Global Climate Change Action

Beware of "missing words" when perusing political party’s policies and deciding where you will be casting your PRECIOUS 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th votes....

If, like me, you wish to see an end to the nuclear industry (firstly) on moral grounds, followed closely by environmental grounds, and clearly not needed on financial grounds, then expanding the mining of Uranium in Australia is NOT wanted, needed or necessary.

Of course if you are a Rio Tinto shareholder, you may think otherwise.

Recently, whilst participating in the Cycle against the nuclear cycle, I visited the Gladstone Office of our local standing MP, Paul Neville (National/Liberal Coalition) and spoke with his Secretary. She couldn't tell me if their party would be considering a nuclear power plant in this electorate or not. Her advice to me and my friend was that this issue needed further investigation. "Informed" decisions would not be forthcoming until after the election.

To me, that says... "when our party is voted back into power we will do whatever we want, it's not your business now. You are not a scientist!"
or... "don't you worry about that".

I am a registered voter. Where I put my mark IS my business. Where my taxes are spent IS my business. I need answers before these two parties are given further opportunities at destroying MY future.

The Labor Party won't commit to nuclear power stations (yet), they will however commit to an expansion of Uranium mining to supply the growing nuclear industry - and they already have.

The Greens, Socialist Alliance and Australian Democrats are clear where they stand. They stand in favour of sustainable development, social justice and equality. Clearly, nuclear does not fit the bill. These parties have made it clear in their policies that they will not support an expansion of the nuclear industry or nuclear energy - (as an "alternative" energy).

The new party "Climate Change Coalition" (CCC) stands in favour of sustainable housing developments, improved transportation systems and better education (as do the three parties listed above).

The CCC are in favour of many good things which will mitigate the worst effects of climate change in the long term but so are the Greens, the Socialist Alliance and the Australian Democrats.

However, the CCC intend to leave ALL OTHER polices to the "conscience vote" of any candidate who is elected. This tends to really worry me. How will their ideas and policies be implemented? Where is their financial plan for our taxes? What say the CCC on our health care taxes? Where do they stand on Industrial Relations and Workplace Agreements?

What also worries me is that they leave the door open for the nuclear industry when they state:

..."Does nuclear power have a role to play in a climate change reduction strategy? James Lovelock, the founder of Gaia Hypothesis, thinks that it can be a useful element in a greenhouse reduction strategy for some countries. Others, such as Australian scientist and climate change campaigner, Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe sees nuclear power as a cure as bad as the disease.
This debate is unavoidable and essential. The CCC encourages our best and brightest minds to state their cases - realising that any debate on Nuclear Power immediately involves alternative power."

In other words... when it comes to the nuclear industry and nuclear power... they sit on the fence. Let others worry about that in an informed and "open" debate? History clearly shows the "openness" of the nuclear industry and the honesty of their "debate".

There is no need for further debate. Expanding the nuclear industry IS avoidable and NOT essential.

The nuclear industry is not safe, and it never was, and it never will be.
In any doubt? please visit:

Startling fact and figures:
http://www.43things.com/entries/view/1888283

Or "Maralinga - Learn from our experience" by my (then) 15yo daughter, Natalie:
http://www.43things.com/entries/view/1881061
and explore the highly educational links in the Appendix

or Nuclear Industry - human effects - facts you should know http://www.43things.com/entries/view/1875511

Finally, today's latest:
Nuclear Power and water scarcity: By Dr Jim Green
http://globalclimatechangeaction.org/node/122
(fliers available shortly)

It appears that the CCC's nuclear policies are hand in hand with those of our currently elected leaders... they "may" support nuclear industry power generation and an expansion of this industry and the associated waste.
Their "vote catching policies" are attached in a PDF document.

Unless the CCC can inform me clearly that they will not support nuclear power or an expansion of the nuclear industry in Australia, I will be putting my vote for the CCC below the ALP, to be sure that their preference flow does not re-elect a National/Liberal Coalition.

I hope other voters are aware of the insidious nature of the nuclear industry and all of their "dirty tricks" to retain their control over our precious taxes.

Anne Goddard

Please distribute to Union Members for their consideration

via:
http://leftclickblog.blogspot.com/

full story:
http://leftclickblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/all-unions-should-back-greens....

Snip>:
All unions should back the Greens
by Socialist Worker

Enough is enough. That is the message coming from thousands of working people across the country about WorkChoices. There is no doubt that Howard is spooked by the overwhelmingly mood against him. Tragically Labor is so concerned to keep big business onside that it has promised to keep important parts of the legislation.

These include the ban on the right to strike and the right of unions to enter workplaces.
This is ridiculous-how can unions survive, let alone prosper, if they cannot enter workplaces to talk to members?

more: http://leftclickblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/all-unions-should-back-greens....

Further comments via Green Left Discussion Group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GreenLeft_discussion/message/47418
and
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GreenLeft_discussion/message/47420

My comments:
ALL UNION MEMBERS should be encouraged to volunteer to scrutineer for their local candidate. This is the best way to ensure (in an open an honest voting system) that ALL votes are counted and EVERY vote sees the light of day.
For further information on what scrutineering entails, visit:
http://www.aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/Candidate/Handbook/scr...

cc Unions

from "The Big Switch Off"
This Saturday, 8pm, 6th October, 2007

From: Craig Hodges, Campaign Manager
-----------------------
I am a campaign manager with The Big Switch Off and would like to ask for
your assistance to pass on the message about our national switch off event
taking place this weekend from 8pm Saturday 6th October 2007.

http://www.thebigswitchoff.org

TBSO Community Service Announcement
http://www.plugintv.net/media/PTV007_web.mov

TBSO CSA - ABC TV version
http://www.plugintv.net/media/PTV007A_web.mov

The Age Article - 28th Sept 07

Australian Political Parties Policies Analysis
Summary and conclusions:

This anaysis is biased towards the necessity to provide positive outcomes for myself, my children and our planet with the use of my taxes.

Our democratic right to vote gives us the freedom to elect political parties with solid policies. Political policies which (hopefully) positively represent the needs and wishes of the people. Elected political parties are placed into positions of power and control over our money.

Election promises or "Election Policies" are often political/media ploys to gain undecided voters.

Political Party Policies are not vote grabbing empty promises, short term propaganda or more 'hot air'. Party Policies are what each party stands for (or against).

My family and I wish to live on a planet where the many and varied species of life (not only human) are able to co-habit and co-exist in safety and security. A planet not yet completely contaminated with human created poisons and pollutions. A planet where we, the human species, can finally evolve into the incredible species we are.

Climate Change is an issue that needs tackling immediately. We need global leaders prepared to race humanity (and our precious taxes) with us, towards sustainable energy supplies and living systems. Our leaders must ensure that all polluting energy supplies are phased out and CLEAN energy is supplied.

Where ever we may live, there are ways that our taxes can immediately be put to good use by providing us with clean energy and energy efficient transportation. By solar/wind/geothermal/tidal/wave powered energy supply and by dramatic improvements in the public transport sector.

Therefore, I have analysed Australian Political Parties Policies based on the following personal requirements:

I wish to vote for a party which Understands that Nuclear Energy is not a short or long term answer or a "climate friendly" choice when considering expediture of our precious energy funds.

I wish to vote for a party that understands that burning of (finite resources) of coal and other fossil fuels must be phased out.

I wish to vote for a party which understands that commercial energy supplies must be replaced with sustainable (non long-term CO2 emitting energy sources) eg. geothermal, tidal, wave, solar, wind and that further "research" funding is not needed on these technologies. The above listed energy technologies can be installed immediately all over our country.

I wish to vote for a party that understands that large dams on our river systems add to our current climate disaster. There must be no further large dams for hydro-electrical generation.

I wish to vote for a party that understands that public transport should be well funded and improved to be of high energy efficiency.

I wish to vote for a party which understands that a national carbon trading scheme should be immediately implemented ensuring that existing native forests are retained and protected as carbon "sinks". Destruction of existing carbon sinks adds to our current climate disaster.

I wish to vote for a party that understands that the increased production of ethanol (or biofuels) for transporation fuel produces a negative energy output (particularly when land clearing/ploughing/planting/ irrigation/fertilisation/production/transportation and supply costs are taken into the energy cost of the equasion).

With the above thoughts in mind I have come to the Conclusion that the Australian Greens (AG) will have my first (or second) vote in both houses, dependent on where the Candidates preferences flow.
See their policies:
http://www.greens.org.au/about/policy/

Second (or first) place the Socialist Alliance (SA) dependent on where the candidates preferences flow.
See their Climate Policies:
http://greenleft.wikispaces.com/charter
General policies page:
http://www.socialist-alliance.org/page.php?page=190

The Australian Democrats (AD) score third (or fourth) place, dependent on where the candidate preferences flow.
See their policies:
http://www.democrats.org.au/policies/

Fourth (or fifth) place going to the Australian Labor Party (ALP) dependent on where the candidates preferences flow.
see their policies:
http://www.alp.org.au/policy/index.php

I will place all political parties who preference the Liberal (LP) or National Parties (NP) below the ALP with further preferences to be decided dependent on where Political Parties/Independents/Candidates send their preferences.

See National Party Policies:
http://www.nationals.org.au/About/Policies/default.asp

Liberal Party Policies:
I looked for the LP policies, but could only find "Election Policies"..? I presume that these words mean that after the election these policies are no longer valid?
Have a look at the attached glossy "Research & Development Plan" to see how our elected reps have been spending our taxes, sounds fantastic, yes..?
More detailed figures are available online here, cut the gloss, these are OUR taxes!
http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/agriculture/rdplan.html

See all political parties not listed above:
http://www.aph.gov.au/library/intguide/pol/polparti.htm. Further, investigate the Climate Change Coalition; http://www.climatechangecoalition.com.au who will be fielding a number of candidates in the forthcoming election, if this parties preferences flow to the Greens/SA/ALP rather than the LP/NP Coalition I will be placing them above the ALP.

I suggest that scrutineering on the Election day to be a very productive method of ensuring all votes are counted fairly and honestly. If ever there was a time to get positively ACTIVE, for a better future for us all, then election day is it!

For more information visit: AEC Scrutineering
http://www.aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/Candidate/Handbook/scr...

MANY HONEST VOLUNTARY SCRUTINEERS
ARE NEEDED ON ELECTION DAY

- to ensure EVERY vote is counted as the voter intended
- and to ensure that EVERY vote sees the light of day.

Please consider volunteering to scrutineer at your local polling booth on election night.

Anne Goddard
Wednesday September 26, 2007
http://globalclimatechangeaction.org

Bundaberg Peace Convergence Meet Up

80 Woongarra Street, Bundaberg,
2pm Sunday 17th June

Link up with fellow Peace Convergence Activists
Raise public awareness
Participate and have your say

Join Us!

Military 'tourism' to strike Great Barrier Reef

by David Bradbury
25 May 2007

In June, Australia will host the largest military exercises ever undertaken in peacetime. Talisman Sabre 07 will involve 12,400 Australian and 13,700 US troops converging on various locations for their biennial “war games”.

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