Last word for a bit...
I'm going to shush up on the topic of water for a bit. But here's a wrap up of what's happening next for Australia and Queensland. Currently no word on what Toowoomba's next step is. Here's an article which pretty much sums up what has happened: Pressure mounts for early water referendum (July 31 2006, ABC News Online).Calls are growing to hold a referendum on the use of recycled water in south-east Queensland much sooner than 2008. The Democrats say the failure of Toowoomba's referendum has severely damaged the prospects of it being adopted anywhere in Australia.Queensland Premier Peter Beattie had wanted to add treated effluent to Wivenhoe Dam, but he has promised a south-east Queensland referendum in 2008 because of Toowoomba's "no" vote on the weekend. Democrats Senator Andrew Bartlett says the results of the Toowoomba poll were disappointing. "It's a big tragedy for Queensland and indeed Australia," he said. "It's meant a big bazooka put right through the prospects of full recycling being adopted in many areas where it would nonetheless be easily the fairest, safest and cheapest and most reliable solution."Senator Bartlett says Mr Beattie is a coward for promising the referendum in 2008 instead of going ahead and introducing recycled water."Mr Beattie won't hold a referendum to decide whether or not to build a dam cause he knows he'd lose it," he said. "To put it off until after the state election and gets back in and then starts raising it, to put it off as another referendum - he's not holding a referendum on anything else he's doing - is just gutlessness."'Proper debate'But Mr Beattie says the time will also be used for proper debate. "When you've got people who are prepared to use negative, hysterical campaigns like we saw in aspects of the Toowoomba campaign, you've got to have time to have an informed, sensible debate," he said. "I'm a democrat, I'm not an arrogant person, I believe that I work for the community. "If we can't convince people to votes 'yes', then frankly we've got to do what they tell us." Mr Beattie says he cannot ignore public opinion about recycled water, even if he disagrees with it. He says forcing industry to use more recycled water will free up drinking supplies in the meantime.'Poor planning'But Clean Up Australia chairman Ian Kiernan says that is poor planning and he backs Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman's call to fast track the vote. "I mean the problem's here now - by 2008 it's going to be a lot worse I would guess," he said. Mr Kiernan also says the poll was defeated by a campaign of fear and false claims. "We need a national water policy so that the Government can come to grips with the global fresh water crisis - the crisis in water that is here," he said. "We need new water management - it's about securing the water for the future of this country and that's what we'll continue to push."'Misinformation and hysteria'A member of a national environmental think-tank has criticised the media after the weekend "no vote" in Toowoomba. Peter Cullen from the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists says the media must play a more responsible role in the debate about the issue. He says the case against recycled water was fuelled by misinformation and hysteria. "We've seen a campaign where there's been an awful lost of misinformation and what I call a lot junk journalism," he said. "I did see a lot of the journalism which was pretty hysterical about toilets to taps and so on and it seems to me that's not a very good way to inform the community," he said."I mean people talking about toilets to taps - I mean that's never been a reality, we're talking about highly-treated water perhaps of better quality than we're getting from some our rivers and we've seen a campaign that's really polarised the community rather than inform the community. "If we're going to go through these debates again hopefully we'll be able to do it in a bit more of a mature and sophisticated way to get better decisions for the community to make."'Policy weakness'Meanwhile, State Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg says Toowoomba's decision to reject recycled drinking water has exposed the Premier's policy weakness. Mr Springborg says the Opposition has already set out a comprehensive water policy. "Mandatory rainwater tanks - the Government said 'no' - they had to follow suit within a couple of weeks," he said. "We said water use efficiency program with the subsidy scheme - the Government had to match us. "We've said a water use efficiency program now for industrial users - the Government will have to match us.
"One area of difference: Traveston Dam, because it's the wrong dam in the wrong place, the answers are there." Mr Springborg says Mr Beattie makes it up as he goes.
The vote is in...
We received word during the annual speedway dinner; 60% NO, 40% YES.
This is went through my head after the announcement.
1. You’re fucking kidding right?
2. This IS a backward, incestuous yokel town. The earth is ROUND people.
3. So… what’s the next option?
I don’t think residents realise the ramifications of yesterday’s vote.
On a local level, the referendum has caused a massive split between local council; six support recycling, three (known around home as ‘the Three Stooges’) are against it.
On a national level, it has raised the urgency of the water situation; but its given a lot more weight to governments that don’t support recycling.
I just have no idea what the next step will be. Duke it out over dams? Over sinking bores? Desalination of ocean water? Fog harvesting? Whatever the next option, its just going to start more debate taking more time that Toowoomba doesn’t have.
Tomorrow...
Torrential rain today. One on hand, I absolutely love it (I’ve already jumped in puddles on my way to uni…possibly ruining shoes in the process) but on the other hand I’m waiting for the ‘act of God’ card to be played by the anti- recycling campaigners.
As a little bit of background, if you read our local paper’s ‘Letters to the Editor’ a year ago, half the letters would be arguing if Big Brother should be banned, and the other half would be debating Christianity or evolution. Seriously. In the letters to the editor column. Bible verses and scientists quoted left, right and centre. So far, the ‘pray for rain’ campaign had been relatively silent on the issue of water recycling; except of course the odd ‘Letter to the Editor’ until today. So we’ve currently got three players.
- Vote Yes on recycling waste water
- Vote No on recycling waste water
- Pray for rain.
I was back in Toowoomba on Wednesday, and things are getting pretty heated to say the least. Both camps are using scare tactics, and there’s been a few cases of verbal attacks on the families of councillors. Companies are taking out full page advertisements to show their support or opposition. The region’s doctors have been petitioned and listed in the paper as voicing their support. I’ve decided to stop reading the local paper or watch local television for the next month. Things are just dirty.
The general vibe I’ve had though, is that its not likely to pass. Which, I’m honestly feeling pretty devastated about. Not that we’d really know based on anything other than the ‘vibe’ because no-one has bothered to take an independent poll.
Why am I so wrapped up in this situation in particular? At conference Kyle and Tills ran a session on analysing why we think the way we do; basically what in our past has influenced us. Here are some of the key reasons:
- I’ve grown up with water being a key issue. My parents are involved in the horticultural industry; and so are many of their friends. Concepts like reverse osmosis and micro sustainability aren’t alien because there things that have been thrown around the breakfast table as long as I can remember.
- The ‘heart-break stories’. Actually seeing the human side of things when you’re involved in an industry reliant on water…and when it runs out.
- Visiting the Philippines and seeing that there are industries entirely based around selling potable drinking water
- My grandfather’s volunteer work in water sustainability in Fiji… (I think this is where my social conscience comes from).
- Year 11 Geography with the talented Ms. Nicholas; her first ever class and her first excursion… to the Brisbane Wastewater Treatment plan to analyse the viability of pumping Brisbane’s waste water to be recycled inland for use on the Darling Downs.
- Lastly, and probably where I’ve had the most confirmation that this is the area I want to be involved in; my first public relations unit’s final assessment piece last year; analysing the water recycling situation in Toowoomba based purely on media coverage, and analysing the development of the issue. Knowing the ‘real’ information, vs. what was covered by the media was a definite wake up.
So, the vote is this Saturday. I’ve never been a campaigner or an activist, but if Mayor Thorley wanted me painted hot pink wearing a cardboard sign that said ‘In Science We Trust’ (I'm not a resident of Toowoomba, so I don't have a vote). Because of a clash with the Queensland Regional ICX training day I won’t be there for the full day, but I’ll there for as much as I can.
One week...
Its only a week away, and every article I read is getting me more and more riled up. The following article is testament to:
a) the quality of reporting by our local journalists
b) what is considered newsworthy in my hometown
c) the fact that my hometown’s residents are dickheadsArticle: ‘Colin Portch pits his Dee Crapper against recycling project’ (G. Berghofer, Toowoomba Chronicle, 21st July, 2006)IT will do all the things the proposed Water Futures sewage treatment plant will do but costs about $6 rather then $73 million.
It's "No" vote supporter Colin Portch's Dee Crapper. Mr Portch built it himself out of scrap copper and reckons it can do anything Toowoomba Mayor Dianne Thorley's will. He now displays it proudly in his front yard in Honeysuckle Street. He even has a glass of water that was produced by the machine, but it looked a little on the murky side to this reporter. "It's got all the pressure gauges and switches," Colin said.
"It runs at a constant temperature and, when you put the waste in the pond, it's got a propeller to chop up all the solids.
“It's got a warning bell and a megaphone in case of danger or it fails, and a handbrake to stop it."
Mr Portch said a plumber friend gave him the idea to build it. "He knows what goes on in sewage and he advised me," he said. People passing his home have a good look and a good laugh.
Turning serious, Mr Portch said science couldn't be trusted. "What was the greatest scientific achievement of the last century? It was when Albert Einstein split the atom which led to nuclear fusion, but he said on his death bed he wished he hadn't done that." But doesn't Mr Portch use electricity and drive a car – all products of science? "Yes, but that's proven science," he said. "Singapore's crap water has only been going three years while those other technologies have been well tested," he said. Mr Portch was not swayed by the fact people in London and other places drink recycled water. "I've been to London many times and won't drink the water," he said. Mr Portch argued that to base the argument on what other people did was wrong. "We're in Australia, we don't do it that way and there's water everywhere."
Oh please. Stop me from getting violent.
9 days...
Its only 9 days until Toowoomba's referendum on recycled water is held. Whatever the outcome, its going to have massive impact on not only the town and its sorrounds, but also a huge number of Australian towns who are in a similar situation. I've got a huge amount of respect for Mayor Dianne Thorley for having the foresight to consider the town's sustainability well beyond her term.For those of you out of the loop/state or nation - my home town is currently divided. As a brief, here's a haiku (in an ode to James Parham) to explain the situation:Water running lowStop watering the flowersJess thinks you are dumbThe latest article I've read in our local paper, is that the 'No' on drinking recycled water voters are supporting the sinking of bores as the best option (just for clarity...if I was eligible to vote I would be a 'Yes'). a) Sinking bores is not sustainable (and according to this article, only one quarter would even be viable)b) Uh...we're low on artesian water anyway team...and the artesian water we do have is so highly saline it would have to go through the same purification process as recycled effluent...Idiots.
Update on the water situation...
I read this article in today's Courier. Here's a section: 'Not good enough - Howard'(Mike Madigan, July 18 2006 CM)AUSTRALIANS living in major cities should not have to tolerate water restrictions, Prime Minister John Howard said yesterday.In a damning assessment of the nation's water infrastructure provided by local authorities and the states, Mr Howard suggested even the ancient Romans had superior policy in the area to modern-day Australia. Mr Howard said he saw little reason why large cities should be gripped by water crisis."Having a city on permanent water restrictions makes about as much sense as having a city on permanent power restrictions," he said. "We would not tolerate it with electricity, we should not tolerate it with water."The Prime Minister said two critical assumptions had to be overcome immediately if we were to reverse the trend – that water be used only once and that storm water be carried off to the oceans.BAM. a) its about reversing the mindsets about recycling water.b) its about developing the infrastructure to ensure that water is available. Yay! the government is talking about it!!!*waits for action.**waits for action.**waits for funding**waits for...Oh fuckit. I'm moving to the Middle East...
Azz is just so emo...
I told Azz I’d write an ode to his emo-ness on my blog.
Azz’ Emo Checklist
- Square black emo glasses
- Emo Piercings
- Black jeans (emo-style)
- Studded emo belt
- Non-descript black emo hat
- Black and white chequered Vans emo shoes
All he needs is tighter black jeans and longer hair. And maybe a stretcher. And to start planning his tattoo sleeves. Kezz and I will work on it. In perfect emo- fashion, Azz consistently rejects his emo-ness:
Azz: I’m not emo!!!
But we all know the truth. He then tends to sulk about being called emo. Another emo virtue.
July National Conference 2006
I’ve been out of action a good two weeks – June 27th until today, July 12th because of July National Conference which was in Brisbane this year. This was my 7th AIESEC conference in a year an a half, and totally different from any that I’ve been to previously. I’m not as hyped up as I’ve come out of other conferences, but I’m feeling comfortable with the direction my LC is heading – I’m counting on the team to keep the conference momentum going.
Surprisingly, I didn’t have technology withdrawals. I was actually pretty damn happy that I didn’t have my mobile ringing every 15 minutes (everyone who saw me at pre-conference can attest I had it glued to my ear arranging airport logistics, DLD and generally swearing at people who weren’t on my happy list). Unfortunately, the repercussions are being felt currently. I’m out of the loop with the Nomadlifers and my Gmail went out to collect spam just to annoy me.
On pre-conference…
Opening Night was brilliant. Ryan and Nakey’s drunken speeches were just hilarious – but all round I was just damned proud to be in this organisation, and have the people in the room as friends. I cried. Big thankyou to my Bo-shakalaka (aka Basak) who is just wonderful.
DLD by all accounts went pretty well. True, Elo (LCP of UQ) and I spent a fair chunk of the day asleep in the office between kegs, but still things ran smoothly. I’ve got no doubt that we’ll be running events of this size and swanky-ness more regularly.
To the occupants of the House of Blessed Sister Jess…my god. Come back. I was so lucky to have such a crazy group of people around in my house, sleeping concentration camp style on my lounge room floor. I think over the two weeks I probably would have had over 20 separate bodies on the floor…Daz, James, Nicky, Shaz, SuSu, Jake, Mei-Bo, Mel Mel, Anthony, Daruisz, Bryn, Laura, Lobov, Dangerous, Pete, Manny…who have I forgotten?
On the conference…
Snaps to the MC for their sessions – best that I’ve had. I really felt that our MC was in tune with what our newer members needed out of the content. We also had an awesome chair in Josh Mackenzie; but I think everyone is still unnerved that InsightXP’s ‘Ernie’ is a real person. And the OC. You know how much you’re loved.
On the sessions…
My favourite was defiantly the NLT flow. It was at this conference that I finally started really feeling like an LCP. I’ve stopped having that confused ‘what the’ expression on my face when someone mentions LCP and looks in my direction.
On my LC…
I’ve realised that my LC, and the people in it are becoming quite resilient. I’m so glad excited to see what everyone came away from conference with – I’m especially proud of Taiwan Dave. Dave came to conference as a member, but walked away as an AIESECer.
Session- wise, planning time was probably the best part of conference for our LC – I really feel that we gained a lot from it. The team really clicked at that point.
On the NLT…
I didn’t realise how exhausting it was to be on the NLT until this conference. Sadly, I piked on a lot of parties. Something has to be done for the future. But really, the NLT is an amazing group of people: James, Kana, Shaz, Kate, Julz, Elo, Dimmey, Lucy, Ippei, Lobov, Daz, James, Anne, Jun Jet, May and the MC were so understanding and supportive of each other. Even though I feel out of my league from time to time, I couldn’t be prouder or excited to work alongside you guys.
On the parties…
They were big. But a few highlights/ lowlights included:
- Sydney Vodka Night. You guys should have been hospitalised. - On a second note. The hospitalisations (not all due to alcohol). By my count there was Bryn, Ruth, Ayesha, Nic, Kezz and Aleks. Whoot for Queensland girls!- Running around with sparklers on the oval with Em and Kezz with them creating a song about their drunk LCP (love you guys…)
- Tapping QUT’s rancid office keg…*shudder*
On skolling night…
- UniSA drinking circle…an absolute privilege to come along and get smashed with you guys. ‘How many tequilas? How many Jagerbombs? How many all up?’- Skolling night: ‘ALUMNI WHOOT WHOOT A-Oooooh!’, ‘Norwegian Spillage’, and chanting ‘On the street’ and ’16-14’ (Final State of Origin score) at Sydney.
- Getting to wear the LCP raincoat, which I lovingly refer to as my ‘transition document’.
- QUT’s skolling team of Azz, Taiwan Dave and myself (Azz double-skolling) having to re-race twice against RMIT.
On post-conference…
Queensland came straight out of exams into pre-conference, into conference… so post-conference is our holiday. I think we all needed it – it was great to relax. Getting back into AIESEC/ university mode is going to be a struggle.
Rollerblading with the Sydney guys…ugh. I am so sore. So bruised. My legs don’t hurt from blading. My arms hurt from stacking it. But still, it was great fun.
Manny’s chocolate croissants. My latest obsession. Thanks Manny!
Bleugh. There’s my rant for the timebeing. I’ll add more as I remember it, and as photos come along.
