Evil in an unfamiliar face

There is a chronic over-supply of evil, scheming individuals on this Earth.  Many of them can be located in traditional areas, to the point that certain empires, royal dynasties, and slave empires are well-known for generating evil cultures and evil leaders in cycles.

But now it seems we have a new competitor -- Australia.  

If you haven't noticed, that cute and civilized continent is on fire.  It's not just the driest parts of Australia that are burning.  When the state of New South Wales, a rather southerly region not as hot as many other Australian regions is one of the central fire zones, I have to wonder whether it might be too late to save Australian civilization.

 Even more shocking is the fact that the federal government is doing its level best to prevent any practical efforts to save the country.  Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister (image below), and both the Labour and Liberal parties, are using their power to support the high-carbon (coal and gas) economy and discredit the science that shows how catastrophic the current policies are.  The rich (who are very much invested in carbon) don't care. 

This is not just an Australian situation.  This man, Scott Morrison, is sacrificing you and your children for power and profit.  He is your enemy.

Canada as bad example

Australia is in the midst of an election where climate change is one of the biggest issues. Climate change is hitting Australia hard now. Guess what country embodies the fears of many political observers?

One of Connor’s biggest fears is that the country emerges from all this political upheaval looking something like Canada has under the anti-environmental government of Conservative PM Stephen Harper.

“I look at Canada as a similar country, and it is my nightmare,” Connor said. “Australia can easily become an international pariah, we are very good at derailing international negotiations as an effective middle power and vicious defender of self interest. Some of the Coalition have been to Canada and seen how they get away with walking away from Kyoto and exploiting the tar sands.

“The transition away from fossil fuels is a very hard one culturally, socially and economically for Australia to make,” Connor continued. “We are on the knife edge of walking backwards or moving forwards in sensible way.”

Canada, nightmare.

Jousting break (Oz variety)

I'm tired of rewriting and revising -- let's have a jousting break!



Thanks to all concerned in making the video. It's great!

Viking-era celebrations might have looked like this

But this is actually the 2008 Up Helly Aa celebration in Shetland, an annual celebration vikingized in 1878.

This is one picture from installment one of the Big Picture's "best of 2008" collection. Here is an astonishing Aussie contribution that has nothing to do with war or natural disaster.

The conjunction over New South Wales

From Astronomy Picture of the Day; click picture for a larger view.