Clouds and Memories

New blog

Moving across to wordpress as I am not a huge fan of blogger. Check out the new blog at:
http://otgl.wordpress.com/

It is not yet in the shape I want nor have I imported posts but this will occur gradually, especially if I continue to be unemployed :)

Environment and the election - how do the parties rate?

I saw a survey come out from ACF rating the major political parties on their environment commitment and thought it would be a useful thing for everyone to look at. There is so much rhetoric over the environment that I believe its useful to see the opinion of a respected environmental NGO.

See: http://www.acfonline.org.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=1439

Two remarks:

1. Given that climate change and related environmental issues are the greatest challenge that our generation faces the current rating of the major parties is pathetic. Where is the vision, where is the will that is needed? It will be interesting to see how the ratings evolve over the campaign.

2. It is good to see that the Democrats are given the recognition they deserve as a pro-environment party (90/100). A lot of people don't realise that the Democrats have been and continue to be very strong on environmental issues.

Feel free to challenge me on any of the above points, always happy to argue.

My poor basil

Look what happened when TR left!*

* if more than 4 people understand this I will be amazed

With the right to cycle comes a responsibility

Swanston st, trams, people getting on trams, me getting on tram.

Idiot cyclist.

I was walking across from the pavement towards the door and there is a cyclist trying to wend his way through about 20 - 30 people so he could be on his way. He needed to put the brakes on so he didn't crash straight into me and gave me a glare. I yelled at him (in my very well adjusted and non-agressive fashion) that he needed to stop at a tram. His response over his shoulder 'I'm a cyclist!'

Reponses like that infuriate me. I yelled something back at him but he was already off . If we, as cyclists, expect respect on the roads at the same level as vehicles (which we are by law) then we need to obey the same rules. Of course many rules can be bent, everyone does it. But blatantly trying to sneak past a tram on the left, slightly after peak hour with a large amount of people trying to get off isn't one of them! I have no issue with people gently coasting past the tram so they can get ready for the green light, but wait until the doors are closed or people seem to have finished boarding.

Things like this just give cyclists a bad name and are plain wrong. Its just as dangerous as a car doing it, worse in some senses as you expect there to be some sort of acknowledgment between pedestrians and cyclists that they are both fairly exposed to moving vehicles.

End rant.

The 11th Hour - some thoughts

I was at a movie fundraiser tonight to see 'The 11th Hour' narrated by Leonardo Di Caprio.

I won't do a full review suffice to say EVERYONE MUST SEE THIS MOVIE.

Sure its not brilliant, it can be a bit preachy, there are lots of talking heads but despite this it outlines the problem of climate change and some solutions. Even if you know the problems watch it again to be reminded why we need to stand up and try and make a difference. If you don't know much about climate change then watch it to get an idea then go and do some research yourself.

The most powerful message is that it falls to us, the generations alive now, to make the changes necessary, to meet the problem. Again I challenge each and every one of you to spread the word and try and make a difference, in whichever way that you best can. There is no second chance (not for humanity anyway).

Politics and 'new media'

Well we are moving onwards to the federal election although no-one has an exact idea of when it is. There are a lot of good reasons for a reform of parts of our electoral system and fixed terms are definitely one of them. It is just another benefit to the incumbent which democracy could do without. For everyone's information technically we could have an election as late as January.

Anyway, onto the bulk of the post. There has been a lot said in the 'old media' recently about new media and how the major parties are jumping on board. What all of these reporters have ignored is the fact that other parties also use these channels but as always it seems that they are so focused on the big 2 or extremist minors that they propagate the adversarial 2 party system. So, if you want to check out what the party I support is doing check-out:

Blogs
http://www.lynallison.blogspot.com/
http://andrewbartlett.com/blog/ (Highly recommended)

Myspace
http://www.myspace.com/lynallison

YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/lynallison
http://www.youtube.com/user/australiandemocrats

You can even sign up to updates on Democrat's campaigns and what is going on in the Senate through the main website at www.democrats.org.au or check out the state sites. I'd recommend it so you can see the legislation that seems to slip through with very little fanfare, I hope everyone knows that we pretty much have new anti-terrorism laws...

If you like what you read in any of the above you should comment, rate the video's or forward the links onto your friends. The more knowledge any of us has the better.

Comment on Photos

As you can probably tell I really enjoyed New Zealand.

Having a bit of difficulty posting photos well as Blogger is a little clumsy so I think at the moment this is the best I can do. I have over 300 other photos so I guess the real message is if you want to see the rest you'll have to visit!!