Starting today and on Tasmanian Times every fortnight, widely-read Geoff Dickinson chooses Six of the past fortnight’s Best Reads.
• Geoff’s Summary: At least the Italians got to vote and reject privatisation of water. Tasmanians may have to activate in the future and consider similar action.
Victory in Italian Referendum an Inspiration for Water Justice Movements
It is the first time since 1995 that a referendum managed to reach a quorum in Italy and of the 57% of the electorate that voted (about 26 million), 96% voted to keep their water services public. “The success of the referendum in Italy is a true … Italy Water NorthcentralPa.com 14/6/2011
http://www.northcentralpa.com/feeditem/2011-06-14_victory-italian-referendum-inspiration-water-justice-movements
• Geoff’s Summary: Water is a worldwide problem, not just Tasmanian or Australian one.
Pipe dreams: Technology monitor
ANY industry that mislays 25-30% of its product in the process of delivering it might reasonably be thought to have a problem. Apr 2011, by The Economist online. Water wastage issues
http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2011/04/technology_monitor_1
• Geoff’s Summary: This is a water supply problem that will become increasingly in the news as energy and water needs come into conflict.
Fertile plains under frack attack
Durum wheat is going head-to-head with coal seam gas in a battle over the state’s top agricultural region, writes Leonie Lamont.
Australia Sydney Morning Herald June 18, 2011
http://www.smh.com.au/business/fertile-plains-under-frack-attack-20110617-1g7sj.html
• Geoff’s Summary: USA Business Consultancy Firm Report (strategy+business is published by the global commercial consulting firm Booz & Company) so the report is a commercial US perspective but has good informative value.
Renewable Energy at a Crossroads
The wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal energy sector has grown in fits and starts during the last 30 years — but now may finally have the momentum to become a self-sustaining industry.
USA Strategy+Business June 2011 Christopher Dann, Sartaz Ahmed, and Owen Ward
http://www.strategy-business.com/article/00082?gko=5cba5&cid=20110614enews
• Geoff’s Summary: This New York Times video describes a US situation. It could never happen in Australia. Could it?
Inside the Accountants’ Playbook: 3.5 minute Video
Background on four strategies that American companies use to reduce their taxes.
New York Times 19/6/2011
http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/06/19/business/100000000870844/inside-the-accountants-playbook.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha2
• Geoff’s Summary: When the Germany newspaper de Spiegel reports such an issue we should all cast a wary eye.
‘I Fear the Net Will Soon Become a War Zone’
Anti Virus pioneer Evgeny Kaspersky is one of Russia’s top Internet virus hunters and IT entrepreneurs. In a SPIEGEL interview, he discusses a raft of recent hacker attacks on multinationals, the “total professionals” behind the Stuxnet virus and his fear of both personal and widespread cyber violence.
