http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/admin/media/media.xml This RSS feed was generated out of the newsdatabase of Media website. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=59 In Syria, Iraqi refugees are preparing to return to the warzone they once called home. "We'd rather die in Iraq than starve as foreigners", they tell Mike Otterman http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=58 The ‘full story’ is my very detailed submission I have just sent to the Garnaut Climate Change Review entitled “Climate Emergency, Sustainability Emergency & Dr Gideon Polya Submission to Rudd Australia Garnaut Climate Change Review”. It would be very handy for other potential submitters on this matter of paramount importance to have this very detailed and documented submission through its publication on the Bellingen Institute website – you will be quite alarmed at some of the Professor Lovelock and Dr Hansen projections. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=57 The storm clouds have gathered ominously on the economic horizon with talk in the US of recession following the meltdown in the sub-prime housing market. It doesn’t follow that Australia will go the same way but there are signs that the cold that follows the US sneeze may turn out to be quite severe in this part of the world. Already the stock market is reeling and banks and mortgage companies have raised their interest rates without any prompting from the Reserve Bank. The Rudd government looks set to slash public spending but the promised - and potentially inflationary - $31 billion tax cuts have yet to be shelved. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=56 In all the public commentary that has accompanied David Hick’s release from prison on 30 December 2007, Gerard Henderson’s surely ranks as the most spiteful and ill-informed (The Hicks fan club is in denial, January 1 2008). http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=55 Newly-elected Australian Prime Minister Rudd has clearly stated his laudable desires for “evidence-based policy” and Report Cards on progress. Unsolicited, unpaid but expert and responsible, I have already obliged by with a series of detailed, documented, quantitative Rudd Australia Report Cards for the benefit of politicians, media and others as summarized below. Reports #1 and #3 outline Rudd Australia’s continuing involvement in the Iraqi Genocide and the Afghan Genocide, respectively - post-invasion excess deaths 1.5-2 million and 3-6 million, respectively; post-invasion under-5 infant deaths 0.6 million and 2.2 million, respectively; and refugees totaling 4.5 million and 4 million, respectively, out of 2005 populations of 27 million and 26 million, respectively. Report #2 provides expert projections of Bali-wrecker Rudd Australia’s committed “total annual fossil fuel-derived CO2 production in tonnes per person per year” (based on US Energy Information Administration data, assuming current constant coal and gas growth rates, constant population and including Australia’s fossil fuel exports) of 43 (2007), 56 (2020) and 65 (2050) as compared to (2004 figures) 4.2 (the World), 3.7 (China), 1.0 (India) and 0.25 (Bangladesh) – yet by using climate criminal Australia’s A$10 billion annual fossil fuel subsidy to install wind farms at A$2 per watt we could have 50 Gigawatts of wind power (equivalent to its present total electricity capacity) by 2017. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=54 Even before he was sworn in as PM, Kevin Rudd very laudably announced “measurement-based” and ”evidence-based” policy and adumbrated “Report Cards” from his Ministers. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=53 As a result of the protracted US and British occupation of Iraq, at least 76,000 civilians have been killed, with the actual number probably closer to 100,000. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=52 Far from being a dream green techno-fix to global warming and rising oil prices, conventional agro-fuels will likely push global temperatures beyond the tipping point and spark food riots, famine and instability across many regions of the world. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=51 National mainstream media recently reported the shocking alleged starving to death of a little Australian girl and the arrest and charging with murder of her parents – but there is NO reportage of horrendous, ongoing passive mass murder of Australia’s Indigenous Subject children. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=50 Reductionism refers to the tendency to reduce complex issues to simple ‘core’ explanations. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=49 November 24 2007 is a highly significant date not only because the election is being held on that day but because it’s an opportunity to make a national statement on values. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=48 Australia is in the grip of a Federal Election campaign involving the extreme right wing Bush-ite Coalition Government, a poll-driven Labor Party Opposition and the minor party Greens and Democrats. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=47 The bicentenary of the passage of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act 1807 has been greeted with much contrition and moral reflection. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=46 Australians have an unsustainable debt addiction, which will be hard to kick, and painful to recover from. A new report by CPD fellow Steve Keen has found that in just 18 months time we may be spending as much of the national income on interest payments as we were in 1990 - when interest rates were at 17 per cent. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=44 The Great Depression was a most heartrending period in Australia's history. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=43 ABSTRACT The Harm Done: Towards Acknowledgment and Healing of Care Survivors in New South Wales (NSW) provides background information on the Forgotten Australians a report produced by the Senate Community Affairs References Committee (2004) and focusing on the mostly Australian born non-indigenous children who suffered systemic institutional abuse. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=42 The enduring nature of change brings with it some exciting possibilities for renewal and rethinking. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=41 Remember “thou shalt not kill” and the un-written “thou shalt not kill children”? In terms of “body count” George Bush (currently visiting Australia for the APEC Summit) is the world’s #1 terrorist by far. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=40 Advance Australia_Where by Hugh Mackay asks some pertinent questions on the future of our nation; http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=38 Annie Kennedy is a long term Bellingen resident and has been active in a number of community programs over the years. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=37 Mike Otterman will be presenting a seminar mid November on his latest book, "American Torture". http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=36 How Many Children Need to Die before people insist on answer to questions; “how much?” and “how many?” so much suffering would have been prevented (refugee children in custody, invasion and occupation of Iraq etc). http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=35 Will you help members of the Bellingen Institute prevent something that will have tragic consequences for future generations of living things in Australia? That something is John Howard’s attempt to foist nuclear power generation on Australia and on Australians http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=33 The National Indigenous Times recently (14 June 2007) published an edition revealing the horrendous health conditions of Indigenous Australians under the Howard Government. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=32 The declaration of a ‘national emergency’ in respect of Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory has engulfed the entire nation in frenzied deliberation. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=31 Howard's new Tampa children overboard are our Aboriginal children. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=29 FORGOTTEN Australians by the former Director of the ABC David Hill has attracted considerable public attention. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=28 Pre-election Australia http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=27 For a government to be so awash with money and to see how bereft of vision, as this budget so clearly conveys, is a tragedy. http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=26 Have we all been duped, bought off, seduced, and terminally estranged from our spiritual selves? http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=25 "Social injustice is largely responsible for the disparity". http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=24 Community Building: Critical Voices, Alternative Strategies http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=22 The Director of The Bellingen Institute, Dr Richard Hil comments: http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=21 Work Choices offers no choice to employees http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=20 The Government has taken away votes via its control of the senate http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=19 Prime Minister John Howard's proposed "nuclear debate". http://www.bellingeninstitute.com.au/media.php?action=fullnews&id=18 The launch of the new Bellingen Institute