Global Climate Change Action

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

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

Talk to your family, friends and neighbours about your personal concerns... Climate Change is a fear we all share.

Sign the Greenpeace Petition NOW!
http://stop-fueling-climate-change.org

Collect signatures on a climate change mitigation petition
(printable petition here): http://globalclimatechangeaction.org/petition

Promote this website - link your website to ours.

Rip up your lawn and grow your own organic vegetables. Growing veggies is a lot more productive and rewarding than spending a big chunk of your free time cutting greedy, thirsty grass behind a noisy polluting mower! Share the fruits of your labour with your family members and neighbours.

Plant an edible fruiting vine on your fence.

Invite your family and neighbours over for a BBQ and to give you a hand in the garden, offer a hand in exchange. Plant, grow, give, celebrate!

Ride a push bike wherever possible or walk. Think twice before starting your car.

Write to newspapers.
Tips, basic guidelines and addresses here: http://globalclimatechangeaction.org/node/146

Write (and copy your newspaper letters) to your local Candidate and ask questions.
See my example:
http://globalclimatechangeaction.org/node/127

Hopefully, our new leaders will hear our voices.

Ensure our new leaders keep their promises and take immediate steps to reduce our (base-load) CO2 emissions.

Hold a stall at your local markets - sell your home grown/home made produce.
Buy locally, grow locally.
Use recycled resources wherever possible.
Utilise public transport.
Car share.
Reduce your personal carbon footprint.
Be constantly conscious of waste and of the need to conserve our precious energy resources.
Let go of "the scarcity mentality" and peacefully rejoice in our planets' wonderful natural abundance.

Warm regards
Anne