Going going gone, Nick Brandt, ETS etc
July 6, 2010
Nick Brandt Elephant drinking Amboseli 2007. Courtesy of Source Photographica
GOING GOING,
Nick Brandt’s handsome exhibition of African photographs from his book A Shadow Falls, closes Wednesday 7 July at Shapiro Gallery Queen Street, Woollahra in Sydney. He does not use a telephoto lens and enjoys waiting for days, even weeks watching the extraordinary African panorama unfold closely before him. Unfortunately he has also witnessed over the years the declining numbers and the battle for resources like water. The closeness to his subjects exhibits patience and mutual trust that result in extraordinarily intimate, dignified and exquisite photographs that on a large scale, can be breathtakingly majestic. He is exclusively represented in the Pacific region by Source Photographica.
GONE
In Australia we have just had a coup d’etat, putsch, take over, dumping, or political assassination of our Prime Minister, with the formidable Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard replacing Kevin Rudd. Up until a few months ago he was polling very highly, then his public support just evaporated and he had made no Labor Party faction, allies or friends. His popularity decline started with what appeared to be his “backflip” over the Emissions Trading Scheme. He had described climate change as the “greatest moral challenge” we faced, and despite his zeal, never really explained to the public the complexities of the issues. Faced with the disappointment of Copenhagen, blocked ETS legislation in the Senate, and waning community support, he was leant on by Julia Gillard, Wayne Swan and other powerbrokers in the party, to shelve the legislation.
Julia Gillard becomes Australia’s first female Prime Minister which she is not making a fuss about, and has taken over seamlessly, overnight! She seemed to have a new wardrobe at the ready. I think she will be a very successful politician as she has already exhibited, pragmatic rather than visionary, will win the coming election, and be in power for many years. We are indebted to Kevin Rudd, especially for removing John Howard, and he seems to be effective internationally, and would be very useful at forums such as the United Nations. Barry Humphries aka Dame Edna Everage once said “in Australia if you stumble, they trample you to death”.
It has demonstrated who has power and influence with government – big business, millionaire miners, trade unions, party factions, polls, and the media.
Jessica Rudd, the ex PM’s daughter has written a book, Campaign Ruby, due out in August. It has been described in The Australian (26 June) as “a freakily prescient script for the way events actually unfolded… an incumbent prime minister rolled by his deputy… a woman, and the execution is a “swift and seamless move”.
We have witnessed not only the spectacular – and avoidable – unravelling of a prime minister, but a self inflicted spontaneous combustion. I have found it riveting, and the commentary in the papers excellent. New snippets of information are still emerging. I especially liked the articles by Peter Van Onsolen and Noel Pearson in The Australian (26-27 June). Noel advised the formerly, supposedly, left-leaning Julia “Many of the social ends you require liberal means, and what you want for the country will not transpire unless you harness the power of liberal answers to the social questions you hold dear”. Every politicians conundrum, as they battle for the centre/middle ground.
ETS
Julia has moved quickly to resolve a fight Rudd had picked with the mining industry over a new tax and now will have to articulate her policy on asylum seekers and the ETS. Many have been disappointed to learn she was in favour of shelving the ETS legislation – and she will have to explain herself! She believes in a price on carbon, but wants “community consensus” (she loves expressions like this), before she proceeds. Tim Flannery has endorsed the government’s model as effective (SMH 3-4 July), and there seems to be a momentum building again by people who do want to see some immediate action. Email your local MPs! This issue also cost Malcolm Turnbull the job as Leader of the Opposition.
Nick Brandt Cheetah and cubs Maasai Mara 2003
WHALES
The machinations and some of the accusations at the International Whaling Conference in Morocco were extraordinary, especially the behavior of the Japanese. Advaaz successfully assembled 1.2 million signatures on a petition to help fight lifting the ban on commercial whaling. Another example of successful internet activism.
ENERGY
A recent report states that by 2020 60% of Australia’s energy could come from 12 proposed solar-thermal plants, with the other 40% from wind energy from 23 sites (SMH 22 June Solar, wind power may meet 2020 energy use). Another report examines how industry especially could use energy much more efficiently, slashing emissions (SMH 24 June Companies told to get smart on power). There are alternatives to coal and uranium!
NEWS ETC
The Cove documentary is finally being shown in a few Japanese cinemas despite small but noisy and targeted opposition. The “mother of animal law” U.S. lawyer Joyce Tischler is visiting Australia in August (Voiceless)… Jan Cameron the wealthy founder of Katmandu clothing empire has set up the Animal Justice Fund especially aimed at the inherent cruelty of battery hen farms and piggeries. Two recent SMH “Lunch With” interviews have been heartening: young Simon Sheikh CEO of GetUp! with 350,000 enthusiastic members (SMH 26-27 June), and Linda Selvey, the recently appointed CEO of Greenpeace (SMH 3-4 July). Both are intelligent and effective advocates and leaders of campaigns for issues that concern many of us, such as the treatment of asylum seekers and climate change. Our leadership has been failing us.
All images courtesy of Nick Brandt and Source Photographica.
Nick Brandt Elephant train Amboselli 2008
Ace Bourke's Blog 
July 29, 2010 at 10:06 am
Good morning Ace…I found this quote that you would enjoy…! Hett x
“[O]wners of dogs will have noticed that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they will think you are god. Whereas owners of cats are compelled to realize that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they draw the conclusion that they are gods.”
— Christopher Hitchens (The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Non-believer)
July 16, 2010 at 9:16 am
Take note that the text i’ve posted on the bolg about birds, bats and wind turbines and that I wanted to share with you is from a “Canadian geographic’s research”, and the wright website is http://www.canadiangeographic.ca
Please,forgive me.
Tanks.
Hélène
July 16, 2010 at 7:29 am
Birds, bats and wind turbines
With the expansion of wind power, sector dedicated to wildlife protection groups fear that these structures large cause increased mortalities of birds and bats from collisions with blades.
Some ornithologists and biologists believe also that wind turbines in grasslands, wetlands, or the coastal areas of migratory birds could lead to the destruction of habitats. (Migratory stopovers are places where migratory birds rest and recreate the full to continue their long journey). The birds of prey, the smaller number makes them more vulnerable to mortality caused by wind, constitute an additional concern for specialist wildlife biologists.
Green energy specialists indicate that birds and bats come into collision with large man-made structures. In fact, in recent years, improvements in the design of wind turbines seem to have reduced the dead bird and found less carcasses at the base of the towers. On the other hand, the increased size of wind turbines could increase the risk of collision due to the larger blades and speed increased from their end.
The organization fighting and energy wind cooperative (BWEC) has set up various projects to determine the effects of wind turbines on bats mortality activation speed variation. Research indicates that due to stop turbines during periods of low winds, where bats are most active, would reduce the risk of mortality while having a minimal economic impact. Such measures could also reduce the impacts of barotrauma, namely respiratory animal injuries caused by a falling abruptly in atmospheric pressure due to the rotation of the éoliennes44 blades.
In Canada, Canadian Wildlife (SCF) service monitoring is an important means of protecting Habitat in the vicinity of wind farms.
(www.candiangeographic.ca)
Hélène
July 13, 2010 at 8:10 pm
Hard not to weep at the sight of that dignified giant taking his sip of water. It certainly is a contrast to how humans ravish the earth! Extraordinary photo. Thank you for drawing it to our attention, Ace.
Kassie
July 12, 2010 at 12:03 pm
The photo’s by Bill Brandt are extraordinary!! I must agree the drama creating, heartless behaviour of the world’s governments,or criminal elites is growing rather tiring. Yet, at least in the media coverage it appears the world is still drinking the kool-aid.
The oil leak in the gulf is yet another shining example of how the current system is working. The amount of criminal behaviour being shown on You tube surrounding that whole ordeal is mind blowing and utterly heartbreaking. Although, if you consider that BP is majority owned by the Rothschild’s it makes sense. The tardy and ineffective response of the Obama administration is unbearable. The government is more interested in pushing our focus to an alleged cause rather than addressing the blow-out itself.
I would suggest that it is not okay that an industry hosting hundreds if not thousands of deep sea oil wells never developed countermeasures to handle underwater blow-outs. This is level of care that would be deemed low if it was our worst enemy let alone people with a duty of care to mankind. o.k. off the soap box. Great Blog!!
August 27, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Thank you for your comments. Please note that the photos are by Nick Brandt… apologies for the error. All corrections have now been made.