Mood:  incredulous

Chris Uhlmann says in the Daily Cartoon today his higher profie tv gig has nothing to do with his crash diet.

Maybe but it has alot to do with his political ambition. Failed indy candidate in ACT elections while the Greens have succeeded now at every level of Government, in every state, one detects a professional jealousy on Uhlmann's part, if not dishonesty about his tv vanity.

If Uhlmann is not another small screen wanker, a metaphorical car parking attendant, all powerful in his cubicle, then what is he?

His zeal, along with brother Cassidy for rigour on the Greens has nothing to do with personal ALP history? Oh yeah, right. Is that objective the way Graeme Morris says the ABC is our enemies talking to our friends?

The ABC is an alp slut, many a long year now. Presumably Uhlmann is calculating his timing just like Maxine McKew.

All this is orthodox Big Media politics and petty ambition. What is different about Uhlmann, let alone soldier's daughter Sales, is that he doesn't believe in climate science.

He's on record with his wishy washy, wet, wanky George Pell apologia for growth of the human project at any cost, contrary to best science, and get this, defiant about principles proposed by the Vatican. Uhlmann the failed happy clapper, who didn't have the guts of that vocation, can't face the truth of hard climate science either.

That's the real problem with his credentials: He's dumb on science. A DUMBY from the Pell church of infantile theology. Complete with praise from the Bolt blog in 2008:

"ABC political editor Chris Uhlmann delivers a brilliant riff on Insiders this morning on global-warming salvation seekers. This former seminarian knows a religious mania when he sees one. "

And the real problem for the Greens remains - but not as bad now given they are close 10 years late to moving beyond denial to facing - their task of building a mass media with a green political economy bias. A 10 to 20 year project no doubt, but it must be done.

We have done our best to build those bricks too for 15 years now. Time is soon approaching Stott when sitting in the back row is a luxury this country cannot afford. Yer feel me?

Posted by editor at 4:21 PM NZT

Updated: Saturday, 21 May 2011 4:29 PM NZT

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Mood:  quizzical

Clennell's feature on Nick Greiner was amusing in yesterday's Corporate Cartoon Book aka Sydney Daily Telegraph. Once one wades past the social trash pages.

Amusing for the self censorship and spin of both writer and subject, or editor - take your pick.

There is Greiner with the enormous howler, and non sequitur, claiming a bribe via a fat EPA directorship job in 1991 to get an MP to quit in a hung parliament, is the same as Robert Oakshot MP today taking a reasoned position  in harness as an MP for or against supporting the current federal ALP government. Greiner by that quoted rhetoric shows he continues to fail the character test, just like his promotion of corporate car industry, smoking, and forest destruction in his private career for decades.

Greiner asks gormlessly or perhaps arrogantly what is the difference? A world of difference. In one there is no bribe. In one the MP is not being pushed out of parliament to cancel their vote. One is not corrupt. The other is.

Sad to see Clennell omit Greiner's history in British American Tobacco given the political donations issue that is relevant today.

Sad also to see Clennell, ex SMH, omit several other close fought marginal seats in the 1995 election by dwelling only on Badgery's Creek, and omit Metherell's defection to the cross benches over the protection of wilderness areas. Given Greiner's corporate history with Big River Timbers Pty Ltd.

Amusing and ironic to see Premier O'Farrell effectively call Greiner a political dunce, as if to distract from the real issue of character. Because Greiner is not stupid, which leaves only one other explanation as per the headline.

Posted by editor at 10:14 AM NZT

Updated: Sunday, 8 May 2011 10:33 AM NZT

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Mood:  lazy

As  a secular Jewish colleague tells this writer, the Holocaust must never happen again.  And one presumes for that, it must never be forgotten.

But arguably it has happened again in many places to many people to a lesser or maybe greater degree. West Papua, Rwanda, East Timor, 27 million dead russians in WW2, 50-78 M dead worldwide in the same war.

Certainly the Holocaust should never be forgotten.  Certainly I will never forget the history now understood of the 1.5M Irish who died in the 1845-1852 famine under UK jackboot while a net exporter of food.

However one does get bored seeing more features in the weekend Sydney press about Anne Frank letters and book reviews of the week for my old environmental law lecturer based on a painting with a Holocaust back story.

And outright offended by the hypocrisy of the local Jewish Board of Deputies last week promoting a restitution list for WW2 victims of the Holocaust while effectively silent apologists for predatory settlers and an Israeli government riddled with corruption dependent on the same exponents of creeping conquest - the latest being Israeli Foreign Minister charged by the Israeli Attorney General no less, according to Haaretz mid April 2011.

This writer agrees wholeheartedly the Holocaust should never be forgotten, but where are the voices in local English Big Media press for the several million Palestinian Arabs, or indeed Arab voices for that 250-300 million section of humanity? The balance? It is of course unrealistic to expect loyal supporters of Israel to talk the book of their enemies or rivals but what about the alleged journalists? When are the press going to get over their inherited guilt or perhaps over compensating for (their own?) residual sub conscious anti semitism/racism, and treat Israeli conquest and predation on it's modern merits and lack thereof. Indeed treat Jewish politics according to their common humanity, rather than special or chosen or a people apart?

When indeed will Big Media here see through the gulling of their analytical faculties on the current middle east and in particular a clique of expansionist ziono-fascism leveraging Holocaust porn and guilt in the West. Like some Catholic sin of scruples for a terrible thing and obsessive compulsive hand washing of a black spot they actually have no reason or even right to adopt as theirs to be guilty about?

Israel is a world power with world impacting military, not least nuclear weaponry. The days of Israel as a victim country at existential risk are long gone, notwithstanding the tub thumping about existential risk and suitcase bombs on donkey carts. Indeed that old story is so over whether one comes at it from an Arabic or Jewish perspective. Where indeed is the story about Israel's 100-200 nuclear weapons as estimated by the Federation of American Scientists via simple google of their website?

One gets the distinct impression by the tone and slant of general big media English press coverage in Sydney that there is a moral and political blank cheque to the Israeli government, and the predatory creeping conquest of the alleged 'settler' (who glorify political assassination of PM Yitzak Rabin). Presumably some of it has to do with Australia's own black history of creeping conquest and terra nullius of the 'settler' myth here. That is murderous land theft of the 40,000 year previous owners. That's one great big shameful motive for denial about other so called  'settlers' more akin to land predators pleading a theocratic mandate.

It was however heartening to see all 4 worthies in the moral feature in the Sydney Morning Herald demolish the case for Marrickville Council staying out of the international Boycott Divestment and Sanction campaign, as some balance at least for the Holocaust guilt porn.

Posted by editor at 9:38 AM NZT

Updated: Sunday, 8 May 2011 4:13 PM NZT

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Mood:  don't ask

In the wake of the controversial BDS campaign the loyal supporters of Israel based in Australia represented by Vic Alhadeff of the Jewish Board of Deputies has called for a list of property for restitution to evicted Palestinians the victim of the predatory 'settler' movement.

Vic said: "We can't condone the historical rewards allowed to a movement that has assassin Yigal Amir as it's poster boy. We support a restitution of properties stolen from their legal owners since the boundaries of the 1967 war."

"There are between three and four thousand Palestinian survivors of the 1967 war in Australia who may have legal claims to return of their property."

Mrs Meyer of Bellevue Hill said: "We would never support appropriation of the Holocaust as PR cover for predatory settlers, as a justification for land theft from our Palestinian brothers and sisters."

[This story is a fiction. It never happened. The quotes were never given.]

Posted by editor at 3:58 PM NZT

Updated: Saturday, 7 May 2011 7:17 PM NZT

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Mood:  sad

Picture: Peter Gray shown here at right, 3rd from the top. His funeral is this Saturday in Newcastle NSW.

We are advised Peter died after a long struggle with cancer over the
Easter weekend just past. The editor of SAM met Peter once at the pictured Marrickville Town Hall meeting over a coal mine at Anvil Hill on 24 June 2007.

We got his picture after chatting, aware that he had won a famous legal precedent as the plaintiff against the NSW Government, a case which was not appealed and can be found here:

Gray v The Minister for Planning and Ors [2006] NSWLEC 720 (27 November 2006)

with costs order in Peter Gray's favour here:

Gray v Minister for Planning & Ors (No 2) [2007] NSWLEC 91 (27 February 2007)

We received this email recently:

Posted by editor at 4:13 AM NZT

Updated: Saturday, 7 May 2011 7:18 PM NZT

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Mood:  energetic

   [unsolicited email received recently, SAM is agnostic about the balance of competing interests both within and against the green movement on this issue.]

 “Democracy Betrayed –Tasmanians Betrayed” 

Saturday May 14^{th -} 11.30 AM. Royal Park, Launceston. 

TAP Into A Better Tasmania is organising a rally and march in Launceston, Tasmania. We are working with all like minded groups State-wide to send a clear message to the State Government that they have betrayed Tasmanians and democracy in our state. Are you disappointed with the way in which “your” government and the opposition continue to support Gunns Limited’s proposed Tamar Valley Pulp Mill? Are you “sickened to the stomach” when you repeatedly see organised covert assistance and resources being given, in so many ways, to prop up this 7 year old proposal?         

 If so, please join us on Saturday, May 14^th at Royal Park Launceston. This protest will not only prominently feature the anti pulp mill campaign, but it will also focus on the relentless destruction of Tasmania’s environment - the poisoning and increasing toxicity of our rivers and drinking water supplies - the dreadful damage done to our ancient forests - the utter contempt being shown towards the treasure house of precious Aboriginal artifacts, plus the abysmal standard of representation, state governance and management of our money and resources being shown to our young people. We are very concerned with the steady deterioration in our health services and hospitals; the increasing neglect of the education of our young people - the disgraceful poker machine corruption, and a government that increasingly ignores the needs of the disabled and elderly. We are demanding an end to the relentless tendency to place the profits of foreign and mainland owned corporations ahead of the health, future and well-being of all Tasmanians. If you share these concerns, please join us on Saturday, May14^that Royal Park Launceston, Tasmania.           

TAP- Needs and asks for your support, assistance & donations. 

Support:  Please come to the Rally, car pool, hire a bus, keep up to date on TAP’s website, Twitter, Facebook or at our next fortnightly TAP meeting 7.30PM, Thursday May 12th at the Riverside Community Centre at Riverside High School – off Brownfield Lane -West Tamar Hwy, Launceston, Tasmania. Assist:  Please assist us by telling all your family members, friends, acquaintances, colleagues and your social club or organisation about the rally – and by forwarding this email to every person you know, to your club or your organisations members and particularly to young people. 

Donations:   If you can not attend, could you please consider making a donation either by:-                      

1) By Pay Mate on the TAP website.                     

2) By Direct Transfer to –Tasmanians Against the Pulpmill INC,                         BSB. 067 022 A/C. 10022503.                     

3) By cheque and mail – Tasmanians Against the Pulpmill INC.                         PO. Box 200. Exeter, Tasmania 7275.                    

 4) At the next fortnightly TAP meeting.               

All donations will go towards these typical expenses. * $20   =printing of 20 rally bumper stickers that will be seen by thousands.* $50   =funds 200 brochures delivered to households by volunteers.* $100 =funds the hosting of this website for 1 year.* $200 =funds one third of the meeting venue hire for informing 600 people.* $1000 = one quarter page advertisement in one daily newspaper.    

 “We thank you for your help - together we can make a difference." 

This rally will draw attention to the long, appalling history of lies, bribery, cronyism and arrogance by the very people elected to                                                 represent us.                             

 TAP Into A Better Tasmania is a non-party political community group fighting Gunns’ proposed pulp mill.                                         

For more information AND TO RECIVE UPDATES  email  tapcontact@gmail.com, see  www.tapvision.info and      www.tasmaniantimes.com and    www.tamarpulpmill.info Or on  Twitter # tapvision  or  FaceBook: Tasmanians Against The Pulp Mill (TAP)    

Posted by editor at 3:48 AM NZT

Updated: Thursday, 5 May 2011 3:55 AM NZT

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Mood:  blue

Ironic headline front of the Corporate Cartoon Book aka Sydney Daily Telegraph today?

Greiner hounded out of politics for a slick attempted deal to entice indy MP Metherell off the cross benchers in 1991-2 to be head of the EPA. Blocked by senior public servant and upright Neil Shepherd who wouldn't step aside. Minister Tim Moore and Premier Greiner both investigated by ICAC and reversed on appeal, but the damage done.

Not well known that Metherell went indy, after difficult tenure as Education Minister, to block Greiner destroying NSW wilderness areas under the then bipartisan 1987 Wilderness Act.

The damage done too in Greiner's career of wrecking the world's lungs and atmosphere as his party refused to have him back in a sensitively balanced parliament.

Associated way back with Big River Timbers in the old growth forest destruction game. Another reason Metherell rejected him. Note the professional association still to this day in the picture above.

Then Chairman of British American Tobacco criticised by academic Prof Chapman at Sydney Uni. Refer AAP story copied here

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-74915018.html

Deeply involved in the car domination of Sydney with the Lane Cove and Cross City Tunnel project. Refer article and word search  on this pdf here

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/a318edb11e8d3b07ca25714f000d6b2b/$FILE/060412%20corrected%20proof.pdf

As Australians consume a million new cars a year, arguably f*cking the planning system for Sydney: http://www.themotorreport.com.au/3323/record-year-sees-more-than-a-million-cars-sold-in-australia

Deeply involved in escalating the burning of coal via higher exports from Port of Newcastle. 

http://www.railpage.com.au/news-5505.htm

Mr Fixit? Only if you don't want to breathe, or don't give a fig about the atmosphere, in a NSW Govt that rejects a carbon tax.

Oh dear.

Posted by editor at 10:30 AM NZT

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 4:50 PM NZT

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Mood:  lyrical

[under construction]

 

 

From: 

Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 7:53 PM

Subject: [chipstop] new plans from FNSW

Hey all

new harvest plans issued by FNSW have been received:

• Nullica 654/655
• Bombala 1325
• Yambulla 422

they are a couple of Mb each so please ask if you want them forwarded to you

tony

 

Posted by editor at 10:04 AM NZT

Updated: Thursday, 5 May 2011 4:43 AM NZT

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Mood:  a-ok

 "4.2.6 Palestinian civil organizations, as well as international organizations, NGOs and certain religious institutions call on individuals, companies and states to engage in divestment and in an economic and commercial boycott of everything produced by the occupation. We understand this to integrate the logic of peaceful resistance. These advocacy campaigns must be carried out with courage, openly sincerely proclaiming that their object is not revenge but rather to put an end to the existing evil, liberating both the perpetrators and the victims of injustice. The aim is to free both peoples from extremist positions of the different Israeli governments, bringing both to justice and reconciliation. In this spirit and with this dedication we will eventually reach the longed-for resolution to our problems, as indeed happened in South Africa and with many other liberation movements in the world."

 http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/other-ecumenical-bodies/kairos-palestine-document.html

Posted by editor at 7:53 AM NZT

Updated: Sunday, 17 April 2011 8:33 AM NZT

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