Australia’s PM is out! Labor is in!

I will confess my knowledge of Australia’s political environment is pretty unknown for me – except that Australia and the US have the dubious honor of being among the worst violators of climate treaties. And, like the Bu$h administration, Howard has fought any and all environmental groups and legislation throughout his 11 years as prime minister.

Australia’s Opposition Leader Rudd Wins Landslide Election Victory

SYDNEY - Centre-left leader Kevin Rudd stormed to victory in Australia’s election Saturday, ending conservative Prime Minister John Howard’s 11-year rule with pledges to change course on climate change and the Iraq war. [snip]
In fact he may have even lost his parliamentary seat, which he has held since 1974, putting him in danger of becoming the first prime minister since 1929 to lose his constituency.


Rudd’s election is a small first step for Australia, according to one of the world’s leading scientists, Australian Tim Flannery. I heard him recently on Democracy Now. The following video is a concise overview of climate change issues and Australia’s potential role in bring about change.


I am most pleased with Flannery’s last statement in this interview with Amy Goodman. He is telling her about visiting schools and speaking to students. He describes for the student the analogy that we are all living like cattle in a feed lot. Our energy comes to each house from a power plant through wires to us. The water comes to us from an outside supply into our home without our knowing about source and so does our food.

“The first step of creating a sustainable lifestyle is to free ourselves from the feedlot. Ask Mum and Dad to see the power bill.“

He suggests students challenge their parents to letting them take steps to save money and let them pocket the savings. Not only will students learn they will have the fun of getting the money.

Tim Flannery, leading Australian scientist and climate change campaigner. He was named 2007 Australian of the Year. He is author of several books including "The Weather Makers: The History and Future Impact of Climate Change."

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great clip! My best friend is a right-wing Aussie, very much a supporter of Little Johnny. I'm enjoying sending him article after article on what a disastrous loss this is for JH.

katecontinued said...

T, I'll bet it particularly fun to send things from the evil empire. If even US citizens think Australia has secured a victory by getting rid of Howard . . . well anything is possible.

Anonymous said...

Actually, I like sending things from Australian news sources . . . He's in Oregon, and for some reason, reading about Little Johnny in the Sydney newspapers irks him more than when it's the NYT. Still and all, whatever bugs him ;) . . . As for whether the average US voter is as smart as the average Aussie voter, well, in my judgment the jury is still out. And then there's the fact that at least Labor looks like it's actually going to do, and quickly, what it promised. Unlike other "opposition" parties we could mention that a bit closer to home.

(What was that bit about North Dakota, btw? Left-wing gadflies want to know.)

katecontinued said...

I don't remember now what the reference meant.

Anonymous said...

That's disappointing, k . . . hate to leave any reference to any plains state hanging . . .

Anonymous said...

Thought you might like this:

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/02/12/kevin-rudd-attacks-aussie-prime-minister-john-howard-over-obama-remarks/

Lee said...

Hehe...Little Johnny is looking like getting kicked right out of Parliament, all right :-)

The vast majority of Australians are celebrating!!!!

katecontinued said...

I figured you'd be happy. Glad to see you back.

Lee said...

Hehehe....'thrilled' wouldn't cover the half of how happy I am!

:-D