The Good, The Bad and The Ugly...

In line with Quentin Tarantino's Hitler, all I want to do this morning is scream

"NEIN! NEIN! NEIN! NEIN! NEIN!!!

OK, phew, its alright, I've got it out of my system now.

Now, you are probably all wondering what the hell is wrong with me if I am simulating the behaviour of a fictional/real historical evil mastermind, particularly when this is supposed to be an optimist's haven, but I could not honestly believe my eyes when I picked up The Age this morning.


You're probably wondering what the hell is wrong with me. Isn't it good that China has just signed a $50 billion deal with Australia in which PetroChina will purchase 2.25 million tonnes a year of West Australian LPG Gas over a 20 year period? Isn't it beneficial to our economy in these tough times considering the project will be worth 5 per cent of the nation's gross domestic product? And won't it help you personally considering your dad works for Woodside in the oil and gas sector?

The answer to all these questions is most definitely a "Ja, Ja" and another big "Ja" but unlike everyone else in this country, I am seeing the downsides to this agreement which are very likely to occur.

Firstly, 20 years is a long time and as we have seen, a lot of things can change within that time period. For instance, entire economies can crash in less than a day, dictatorships can rise and fall and terrorists can singlehandedly cause the complete reformation of the way we think about our international defence strategies. Therefore, how on earth can we gauruntee that in 20 years time, we will still have enough gas to supply China and then us as well. I know that hundred hours of research is put into this but we know from past experience that no amount of scientific research is fool-proof for the future.

Secondly, what are the ecological benefits of this exchange? Why isn't China paying us $50 billion to produce the first solar panel field that can produce more than 80 gigawatts/hour? (that is currently the world record from the Parque Fotovoltaico Olmedilla de Alarcón in Spain) The answer to this is because in the end, it is so much easier to build one pipe into the earth's core and suck up a whole load of gas then construct solar panels spanning across hundreds of square kilometres. Sad really that we're so lazy don't you think?

Finally, I believe this deal was orchestrated more to prove that China and Australia's diplomatic ties are still strong despite all the controversy caused by the Melbourne International Film Festival's screening of The 10 Conditions of Love, a documentary about "the life of a fearless woman who has paid a terrible price for becoming an international symbol of her nation’s struggle". Frankly, I think $50 billion could make a lot of people forget about Chinese film directors pulling out the festival in protest or hackers replacing the entire MIFF website with an animated waving flag and the words

"We like film,but we hate Rebiya Kadeer!
We like peace,and we hate East Turkistan terrorist!
Please apologize to all the Chinese people!
Hacked by oldjun!"

I have never been a big fan of the Chinese government and you can probably guage this from this blog's tone but I want to reassure you that no I am not on the latest anti-anti-depressant recently released on the market (I don't think one actually exists so don't bother looking for one). I am merely attempting to make you all see the other side to today's top story. Whilst superficially this agreement between the Chinks and the Ockers is a good deal, I think we seriously need to look at the bigger picture in terms of where this world is heading and why major contracts like these are only proving to make our current economical and environmental situations worse.

On a lighter yet less enlightened note however, I fully support the government's achievements in creating nearly 6000 jobs and also ensuring my Dad will keep his job at least for the next 20 years.

So with that, I bid you all good day and remember, don't worry. Be Happy!

Flaming firebombs!

Anyone who happened to pick up today's Herald Sun would have immediately been created with the gruelling image of a fire truck desperately racing away from an enraging furno. The front page boldly reads "Nobody Was In Charge". The following story on page 4 detailed the latest developments of the Royal Inquiry into the Februaru 7 "Black Saturday" Bushfires.

Now I know I'm treading water in dangerous shark infested seas right now due to the emotional ties that come with the mention of this tragedy but I'm sorry, I just can not stand by and not voice my positive opinions on this story.

For those of you that know me, I am a huge advocate for being eco-conscious. I actively recycle, take public transport or walk instead of using the car, have a major obsession with turning all the lights out in the house before I leave it (which drives my mother berseck), and I am constantly badgering my friends about their anti-eco friendly practices (like my best friend who goes out of her way to annoy me by driving to the cinema instead of catching the train). The result of all this is that I am constantly aware of the devastating effects that global warming IS (yes i am using the present tense) having on our world and am not as shocked about events like the "Black Saturday" bushfires as other people who do not believe global warming is something that will happen to them in this lifetime.

Ok so now you're probably thinking, hang on I thought this was supposed to be positive? I don't want to feel bad about my fuel-guzzling 4X4 which I use to drive the 400m walk to the shops every day. Or the fact that I spend 20 minutes in the shower because hot water all over my body just makes me feel soooo good in the morning.

Well, yes you have a right to feel wary at my attitude towards these *cough*selfish*cough* acts, but let me tell you this.

Front page news, like today's, detailing the "horror" of such catastrophic events like the "Black Saturday" bushfires, only prove to the reader that global warming is happening. You can not deny it now. Yes it was easy 4 years ago to witness the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in the US and the wreckage left behind by the 2004 tsunami in Bali because it wasn't happening on our soil. Like everything else in human life, things become so much easier to deal with when we can say "Oh, it will never happen to me". Well people, its time to wake up and smell the sulfure because Black Saturday I believe, can officially be declared Australia's first example of the effects of climate change on our planet.

So the good news? The good news from this ladies and gentlemen is that it is not too late. Scientists believe that if we can reduce our carbon emissions by 70% in the next century, then we will be able to avoid all the devastating effects of climate change that WILL happen if we do not do something. This means making small lifestyle changes (I say small in the sense that making such changes really wouldn't have that big an impact on your life in comparison to having to deal with 100m sea level rises). Here's what you can do:

1. Walk/cycle/tram it/swim to work - cutting out driving eliminates 0.8 TONNES (yes that 800kilos) of carbon emissions.


2. Eating more vegies - Producing 1kg of beef results in more CO2 emissions than going for a three-hour drive while leaving all the lights on at home.


3. Swith Off! - using electricity in the home generates around 20% of the world's overall greenhouse gas emissions.


4. Finally, become more conscious of your overall energy useage - knowing how much energy you use around the house will effectively assist you in be able to work out ways in which to reduce this consumption

These are just a small number of steps we can integrate into our daily lifestyle to prevent future natural disasters like the "Black Saturday" bushfires. They are easy to implement and as you can tell, are all healthy alternatives for your current way of living.

So, my fellow readers, I know that I will have taken your emotions through the wringer today but I assure you, global warming is not something to panic about. If it takes us 100 years to create the damage we are seeing in the world right now, then it will just as easily take that long to undo it.

In closing, make a stand. Don't let the tragedy of "Black Saturday" unfold again this summer. And most importantly, don't worry. Be happy!

A happy heartwarming story about something not so heartwarming...

I was particularly excited to hear today (more for the fact that my hometown of Perth had actually done something worthwhile for a change) of the landmark case involving Christian Rossiter, a quadriplegic who finally was awarded the right to refuse medical treatment that may result in his death.

I don't know why, cases like this don't usually concern me or strike me as momentous as I don't really have an opinion on them, but I think because a case of this magnitude was made in my hometown, I felt more compelled to put a positive spin on it.

Now I know you'll be thinking "But it's already got a happy ending!". Not necessarily. See, for the next few months or so whilst this case still rolls through the media, protests, strikes and complaints will all be made against the decision and more than likely, somebody will try to reverse the judgement.

I think this would be an act of inhumanity. People all around the world die every day of disease, famine, illness or by natural disaster. Now, I know for a fact that you don't see these anti-euthanasia protestors fighting against government agencies, chain supermarkets or Mother Nature. So why, when it comes to something like this, when a human being actually has the choice over how they wish to leave this world, do we present resistance?

Whilst I don't agree with suicide, I do believe that when a person has absolutely no choice over their future, be it due to sickness or any other situation, they should be allowed the right to end things their won way.

I think this case will be the catalyst for what will hopefully be a revolution of modern society's ways of thinking.