2010 Wetlands Festival celebrates World Migratory Bird Day

2010 Wetlands Festival has been rescheduled and they are seeking expressions of interest from local performers. The event will take place on Sunday, 9th May, 1230 – 5pm, at Nudgee Beach Foreshore, (Australia) celebrating World Migratory Bird Day. This date shares the principles of the original event, World Music for Migratory Waderbirds, as the finale to the 2010 Wetlands Festival. 

Now calling on expressions of interest from performers and musicians interested in being part of this wonderful community celebration. If you would like to be involved, email: sean.marler@brisbane.qld.gov.au

Monday 22nd March, World #Water Day 2010

Siemens Australia<>, is releasing a technology blueprint for Australia’s water and energy challenges on Monday 22nd March, World Water Day 2010.

The press conference is taking place at Zinc bar, Federation Square, Melbourne from 10am – 12 noon.

What is being released?

*       New technology blueprint for Australia’s ongoing water and energy challenges

*       Announcement of AUD$ investment needed by Australia to solve water and energy challenges by 2030

*       Outline of the hero technologies and new applications needed to achieve targets for reduction of CO2 emissions and reverse water crisis

*       Details of strategy to make Australia a clean exporter of energy

Speakers

*       Albert Goller, CEO Siemens Australia

*       Chris Davis, the National Water Commission. Chris is a former CEO of Australian Water Association and a National Water Commissioner; Independent Chair of the SEQ Urban Water Security Research Alliance, and Chair of the Independent Advisory Panel for the Sydney Metro Water Plan

*       Paul Graham, an ‘Energy Economist’ – Paul is Theme Leader, Energy Futures, for the Energy Transformed National Research Flagship at CSIRO

World Water Day 2010

The international observance of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro.

Japan to ignore bluefin tuna ban

While we’re not sure just how Japan will ignore it, Japan’s vice minister for fisheries has said that if  Atlantic bluefin tuna exports are banned at an upcoming CITES-related vote later this month, then Japan would not
comply with the ban. The problem for Japan is that the U.S. has come out in support of the ban, meaning that Japan will not have any major allies when the 175-nation vote comes up in Doha, Qatar.

So what does “not comply” mean? We presume that Japan might try to send its own fishing boats into the Atlantic high seas and see if anyone challenges them. Do we get the sense that the whale hunt confrontation in the Southern Ocean was just Act One for a bigger showdown yet
to come? ** (Source: TT commentary from upi.com)

Whale chef may be convicted #whales #badchef

It’s a strange world when you can be a whale chef in the middle of Shibuya and make a pile, but do it in the U.S. and you wind up busting a pile of rocks. That’s what Santa Monica sushi chef Kiyoshiro Yamamoto has found out to his dismay when he was arrested for serving up Sei whale meat to diners at his restaurant, which is suitably named “The Hump.” Yamamoto may be fined up to US$100K and face a year in prison, while his restaurant could be fined up to US$200K. (Source: TT commentary from japantimes.co.jp)

PICNIC OF THE DAMNED – a fond farewell to Kyeemagh beach

Kyeemagh beach, at the mouth of the Cooks River, Botany Bay, has never been a Bondi or Manly, but recently, this small, working class beach has simply disappeared. A victim, not of rising tides and climate change, Kyeemagh beach succumbed to the NSW Government’s desalination juggernaut (whose pipe runs from the plant itself at Kurnell, under Botany Bay to Kyeemagh).

On March 6, 4pm, there’ll be a picnic to commiserate this disappearance, next to this ghostly strip, outside the perimeter of the security fence marking the no-go zone. Bring a picnic basket and blanket, and come dressed a la Picnic at Hanging Rock. Documentation from the picnic will be used for an exhibition in May by Greg Shapley.

WHAT: Picnic of the Damned
WHERE: Near where the beach used to be, next to the Cooks River – opposite General Holmes Drive & O’Dea Ave, Kyeemagh (near Brighton Le Sands), Sydney, Australia
WHEN: Saturday March 6, 4pm-6pm
WHO: Contact Greg Shapley on 0401 152 434 or email gshapley@gmail.com

Stop Iceland’s #whale hunt – Act Now!

Iceland’s whaling season began recently, kicking off a bloody whale hunt that could lead to the death of 100 minke whales.

Iceland is one of only two countries (the other Japan) worldwide that still authorizes commercial whaling. About half of the whale meat from this year’s hunt is intended for domestic sales in Iceland, while the rest of the quota will be sold to Japan.

Sign the petition and tell the Icelandic government to reduce this year’s whale hunt quotas immediately – and to ban whaling forever.

Blog: Politicians Failing Whales #fb #geekgirl #fail #whales

One of the things that most annoys me about politics is the destruction the political system leaves in its wake. And why no matter whom we seem to vote for, all groups and individuals should be judged on the immediacy of what they do, and how they can mitigate the risk of inheriting the rubbish of former regimes. Simple, but having integrity is a great place to start!

I think this would have to be a universal doctrine of how one calculates the success of the incumbent. With a lot more scrutiny, immediacy and distribution of communication, we ‘the people’ are able to denounce the tardy, stupid, ineffectual and incompetent politicians we vote for.

We can’t seem to win: the right royal bunglers of this world just keep on coming. I think this may have to do with the type of people who work in Government and the type of people it attracts. Certainly, I’ve been told a good many times it’s hard to get good people in Gov’t: but surely there needs to be a bit more of a litmus test employed when employing people.

My vote for bad pollie of the week: it’s a close tie between the procrastinating K.Rudd dud (http://twitter.com/KevinRuddPM) or that arrogant plonker twit (http://twitter.com/TonyAbbottMHR). The latter got into the hot-seat by lying, the former making noise (centre-right) until he too can potentially lie legitimately. I doubt Australians are mad enough to vote for Abbott, who has a track record of not being able to separate Church from State, and btw looks shockin’ in his speedos!

Rudd refuses to get legal with the Japanese (who sank the Sea Shepherd’s Ady Gil) even though he keeps making veiled threats to do so, and leaving Ms Julia Gillard (Julia.Gillard.MP@aph.gov.au) in charge (who now also makes veiled threats on his behalf).

Abbott doesn’t want to offend or hurt the Japanese Gov’t feelings. OMG perhaps he can organise a pity party!! #fail

It’s just crap city for the whales, being killed illegally by the Japanese in the Southern Oceans for meat. Leaving little choice for direct action groups like Sea Shepherd or Bob Barker, who are having to up the ante on gaining attention to save and defend whales.

I’m amazed no one has been killed, and I think this has more to do with sheer bloody luck than strategy or intention.

We have to continue to speak on behalf of animals, and we have to continue to let politicians know they are not doing a good enough job!!

I don’t care about Kevin Rudd climbing rocks (on Cradle Mountain) with his kids on holiday. Get off down the mountain Kev and do some bloody work! You made election promises you won’t keep!

Veiled threats are causing the situation to escalate by not having the courage as a Gov’t to defend Southern Ocean whales and Australian citizens. I am disgusted by your ineffectiveness K.Rudd and that’s why you get my vote for shit pollie of the week!

Links:

Tumblr | Stop Killing Whales

Blogspot | Save the Whales Please

World War Whale download and godinpants plankton juice

In a future much like the present, the Earth is host to a variety of Cetaceans within its seas. These giant fleshy beasts of the deep have long been sought after sources of riches, providing enough oil to lubricate a robot army for weeks, and enough pre-digested plankton to fill a million sea monkey tanks.

It is in this future we find godinpants, documenting the great downfall of mankind against its Cetacean foes.

You gotta love this! x

More more more from 8bitcollective. And yes apart from being a very fanciful story of whales-at-war it’s also a Free download of ‘World War Whale’ – new release from experimental / chiptune artist

Twitter name @godinpants

To my Japanese friends you know I love you. Have a #whale of a good time.

With the historic change of government in Japan, Greenpeace is intensifying its efforts to bring whaling to an end. The new Japanese Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama, has already shown he is more concerned about Japan’s international reputation than his predecessors. Join over 140,000 people and send the new Prime Minister your Origami Whale, asking him to end the corrupt whaling industry once and for all.

Send your Origami Whale

Sea Shepherd is intervening to defend #Whales

On December 7, 2009 the Sea Shepherd’s – Steve Irwin will depart to defend endangered whales in the Antarctic Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

Starting in December, the Japanese whaling fleet will be targeting 935 piked (Minke) whales and another 50 fin whales, and has threatened to add humpbacks to their quota as well. The Sea Shepherd intends to once again negate their illicit profits.

Because of Sea Shepherd interventions, the Japanese whalers have suffered losses for three years. They are making steady progress towards their objective of sinking the entire Japanese whaling fleet – economically.

You can support the Sea Shepherd in a variety of ways! Go to the Sea Shepherd website.