This is a post I'd like to write (and will some time).
Why does man kind value capital over everything else - other people, the environment, morals,... and so on. What is it in capitalism that has made us so selfish that we will plod along stuupidly wanting to continue cutting down our every dwindling forests, continue to pollute the atmosphere, ignore a fellow human in the street so desparate for food and start wars? Is it how we've always been and always will be, or is it something that has progressively got worse?
Is anything else in our history so different from today to suggest that we have changed signicantly? If I can answer this question then I have some proof that we have changed.
The conclusion to this post will be that in order for humans to survive we must change our value system from a capitalist based ownership one to something that is more inclusive of the common good and common goals.
To be finished...
Monday, October 09, 2006
Labor Councillors fight for better Brisbane Public Transport
I received a letter the other day from Councillor Helen Abrahams as a follow up to the public transport survey I submitted. I always thought that the Labor side of the council had somehow muted themselves over Brisbane public transport, though after David Hincliffe sent out the survey, and now that we get a follow up from Helen (Councillor for Dutton Park, Chair Environment and Sustainability Committee), it looks like they've finally found the power of their 17 Labor councillors to combat the scurge of the 8 economic rationalist conservatives (the Liberals). It is good to see. The environment movement is gaining strength. Labor certainly is far from perfect but atleast they don't value money over life itself as the Libs seem to.
Helen's letter follows.
Thank you for returning the recent public transport survey, and indicating your support for Council to be focusing more on public transport.
At the Council meeting on 12th September, Councillors supported a move by the Deputy Mayor to invest an additional $12m to purchase 19 additional new compressed natural gas buses and fund additional services. But as you know, we need to do a lot more to make public tranport a viable alternative in Brisbane. [Only 7% of journey's made in Brisbane are by public transport]
Brisbane is at a crossroads, with more than $6 billion worth of tunnels, roads and Bridges either underway or under consideration. At the same time, Council's funding on public transport is just $48.5M per annum. Lord Mayor Campbell Newman now wants to duplicate the William Jolly Bridge, with a toll bridge linking Hale Street to South Brisbane.
Brisbane must decide, do we want to spend another $200M on a toll bridge or do we want to invest in a world class public transport network?
You may have seen in the media that there is widespread opposition to this plan from residents of South Brisbane and surrounding suburbs, and from those who believe Council is putting too many resources into big road projects at the expense of public transport.
Many residents of my ward are questioning the wisdom of investing more than $200M in a toll bridge for mainly local traffic, when money could instead be invested in bus services to address congestion across the city.
Please find attached a form letter from one of the groups opposing the Hale Stret Toll Bridge project, which can be used as a submission on the Draft Impact Assessment Statment (IAS).
If you feel the same way as many members of my local community, may I suggest you sign it and return it in the envelope provided by 13 October 2006.
All the Councillors of Brisbane City Council will then take your comments into account when deciding how to proceed with the Hale Street Toll Bridge proposal.
Thanks again for your support for public transport.
Regards
Helen Abrahams
I had already submitted my opinions to the IAS and think it is fantastic that the Council had sent this letter and provided a stamped envelope to send the submission in.
The form letter is very much like that referenced in my submission (and included as part of) so I won't include that here.
Helen's letter follows.
Thank you for returning the recent public transport survey, and indicating your support for Council to be focusing more on public transport.
At the Council meeting on 12th September, Councillors supported a move by the Deputy Mayor to invest an additional $12m to purchase 19 additional new compressed natural gas buses and fund additional services. But as you know, we need to do a lot more to make public tranport a viable alternative in Brisbane. [Only 7% of journey's made in Brisbane are by public transport]
Brisbane is at a crossroads, with more than $6 billion worth of tunnels, roads and Bridges either underway or under consideration. At the same time, Council's funding on public transport is just $48.5M per annum. Lord Mayor Campbell Newman now wants to duplicate the William Jolly Bridge, with a toll bridge linking Hale Street to South Brisbane.
Brisbane must decide, do we want to spend another $200M on a toll bridge or do we want to invest in a world class public transport network?
You may have seen in the media that there is widespread opposition to this plan from residents of South Brisbane and surrounding suburbs, and from those who believe Council is putting too many resources into big road projects at the expense of public transport.
Many residents of my ward are questioning the wisdom of investing more than $200M in a toll bridge for mainly local traffic, when money could instead be invested in bus services to address congestion across the city.
Please find attached a form letter from one of the groups opposing the Hale Stret Toll Bridge project, which can be used as a submission on the Draft Impact Assessment Statment (IAS).
If you feel the same way as many members of my local community, may I suggest you sign it and return it in the envelope provided by 13 October 2006.
All the Councillors of Brisbane City Council will then take your comments into account when deciding how to proceed with the Hale Street Toll Bridge proposal.
Thanks again for your support for public transport.
Regards
Helen Abrahams
I had already submitted my opinions to the IAS and think it is fantastic that the Council had sent this letter and provided a stamped envelope to send the submission in.
The form letter is very much like that referenced in my submission (and included as part of) so I won't include that here.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Boycott ExxonMobil, Mobil and Esso
ExxonMobil is the type of insidious company that should be cast into the pits of hell long before they ever die. They fund global warming sceptics to try and cause public confusion over global warming / climate change. No wonder dill-brain Bush doesn't know what policies to set.
In this story, the Royal Society, of which Sir Isaac Newton, Sir Joseph Banks and Lord Kelvin were Presidents of, has had to ask a company to cease and decist its competitive actions for the first time in its 350 year history.
Royal Society tells Exxon: stop funding climate change denial
Boycott ExxonMobil, Esso, Mobile products and never use them again. Through the power of the people we can reclaim our lives and the planet we love and enjoy.
In this story, the Royal Society, of which Sir Isaac Newton, Sir Joseph Banks and Lord Kelvin were Presidents of, has had to ask a company to cease and decist its competitive actions for the first time in its 350 year history.
Royal Society tells Exxon: stop funding climate change denial
Boycott ExxonMobil, Esso, Mobile products and never use them again. Through the power of the people we can reclaim our lives and the planet we love and enjoy.
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