Webdiary - Founded and Inspired by Margo Kingston

Environmental change on earth is as old as the planet itself, about 4 billion years. Our genus, Homo, has altered earthly environments throughout our career, about 4 million years. But there has never been anything like the twentieth century. (J.R. McNeill) 

Matt Howard from Iraq Veterans Against The War is in Australia at the moment speaking out about his involvement in the Iraq war. A public meeting was held at Melbourne University on Thursday 23^rd August to hear Matt discuss his experiences of the war and the US military, with question time afterwards.

The Federal Court’s decision that the Australian Government can not cancel a person’s visa on the basis of an innocent association should be the end of the matter, according to the Law Council.

The Government's priority is to tackle climate change without damaging Australian jobs and living standards. Nuclear power could make a significant contribution to this challenge.

All questions of the limits, boundaries and scale of the human economic enterprise hinge on whether or not the economic system can be understood independently of its physical context. Can human economies grow forever? If not, what determines their boundaries? If so, what happens to the natural world?

... most Sydneysiders are wondering why [the APEC leaders] couldn't have chosen one of the dozens of luxurious islands of the far north to hold theirconference, now the full scope of the staggering security measures that will lock-down half of the city's center for10 days are being made public.

"Australians should be proud of what we are achieving at home to meet the climate change challenge" Alexander Downer in the Age this morning. Is he right? UPDATE: CSIRO and BoM report on the future for Australia

Mortgages and families don’t have three or four-year terms. What Australians have said four times already is that, when it comes to workplace relations, we want the real system of checks and balances comprised of State and Commonwealth powers.

A new High Court judge, the ramming through of the NT "Emergency" legislation, and the role of the Senate are among the matters reviewed in the latest update from the Democratic Audit program.

David Marr’s impassioned opening day public lecture at the 2007 Byron Bay Writer’s Festival, exposing and condemning Howard’s suppression of free speech and dissent, ended with a call to action to the assembled literati to fight Attorney General Ruddock’s proposed amendment to the Film and Literature Classification (i.e censorship) Act. … When Marr ended to loud applause and the crowd was exiting, flushed by the call to arms to defend free speech, I began to distribute two flyers I had prepared critiquing two journalists … who would appear later in the Festival program.

The real killers of people all over the world are small arms, rudimentary explosives, and the ubiquitous Kalashnikov, known as the AK47. However, what many people in the West do not understand is that the symbolism of an AK to a beleaguered people is like that of a crucifix to underground Christians.

[F]ederal Labor in Australia, following Nicholas Stern, has unofficially adopted the three-degree target in a climate change policy devoid of specifics and a world away from what Australia would need to do if we are to pull our weight in a global effort to avoid climate calamity. How should climate activists respond?

Susan Kiefel's appointment as a High Court judge is great for Australia, and one decision of Ruddock I not only applaud, but do so with gusto. Maybe after all his terrible deeds over the last decade he wants to leave something special in place as his career nears its end. I'm reminded of Paul Keating's appointment of Michael Kirby to the High Court just before he lost office. I met Justice Kiefel in the early 1980's in Brisbane, when she was a junior barrister and I was an articled clerk briefing her on a case. She told me then that Tony Fitzgerald had personally mentored her when she worked as a secretary in his chambers, convincing her that she talented enough to finish year 12 and take the bar exam.

'David Hicks aside, it must be said that Australian governments do generally observe the rule of law, in the sense that they are careful to ensure they are covered by appropriate legislation before deliberately taking an action that is disadvantageous to any particular individual. It may then fairly be said that Australia is a country governed in accordance with the rule of law. However, it does not necessarily follow that individual rights are well protected in Australia.': The Hon. Murray Wilcox, QC, former judge of the Federal Court of Australia

"There is no great separation of powers between the legislature and the executive any more. Parliament no longer scrutinises government, conducts independent inquiry, nor legislates on its own terms. In the past Senators were not so tightly bound by their parties, especially in regard to oversight and accountability." The Clerk of the Senate Harry Evans

"Oz in 30 Seconds is GetUp's competition to broadcast political ads 'of the people, by the people, for the people'. Together, we have a unique opportunity to put our winning ad on air. We've worked with some of the best media buyers in the country to offer you a range of strategic advertising spots. They start at $35 and target some of the most marginal seats in the country including Braddon and Bass in Tasmania and the five marginal seats of South Australia."

[The United States’] adversaries learned as long ago as the Korean War that decentralization would stymie America's overwhelming firepower, which was designed for concentrated armies, and provided a successful antidote for massive, expensive technology. All this is very well known. The real issue is why the U.S. makes the identical mistakes over and over again and never learns from its errors.

A friend just sent me an email with this sample letter urging people to email Senators immediately. You can follow this travesty of Parliamentary democracy at Andrew Bartlett's blog.

Just seen the Network Ten news here in Queensland. I believe that Peter Beattie is single handedly destroying Labor's chances of winning office at the federal election.

“Some of the plan’s elements have been drastically moderated since first announced and that has principally been due to the force of public criticism levelled at them. Much of that criticism has been constructive and has helped save the Government from its own rhetoric. But the Government still appears to see any critic as an enemy that needs to be demonised and Parliament as a rubber stamp. The arrogance of the Government is palpable”: Law Council President Tim Bugg

I refer to pieces by journalists Mark Davis and Sid Maher in updating the Honest Politics Trust saga in the book. They are not available online, and both men have kindly given me permission to republish them here.

Following Levin’s story is like listening to a brilliant but eccentric genius talk to themselves. You have to pay attention, as she mixes insights with throwaway one-liners in equal measure. This is a serious book that often asks you not to take it too seriously.

The watchdog organisation Aidwatch has released a report today which found that Australian aid money has been used in Iraq to rework the country to suit international corporations. Our Foreign Minister's response was to brand Aidwatch an extremist organisation.

"Never has there been a more prescient time for Australia, as one of the world’s most stable democracies, to protect and secure its future by redoubling its commitment to the traditions, values and institutions that have made this nation what it is today. These civic values are fundamental to the successful existence of a liberal democracy and we should never forget that they are principles to be cherished and protected." Kevin Andrews!

Webdiary has done a bit of work on bad and allegedly corruptly procured development over the years. This is an issue that brings people together now matter who they vote for.

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