Article name: Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett backs logging in forestry debate
Source: news.com.au
Date: October 21, 2008 09:41am
Author: Matthew Denholm
TASMANIAN Premier David Bartlett has sided with the forest industry in a fierce debate with conservationists about whether old-growth forests should be protected as reservoirs of carbon.
Mr Bartlett told The Australian that calls by the conservation movement to suspend old-growth logging, because of evidence they might be more valuable as carbon sinks, were nonsense.
"This is bulls**t - this is just not true," the Premier said.
"They can make that claim at the moment because Kyoto Protocol accounting for timber got it totally wrong.
"When you chop down a tree under Kyoto and you burn it, or you alternatively turn it into a high-value coffee table, it's accounted for in exactly the same way. And that is clearly false.
"If you burn a tree, obviously the carbon is realised. If you turn it into a coffee table, that carbon is sequestered for life or for a very bloody long time."
Australian National University researchers recently found that old-growth forests in Victoria, NSW and Tasmania stored up to three times the amount of carbon that was previously estimated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
The research - criticised by industry because it was funded by the Wilderness Society, but strongly defended by the ANU - concludes that old-growth forests are more reliable as carbon sinks than as plantations because the latter are more vulnerable to fire, disease and disturbance.
Mr Bartlett is unconvinced. He said the current round of global climate change talks should ensure the carbon-storing abilities of forest products were factored into carbon accounting.
"I don't think the logging of old-growth forests is necessarily related to climate change," Mr Bartlett said.
"Tasmania emits 1.2 per cent of the nation's emissions and Australia emits 1.5 per cent of the global emissions. And 86 per cent of our old-growth forests (in 2004) remain locked up, never to be touched.
"I don't think stopping the logging of old-growth forests in Tasmania is really pivotal to world history when it comes to climate change."
- Mood:
cranky
Something funny I came across...bollywood can be such a laugh!!!!!!
- Mood:
amused
For more photos...see the locked entry previously...
But because there are so many photos I want to show of the babies...here is a 2nd entry!
- Mood:
bouncy
I'm not sure who has been feeding me everyday. All I know is that Olena has been doing so out of kindness so that I dont' die.
You'll all be happy to know that I'm going up the ranks (#3000+ --> but still better than nothing right?), so thank you all the victims!!!!!!!! ^Q^
- Mood:
content
While reading Detective Conan online (bored as hell at work), I came across this "vampire game". Now...I've donated blood to other "vampires" before for friends...but I never knew what it was about. Well...hehehe...I needed something to occupy me, so...
Could everyone please help me out? At least till I get bored with it T__T
Please click on the following link to help me with the game (feed me too?)
- Mood:
curious
Recent photos of Elaina, Jean Claude & Lupin. ^__^
They are mobile phone quality...so not great... T__T
Elaina...lazy as always
Jean Claude posing for cat GQ (if there ever was one ^Q^)
Elaina - always taking over my bed whenever she feels like it (even when I'm in it)
Lupin playing in the pineapple bed.
Both Meows perched on one of the scratching posts.
What is he staring at?
My clothes - his cushion... T__T
- Mood:
busy
Yeah...that's right!
Only an event like this could drag my lazy butt online to post something in my - now stale blog.
Jean Claude turns 1 years old today.
Omg...look at the baby pictures of him (points at avvie)...isn't he just the pinnicle of cute?
He's beautiful now. A truly beautiful and "cool" cat. Omg... T__T I sang him a happy birthday song 3 times this morning. I don't have a birthday present prepared...I mean...he's got everything he can possibly want: a mountain of toys, all the food he can eat and 4 coushioned beds (and my bed) to sleep in.
Garrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Present!!!!!
Must.
Find.
Present.
Another April Fools already.
I'm a little bit too tired and still a bit too serious to come up with any April Fools prank, so...you are all very lucky! ^Q^
I'm going to post some pics of Lupin (the same pics I posted before) for Olia. Hope you like it:
Old pic of him chewing on toy
Him just doing nothing.
His face is much more developed now and his legs are longer.
I should really start loading new pics. I've been way too lazy... >__<
- Mood:
tired
To anyone reading - I usually make these kind of posts under lock and key (so that only signed members can read them). However, I know that a couple of friends aren't a member, so for now, I'm making it limited access, and then turning them into locked entries.
I would encourage them to become a free member for me to add so that I can start making some of these entries more secure once again. Reason being: they include my personal life and political views, some of them not everyone agrees with. I'd rather not encounter any trouble...(obscenities throw at me in comments etc...)
--------------------
Garrrrrrh!
Who's fault is it for making me sick? Well...of course it'd
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
ascalonzero!He had the cold first and then transfered it to me, right after I worked so hard to eat right and stayed away from sickness for more than a month!!!
For those who don't know, I've been sick a bit (on and off) for months. I've had about 5 needles jabbed into me for various blood tests and vaccinations with no visible success. I've been so desperate to get well that I've resorted to aromatherapy and other more obscure old/new age medicines in the hope that I feel better so I can go to work. I've taken a lot of days off, and since I've justed started a new job (3 months in), I got looks from my boss and some colleagues who probably thought I was taking fake sickies off *sigh* Oh...the pressure, I'm sure it didn't help with my recovery...but oh well...
So yes, I'm sick and I felt so useless that I slept most of my Sunday away. I couldn't even give Lupin a bath on Saturday night because my arms were meat jello.
ascalonzerohad to help rinse the soap off Lupin's coat after my cry of help. It was so terribly embarrassing not to even be able to do normal duties without assistance T__TThis past weekend was pretty much high stress and low on relaxation, mainly due to my brother's birthday celebrations, which I (of course) attended at my parent's house. Jack (my brother) insisted that I bring Lupin along, so I did. Mom don't like the dog much and made no effort to hide it. She said that Lupin is UGLY and that he's stupid and screamed "don't touch me, don't touch me" to the dog and pleaded for help when the dog was trying to get friendly. Dad and Jack on the other hand loved him. Dad reminisced about when he had a dog as a kid and taught my brother how to get along with Lupin. My brother actually stayed away from the computer to play with him, which was very very rare.
One thing I had to be thankful, was that with all the attention on the new chow, my mom didn't get to call me fat - I was spared...marginally.
Saturday was also when the local council elections were held. Now, I have no real strong opinion regarding who should win for local. The Liberal Council (who have been in power for the last 3 years) have done a relatively good job keeping their promises, but considering the fact that I never voted from them in the first place means that it meant little to me. I have traditionally been a Labour supporter because they look after worker's rights, and their attitude on a multicultural society is more in-sync with my views, however, they are done on a federal level not council. So, once again, I was pressed for who to choose.
I would have voted for an independent had there been one in our area, but there wasn't. I was pretty shocked to find that the Liberals won a land-slide victory. I don't understand...
What is it about some people's stupidity that still surprises me?
My main opposition to the Liberal retaining power is this:
Yes, they keep their promises (which is good), but they are not good at managing money. They spent around $2 billion on a road expansion/tunnel, which had a massive budget blow-out. For me, someone that DOESN'T use that road at all, those extra money could be used on other things to better other people: better roads elsewhere, more maintenance on paveways for people to walk around the neighbourhood etc...
Blow-outs means some sort of mis-management, and I don't take lightly on it. But yes, what's done is done and the majority has spoken *shrugs*
........................................
After reading the previous, I just realised that what had started off as light complaining and whinging turned into full on depressing material *sigh*
I will try and make my next entry a happy one *fingers crossed* PROMISE!
- Mood: aggravated and sick
Wow...I didn't realise that I've been rather inactive on my blog again.
I guess although there are a few small hiccups, it is overall a pretty calm period in my life at the moment.
I was going to go to a job interview for a managerial position, but it was in an industry that I didn't much care for, and only applied for it because I thought about getting some experience as a manager would be good for me.
Anyway...I was too lazy to go because the person interviewing me wasn't very sincere about making an effort to meet me. In a job market where there are so many companies grabbing personnel with specific experiences, I want to be pampered at interviews or I won't bother.
I decided once Jules settles down in his career, I'll make the change. Until then...bored at work, anyone?
- Mood: calm
Now, with the disclaimer out of the way, I found this quite funny last night and thought I needed to share it. I bought the wrong pads... I am pretty good about this kind of thing, but once in awhile when i'm desperate (my period came early) and I am unprepared (a.k.a The Red Flood overflowing the banks), desperate measures are called for.
Anyway, since it wasn't my usual brand, I was naturally curious about the packaging (being in Marketing and all). When I flipped over the strips that cover the sticky bits (to be stuck to the under garments), I saw the following:
ODD SPOT #53
Turtles and honeybees are both deaf.
ODD SPOT #136
Sound at the right vibration frequency can bore holes through solid object.
ODD SPOT #87
If you keep a goldfish in a dark room, it will eventually turn white.
ODD SPOT #157
Between the ages of 30 to 70, your nose may lengthen and widen by as much as 1.5cm.
ODD SPOT #40
In the last 4000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.
ODD SPOT #32
Clouds fly higher during the day than at night.
ODD SPOT #17
1.5 billion kilograms of chocolate are consumed worldwide each year.
Did anyone know that Women's Hygiene product packaging came with these? I thought it was hilarious! ^Q^ There are little artistic drawings for each Odd Spot too and I'd scan it just to prove I'm not making this up, but...the work scanner was mean to me (plus it is a little weird to be scanning pad packaging at work).
If I'm feeling energetic, I'll scan it at home. Hahahahaa...
- Location:at work
- Mood: hyper
Women really aren’t that hard to understand, all explained below:
|
- Mood: amused
- Mood: amused
'What?' you say?
Exactly.
I got a beautifully wrapped flower with ribbons attached and a card that says "to my valentine...Sherry". All the office ladies got it.
We all suspected Ray (my direct boss and General Manager), but it wasn't him. We were going to group hug our next suspect Dexter, to see if he's the big romantic.
<interrupted>
A singing balloon and a dozen roses just arrived for one of the office ladies from her hubby. The singing balloon was a song called "still the one". How sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!
Colleagues are sending around funny Valentines stuff, and since I think they are worth sharing...here they are:
These are entries to a competition asking for a rhyme with the most romantic first line but least romantic second line for a valentine:
Love may be beautiful, love may be bliss
but I only slept with you because I was pissed.
I see your face when I am dreaming
That's why I always wake up screaming
Kind, intelligent, loving and hot
This describes everything you are not
I thought that I could love no other
Until, that is, I met your brother
Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you.
But the roses are wilting, the violets are dead, the sugar bowl's empty, and so is your head.
Of loving beauty you float with grace
If only you could hide your face
I want to feel your sweet embrace
But don't take that paper bag off of your face
I love your smile, your face, and your eyes-
Damn, I'm good at telling lies!
My darling, my lover, my beautiful wife:
Marrying you has screwed up my life
My love you take my breath away
What have you stepped in to smell this way?
My feelings for you no words can tell
Except for maybe "go to hell"
What inspired this amorous rhyme?
Two parts vodka, one part lime.
- Mood: happy
What happened to my year??
As for me, no real plans. Jules (
ascalonzero) buys me things most of the time, and treats me nicely, so this day really doesn't mean anything to us. We were going to go on a dress up date and he was going to treat me to a play, but...looks like we won't be able to afford it this month with a lot going on.So...yeah. Perhaps we'll go for a movie tomorrow when things are calmer, and maybe with some good news (e.g. him being told that he got the job would be great news indeed).
Happy Valentines to all of you!!
Below are some funny cards to crack you guys up a bit:
- Mood: happy
Nevertheless, when I heard that the current (Labour) Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (which I helped vote in I'm proud to say) was going to make an apology to the Stolen Generation, I was happy (so happy in fact that I hooted aloud, in the privacy of my own car).
Being a late starter, I missed the early morning address and the much televised and broadcasted apology, but I have since tracked down a text version of it and approved all that had been said. I couldn't have said it any better myself.
But later, I saw a story that made my blood boil - the Opposition Leader Brendon Nelson came out with a statement of his own IN DEFENSE of the achievements the past Prime Ministers have done, and the I quote "achievements of white australians". I fumed. I couldn't believe what I had just read. White Australians? In a day and age where you can see people from all facets of life and culture, you are emphasising Australia's dirty past as a good thing?
Hell...many people were so disgusted (as am I) by the statements made by Nelson that they turned their backs on him even if he was on TV and couldn't see you. Good on the two members of Rudd's parliament that turned their backs on Nelson during the address. And, it is my belief that they shouldn't have to apologise to Nelson because they have done nothing wrong.
I was also disgusted by some of the comments I saw, where people slammed Keven Rudd's apology as absurd and "no need". By far, most of the people that commented came out and congratulated the move and the step Australia is heading. One even stated "I'm sorry for the redneck's comments below". I agree. I'm of Asian orientation but I was raised here, and I was educated on the history of this country and was appalled as a child. Even though my ancestors had nothing to do with the Stolen Generation and the (in my view) Australian version of Segregation - I still wanted to apologise to the Aborigines.
The people who said that there was nothing wrong with what's been done in the past, and there is no need to apologise should get out of this country. They don't deserve to be here. Why? Simple. This is the Aboriginal's country. The Brits took over it by force and are still trampling on someone else's land. They don't argue about it most of the time (the proportion of land title claims are so small it is saddening), so why not pay them some credit for how they have taken in other's with open arms and acknowledge that your ancestors did something wrong?
Someone else also compared the situation in Australia to that of Germany with Jews and Japanese with the Chinese. They said "you don't see the German government apologising to the Jews do you?". Maybe not. But it would be nice considering what they did. Silently, I think they acknowledge what they've done wrong and have since been very careful to never go down that path again (with all the laws they have about equal opportunities and all).
Okay, I'm ranting now and off track.
But I sure hope that the people not living in Australia gets the picture.
I'm happy and upset. Happy at the progress and upset at the section of the population who are still white supremacists. Wake up and grow up. Being white is just a skin pigmentation, it doesn't make you better than anyone else.
Gah. I'm blood is still boiling.
- Mood: aggravated
This morning when I was checking my LJ, there were chestnuts beside the beginning of posts...
It has never been there before...
*goes crazy*
- Mood: amused
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