The Copenhagen Climate Change talks were always destined to be little more than a talk-fest. If anything genuinely inspiring comes from it, I for one will be much surprised. My feeling is that what we're witnessing, even after a couple of days, is the arising of a new world order where the industrial giants, the so-called 'first world' nations, will call the tune on climate change mitigation. Second & third-world nations will simply be the lesser players. The oceanic island states will lose their sovereignty ultimately because in the grand global scheme in which the tune is called by the major industrial nations, their concerns are transitory. I'd even go so far as to state that arguments of climate change deniers will be utilised by the first world nations such that claims of inevitability will be aired by the first world in a bid to belittle the outcries of the the smaller island states. In my view, it is inevitable that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) will lose out in global climate change negotiations simply because their voices, their contributions to the global picture simply aren't loud enough or of high enough concern to the first world. There is no appeasing going on. There is only overt collaboration, collusion occurring between the major players in much the same way as the major powers in pre-world war two Europe made decisions about what could and couldn't be sacrificed in a bid to stave off war. Some might like to call that 'appeasement' but in reality, the only parties being appeased are those who are apparently conducting the 'appeasement'. There is no third party.
In my view, humanity being the pathetic species it truly is, will use events like Copenhagen to pave the path to its own destruction. The atmospheric carbon 'tipping point' used to be 350 ppm. Copenhagen is all about limiting atmospheric poisoning to 450 ppm. In ten years or less, the target will be 550 ppm, by which time the oceans will be exhibiting conclusive symptoms of acidification, polar ice will have vanished for the foreseeable geological future during the northern summer and continental ice shelves in Antarctica will have reduced by at least 20%.
It's what we do, we human beings. Habitat destruction is our forte. We lose more species every day, week and month than we realise, and most of us don't care a fig, nor have the least understanding of what it is we do. Last night on the ABC's 7:30 Report there featured an article on farmed Atlantic Salmon in Tasmania. I was struck by the words of David Suzuki addressing the National Press Club in October 2006... "You all sat here and chowed down on farmed salmon and obviously you don't give a shit about what you're putting into your body. You know what a farmed salmon is? It's filled with toxic chemicals."
It's worthwhile recalling Suzuki's words in regard to the performance of the media, national & international, in regard to the pressures humanity places on this planet daily.
He calls himself 'second-rate', but I'm afraid I prefer to listen to him than any self-interested politician colluding with other self-interested politicians when it comes to the future of my species.
What one film do you think everyone should see?
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What's your guilty television pleasure?
How has technology’s constant presence affected your (or your child’s) education?
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How have technology and the Internet changed the way your family spends time together?
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How is Tony Abbott's style? He understands diplomatic sensibilities and he understands how disappointed people may be because the PM can't meet the Dalai Lama. His Holiness makes many trips to this country, so perhaps Kevin Rudd should appoint Tony Abbott as the government's official greeter? Lords know, Abbott could do with exposure to the Buddhist perception of life, the universe & everything.
The holidays are in full effect, so tell us: What's your favorite holiday song? Bonus points if you share it with us!
That's easy!!! "Hey Santa Claus" by Kevin Bloody Wilson. For all you non-Aussies, I'd caution clicking on the link.
What's your favorite thing about the holidays? Least favorite?
The holidays are in full effect, so tell us: What's your favorite holiday song? Bonus points if you share it with us!
I'm still not on Joe Hockey's 'friends' list on Facebook, so I can't comment in response to his plea to his 'followers' (he uses Twitter almost exclusively which repeats to Facebook) for opinions on the CPRS/ETS, as some of you may have seen on the evening news. I can, however, email him via Facebook and amusingly enough, always get a response. So I thought, what the hell.
As a Climate Change response, 5% to 15% over a ten year period is pathetic. As a political tool, the CPRS has been masterful and will continue to be so UNLESS those opposing it as an ideological stalking horse get out of the way and allow those with the party's best interests at heart to step up, avoid the embarrassment of a double dissolution election loss, and deny the government any further political points.
The CPRS, as I understand it, is little more than a cash cow for the government coffers, purpose designed to eradicate government debt through carbon taxation. Consumers (voters) will not be adequately compensated for the costs of a measly 5%-15% cut in emissions. There's already been a concessional cut in consumer compensation of $914m in order to secure the support of conservatives. Now they've reneged. Government is already clawing back its $900 cash handouts through covert cuts to medicare. Why should we - who will bear the brunt of government feeding itself - blithely allow the government to secure itself at least two more terms because of troglodyte conservative ideologues who do not understand true Liberalism, and don't support it.Without a viable, concerted and united Opposition, keeping government in check and holding it to the hard light of public inspection, democracy fades away leaving Australia as a one-party state. We're very close to that now. If you, as a potential leader, allow the conservative side of the party to take the stance of opposing government because opposing is what they feel they need to do, without actively and constructively contributing to the process of parliamentary democracy, then the Liberal Party ceases to be what Menzies created, is not what your stated mentor - John Stuart Mill - defined as Liberalism.
Stand up, Joe!! Grab your gonads and take the party down the road you know it needs to tread. CPRS/ETS is a mere bump in the road and one neither you, Turnbull, Minchin, Abbott or indeed any other member of the coalition parties can avoid or defeat. A Double Dissolution election loss will consign the coalition parties to the wilderness for two terms, minimum. Lords only know how government will grow in that time, how it will lose touch in that time, and how Australians in general will suffer from the inevitable arrogance and ignorance. Stand up and be counted!!
