Jester Clippings: 2008-08-20

Wednesday 20 August 2008 - Filed under Life Outside Work

“Are Australian Travel Junkies Destroying the Planet?”
I have unintentionally mentioned “carbon” and “green” a fair bit lately. Here’s another one: Australians are addicted to travel, and they should refrain from hopping flights to visit family, attend conferences and explore the world, for the sake of the environment. Hurry, CSIRO, we’d better find an eco-friendly replacement to those Qantas 747s a.k.a. “toxic flying machines,” fast. Link [SMH via WIRED]

“Clark laughs off Australian briefing notes”
Oops. “Generally left wing, with foreign policy perspectives forged during the Vietnam War”; “She does not trust those outside a small circle in Labour and her chief of staff, known as the second most powerful person in New Zealand.” An enlightening diplomatic blunder, I guess. Not to worry, she doesn’t take it seriously. Link [NZ Herald]

“Regional leaders slam Bainimarama”
There you are, Fiji, making international headlines again. A lot has changed since I left Fiji in 2005. I had viewed Commodore Frank Bainimarama, the then (just) Army chief, as a charismatic, loyal figure. Almost two years into running his post-coup military government, the self-appointed interim Prime Minister is now accused of breaking his promise of restoring democracy in the country. I will watch the developments with keen interest. Link [SBS World News Australia]

2008-08-20  »  JK