VOTE

Harbour and foreshore and road works in foreground.  Some of the tall trees have been left standing.

Some years ago when many of us installed solar panels the rebate on electricity costs was reasonably good. As a move towards renewable energy, solar has not been seen in a positive 'light', there has been no rejoicing by the state, in fact, despite the load that households contribute to energy, the power companies have cut rebates and have raised energy costs.
As soon as solar made its appearance every move has supported the power companies, are they out for what they can get before change jeopardises their future.
The excellent move of taxing carbon was blamed for rising prices and against all common sense, the tax was repealed yet the prices continue to rise.
Privatisation and gold plating the electricity network must be another expense put onto the consumer.
At the very time when energy production might be sorted out with gradual change to renewals, the old ways continue to up their anti and put all the pressure on the consumer to pay up. We hear they blame gas prices but that can be got under control if we tried.  What about the costs of coal supplies. Who knows, just another excuse.

Discussion is about a downturn in wealth and low wages and fears for the next generation.  Apart from the extremes of wealth and poverty around here, superficially, we are doing all right.
 Is all this trend a very gradual revolution towards global equality when the real materially poor nations grow out of poverty and meet our continuing decline in wealth at a certain mid point?  Without too much manipulation or rigging by the Western world more global equality could result.

Photo of a demonstration or march in Hamilton north in support of refugees.

Newcastle East and a small part of the road works to build a racing car circuit.  Ridiculous?

Latest leaked transcripts of Trump and our PM put us in agreement with Trump that our deal about refugees is stupid....'shows me (Trump) to be rediculous'...'look like a dope'.  Trump has got it correct this time.
The deal made with the US to take our refugees is appalling.  Turnbull says the US is not obliged to take one person they do not want, all that is needed is to accept a very small minority as long as Trump honours the deal made with Obama.  Hence few will find refuge. The truth comes out.
The whole arrangement is shameful.  As some humanists say that after so long it is not valid to refuse to back down from never granting asylum to these boat people.
What have we got to lose?

Mr and Mrs Obama and family are holidaying in Indonesia in several cities.  In the course of that can Obama charm the powers that be to keep on the straight and narrow?  Security and anti-terrorists activities could be hinted at but where to start as it may be seen differently by the 'man' on the street in that country.  Only a brave guest would be so bold.
Above, old double-deckers were taken out of moth balls for the day for excursions in Sydney amidst the chaos arising from new light rail construction.

Are there blue skies, nothing but blue skies.....
This morning a group was addressed by an organization.  It was an appeal for funds.  'Right in your local suburbs are brothers and sisters who are poor, they are very grateful for assistance to buy food or pay energy bills etc.  A local small groups of volunteers visit those in need to provide the help we are asked to finance.'
  The maximum amount of social security for job seekers for a single person with no children is $267.80 per week.  I believe this figure has been unchanged for years and years.  A minority of our brothers and sisters will never do very well on an allowance of that size.  Most accommodation would cost more than that.
  Their difficulties and the current payments result in failure and the system puts the responsibility on the good will and actions of charity workers. The government exploits the charities.
  Mature age citizens who get social security are often allowed various generous measures at the same time as they enjoy good levels of disposable income.  Compare that to a long term job seeker and the tiny amount they exist on.
  It calls for more justice in the system, designed and championed for the common good, free of insinuations that 'my taxes are being wasted' provided that the payments are regulated against fraud. Unlike others, welfare is part and parcel of this society and does good.
  As for the mature aged and superannuation, it can be taken for granted that a high income earner will end up with relatively abundant superannuation benefits while it is the low income earner who really needs big concessions and help in order to accumulate anything for retirement.

'Together we can do heroic things'  'When you give to Vinnies you're helping our volunteers rebuild lives this winter'
$50      Can provide warm blankets for men and women experiencing homelessness
$100    Can buy a week's worth of essential groceries for a struggling family.
$200    Can help pay a family's utility bill this winter
$500    Can provide a safe haven for a woman and child escaping domestic violence
$1000  Can prevent a family from being evicted from their home this winter.
St Vincent de Paul Society NSW  vinnies@vinnies.org.au

 Red check patterns on and off the court.
 Red check made a political statement in Indonesia this year but Ahok and his supporters did not do well and he has been found guilty of blasphemy and gaoled.
   A similar charge of blasphemy and a three year sentence to Cipinang gaol was made against a journalist, Atmowiloto, several years ago and there may have been other convictions.
  Thus, factions have been active for some time and a move, however slowly, towards establishment of a stronger religious state is observed in Indonesia.
  It is the age of rediscovery of identity and of what a true religious believer should be.  It is also an age of secularism and of pluralism.  Some resort to conservatism and a return to the tried and true and resist change.
  One small indication possibly of the rise of nationalism is seen in early photos where once Indonesian women did not necessarily cover their heads with a scarf. .
  On one hand leaders make charges to safeguard their religion from a breech of etiquette but a sense of proportion is appropriate in a justice system where very big crimes against society would be to the fore, for instance, crimes that indirectly burden the well-being of the average person and hold back their standard of living which is not high.  
  The kingdom of heaven or a religious state ideally is all about the here and now and, without too much difficulty, seen as life-giving giving priority to true justice for all -  materially spiritually and politically.

changes....

May the fourth estate be with you!  Clippings all the way from the 1980s.   Shock... horror... regret.. The Sydney Morning Herald workers are on strike over drastic cut backs by Fairfax press who has survival in mind.  Who will be the hard copy foil to Murdock News Corp press in The Australian and the dreaded Daily Tele? 
Subscriptions have been know to rise following the recent attacks on the press in the USA.
Fairfax is on-line as well theguardian  Australia edition and the New York Times has opened an office in Sydney described as an experimental outpost. Everything is on-line, ABC etc.
 
What if Facebook did not remain in the hands of a semi-benevolent millionaire and became  malevolent?  Legislation is highly desirable to safeguard the massive Facebook data base from political or economic manipulation along with the social.  It is very slack to ignore the risk.  As they say, some institutions are bigger than any government.  Take care.

Eco blog

As if beached marine life. Female and male life savers lined up to sprint to their rubber duckie, jumped aboard to join the crew, full throttle out to a set-up off-shore where they enacted a rescue, I'm guessing, then raced back to the shore.  The photo does not convey the fast pace.

  Looming on the horizon are two of the coal ships that queue for coal from the Port of Newcastle, the fossil fuel city.
 The post-coal era will come but not soon enough. Progress. Westpac Bank announced it will not finance coal developments which is greeted both with applause and with outrage.
  Current tales in Newcastle are about upheavals in preparation for the super-car races of note,   meaning certain roads works have closed the roads and residential areas are very cross at finding themselves on a speed way. The east precinct is vintage style, where high rise or modernisation is probably banned - apart from super-car events!
  A new light rail to serve the long lean main street is about to start installation.  Apartments are spring up in the western precinct and change is accelerating in inner city Newcastle.      

Not many priorities other than climate change on this blog.
  Do state and federal governments prioritise what matters to our society?   It is not beyond us to recognise important and more urgent matters but it seems all matters are given equal attention by the parliaments.
  The bigger picture and more pressing global problems need emphasis.
  There is non-stop talk, negotiations, enquiries, legal procedures and an extra big budget connected with our refugee prisons in an all-consuming process when the refugees could be granted asylum and we move on.  Move on from our self inflicted problems around detention and move to the bigger picture of global migrations and prepare for the impact on society now and in the future with new policies.
  Recently, the wording of legislation to address hate speech, for want of a better description, occupied the whole political agenda and while it is important it cannot be given equal weight and time with other outstanding issues about our future.
  We can do much better than toy around and politicians who cannot see the bigger picture. How can the politicians earn their keep by spending their time on party politics, on their problems and in-fighting and vague policies about a few difficulties. 
 
 

March for Science.
My young relatives have been offered a reward to try a few little science experiments.  It takes more than giving a science set. Will a reward stimulate interest?  How much experiment is enough first up? How does interest continue?
   Studies about the behaviour of the learner look at the question of rewards but who knows as in my case the 'message' might get through when it is of immediate relevance and rewards were not on my agenda at the time.
    One hears (on ABC RN) about the young post graduate who ventures out into a remote national park or the swamps, (rather wet lands) in order to trap an endangered field mouse, study pollution or methane or some such all of which probably takes initiative, independence and flexibility or slight obsession.
   How can youngsters who are raised in urban surroundings be inspired to widen their horizons so as to undertake anything scientific or out of the ordinary or 'get their hands dirty'? Will they in turn take to the fields and swamps and that's not Trump's swamp.  
   However, field work is probably a phase after which there will be a return to conformity, a search for funds and toeing the line in a university which means a narrow urban up bring could be pretty suitable after all.    
 
 

the morning after the night before....the USA is asked to the 'party' or either they take an invitation for granted......
A love hate relationship.  This country takes on risk while ever we support US installations for this or that and worse still blindly follow them into wars.
As for the regular military exercises in the NT it is not as though their own country is short of appropriate places to play war games.
Cultural exchange other than more pop culture would be very welcome.

The Greens and community survival

It was dangerous and it took bravery to go along to a meeting with the most disrespected disliked group in the community.  Of all things, The Greens seek to preserve the environment and our health and the Great Barrier Reef by means of more renewable energy production and by phasing out thermal coal mining.
 Senator, Dr Richard Di Natale, Leader of the Australian Greens, (at the rostrum), Senator Lee Rhiannon, MLC Jeremy Buckingham presented daring plans for more employment on coal mine remediation among other plans, during an ordered transition from coal.

 Coal is a major contributor to climate change.  As the largest coal export port, Newcastle succeeds in shipping destructive climate change to the globe.  Day and night.... day and night....

Pre construction

 Hunter Street West, Newcastle.
  House prices have doubled or tripled in recent times so most people in Sydney are excluded from the market.  Concerns, dismay, debate, lip service have resulted.
  Increased revenue from state stamp duty; double percentage profits to real estate agents; hefty long term bank loans to profit the banks;
the home reduced to an investment commodity;  negative gearing tax breaks for investors;
high demand for rental properties and profiteering;
liberal free market non-intervention policy of do nothing.
These must be a few of the points that prolong the situation.

Around town, little huddles of technicians are seen working on the national broadband project.
Communication is all pervasive. Two texts messages have arrived to warn of the risk of fires today due to over the top temperatures and dry winds leading to extreme risk. At least we are not going bush today.

 Natural bright morning sunshine, alone, lit the opposite view to yesterdays post.

Where do we stand?  What does it all mean?
 As a first for me, I watched the Presidential Inauguration and was very surprised how it resembled a church ceremony.
Sacred Readings and poem were presented and three invocations came from different religious leaders and benedictions followed later in proceedings from another three religions.
Now We Belong was from a fine Missouri chorale (some lyrics are telling in light of the ban).
The Oath was sworn, not on one, but two bibles.
America the Beautiful  from the splendid Mormon Tabernacle Choir, partitions God in each verse.
Earlier in the day, the president elect and others had attended a national prayer service in church.
Next day was a prayer breakfast I think and later a service at Washington National Cathedral with call to prayer from several religious leaders including an imam to round it all off.
Grand proceedings such as these have been alive since time immemorial and appeal to higher ideals.    Many would like to break with traditions. Others say that ritual is important in a well society.  A new form of ritual without religion is one way ahead. 



 

Seize the day.  As nations, stand up and be counted, unite, trade and do good.  Rise above inward looking isolationist attention seekers of the post-Obama age.

Would-be dictator manipulators on the loose. Al Assad, Putin, Jong'un, Durterte, Trump.  Who will curb them?

To One Nation sympathisers on one side and well-meaning protesters on the other side - why fall for the problems of the latest US Trump craze? We can do much better than that.

Anti-third estate, fake news, anti-intellectual, anti-environment issues taken to extreme, all or nothing, what ever it takes. Debate and nuanced approach rejected. We know better than to follow that example.

Midsummer nightmare

Heatwave today.  The growth in extreme high temperature events between 1910 and 2015. These are the days in the 99th percentile of the mean temperature for that day. Australian data from CSIRO  in Renew journal Issue 138 January - March 2017

Meteorology and CSIRO.... report that Australia's average surface air temperature and surrounding sea temperature have both increased by around one degree C since 1910.  Extreme heat events and fires have increased, while rainfall has decreased in the south and increased in the north.  Our oceans have warmed and become more acidic.......emissions reduction target of 26% to 28% on 2005 levels by 2030 is not sufficient to protect Australians from worsening heatwaves, bushfires and other extreme weather events.  Renew. Technology for a sustainable future. Issue 138, page 10.

ICONOCLAST....its all about money....traditions are broken   relative to our local culture where nothing opened on December 25.

Time for the rest of the gang to find their place. On trying to organise a group photo.  Most others finished lunch hours ago.
 No hurry at Wests - West Leagues Club. Diners relax as if it is their own home where lunch is eventually followed by trips to the coffee bar and cakes then a drink and another chat.  Also the requirement to supply cold drinking water at a drinks bar is very useful and healthy.  

Road Trip

Bird's nest. Red soil is the material that the 'potters' fetched and carried beak by beak full. The parents were vocal and warned us to keep away.
 By the roadside, a small patch yielded sightings of a lizard, birds, bird's nest, bees, an array of wild flowers, tall grasses a lavender coloured crop a buzzing silence and an over abundance of warm sunshine.

Farewell... vale... George Aditjondro.  Indonesian scholar.
During a sojourn at Newcastle university surely he stimulated new insights into South East Asia and in a measured way considering his background in his homeland where he did not avoid controversy.