Fukushima radiation danger – current assessment

I have heard many rumours and been worried about the spread of radiation from Fukushima.  Here is some information from what seem to be reliable sources:

Japanese government; Tokyo Electric Power Company; International Atomic Energy Agency; Health Physics Society; Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Food and Drug Administration; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; British Columbia Centre for Disease Control; David J. Brenner, Columbia University The Food and Drug Administration; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; BC Centre for Disease Control; David J. Brenner, Columbia University

Click on the image below to view full size or visit http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/04/02/world/asia/assessing-the-radiation-danger.html?ref=science to read the original article.

Source: The New York Times.

A nightmare in South Korea

I thought long and hard on whether to share this terrible video with you and have decided it is not something that I can turn away from. In the oft quoted words of Edmund Burke “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”.

It is not an easy thing to watch but I think it is important for us to see this sort of thing so that we can reflect on who we are and what we do as members of the human family.

If you decide to watch the video, I warn you that it will stay with you for a long time particularly if you are a meat eater as I am.

I understand the need to cull herds following outbreaks of foot and mouth disease but I cannot reconcile this understanding with the barbarity shown here.

What I know is that scenes like this are a direct result of my, and so many others like me, addiction to meat. I fear that one day all of us will come to rue our callous disregard for the creatures with which we share the planet.

You can go here to sign a petition asking the South Korean government to kill these animals humanely, but the best thing any of us can do to prevent this happening in the future is to cut out or, at the very least, cut down on our consumption of meat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGC9XtnHSU0

Another one bites the dust

Say good-bye to Australia’s beautiful corroboree frog. With only fifteen adult males left in the wild he wont be with us much longer.

    
Arghh What are we doing to our planet.

Christchurch Earthquake

Here is a panoramic image of Christchurch seconds after the quake struck.
Click on the image to view full size.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/photos/2011/02/25/3148577.htm

Hang in there Christchurch. Our thoughts are with you.

Click here to donate to the New Zealand Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Appeal

New babies – a koala’s progress

It is uncommon for a Koala to bear twins. Regrettably the Mum of the twins seen below was struck and killed by a passing car.

Not realising that the mother koala was dead the driver of the car took her to a local vet where it was discovered she had the twins in her pouch.

I’m not big on cuteness but what else can you say about these guys.

A great idea

I really like this idea for recognising Australia’s Indigenous heritage. I think it will be a great landmark for Melbourne.

Building featuring portrait of indigenous leader to become Melbourne’s newest landmark

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/apartment-building-featuring-portrait-of-aboriginal-leader-to-become-melbournes-newest-landmark/story-e6frfkvr-1225923123092#ixzz0zYNmCsoO

A Message to World Leaders from Global Youth

Here’s a great video produced by The Australian Youth Climate Coalition http://www.aycc.org.au/

Anyone who did Reinventing Australia last semester might recognise Braden Hill who gave a talk on indigenous issues in one of our lectures.

Evidence of global warming is unquestionable

The head of the CSIRO, Dr Megan Clark says the link between human activity and climate change is beyond doubt.

You can read about and listen to her views here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/15/2845519.htm

Source: http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/2006/publications/report/atmosphere-3.html

Perspective

The science of skeptics?

This website gets skeptical about global warming skepticism. Do their arguments have any scientific basis?  What does the peer reviewed scientific literature say?

http://www.skepticalscience.com/

Well worth checking out and disseminating.