sydney alternative media - non-profit community independent trustworthy

Bidgood did good on Aminov protest photos, no risk

Fri, 5 Dec 2008 06:08:42 +1100

Pictures above and below from Sydney Daily Telegraph: Immolation prevented ... AFP officers douse Marat Aminov with water.

There have been some interesting developments over the "controversial" Aminov protest pictures sold to the Sydney Daily Telegraph for charity.

The photo was of police well in control of the situation. Indeed the picture may have headed off an actual suicide bid by leading to the coverage the protester so desperately wanted. Who really knows?

We covered this issue in our penultimate post around PM Office control games, rival big media punishment tactics, and the role of every citizen to do community media.

We have contributed to a Crikey.com.au string by media expert Margaret Simmons along these lines:

http://www.crikey.com.au/Media-Arts-and-Sports/20081204-Bidding-for-Bidgood-no-shame-for-the-buyers.html#comments

Ailie Bruins
Thursday, 4 December 2008 3:12:22 PM
An MP takes a photo of a protester and it is used by a newspaper. The message of the protester is lost in the beat up about the MP.

What was the man protesting about? What drove him to such lengths that he tried to set himself alight outside parliament?

The story that the MP has committed some heinous transgression smacks of spin and media management.

Perhaps the MP’s biggest sin was that he excluded Fairfax . Or, was it because he circumvented the middleman in the modern ‘news’ cycle — the public relations / media professionals. So PR flexed its mighty muscles and the MP copped it.

Tom McLoughlin
Thursday, 4 December 2008 3:46:52 PM
Well said Ailie. After hearing AM but before looking at the Sydney press I made it my business to address this story in the framework of CENSORSHIP of community media and that's what it is really about.

"Insensitive, inappropriate"? For taking a picture invited by the protest to promote his own profile. Get real. Of course it was okay to take pictures. Then was it wrong to ask for money? Well there is no doubt someone was going to buy his intellectual property in the Big Media. And that's what it was - intellectual property. So it was only a question of price and who should ethically benefit.

On principle I don't think there is any objection to him profiting from his own work EXCEPT that he was in harness as an MP and therefore on our tab. So he was wise to donate it to charity. If he had been out of hours, or on holidays it would have been fine.

I reported the basic claims of the Aminov's on my blog on 19 October ....2007, with a picture via, from memory, an email from Jamal Daoud, who is quoted in the news this week. 14 months ago. It's here again today www.sydneyalternativemedia.com/blog

That's how pathetic the govt department DIAC have been. But the attempt to sanction Bidgood (who 'did good' amplifying the humanitarian protest as any decent photographer, blogger, indy media, or agitator would have), sanction by the PM's office is all about fear of the policy and politics of refugees, detention and stateless people.

To dress it up as wrong is pure ALP machine stock standard emotional violence in the name of playing the angles. In my humble opinion the rest is sophistry and internal Big Media rivalry.

I rang Bidgood's phone about 9.30 a.m. and left a message as above as they were in hiding. I can just imagine the staffer listening as the calls came in. I also left a message at the Telegraph's editorial desk., and Senator Hanson Young, Greens. And the Bidgood angle of the story has been killed stone dead, amen whether by coincidence or Big Govt shame.

Tom #2
Thursday, 4 December 2008 3:59:32 PM
In fact only recently the Big Media in their maddening hypocrisy praised the "beautiful" snapshots taken by a bevvy of MP's from Bob Brown/Greens to the MP for Wannon David Hawker (which covers my old home town of Warrnambool). Some pics good, some pics bad? What a load of nonsense. We are all media practitioners now - get used to it Big Media and show due respect while you're at it.

They really get my goat with their holier than thou exclusive role and airs and graces. Too dumb to do law or medicine more like it:

"Pollies on other side of the camera" Sydney Sun Herald, Kerry-Anne Walsh
November 16, 2008

http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/arts/pollies-on-other-side-of-camera/
2008/11/15/1226318995289.html

Tom #3
Thursday, 4 December 2008 4:10:08 PM
... and then there was the poltiical cartoonists on the tv the other day with their exhibition of superb works - http://www.nma.gov.au/media/media_releases_index/political_cartooning_exhibition_wraps_up_2008/

Guess what - first prize is $1,000

Conclusion: Anyone can create an image and profit from it, cash or in kind (often worth alot more in career terms). Some even do it while moonlighting.

arty
Thursday, 4 December 2008 4:17:15 PM
It's not illegal. It's not unethical. It's not immoral.
The protester sought it.

The media constantly asks us to submit our photos.

Is there a list of people that are not allowed to submit their photos?

Tom #4
Thursday, 4 December 2008 4:21:22 PM
My last word on this I swear - the cops were there obviously doing the security as per their expertise. For Joe Hockey or anyone (like those dunces Cato and Timbo on spindoctors abc sydney this morning) to say the MP shouldn't record a serious political statement/action is just bizarre. That would really be wrong. That would be an attempt to censor the MP's free speech via his photo image. In the USA they would be howling about PM's Office trying to breach the constitutional rights of his MP.

It's only a matter of charging for the image and who benefits and he's answered that - just like gifts declared and donated to the local orphanage. Talk about silly season kicking in on cue.

Tom McLoughlin
Friday, 5 December 2008 5:15:13 AM
Not so fast Jenny. The MP lacks real politik judgement would be my guess as a "novice" but the question is here did he lack moral judgement? I am totally unconvinced as a 15 year non profit campaigner for community media. I say it was a duty for him to take those pictures. That was the point of the protest. You admit yourself it got the story up and frankly I will be VERY surprised if the Aminov Family are not sorted within a month now.

He got beaten up by the ALP machine running scared of adverse coverage from one sector of the media running tattle tail to the PM's office over the "money" who panicked and forced a grovel statement. That is a media sector who got shut out of access to the image. They took revenge. If he'd shared it equally and even required a donation to charity by all of them none of this would have blown up in my guesstimation.

Last evening the aggrieved sector of the Big Media Chris Uhlmann, despite Walkley has a good streak of sanctimony ex seminarian/ACT independent candidate, on abc tv prime time news went the biff again: Tones dripping with condemnation 'for taking a photo', as if. Karen Middleton of SBS similarly went the biff about 'taking a picture'. Censorship? Right to know? They used his grovel statement as moral 'proof' but it isn't. Levered early MP doorstops gulled by rival press. It's proof of real politik censorship from his own boss/media rivals.

The biff was compounded as Kerry/7.30 rightly noted 'a video has turned up' further embarrassing Bidgood from Oct - there's the proof. A video irrelevant to 'the photo', cheap emotional violence, ironically good votes in the evangelical bible quoting Qld North (forget SE Oz comfort zone). And notice Uhlmann's Catholic rivalry.

Wiser heads like Annabelle Crabb stood off Bidgood on cross to Richard Glover abc 702 4.45pm, and Brissenden on 7.30 said he was "controversial" to take the pic. It's all about Big Media turf protection! Did the commercials cover it on 9,10, 7? I wonder.

..................................

In the mix is this media release from The Greens:

Thursday 4 December 2008

New border protection agency must service human rights

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says the Government's new Australian
Customs and Border Protection Service must treat compassionately and
humanely people who arrive by boat to seek asylum in Australia.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced the formation of the new agency
today, a day after a boat of 35 suspected asylum seekers was intercepted
off the Western Australian coast and escorted to Christmas Island for
detention.

"What kind of service will this new agency be offering to those who need
our assistance and protection?" asked Senator Hanson-Young.

"We cannot forget: it is not illegal to seek asylum. It is a right under
international law."

Senator Hanson-Young said that Australia must learn from the mistakes of
its past immigration policies.

"We have an opportunity to move forward to a more humane, compassionate
approach to the treatment of asylum seekers, and the opportunity to
rebuild Australia's international reputation," she said.

"Let's not allow ourselves to slide back to the dark days of the Howard
and Ruddock immigration regime and all that it brought: Tampa, children
overboard, the reprehensible tragedy of the SIEV-X and more than 200
cases of lawful residents being detained.

"The politics of fear must not cloud our actions on matters of human
rights and justice."

Senator Hanson-Young expressed concern at the detention on Christmas
Island of those who recently arrived on boat.

"Christmas Island's detention facilities should be closed, and we should
do away with this 'out-of-sight, out-of-mind' attitude towards asylum
seekers who arrive by boat.

"All processing of claims for asylum should be done promptly and fairly
on the Australian mainland, where processes can be overseen and
community support services can be more easily accessed.

"The Greens will be closely monitoring the progress of the detainees on
Christmas Island."

Media contact: Gemma Clark on 0427 604 760

MP Bidgood photo snapper a hero of community media reportage on humanitarian case?

Thu, 4 Dec 2008 11:49:41 +1100

Picture: Photo [by a supporter] sent to SAM blog micro news last year taken at Railway Square in Sydney, outside the Dept of Immigration & Citizenship (DIAC) of a long running protest over these stateless people. These are the same Aminov family in the news today.

Editorial

The attacks by the PM's office and competing big media on an MP promoting the profile of a humanitarian case (duly and correctly published by the Sydney Daily Telegraph today) appear totally disingenuous if not dishonest.

MP roasted over petrol protest pics

KEVIN Rudd has slammed a Labor MP who took and gave out pictures of a protester who doused himself in petrol in dramatic scenes at Parliament House.

They are also an attack on community media practise. Here is the holier than thou from Fairfax today:

MP in cash for photograph scandal
PHILLIP COOREY | A Federal Labor MP has been carpeted by the Prime Minister's office after he allegedly tried to sell pictures he had just taken of a man threatening to set fire to himself outside Parliament House.

The fact is the Big Media don't like being gazumped on their news gathering work by the public or a commercial rival. They will seek to embarass any person, MP or public including bloggers who seeks to take up their closed shop role in a serious way - unless it's for free. The competitive sniping of the big media amongst themselves is similarly legendary.

This MP was quite within his rights to seek a fee from commercial media to donate it to charity. As if the journalists on their big fat wages shouldn't have to pay for someone doing their work for them. There is no issue of self interest here at all, only of professional jealousy.

The MP was also right to take the picture and try to amplify the media coverage of the humanitarian case by offering the pictures around.

What is 'unforgiveable' as far as Rudd's minders and office are surely concerned, is that this case is embarrassing to the government responsible for resolving the 10 year long case. It also echoes pressure coming to bear on the PM in the last several question times (eg via Sharman Stone MP), and in The Australian, about an increase of boat people and fraught policy on border protection and refugee detention:

People smugglers try again - Hon Dr Sharman Stone MP17 Nov 2008 ... This fifth boat that has been intercepted on its way to ...
Corrupt Indonesian officials put visas on sale | The Australian 3 Dec 2008

It may have been this same desperate protester who jumped into the chamber from the public gallery earlier this week, but in the normal course his protests were censored from both the radio and tv coverage.

In other words no problem with the MP taking pictures, or 'selling the picture' to benefit charity and profile an important humanitarian issue, but lack of real politik judgement about his own Govt's problems on immigration and refugee policy.

But Bidgood's moral judgement was just fine as far as we are concerned, and his engagement with popular community media practise is just fine by us. And we say that with 15 years in the non profit community media sector about a humanitarian case that has been unresolved for a good 10 years.

We have an archive picture which may be of these same protesters from outside the Immigration Dept here in Sydney also which we will publish (see above) again and refer this post back in late 2007:

Friday, 19 October 2007
Hunger strike by the Aminovs
Mood: sad
Topic: human rights

Our correspondent writes: Attached is a photo from the hunger strike staged by Aminovs family outside Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) yesterday. The Aminovs decided to take the matter further and will go on a day of hunger strike outside PM's house this coming Sunday. The hunger strike will start 10 am - 4 pm, outside Kiribilli house, Sunday 21 October 07.
There demands are:
1. Speed up the process of the visa, on highly humanitarian basis Or, Grant them humanitarian visa instead of parents visa.
2- Issue them a photo ID to enable them to move more freely and comfortably.
3- Allow them to access Medicare services (on humanitarian grounds) and other basic settlements services (English classess...).
They will be joined by few friends and other long time similar case/s.
Please come along for solidarity and to protest the inhumane treatment of asylum seekers by Howard's governement

Joe Stiglitz, Naomi Klein, Hernando De Soto lifting the veil on GFC, GEC

Wed, 3 Dec 2008 13:59:48 +1100

This event is dated 20 October 2008 so actually is a little stale, and should be updated with this piece November 17th 2008 we also linked to here:

Wednesday, 19 November 2008
W Bush regime 'looting the treasury for illegal bailout': Naomi Klein, Democracy Now
Mood: don't ask
Topic: world

Local open publishing website driven off line

Wed, 3 Dec 2008 13:51:26 +1100

This screen print looks ominous regarding the local radical Sydney Independent Media:

Postscript 3 Dec 2008: It's back up which is all to the better in the free speech agenda. We also dropped into Perth IMC which is vibrant. Then Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane (this last one at least as far as a google) and it looks like these are dormant or gone.

Meanwhile web 2.0 rushes ahead regardless. Did the radical geeks at IMC in big cities in Australia just go and get jobs and mortgages? Join even bigger more effective Get Up! Or as they say on the grassy knoll, something got to them?

Here in Sydney the Alternative Media Group (a privately owned business) is chugging along. And micro news SAM here of course. To complete the indy alternative news list would include Crikey.com.au and New Matilda which surely qualify as minor not micro news media.

SAM traffic counter returns to service

Wed, 3 Dec 2008 14:29:46 +1100

We read Tim Blair in the Saturday Telegraph, or TB as we like to say, sledging gutsy lefty Anthony Lowenstein for having only 200 hits a day on his blog. Which is largely irrelevant as he is also a mainstream freelance journalist as well.

Anyhow we noticed our traffic counter back in business from our US host server, but it looks like we might have lost a good 6 days traffic there at about 500 a day.

Yesterday was a good day:

Postscript 3rd Dec 2008: This image shows we lost 6 days of traffic metrics roughly 19 Nov to 25 Nov:

ALP Govt(s) destroy best forest on mainland Australia at Brown Mtn East Gippsland

Mon, 1 Dec 2008 19:37:56 +1100

Jill Redwoord writes as follows:

Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2008 7:02 PM
Subject: [chipstop] Brown Mountain - new YouTube clip

Dear all,
please check out this brand new 3 1/2 minute clip on Brown Mt and send it to everyone you can think of. Thanks.
Jill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEdV5jXOeqw

We took a look around this fantastic unprotected forest over the Easter Holidays in 2005 here:

East Gippsland Forest Forever Fest photo gallery March 2005

Sunday political talkies: COAG learns to love the deficit b*mb

Mon, 1 Dec 2008 13:08:48 +1100

Author's general introductory note

This is not a well packaged story. It's a contemporaneous traverse of the Sunday television free to air political talkies indicating the agenda of Establishment interests: Better to know ones rivals and allies in Big Politics and Big Media.

For actual transcripts and/or video feeds go to the programme web sites quoted including Riley Diary on 7. And note transcripts don't really give you the image content value.

Media backgrounders

* 27,000 children die of poverty today (and every other day) according to Princeton Professor of ethics Peter Singer, and 194 people mostly rich westerners, some of them Australian citizens, are murdered in Mumbai by fanatics this last week.

* Turnbull in trouble with the big banks front of AFR last Tuesday suggests Turnbull probably was right about his criticism to implement only a $100K limit - to keep the mortgage backed investment funds liquid. Gillard made hay with the headline in federal parliament - regardless of merits?

* Hartcher reckons it's bad policy not bad capitalist system leading to GFC with followup GEC. But he ignores several things in his smh feature column - millions of US citizens needed public housing regardless so this was done via the capitalist method. It ignores the Afro Americans were carrying the army load of Iraq so that's domestic politics to support the subprime loans. It ignores the cut in social services again resultant of Iraq war cost as per Joseph Stiglitz. In other words Hartcher is trite and not really addressing geo political economy applying to the USA. In other words Hartcher is not the last word.

* More likely last word this evening on web and digital abc2 Fora Naomi Klein and Joseph Stiglitz Sunday at about 6 pm. Important viewing as per Democracy Now post here on SAM Nov 19^th.

* Mike Smith in The Oz missed the Mumbai terror by 3 minutes. Amazing record of survival in his high flying banking career.

* Federal Bill IR demise of Work Choices surprising lack of controversy in the last week.

* Dogs are howling for Julie Bishop to stand down from shadow treasurer job, as per Van Onselen article in Sydney Sunday Telegaph

[to be continued]

10 Meet the Press: 8- 8-30 am

Deputy PM Gillard on big health COAG deal federal and state, job generator some 130K new jobs, over 4 years?. Trails economic responsibility in GFC, claims 75K jobs in economic security package of previous weeks. Rhetoric of Premier Barnett WA agrees with a deficit approach where responsible [tag team with The headline is a $15B deal. Turnbull deficit sledge footage, 6 years last time.

JG is highly groomed looks like Tilda Swinton in a Clooney movie - the villain.

Panel Annabel Crabb smh (took haircare freebie from Gillard's defacto wrote it up yesterday to defend his honourary health ambassador role - bad decision AC), Mark Kenny Adelaide Advertiser gets first Q.

Q. on workchoices, exceeded mandate from MK? Boilerplate.

AC question is hardline, no concessions re double cost promised at the election. [Feeds into Turnbull narrative of long deficit.] Follow up equally brutal almost suggest AC has got the blowback on her friendly column yesterday for Mr Gillard.

Footage of stakeholder group on abc childcare sledging banks as arbiters of 380 centres uncertainty. Receiver to announce more this week.

Kenny asks question regarding partner health role. PB followed up surprised? Says not, also that good for her to be thinking of men's health issues - that resonates a bit positioning her partner as special access for men generally. But it's replete with spin. Is a case for parallel with Rein as spouse of PM honourary roles. Trouble is the question of merit of the choice comparative to high profile celebrities, health experts etc.

2^nd guest is Premier Bligh - pushes "architecture" buzz word. It's a Qld re election of ALP policy given Beatty/Dr Death scandal. AC asks whether NSW got the lion share for fiscal incompetence. Bligh left defending NSW. Confidence in process, national approach. MK - political threat resolved? Help a lot.

PB election? Sept 2009 expected to go full term. [Maybe]

Meet The Press - Watch Political Video Online - Channel TEN.

Riley Diary 7, from 8.30am

Brown ponchos good bad ugly (dwelling on W Bush), does evangelical choir and star wars wardrobe comparison. Cute footage of local visits, donations "viva Kevin Rude"

Sarah Hanson Young image fairly flattering, sprinkler alarm on Rudd presser, funny deficit admission with lightning symbol in question time MPI speech.

Q&A about big COAG agreement [worth some $15B over 5 years]

http://www.seven.com.au/sunrise/weekend

9 Sunday newshour Laurie Oakes interview 8.40 am

Treasurer Swan on 5 year COAG agreement. Sounding quite calm, less shouting rhetoric.

$10.4 billion strategy, more on infrastructure, some announcements prior to Christmas.

Traverse deficit discussion, rhetoric about Colin Barnett as Premier of WA [seen as career long fiscal conservative?].

Swan is earning his grey hair after bedding down COAG yesterday. Looking and sounding like a monkey off his back this morning. Turning into a fireside chat with LO, mild mannered relaxed, no drama Obama approach is successful.

Optimistic living here in Australia, is depressing seeing the problems overseas, crisis has moved onto the developing world. Optimistic about China still, India suffered security and GFC at same time has consequences.

Tax reform possible in future?

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/oakes

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

Footage of premiers on COAG cooperative federalism of $15B health education over 5 years. Benchmarking for performance incentives. Round up by Paul Kelly for The Australian.

Foreign Minister on Mumbai political murders of rich westerners. Footage of there and Thailand airport protests.

Panel - Brian Toohey (AFR), Dennis Atkin News Corp/Courier Mail/Brisbane, Piers Akerman News Corp/Daily Telegraph/Sydney.

Akerman draws link between Kashmir and David Hicks. Kerry Ann Walsh - Sydney Fairfax SunHerald.

Talent is Andrew Robb, shadow minister. "Mountains of cash out there, no liquidity, all locked up". Says irresponsible to have a deficit in various ways. May not have cut through even if true. Robb asked about Julie Bishop which is cute given he is heir apparent for her treasurer job. Says hands full with job he's got.

Everyperson at Bondi Icebergs 3 crusties generally satisfied with the government.

KAW re "word games" [instituted by The Australian, shameless hypocrisy of journalists with their headlines playing ...."word games"]

Toohey ramps up critique of middle class welfare for self funded superannuants, $1,400 each next week. Akerman wails at "lack of management" re computer and NBN rollout.

Footage of Turnbull attack re ‘ALP deficit lasts for 6 years'.

KAK notes IR demise of Work Choices surprising lack of controversy in the last week.

KAK plea to reform question time in lower house. Toohey calls for fair go for Wayne Swan as treasurer.

Home page is http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/

Inside Business - 2 at 10am

Conroy as Telecommunications minister talks a good game on NBN. Says the open competitive process has been vindicated. Telstra is being treated as a bid. Conroy says it's an arms length process and he hasn't seen the 6 bigs. McGauchie agrees it should be considered by the expert panel.

Refer http://www.abc.net.au/insidebusiness/

Solar evangelists converge on Darling Harbour as Pope installs PV* panels

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:36:18 +1100

[under construction]

* PV stands for photo voltaic solar energy derived electricity (eg for lights, computers, other appliances at about 15-25% energy efficiency from the sun's rays). This is distinct from another form of solar energy being thermal solar (heat energy up to about 30-40% efficiency) generally used for hot water systems (often the biggest drain on household energy bills). PV and solar thermal are often used in tandem. See an example of both types of panels pictured below. We are no expert but we understand these levels of efficiency are similar to conventional coal or nuclear sources given network leakages, rules of entropy (to degrade energy) in physics.

Picture: From right, Artur Zawadski of Wizard Power and chairman of convening group Australian New Zealand Solar Energy Society, Monica Oliphant president of convening group International Solar Energy Society (UN affiliated, daughter in law of nuclear physicist Sir Marcus 'Mark' Oliphant), Professor Deo Prasad of UNSW, John Susa of multinational (Chinese) solar company TrinaSola, and Dr Muriel Watt of UNSW

Picture: Slide from Dr Muriel Watt, UNSW on where we are, and where we are not, as in foot dragging (our word) by the current federal government on renewable energy policy. Minister Garrett did give a speech (which we missed) but according to another expert observer he failed to address 'MRET', gross 'FIT', 'RE' and Innovation Funds for renewable energy. These terms are mandatory renewable energy target, feed in tariff, renewable energy.

Yesterday we attended gratis via IMCS conference organisers the 3rd International Solar Energy Conference in combination with the 46th Annual Conference of the Australian & New Zealand Solar Energy Society. The ANZSES were also holding their AGM last night to adopt a new constitution and appoint a new CEO/CEO structure to get in shape for the years ahead.

We are talking literally a sunrise sector that is big money, big energy, big global outreach via UN affiliations, and big names at this conference like Prof David Mills featured in a new movie premier last night called The Future Makers in conjuction with Discovery Channel.

By coincidence we were reading via Crikey.com.au ezine that the Pope has joined the solar photo voltaic evangelists in their quest for "grid parity" over the next 10 years. This term refers to the point at which the cost of solar energy is the same as grid power (not sure if this is only running cost, or includes capital set up cost via loan with interest/amortisation of cost).

Refer the Vatican news here:

The Vatican goes green Ruth Brown

and more directly here via Reuters complete with photo slide show for the devout tourist:

Vatican set to go green with huge solar panel roof
Tue Nov 25, 2008 3:02pm EST
By Philip Pullella
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican was set to go green on Wednesday with the activation of a new solar energy system to power several key buildings and a commitment to use renewable energy for 20 percent of its needs by 2020.
The massive roof of the Vatican's "Nervi Hall," where popes hold general audiences and concerts are performed, has been covered with 2,400 photovoltaic panels -- but they will not be visible from below, leaving the Vatican skyline unchanged.
The new system on the 5,000 square meter roof will provide for all the year-round energy needs of the hall and several surrounding buildings, producing 300 kilowatt hours (MWh) of clean energy a year.
The system, devised by the German company SolarWorld, will allow the 108-acre city-state to cut its carbon dioxide emissions by about 225,000 kilograms (225 tonnes) and save the equivalent of 80 tonnes of oil each year.
The Holy See's newspaper said on Tuesday that the Vatican planned to install enough renewable energy sources to provide 20 percent of its needs by 2020, broadly in line with a proposal by the European Union.
The 1971 Nervi Hall is named after the renowned architect who designed it, Pier Paolo Nervi, and is one of the most modern buildings in the Vatican, where most structures are several centuries old. The hall can hold up to 10,000 people.
It has a sweeping, wavy roof which made the project feasible and the solar panels virtually invisible from the ground. Church officials have said the Vatican's famous skyline, particularly St Peter's Basilica, would remain untouched.
An editorial in Tuesday's newspaper appealed for greater use of renewable energy.
"The gradual exhaustion of the ozone layer and the greenhouse effect have reached critical dimensions," the newspaper said.
By producing its own energy the Vatican will become more autonomous from Italy, from where it currently buys all its energy. The Vatican is surrounded by Rome.
Pope Benedict and his predecessor John Paul put the Vatican firmly on an environmentalist footing.
Benedict has made numerous appeals for the protection of the environment. The Vatican has hosted a scientific conference to discuss the ramifications of global warming and climate change, widely blamed on human use of fossil fuels.
Environmentalists praised the pope last year after he made a speech saying the human race must listen to "the voice of the earth" or risk destroying the planet.
(Editing by Tim Pearce)

Back at Darling Harbour great speakers, nice venue, good people, huge challenges. Lunch served in plastic throw aways which is a bit of a jarring note. Glad we took the solar ride yesterday and thanks to the conference organisers for the complimentary community media access.

We are still waiting for Minister Garrett's speech to arrive via email via their parliamentary staff (!?). The staffer suggests it may be on the ministers website here - and indeed so it is:

Speech to the 3rd International Solar Energy Society Conference, Asia - 26 November 2008

We are advised he didn't take any questions. Here is his $6M solar announcement for Alice Springs via media release of same day. Apparently there was controversy whether he would make it at all:

13 Nov 08 Garrett snubs energy conference | theage.com.au

But on that score the Minister did better than shadow minister Greg Hunt, a sharp thinker too, who cancelled next day, and conservative non govt group WWF's Greg Bourne, formerly oil company BP, was also a no show. Bourne according to rumour had been called to Canberra at short notice (?!).

We later spoke with Gordon Stewart, Sales and Business development manager of Suntech Australia (whose founder Dr Zhengrong Shi of UNSW is richest man in China reportedly) who noted that the federal govt White Paper on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (previously Emission Trading Scheme) is thought to be released as soon as next week. A great profile of Suntech's founder involvement with Uni of NSW in Australia is here via old show Sunday on channel 9:

The richest man in China 7 Oct 2007

Profound footage there of Dr Shi sounding like the Chinese version of Al Gore, full of passion for the ideals not just the bottom line. Great stuff.

Picture: Scott Friar, as chief of mulitnational Spanish renewables energy company Abengoa. Scott is a Texan with a style like Sol Trujiho, with dry twist. Made some profound comments about the solar sector having to reprove their technology of 1983 again in 2008.

Tony Stewart MP legal issues discussed

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:43:38 +1100

Based on the Herald story today some initial comments, preliminary legal advice even. The Herald story is here:

26 Nov 2008 Sacked minister could be expelled - National - smh.com.au

Prof George Williams is on ABC just after 8.30 in a brief Q&A this morning and we think we can add to that also.

1. There is some precedent of a SA ALP MP Ralph Clarke who sued over preselection rorting back in 2005

Labor Seats for Sale, http://sunday.ninemsn.com.au/sunday/cover_stories/transcript_369.asp

He won but was booted out of the ALP eventually, and lost preselection regardless. (He later also initiated defamation proceedings against that state's ALP AG but that's another chapter in 2005: The World Today - Former Labor MP tells of SA Govt corruption.)

The significance of the case was that the general law applies to party rules because they use public funds to sustain themselves, hence the law of judicial review and administrative law applies e.g. natural justice to be heard, relevant and irrelevant factors, bias, improper purpose (and see no.4 below) etc etc

2. As George notes even if he wins he may still have the reconsidered decision against him anyway in a replay of the decision making process. So this is all about saving face.

3. Two matters I haven't considered - will taxpayers pay the legal costs? And would expulsion be contempt of court? George stated it would depend on timing and efficacy of that expulsion decision.

4. But one thing we add building on point 1 above in the Clarke case, the ALP disciplinary rules shouldn't be allowed (and question is this good law) to use their membership contract (incorporating party rules for explusion eg rule not sue another ALP member in the SMH story) to contract out of the general administrative law. It is a general principle of contract law you can't have terms of a contract that break the general law, invalid for illegality. It's a fairly small step from there to say terms of a contract (eg ALP membership) have to be read down so they don't promote breach of the general law: In this case threat of expulsion for seeking the benefit of administrative law. That surely would be an improper purpose again under administrative law picking up George's point at 3 above about efficacy of an explusion.

In conclusion fact is the ALP like all parties are publicly funded and to allow explusion for seeking to enforce administrative law of the land that applies to the ALP and all parties, would be to victimise a theoretical whistleblower. As happened with Ralph Clarke in SA and was a travesty of justice.

............

Having said all that - we think Tony Stewart after 13 years as a backbencher has run his race and should withdraw and save the taxpayers the legal fees, even if he were to win (which he well may).

Donald Friend in Bali, p*dophile diary: ABC Law Report today

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:13:59 +1100

The ABC Law Report have run a confronting and important story this morning on Radio National Tuesday 25 Nov on the vexed and awful subject of child sexual abuse, with web entry here:

Monday 24 November 2008|
Identifying victims of child sexual assault and abuse
The Australian news media never publish or broadcast the names of survivors of sexual assault and child abuse unless they have the express permission of the victims. But what about other publications like non-fiction books and diaries?Seems the National Library have published this diary with admissions of leading artist and intellect Donald Friend of child sex.

Legal issues relate to potential defamation of the now adult victims in Bali, a fairly vague suggestion of deceptive conduct regarding lack of consent for the publication under Trade Practices, and even profits of crime being child prostitution in 1960ies and 70ies.

Given the Henson furore this programme will only add to the intense moral and emotional debate. Beware of moral panic we say, but then don't censor the real history either.

We spoke to one expert commentator about this and was told that child protection campaigner, and possibly ALP political aspirant (?) Hetty Johnson has quoted this artist Friend as an example of misplaced tolerance for child abuse. Bali where these criminal acts occurred has strict laws for decades against child prostitution including convictions back to the 1930ies.

The show also mentioned how Margaret Olle ws given the opportunity to edit publication of her mentions (unrelated issue of excessive drinking) in the diary by the Australian National Library, but the now grown child victims of Friend were not. That sounds rough.

Anyway we blog on this because the show will archive the transcript in due course and will feed into a serious legal, political and moral debate ongoing, with implications for governance and power relations, which is our constant focus.

Given the location of the crimes it could even morph into another aggravation between extreme Islam in Indonesia and Australia.

And watching episode 2 of The Howard Years last night we were struck again by the dynamic of Australia aiding East Timor out of the clutches of power mongering Indonesian colonialism. We recall all that Media Monitors work at that time in late 1999 of ultra murderous violence and even calling the White House and the New York Times wanting to complain about lack of US support.

We travelled in Bali as an innocent tourist in July 2002 for 4 days Kuta to Ubud and Lovinna. We hired a bicycle riding into the sprawling Denpassar market place to much amusement and somehow we were reminded of East Timor locals going about their business in the tropics. Months later arguably the political payback for East Timor came with bombing of tourists in Kuta in Sept 2002 - with 200 dead. Some cruel locals, possibly apocraphyl at nearby Lombok were heard to joke "Aussie BBQ" but actually it was mostly Balinese and Indonesian victims. May they rest in peace.

Now we live in the age of ascension of coloured US president Barak Obama, which hopefully will take alot of pressure off in Indonesian politics and marginalise the extremists.