On 20 October 1997 a team of Greenpeace activists scaled the walls surrounding Kirribilli House, the Sydney residence of Australian Prime Minister, John Howard. Solar panels were rushed past the security guards and lifted up on to the roof as a 'gift' to the Prime Minister. From the roof, the protesters used mobile phones to... Continue Reading →
2 pivotal years in Australian #climate history (2006-2007)
At the end of 2005, climate change was still a 'non-issue' for most Australian voters and politicians at the Federal level. Two years later the incumbent Coalition Government was swept from power in what has been called 'the first climate change election' (Rootes, 2008). This paper describes what happened, offers explanation as to why it... Continue Reading →
Propaganda for beginners – Australian government pre-Kyoto conference
So, at the September 1997 "South Pacific Forum" in the Cook Islands some of the locals/hosts were mildly peeved that Australia was opposing emissions reductions. Ms McDonald, who headed the greenhouse task force in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, last week took on officials from Pacific island countries who feared their low-lying atolls... Continue Reading →
Historical #climate cons –What we can learn from Big Brother and the chocolate rations
“Winston was smoking a Victory Cigarette which he held carefully horizontal. The new ration did not start till tomorrow and he had only four cigarettes left. For the moment he had shut his ears to the remoter noises and was listening to the stuff that streamed out of the telescreen. It appeared that there had... Continue Reading →