Critical Times

MEDIA RELEASE by Mark Parnell

26/09/2007

Greens MLC Mark Parnell has condemned the Government’s short-sighted knock-back of recycled effluent in favour of sea water desalination.

“Recycled waste water is a cheaper and better alternative for the environment than trying to turn sea water into fresh.

“Currently we send millions of litres of water out into the sea as waste that pollutes our marine environment, kills off precious sea grass and causes major sand erosion.

Fundraiser for the Australia Venezuela Solidarity Committee

Sunday 30 September
Time: To Be Advised
Palace Cinema, Rundle St., City
Tickets: $15 full, $11 concession
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL
Bookings Call: 0412 231 011, 0423 213 690, 0418 894 366

From the SA Progressive Educator Website

Thursday, September 13, 2007

What are the principal associations up to?

This morning’s front page in the Advertiser is a real wake-up call as to what we can expect if the principal associations-backed ticket of AEU Presidential candidate Jan Webber is successful in the forthcoming AEU elections.

Essentially, the principals have gone on strike, refusing to advertise Round One vacancies in the 2008 placement process.

This is the round in which teachers in the Priority Placement Pool are matched first against vacancies.

From the SA Progressive Educator Website

Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Principals ticket firms up

Two incidents over the past 24 hours have confirmed that the Australian Education Union (South Australia) faces an organised “takeover” bid from the DECS-funded Principal Associations, with the support of 31 Flinders Street.

Firstly, Glynn O’Brien (SAPPA President) has confirmed that the Primary Principals Association is endorsing Jan Webber and her predominantly principal member ticket in the AEU elections. It is likely that SAPPA talk and SASPA chat lines will be used (again) to lobby for support amongst principal level members.

MEDIA RELEASE (SA Greens Website)
Paper Thin Debate over Penola Pulp Mill – just 2 hours for a $1.5 Billion project

11/09/2007 by Mark Parnell

The South Australian Lower House has passed the Penola Pulp Mill Bill, authorising the construction of the Mill in the State’s South East, with just two hours debate.

Greens MLC Mark Parnell has described the lack of debate as a ‘disgrace’.

MEDIA RELEASE (SA Greens Website)
Greens Slam Desal Plan

11/09/2007 by Mark Parnell

Greens MLC Mark Parnell has slammed today’s announcement by Premier Rann of a desalination plant for Adelaide.

“$1.4 Billion could have bought a hell of a lot of rainwater tanks, or made a great start towards the critical infrastructure we need for stormwater re-use or recycled water.

MEDIA RELEASE (from the SA Greens website)
SA Labor ignores Tristar workers

12/09/2007 by Mark Parnell

In a remarkable display, Labor members of the SA Upper House have voted against a Greens motion calling on Premier Rann to intervene in support of factory workers caught up in the long running Tristar industrial dispute.

“Whatever happened to the Labor party being the workers’ friend? Not only did they vote against the motion, not one Labor member had the decency to stand up and speak about the issue,” Mark Parnell said.

The long running Tristar dispute has dominated Sydney media since January, with claims that the company has deliberately kept workers on, despite no work, to deny them their rightful redundancy payments.

Across Australia, many local councils have invested their money in high yield, but risky investment schemes. Now, with the whole low-doc, subprime world so shaky, they’re losing money. Ratepayers want answers, and some councillors who didn’t see the writing on the wall are having to explain.

Many people in the antiwar movement try to reassure themselves: Bush cannot possibly attack Iran. He does not have the means to do so, or, perhaps, even he is not foolish enough to engage in such an enterprise. Various particular reasons are put forward, such as: If he attacks, the Shiites in Iraq will cut the US supply lines.

The September 5 student strike against US President George Bush’s visit, initiated by Resistance, has triggered a wave of anti-war activism on high schools across Sydney. Students from more than 20 high schools, including Mosman High, Pennant Hills High and North Sydney Girls High, have pledged to walk out of classes to protest Australia’s involvement in the Iraq war, to call for genuine action against climate change and to defend the right to protest.

Students from North Sydney Girls High have organised a contingent from their school to attend the student strike.