An environmental think tank has found that Victoria is Australia’s least climate- friendly state.

 

An analysis by the climate group has found that only two per cent of the states power is generated from renewable sources. In fact, 94% is generated from brown coal and 2% from gas.

 

Victorian government spokeswoman Emma Tyner says the state’s renewable energy target has attracted $2 billiob in investment and would create more than 2,000 jobs.

 

Ministers in South East Asia are set to approve a new regional commission to promote human rights.

 

Thailand’s Prime Minister commented that the commission will first focus on the promotion rather than protection of human rights.

 

However, critics have voiced their concerns over the commission’s lack of power to investigate or prosecute human right violations.

 

 

Uganda president Museveni, has launched a coffee roasting and packaging company which will export coffee directly to global supermarket chains in the United Kingdom and South Africa.

 

The project started in 2003 as a social enterprise aimed at linking coffee growers directly to the market.

 

The one million US dollar enterprise is capable of producing 3 million kilograms of coffee yearly and is expected to boost the country’s revenue.

 

 

Federal energy minister Martin Ferguson says Australia needs a broad range of options to meet domestic and export demands for energy.

 

Ferguson further comments that a variety of options need to be developed as quickly as possible, including coal, liquefied natural gas, alternative fuels, uranium, wind, solar and geothermal energy.

 

Ferguson finally adds that if the energy supplies of Australia are to remain secure, then each and every one of these renewable resources must be developed now.

 

An Australian scientific team has made important advances in a powerful new technique for quantifying damage caused by serious eye diseases affecting tens of millions of people worldwide.

The method, known as multi focal pupillography, involves monitoring minute responses of the eye’s pupils to light signals in different parts of the patient’s visual field. By seeing where the response is patchy and weak, the team are able to detect disease and so improve the chances of early accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Reported by Jessica, Jemma and Lauren

Online version by Jemma  

Zedlines July 16 2009

Aboriginal elders are calling on Environment minister Peter Garrett to halt his approval of a uranium mining expansion in South Australia.

The traditional owners say that the proposal is in breach of Aboriginal heritage laws.

South Australian Aboriginal Affairs Minister Jay Weatherill has committed to an independent investigation in light of repeated concerns raised by the elders.

The federal government has signed an agreement with North and West Queensland Primary Health Care to establish a $2.5 million super clinic in Mt Isa.

Federal Health and Ageing minister Nicola Roxon says that the clinic “will implement new models of health care, provide education and training opportunities for future health professionals and conduct high quality research.”

The Mt Isa clinic is one of 31 super clinics to be established around Australia.

A summary of indigenous students’ performance has found that education initiatives have had little effect.

Indigenous students remain over represented in the lowest proficiency levels and underrepresented at the top.

Students were tested using the Programme for International Student Assessment.

Russian human rights activist Natalia Estemirova has been found murdered while investigating human rights abuses in Chechnya.

She was abducted after leaving her house in the North Caucuses and later found dead with multiple bullet wounds to the head and chest.

The organisation she was working with, Memorial, believes that the government backed militias which she was investigating were being her murder.

The UK has rolled out an ambitious plan to allow for 30% renewable power in the country by 2020.

The plan involves household incentives, manufacturing efficiency upgrades and the creation of thousands of wind turbines.

22 Israeli solidiers have spoken out against the gratuitous use of a force by the IDF in the recent Gaza strip offensive.

They have claimed that they were instructed to “not give civilians the benefit of the doubt” and “not to risk ones life to aid a civilian”.

The soldiers also alleged that civilians were used as human shields in the conflict and that soldiers often destroyed property simply because they were “bored”.

Human rights lobby groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are calling on the Papua New Guinean government not to reintroduce the death penalty.

Representatives of both organisations say that restarting executions would damage the country’s credibility.

The last execution in Papua New Guinea occurred in 1954, despite the death penalty being in place for wilful murder since 1991.

Events

2009 Queensland Music Festival

WHO:Indigenous band Black Arm Band
WHAT: Hidden Republic – launch of QMF
WHEN: Friday July 17, 6pm
WHERE:Thursday Island Primary School Oval, and webcast live in Brisbane Square

More info here

Four nonviolent Christian activists have entered the Shoalwater Bay Training Area to stop the Talisman Saber Exercises.

They are moving towards a live-fire area in a bid to call on the Australian and US forces to cease their involvement in the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and the undeclared war in Pakistan.

Calling themselves the “Bonhoeffer 4” after Kevin Rudd’s favorite theologian, they plan to be in the area for as long as possible, and are well prepared for a long stay.

Last week’s decision to freeze the minimum wage will widen the gap between men’s and women’s pay, according to unions.

Sharan Burrow, the President of the Australian Council Of Trade Unions, says a new report by the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency confirms that females lag behind males at all levels of employment.

Unions have recently supported a new campaign to reduce the gender pay gap, calling for workplaces to be required to annually report basic equal pay data.

New claims of fish abnormalities on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast has sparked an investigation by a pathologist from the department of Primary Industries.

Two and three headed mullet embryos were found at the fish hatchery last week, which is the second time fish deformities have occurred here. Owners fear they are being caused by farm chemicals running into the Noosa River.

The National Drug Research Institute have found that illegal drug manufacturers appear to be turning to cheaper substances to increase profits.

The institutes Steve Allsop says chalk is cheaper than other cutting agents, such as talcum powder or aspirin. Mr Allsop also comments that many substances can be used to cut drugs and all are dangerous.

At a youth climate change conference, leading environmentalists warned that Australian need to become a renewable energy superpower.

Former Australian of the year, Tim Flannery, told the thousand strong student audience he was not optimistic that world leaders would be able to reach a climate change deal in Copenhagen in December this year.

Furthermore, Greens Senator Christine Milne blasted the Rudd Government's carbon
trading scheme for setting the carbon credit price too low and giving too much
compensation to the coal industry.

Radio Reporters: Lauren Hughes and Jemma F
Online Version: Jemma F

The Australian Council of Trade Unions says the Fair Pay Commission are kicking workers while they’re down

Yesterday the Commission announced there would be a minimum wage freeze to help workers retain their jobs.

ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence says the Fair Pay Commission had relied on discredited and flawed research.

Mr Lawrence says the costs of rent, food, medicines, education and utilities have all risen in the past year and families need a pay rise to keep up.

Queensland to receive $8 Million from the Rudd Government to combat homelessness

Last year the Federal Government signed an $800 million homelessness pact with the states and territories but no states have received any funding yet.

Families Minister Jenny Macklin says the funds would start rolling out immediately in five states.

40 anti-globalisation protesters arrested at the G8 summit in Italy after clashes with police

Demonstrators reportedly set fires on the streets and threw bottles and stones at riot police.

Despite the arrests major protests are being planned for Friday, the last day of the summit.

Indigenous Businesses will be gathering at the Reconciliation Business Forum in Brisbane tomorrow to discuss the growth of business in unstable times

Parliamentary Secretary for Employment and Economic Development Jan Jarratt says participants will be able to put their questions to an experienced panel of experts on a number of important topics.

Ms Jarret says this will be an ideal opportunity to link up with other like-minded businesses and look at new opportunities and potential partnership.

Zedlines 2 July 2009

Popular filesharing website “The Pirate Bay” has outlayed a radical new business model which will both appease the recording industry as well as continue to provide free data for users.

The model involves paying users to share files and in turn being payed by ISPs to reduce their traffic overloads.

The site’s new owners hope that this new model will both undercut illegal filesharers as well as make a profit.

Researchers at CSIRO has released new evidence to suggest the threat posed by melting permafrost on climate change is much greater then predicted.

“Massive amounts of carbon stored in frozen soils at high latitudes are increasingly vulnerable to exposure to the atmosphere.”

Dr Pep Canadell

It is predicted that if global temperatures rise more the 2 degrees, a runaway effect will be triggered where huge amounts of greenhouse gases will be released from sources such as this and further warm the planet.




The Greens have spoke out against Punitive Bail and Sentencing Laws which they believe discriminate against Aboriginal people.

Greens MP Sylvia Hale has used new figures released yesterday which show that the number of juvenile Aboriginal people in detention centers has increased by 38% over the last 5 years.

She asserts that this is a gross failure of the Labor Government to provide justice and equality for Aboriginal people.

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Bioscience have announced a new discovery which could eventually allow humans to regrow limbs.

Experiments on salamanders, which already have this ability has suggested that, inducing a similar effect in humans is not as difficult as previously thought, as stem cells are not required.

The researchers believe that by replicating this process they could grow human tissue, organs or even limbs without the use of stem cells, which often causes cancer.

Graham Matthews of GreenLeft has called for a much greater government investment in public transport, saying that as it stands, cities are “drowning in cars”.

He condemned the lack of foresight on behalf of the Rudd Government in providing the means to build many new houses on the edge of cities without any funds allocation for public transport.

He also suggests that governments should follow the suggestion of the Rapid Transit Alliance and invest 2/3 of their transport budget into public transport.




John Hartigan, CEO of News Limited has lashed out at alternative media such as bloggers, labeling them as “Political Extremists”.

Bloggers were accused of radical sweeping statements without evidence as well as personal vilification.

He also claimed that bloggers should be jailed for work which was “misrepresenting the truth”.

Reporters without Borders have accused Saeed Mortazavi, the general in charge of the Iran crackdown, of gross human rights violations.

They report that he has overseen the prosecution and torture of hundreds of pro-reform activists some of whom died in custody.

He now is in charge of the task force which has broken up anti government protests in Tehran and is using intimidation to force even the innocent to confess.

China has loaned almost a billion US dollars to the Zimbabwean government, the largest investment of money the country has ever seen.

Last year, Prime Minister Morgan Tsangarai made the case to the international community that it needed 8.3 billion dollars to recover its economy from the neglect during Zanu-PF rule.

However, many countries have been cautious in giving the money to the impoverished country as they are concerned that it could fall into the hands of President Mugabe.

Rwanda is being urged to drop a draft law that foresees forcible sterilization of mentally disabled people and people suffering.

Actions groups have condemned the law as forced sterilization is a breach of human rights law.

Furthermore they point out that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the community has already fallen from 11% to 3% making such drastic action necessary.

Federal Government will use internet filter to block websites hosting and selling video games deemed ‘unsuitable’

Colin Jacobs, spokesman for Electronic Frontiers Australia says the Government has clearly gone far beyond any mandate it had from the public to help parents deal with cyber-safety.

ISP engineer Mark Newton says the decision could jeopardise the future of online games such as World of Warcraft and Second Life, which aren’t classified in Australia.

Centre for Indigenous Cultural Policy says the Australian Government is doing nothing to return Aboriginal remains held in overseas museums

Centre chairman Bob Weatherall says thousands of unidentified remains are being denied their final resting place and it’s time to formulate culturally sensitive policy for repatriation.

This statement comes after the Seattle Art Museum returned a ceremonial stone to the National Museum of Australia.

Queensland Teachers Union members protest outside the Brisbane Executive Building

This protest begins a series of demonstrations and strikes planned to show the Government a need for better pay for Queensland teachers.

QTU President Steve Ryan says if education professionals are not paid adequately for the job they do, teachers will leave Queensland for offers elsewhere.

He also says the state cannot afford such a loss.

Abolishment of Aboriginal Community Development Employment Project

Director of the Centre for Aboriginal Economic and policy research Jon Altman says there are many flaws in the Rudd Government’s decision to change the project.

Radio reporters: Emma G and Layla

Online version: Emma C

Friday 26th June 2009

Pop music icon, Michael Jackson has passed away in a Los Angeles hospital at around 7:30 this morning from cardiac arrest.

The king of pop was set to start a tour on July 13^th.

He was 50 years old.

 

Shire officials from Boulia, Burke, Cloncurry, McKinlay and Mount Isa regions have signed a memo of understanding to ensure further talks to develop a permanant agreement on land use with the Indigenous Kalkadoon people.

The Kalkadoon people have a native title claim over 39,000 square kilometres covering the five North-West Queensland shires. 

Kalkadoon’s chairman Doug Bruce said in Mount Isa today that negotiations can start today with honesty and support. 

The International Monetary Fund is predicting better than expected figures for the Australian Economy.

The IMF is projecting a contraction of just half-a-percent this year followed by growth of 1.5 per cent in the economy for 2010.

Australia remains the only nation in the developed world avoiding recession.

Petrol stations that refuse to sell Opal fuel may be unable to receive welfare payments in the future, as part of the Federal Government’s intervention to cut down petrol sniffing. 

At a senate inquiry, it has been recommended that petrol stations stock the almost odourless fuel in order to receive government support. 

Only ten petrol stations in the intervention area of Alice Springs refuse to stock Opal.

 

 

Reported for 4ZZZ by Chris and Hannah

Online content by Natasha Christian.

Zedlines 25 June 2009

GreenLeft has appealed for a full inquiry into the death in Custody of Aboriginal Elder Mr Ward.

Mr Ward died from heat exhaustion when he was place in the back of a police car for 4 hours with no ventilation while under arrest for drink driving.

Many believe racism was a factor in the death of Ward, citing the lack of remorse of the officers involved and later racial slurs regarding the elder.

The New Internationalist has condemned Brazil for building a wall in Rio de Janeiro to separate the rich from the poor slums.

The government states that the wall which is over 3m high and topped with barbed wire and will prevent the spread of slums and the resulting deforestation.

Brazil human rights group Global Justice is worried that this will lead to a kind of ’social apartheid’ where the poor are forcibly separated from the rich.

A researcher on a long-term racism study says that governments have failed to address the problem of racism.

Professor Kevin Dunn, from the University of Western Australia, believes the government needs to appoint a full-time Race Commissioner.

Professor Dunn says that the underfunding of the current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commission makes them unable to offer the required services.

A new political party wants to lift the ban on X-rated material in Aboriginal communities.

The Sex Party’s convenor, Fiona Patten, says the ban is unnecessary and racist, citing the relatively low sales of porn in the communities before the government’s intervention.

The Commonwealth Government banned porn as part of their intervention following indications that children were exposed to this material from a young age.

The Greens have called upon the federal government to stop the construction of an Opal mine in the Walget/Lightning Ridge area.

They are voicing the concerns of Aboriginal leaders in the area who believe that their Sacred Artifacts are threatened.

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon sated that her party is also worried about possible environmental degradation from the proposed mine.

Events

29th Sunshine Coast World Environment Day

WHO:Presented by the Sunshine Coast Environment Council, SEQ Catchments, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council and the University of the Sunshine Coast.
WHAT:Information, food, music, discussion
WHEN:Sunday 28 June, 9am-4pm
WHERE:University of Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs

More info here

40th Anniversary of Stonewall Riots
WHO: Socialist Alternative
WHAT:The riots began on June 28 1969 and are recognised as the event which sparked the gay rights movement. The event will feature archival footage of the riot as well as a panel discussion involving some early gay rights activists from Australia.
WHEN: Tonight, 6pm
WHERE: Trades and Labor Council Building, 16 Peel St, South Brisbane

More info here

Friday 19 June Zedlines

 Taser use in Queesnland is under review following the death of a man in North Queensland.

With over 1200 tasers is use around the state, Queensland police are also considering installing cameras on the guns at a cost of a thousand dollars each.

Amnesty international has raised concerns over the use of tasers after the recent death of a Queensland man who was allegedly shocked 28 times.

President of Queensland Civil Liberties Michael Cope says those on illegal drugs and legal psychiatric treatments are at greater risk.

‘The rather vague policy of the Queensland police service about the use of tasers  will encourage police to use it in a wide range of circumstancesn where they would not have used a gun, capsicum spray or other forms of physical restraint previously.’ – Michael Cope, President of Queensland Civil Liberties.

 

The Brisbane City Council budget has provided $17 million towards a bushland environment center  near Woodridge.

The center will be built over three years in the Karawatha Forest and plans are to make the reserve family friendly like southbank.

A further $2 million will be spent to buy conservation reserves on bushlands in Brisbane.

 

Brisbane women are being encouraged to make a personal commitment to reducing their carbon footprint through the one million women campaign.

The group asks each woman who signs on to cut one tonne of their emissions inside of a year and guides them through activities to reach the target.

For more, check out www.1millionwomen.com.au.

 

Google has responded to Germany’s demands for increased privacy ahead of the launch of its street view service there.

Street view used in major cities in the US , Japan Australia and Europe provides photos at street level with people’s faces and car number plates blurred out.

Officials in Germany requested that they make people, homes and cars unidentifiable in the data held by the company.

Google has agreed to these terms but only if people apply to have their photos blurred out.

 

An Adelaide art wholesaler is being investigated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for selling phoney Aboriginal paintings and artefacts imported from Indonesia.

Wooden objects were painted in ocher and sold as work by Aboriginal artist Ubanoo Brown.

Australian Dreamtime Creations director, Tiny Antoniou, says that Ubanoo is not a real name but a pseudonym for the artist to paint that style. He will face court next month.

 

Events

June 20 is World Refugee Day.

Amnesty International is urging the Federal Government to remove children seeking asylum from environments that could distort their psychological well being.

According to Amnesty International 68 children are currently detained on Christmas Island.

Online Content by Natasha Christian

Reported for 4zzz by Chris and April.

Figures from UN refugee agency show more than 40 million people uprooted by conflict worldwide

Richard Towle, regional representative, says 80 per cent of the world’s refugees are hosted by developing countries like Pakistan, Syria and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Mr Towle says the number of refugees hosted by countries like Australia and New Zealand is very small by comparison.

Queensland Council of Social Services praises new state budget for helping the disadvantaged

Director Jill Lang says funds for early intervention programs, electricity rebates, and help for the long-term unemployed will save the State money further down the track.

Ms Lang says the expansion of ‘Participate in Productivity’ will help long-term unemployed people make their way successfully into the workforce.

Northern Territory’s underage sex reporting laws slammed by a member of the Youth Minister’s Round Table

Cindy Schultz, the Alice Spring representative says health workers told her young people were often advised to lie about their ages to get contraception advice.

Ms Schultz says she thinks there will be a rise in teen pregnacies and STI’s among young people now the Government has cut off free contraception.

Wilderness Society praises State Government for continuing to commit to the Indigenous Wild River Ranger project

Queensland Campaign Manager Dr Tim See-lig says the project is an important and positive commitment to Indigenous employment and natural resource management.

Dr See-lig says the establishment of Indigenous Wild River Ranger positions provides a way of using both Indigenous knowledge and experience and the basis for creating positive, sustainable employment opportunities in remote areas.

Radio reporter: Emma Gough

Online version: Emma Carroll