North Coast Voices

Sunday 21 June 2009

Tomorrow the world needs to stand up for whales

Humpback Whale breeching off the Perth coast from PerthNow

On Monday 22 June 2009 the International Whaling Commission will commence holding a series of meetings in which those nations wanting to break the international moratorium on commercial whale hunting will seek to prevail.

As I write, the annual whale migration on the east coast of Australia continues and the migration up the West Australia coast has begun.

Phone, email or Twitter the Australian Prime Minister now and let him know that you do not want to go down any concession path which would result in more whales being killed each year by those nations which have sufficient access to protein for their citizens as it is.

The Hon Kevin Rudd MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600

(02) 6277.7111 (main switchboard)
Direct email link here.
Twitter KevinRuddPM

Sign the World Society for the Protection Of Animals NZ anti-whaling petition here.

PerthNow whale photo gallery

Whale breeching off the Kimberly coast

Yes, Iran is sexy news - but what about Fiji?

The widespread national election result protests in Iran are eye-catching, politically compelling and happening right now.
Consequently the mainstream media is all over the subject even though getting hard news out of that country is currently difficult.
Without wanting to talk down the situation in Iran, it does place into stark relief the media's attitude to Fiji which earlier this year had its democratic institutions and processes stolen away by a military dictator.
After a week or so of intermittent news coverage of the Fiji coup the matter effectively slipped into newsprint oblivion.
In recent days it has only rated a few low-level mentions of Australian and New Zealand plans to lobby for the UN to remove Fiji military personnel from its peacekeeping forces.
Over to you Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.

Saturday 20 June 2009

Something to ponder at the end of the week

You know you're getting older when.......

.......most of the thespians named on the back of DVDs lining racks at the local video store are actors that a) you've never even heard of before and b) all look younger than your kids.

Picture: Google Images

FEHVA 2009 Bangalow Art Prize winner

Bangalow Art Prize 2009 winning painting
ROADS AROUND BANGALOW
by Helena Maughan

Other FEHVA 2009 entrants and winners can be found here.

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Moggy Musings

Hi! My name is Boy. I'm a male bi-coloured tabby cat. Ever since I discovered that Malcolm Turnbull's dogs were allowed to blog, I have been pestering Clarencegirl to allow me a small space on North Coast Voices.

A false flag musing: I have noticed one particular voice on Facebook which is Pollyanna-positive on the subject of the Port of Yamba becoming a designated cruise ship destination. What this gentleman doesn’t disclose is that, as a principal of Middle Star Pty Ltd, he could be thought to have a potential pecuniary interest due to the fact that this corporation (which has had an office in Grafton since 2012) provides consultancy services and tourism business development services.

A religion & local government musing: On 11 October 2017 Clarence Valley Council has the Church of Jesus Christ Development Fund Inc in Sutherland Local Court No. 6 for a small claims hearing. It would appear that there may be a little issue in rendering unto Caesar. On 19 September 2017 an ordained minister of a religion (which was named by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in relation to 40 instances of historical child sexual abuse on the NSW North Coast) read the Opening Prayer at Council’s ordinary monthly meeting. Earlier in the year an ordained minister (from a church network alleged to have supported an overseas orphanage closed because of child abuse claims in 2013) read the Opening Prayer and an ordained minister (belonging to yet another church network accused of ignoring child sexual abuse in the US and racism in South Africa) read the Opening Prayer at yet another ordinary monthly meeting. Nice one councillors - you are covering yourselves with glory!

An investigative musing: Newcastle Herald, 12 August 2017: The state’s corruption watchdog has been asked to investigate the finances of the Awabakal Aboriginal Local Land Council, less than 12 months after the troubled organisation was placed into administration by the state government. The Newcastle Herald understands accounting firm PKF Lawler made the decision to refer the land council to the Independent Commission Against Corruption after discovering a number of irregularities during an audit of its financial statements. The results of the audit were recently presented to a meeting of Awabakal members. Administrator Terry Lawler did not respond when contacted by the Herald and a PKF Lawler spokesperson said it was unable to comment on the matter. Given the intricate web of company relationships that existed with at least one former board member it is not outside the realms of possibility that, if ICAC accepts this referral, then United Land Councils Limited (registered New Zealand) and United First Peoples Syndications Pty Ltd(registered Australia) might be interviewed. North Coast Voices readers will remember that on 15 August 2015 representatives of these two companied gave evidence before NSW Legislative Council General Purpose Standing Committee No. 6 INQUIRY INTO CROWN LAND. This evidence included advocating for a Yamba mega port.

A Nationals musing: Word around the traps is that NSW Nats MP for Clarence Chris Gulaptis has been talking up the notion of cruise ships visiting the Clarence River estuary. Fair dinkum! That man can be guaranteed to run with any bad idea put to him. I'm sure one or more cruise ships moored in the main navigation channel on a regular basis for one, two or three days is something other regular river users will really welcome. *pause for appreciation of irony* The draft of the smallest of the smaller cruise vessels is 3 metres and it would only stay safely afloat in that channel. Even the Yamba-Iluka ferry has been known to get momentarily stuck in silt/sand from time to time in Yamba Bay and even a very small cruise ship wouldn't be able to safely enter and exit Iluka Bay. You can bet your bottom dollar operators of cruise lines would soon be calling for dredging at the approach to the river mouth - and you know how well that goes down with the local residents.

A local councils musing: Which Northern Rivers council is on a low-key NSW Office of Local Government watch list courtesy of feet dragging by a past general manager?

A serial pest musing: I'm sure the Clarence Valley was thrilled to find that a well-known fantasist is active once again in the wee small hours of the morning treading a well-worn path of accusations involving police, local business owners and others.

An investigative musing: Which NSW North Coast council is batting to have the longest running code of conduct complaint investigation on record?

A fun fact musing: An estimated 24,000 whales migrated along the NSW coastline in 2016 according to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the migration period is getting longer.

A which bank? musing: Despite a net profit last year of $9,227 million the Commonwealth Bank still insists on paying below Centrelink deeming rates interest on money held in Pensioner Security Accounts. One local wag says he’s waiting for the first bill from the bank charging him for the privilege of keeping his pension dollars at that bank.

A Daily Examiner musing: Just when you thought this newspaper could sink no lower under News Corp management, it continues to give column space to Andrew Bolt.

A thought to ponder musing: In case of bushfire or flood - do you have an emergency evacuation plan for the family pet?

An adoption musing: Every week on the NSW North Coast a number of cats and dogs find themselves without a home. If you want to do your bit and give one bundle of joy a new family, contact Happy Paws on 0419 404 766 or your local council pound.

North Coast Voices

Sunday 21 June 2009

Tomorrow the world needs to stand up for whales

Yes, Iran is sexy news - but what about Fiji?

Saturday 20 June 2009

Something to ponder at the end of the week

FEHVA 2009 Bangalow Art Prize winner

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