International Women’s Day
This International Women’s Day (March 8), Mates4Mates is encouraging people to get involved and support the female veteran community.
This year, the theme is Choose to Challenge, providing an opportunity to celebrate women’s achievements and take action to change the world for the better.
We know that veteran issues are often seen as a male-centric issue, but it’s important that female veterans impacted by service feel seen and heard.
We want them to know that there is support available for them too.
Nearly one third of all those reaching out for support at Mates4Mates are women – many who are veterans.
Clive and coral don t mix Clive Palmer wants to build a coal mine 10km from the waters of the Great Barrier Reef and the Queensland Government has said okay, we will consider it. No, we will not consider it. Someone needs to remind Clive and the Queensland Government that the only way coral and coal can exist together is to leave the coal in the ground. This is a very bad idea on many levels. First and foremost, is global warming, fuelled primarily by the burning of coal. The impacts on the reef are well-known and devastating. We do not need another new coal mine to add to the problem.
The Brick Balloon
The Australian Snowy 2 hydro scheme plans to use electricity to pump water up hill to get some of that energy back by running the water downhill again.
Some Australian mining companies are planning a dry version of Snowy 2 â a huge brick-powered battery using the force of gravity to drive a generator when solar and wind energy are on strike.
Each unit of this brick-powered battery would comprise a 30 storey tower enclosing a 35 tonne brick which is hauled up using surplus renewable energy (around noon on any clear windy day) and then released to turn generators when there is no renewable energy being produced (every still night or calm cloudy day).
Division 3
As I sit and glance though the candidates for Division 3, I notice one glaring issue – where are all the younger candidates from the Mayoral race?
I only see one that had the drive to stand again and that is Christian Shepherd.
This is an opportunity we have not had for 20 years, to put a young person on the council. The last young person was Neil Fisher and before him Jim Webber or so I’m told.
That is a long period of time for a major section of our community to go unrepresented. Because no matter how liberal or open minded you think you are, once you go over a certain age, you do lose touch with the younger generation.
Ecosystems need our help Australian scientists have just recently released a very sobering report detailing 19 ecosystems across Australia that are collapsing due to the impact of humans and warned urgent action is required to prevent their complete loss. The groundbreaking report - the result of work by 38 scientists from 29 universities and government agencies - details the degradation of coral reefs, arid outback deserts, tropical savanna, the waterways of the Murray-Darling Basin, mangroves in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and forests stretching from the far north to Tasmania. This is news, but not new news. Previous in-depth studies, including the government s state of the environment report and last year s review of the national environment laws, have found Australia s natural heritage is in a perilous and worsening state.