funding to secure new markets for Tasmanian forest products
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Forestry | Gunns | Economy | Environment | Opinion | History | SocietyIt Takes More than Love to Fill the Justice Gap!
Madeleine Ogilvie. Pic: of Madeleine Ogilvie
02.05.13 3:13 am
Asylum Seeker Legal Support Clinics – It Takes More than Love to Fill the Justice Gap! When even the lawyers will work for free you know it must be an important issue.
Politics | National | State | Legal | Personal | SocietyThe Age
01.05.13 4:20 am
With only days to go before the budget is finalised and printed for delivery on May 14, the government has decided to introduce the special tax, in effect taking the 1.5 per cent Medicare levy to 2 per cent for all taxpayers, after the expenditure review committee met on Tuesday.
• Christine Milne: Transcript: National Disability Insurance Scheme ... CHRISTINE MILNE: This morning Prime Minister Gillard held what is effectively an election campaign policy launch. It was dressed up as something that was about to be delivered for the nation and that is a National Disability Insurance Scheme. This has been something that campaigners have been working for around the country for a long time. It’s certainly something the Greens support and we think it is critical for Australia to have a National Disability Insurance Scheme to support people living with disability and to give the comfort to everyone that in circumstances which we can’t predict any of us can end up with a major disability and so a National Disability Insurance Scheme is a great idea. I’m very disappointed though that the Prime Minister has made a National Disability Insurance Scheme an at-risk proposition for the federal election. • HERE
Politics | National | Economy | Health | SocietyTasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson Rodney Croome
01.05.13 4:18 am
Copies of the same flyer were distributed in Launceston early in April. In a report in the Launceston Examiner a Mr James Durstan took responsibility for the flyer, declaring he is a “spokesman for God”.
• Rodney Croome: Tassie voters face stark choice between inclusion and hate
• Guy Barnett: Hateful flyer condemned
Politics | National | State | Economy | Health | Personal | SocietyChristine Milne: ‘Picking over a dead carcass’
via David Obendorf. Pic: of Tony Burke
01.05.13 4:15 am
Federal Environment Minister, Tony Burke: You’ll get the odd skirmish from small minor… minor groups and things like that. Yeah and I don’t want to set a silly threshold. What we have seen from the last thirty years – ends tonight. And that is something to celebrate.
Writers | David Obendorf | Politics | International | Local | National | State | Forestry | Gunns | Economy | Environment | History | SocietyBooth crosses floor as peace deal passes
ABC. MRs First published Tuesday April 30
01.05.13 4:00 am
Pic: Daniel Haley
“It does not give permanent protection to any of the other 504,000 hectares that are mentioned as areas that should be reserved.” The leader of the Australian Greens, Christine Milne, does not support the deal either.
• Signatories Call For Passage of TFA Bill through House of Assembly
• Peg Putt: Recipe for failure in endorsement of Legislative Council wrecking
• Alice Hungerford: Today’s announcement is one of those hollow compromises that means nothing much at all has changed. Some would say half is better than none, but I say every last bit was the minimum we needed to protect. This Opportunity for Deep Restorative Change was lost.
• Christine Milne Transcript: Mining tax, budget, Tasmanian Forest Agreement, asylum seekers But equally as the leader of the Australian Greens there is no way I can countenance the idea that the community’s freedom of speech will be curtailed - the freedom to protest, the freedom of speech to be curtailed. There is absolutely no way that you can say to the Tasmanian community if you have a protest, if you speak out about the rubble and the mess that’s been created then the Legislative Council through the special council that’s been set up can determine that reserves will not be gazetted. That just simply is unacceptable in a democracy.
• Tim Thorne, in Comments: Above all, we must resist the perversion of Tasmania’s once proud timber industry into a vehicle for the transfer of money from ordinary Tasmanians and their government to the shareholders of the banks. If you doubt the relevance of the last point, ask yourself where the money given to Gunns has ended up.
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Forestry | Gunns | Economy | Environment | History | SocietyThe Subversive Voter*
01.05.13 2:50 am
Bake some gooey cookies and wrap one in your ballot paper. The lucky ballot counter who picks it up can have it with a nice cup of tea.
Politics | State | SatireThe Feed-In Tariff/Aurora debate ...
Chris Harries. First published Tuesday April 16
01.05.13 2:45 am
The feed-in tariff that is paid to solar households for energy that is exported into the electricity grid is a very sensitive issue because there are numerous stakeholders who are affected, not least the 10,000 Tasmanian households that have taken the initiative, in good faith, to install solar. All of these good people, plus the installing electricians and business that sell the solar equipment, are voters, so Minister Bryan Green has a delicate job in delivering what is fair and reasonable to everyone, not just to the power utilities.
• Last week on Tasmanian Times: Saving Our Solar
• John Thirgood: A new script for petitioners to email to Parliamentarians
• John Thirgood, in Comments: www.saveoursolartas.org for e-petition ... 1000 plus signatures in under two weeks and growing
• Monday April 29, John Thirgood, Alex Whiteside ...
• Thursday May 2, John Thirgood: SOS Tas Volunteer Pack, Solar News, The Australian ...
Writers | Chris Harries | Politics | International | Local | National | State | Economy | Environment | Opinion | History | SocietyDoesn’t it suggest that Southern Waste Solutions does not take public consultation seriously?
Southern Beaches Conservation Society Dump the Toxic Dump
01.05.13 2:40 am
Mr Morris will also ask the Minister, “Given the strategic importance of this proposal, and the strength of community concern surrounding the proposed C-cell, does this lack of action on the Community Consultative Community concern you? Doesn’t it suggest that Southern Waste Solutions does not take public consultation seriously?”
Politics | Local | State | Economy | Environment | SocietySuzanne Cass, Stop Tasmanian Animal Cruelty Phone PO Box 252 BRIDGEWATER TAS 7030 http://www.stoptac.org http://www.liveexportsham
01.05.13 2:30 am
Jo Ludwig
Agriculture Minister Senator Joe Ludwig will be confronted by animal advocates … and the defenceless, voiceless animals they speak for - today as he attends an ABARES Conference at the Mercure Hotel in Bathurst Street today (Wednesday, May 1st).
• AACT Action at AgFest Against Rodeos
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Economy | Legal | SocietyThe Old Bear
01.05.13 2:03 am
Tonight I watched Four Corners ...
John Hawkins, Chudleigh
30.04.13 6:05 am
Where is Australia’s much-vaunted humanity? We are the richest nation on earth per head of population; blessed and profiting from our unlimited natural resources. As a result we can afford to spend billions on locking up refugees on islands inhabited by poor native peoples who will take the crumbs thrown from our rich man’s table to be used and abused as a so-called deterrent.
• Madeleine Ogilvie, Barrister & Solicitor, in Comments: In Hobart, I’ve set up regular pro bono legal support clinics. Open to all asylum seekers. 40 people came to the first clinic. Funds still necessary for translators, migration agents, court fees and specialist advice. We need to raise $20k - all help gratefully received. Do you have language skills? Tamil, Burmese, Hazaragi, Farsi needed. Maddy ph 0409001800
• Sign Sarah Hanson-Young’s petition here
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Economy | Health | Opinion | History | Personal | SocietyHuon Valley Environment Centre, Still Wild Still Threatened. First published Monday April 29
30.04.13 5:00 am
Pic: Daniel Haley
Picton River resolution April 2013 While many conservation-minded people once held hope that the forest negotiation process may lead to forest protection outcomes, these hopes have been diminished by the ongoing conservation compromises made and more recently due to the current amendments made by Tasmania’s Legislative Council. The amendments that have been made to this agreement by the Legislative Council render the deal void of any real conservation gain, yet prop up the dying native forest industry. These amendments are totally unacceptable.
• Peter McGlone: Tasmanian Forests Agreement Bill 2013 must be amended
• Bob Hawkins, in Comments: HVEC and SWST have got it exactly right. If parliament does not vote down this LegCo-mutilated bill, our politicians will bring to fruition a several-years-long political conspiracy to deceitfully extract more scores of millions of dollars from a compliant Canberra administration. John Howard was complicit as a Liberal PM in forestry shenanigans a decade or so ago; now Gillard is complicit as a Labor PM.
• David Obendorf, Tuesday: Uncertainly continues in Forest Deal
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Forestry | Gunns | Economy | Environment | Legal | SocietyGeorge Harris*
29.04.13 4:21 pm
Young Celery-top Pine regrowth in KD30S west of Geeveston. Images taken by George Harris on 09/04/2013 Come back in 350 to 400 years’ time! On left is Paul Harriss MLC
I believe the Bill as amended and the agreement it was based on reduces the saw log and peeler sectors below viability and leaves no room for expansion or recovery, and the impact on Special Timbers is substantial, as it means a reduction of sustainable annual supply of species other than Blackwood of around 60% in circumstances where there is unmet demand and shortages of supply as a hangover from previous lock-ups. The impact on the boat builders and the craft and furniture sector is unacceptable. The Greens and the ENGO’s have previously never explicitly attacked the Special Timbers sector, and have even claimed to support it. However, they are attacking its future and its very existence now through the pursuit of this Bill and the nomination to extend the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
• Robin Halton, in Comments: Honestly if the Federal Government funds Ta Ann to the tune of $40M on top of all of the mothering benefits from Federal and State governments’ and FT then that has to be deemed as corruption! Right or wrong???
• Pete Godfrey, in Comments: #18 George you are asking me to believe in the tooth fairy. Do you really expect me to believe what the Bobster says. After all that he told us about the proposed pulp mill, how our forests were sustainably managed, how the forests were being logged for sawlog and the pulpwood was only a by product. And his best one that FT stopped putting plantations on converted native forest at the end of 2006. Come on George you may as well direct me to the Vatican for a paper on how paedophilia has been eradicated. With the Bobster still in charge of FT and Evan Rolley at the helm of Ta Ann, I will happily keep my cynical hat on, until I see real results and real forestry occurring.
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Forestry | Gunns | Economy | Environment | Opinion | History | SocietyEU to ban pesticides linked to bee deaths
ABC
29.04.13 4:00 pm
Supporters of the ban argue the pesticides are harmful to bees, which account for 80 per cent of plant pollination by insects. Without the bees, many crops would be unable to bear fruit or would have to be pollinated by hand. Eight nations including the United Kingdom voted against the plan, agreeing with chemical companies that the scientific data is insufficient or inconclusive, and there were four abstentions.
• Dr Alison Bleaney, in Comments: What will APVMA and DPIPWE do now? Continue to use them..business as usual…or will they ban the use of these insecticides on the probability that they cause harm to bees with the flow on of decreased productivity of agricultural crops that use bees for pollination? What stance will TFGA take? APVMA is yet again out on a limb playing catch up…it could do so much better in supporting agriculture and protecting the environment and people in Australia. It should not be ‘captured’ by the chemical companies, lobbying hard to maintain their profit margin at the expense of the taxpayers.
Politics | International | Local | National | State | Economy | Environment | Health | Opinion | History | SocietyEconomists agree with Greens: fix mining tax flaws and increase revenue
Senator Christine Milne, Greens Leader MR. Pic: of Ross Garnaut
29.04.13 11:44 am
“Professor Garnaut referred to the Gillard Government’s generous depreciation provisions for Australia’s most established and profitable mines which allows these mining companies to pay very little tax,” Australian Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne said today.
• ABC: Gillard flags budget of spending cuts and tax hikes
• Christine Milne, Rachel Siewert: Put mining tax on table to raise revenue
Politics | National | Economy | Society
