Levee & Levy

I wonder if the new Flood Levy will protect Julia Gillard and the Labour Party from the wrath of the Greens and Solar Retailers after the announcement of cut-backs to various solar schemes. A Levee is supposed to protect against the overflowing rivers, so perhaps Julia hopes the possible introduction of a Carbon Tax will act to protect her from the river of public opinion on her Flood Levy and cutbacks to Climate Change schemes.
I was listening to ABC Local with John Faine today hearing how someone who earns >$200,000 doesn't consider himself rich and objects to the Flood Levy! As a mere local government employee my chance of earning that amount is small, unless I'm the Mayor (no hope there). I don't like the Levy either but lets not confuse donations to individuals, infrastructure replacement funding (Flood Levy) and how people earning $200,000 chose to spend their large income.
The idea of a Disaster fund is seductive but if the severity and number of disasters increase as indicated by many climate change models, then who will be wanting to fund those concerned? The Insurance Council indicates "Without effective mitigation of the extreme weather and climate risks facing property and assets, the cost of offsetting those risks (insuring) is likely to rise in proportion to the risk." - in other words the cost is going to keep rising for disasters.
The Garnaut Review (Chapter 15) predicted "Some may expect that government can, and should, protect the community from climate change by implementing the right strategy, program or initiative to allow Australians to maintain established lifestyles. This is not a realistic expectation for four reasons. First, climate change will require adjustment of innumerable, locally specific customs and practices over time. Second, the range and scale of impacts that is likely across Australia is such that it is not feasible for governments to underwrite maintenance of established patterns of life for all people in all places.
Third, the uncertainty surrounding climate change impacts makes it impossible to predict their timing, magnitude or location with precision. Finally appropriate responses to climate change impacts will be specific to circumstances. In many instances, centralised government will lack the agility to orchestrate a differentiated response with the necessary precision to address local needs."
The Governments response and the Oppositions reply is concerning for us all.

Detail in the Devil

Recently an number of Tasmanian Devils were moved from Tasmania to NSW. The Devil population has been considered extinct on the mainland of Australia (though with occasional sightings & road kill) so the move is to a semi wild managed area. The development of the deadly Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) has caused massive decrease in numbers of Devils in their native habitat, caused in part by low genetic diversity amongst the populations.
Now that a new population is being reinstated on the mainland in semi-wild conditions there may be a chance to isolate them against the disease.
Isolation of populations on islands is common, and is done with birds such as the flightless New Zealand Kiwi & Kakapo parrot. The problem with these sorts of approaches, (other than the human costs) is that the small populations are susceptible to disease and disaster, like the floods engulfing Queensland and parts of northern Victoria.
I have often wondered how many native animals such as wombats, echidnas, reptiles, even snakes have succumbed to the floods and what it will do to these populations. Would we even know if this flood event is just another in the sorry state of Australian extinction events.
And what will be the effect of the contaminated, silt laden water on the Great Barrier Reef? No doubt there will be several research programs being planned to get this data. For our sake, (tourism & ecology both) I hope the effect of the floods will be temporary at most and not too deleterious.

10 Biggest Predictions for the Future of Book Publishing

I liked the first of these predictions:

Vanity presses and self-publishing will swell in popularity - ie writing my own blog is a form of vanity. Yeah I can live with this. If you can why not. No one has to read it and if they do then they can comment, flame and/or agree. Opinion is what we often get as news, and how informed the opinion is up to the individual and circumstances.

Prediction no 4:

"More people will be authors: ...With manuscript in hand and a story to tell, the masses may very well flood the very market that ten years ago would have never given them a voice. This leaves the literary world ripe for new ideas and innovations" Again with new technology making the ability to publish a lot easier we may very well see more stories. I can see there are several websites that allow bloggers to publish their blog in book format eg . This may well be something to leave to your children, allowing them to understand you a bit more ( and laugh ever more also!)

Which fits in with prediction no 7 "Memoirs expand as a genre:" I see lots of people in the library writing their memoirs and I wish some of my family managed to do this. They lived interesting but not spectacular lives. Once gone their memories are rarely transmitted too far down the generations which can be a pity. A bit like re-inventing the wheel each generation.

PS The recent news about Library closure and public reaction is heartening, not just because it keeps my colleagues employed but also shows the relevance of libraries and books in people's lives right now! 

Queensland Floods

We watched the coverage on ABC TV last night, amazed by the devastating floods sweeping away small Queensland communities. Now the flood waters are inundating parts of  Brisbane and thousands are in the process of evacuating. We all looked on with sympathy to those sitting on their house roofs waiting for a passing helicopter.

Two years ago the floods in Queensland took a backseat to the non-stop coverage in Victoria of our fire ravaged country. Queenslanders responded generously to Victoria's needs then. Lets hope the Victorian people and emergency services can help our northern cousins now.
I was able to donate to the flood appeal at my local supermarket. So lets all forgo some uneeded $$ to be spent on chocolate, cheap Christmas mince tarts and cake to send some $$ up north. That way we can try to adhere to the New Years resolutions of losing weight, buying greener and helping others!
To Donate go to Queensland Flood website

Online Shopping and Retailer Advertiing

Now the Big Retailers have started an advertising blitz to wind back public opinion on the benefits of Online Shopping it will be very interesting to see if they manage to sway any of public opinion, the Federal Government with regard to GST on articles under $1000 or other smaller businesses.
As a mere consumer, in a time of rising basic costs of living (water, electricity, food, petrol), discretionary spending is the area I'm most willing to control. I personally believe in living within my income, saving some $$ for a rainy day and purchasing quality goods for the best possible price.
I have subscribed to various Choice Consumer Magazines for years and access their premium content via my public library portal. I fully support Christopher Zinn and Choice Magazines stand on why the Big Retailers need to do more than just try and tax us more. I use websites that give me what I want - access to quality goods at a good price, with appropriate consumer support in term of warranties, Australian or OS affiliations etc.
If we are slugged with extra taxes the underground market for goods will only skyrocket and Australian businesses will get further left behind.
My partner runs a small business  - if he doesn't make the goods properly, to a high quality and get it overseas on time then he suffers. He uses his website to promote ordering but doesn't have the sophisticated web presence that may help improve his sales. He also struggles with payroll taxes,  employment conditions, being located in Australia rather than the US, like many others. The Internet has allowed him to develop his business more easily up til now. What the future holds is up to him and his workers.

Future of libraries?

I wonder what this lady will need when she grows up?

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