Every fortnight on Tasmanian Times, widely-read Geoff Dickinson chooses Six of the past fortnight’s Best Reads.

The Population Debate After the Population Strategy
Australia Kelvin Thomson, MP for Wills 16 July, 2011
SPA Victoria Annual General Meeting Speech 11 page pdf
I have been asked to speak with you this afternoon on the population debate after the population strategy. I have here two graphs of Australia’s net overseas migration – one goes back to the 1950s and one goes all the way back to 1901…
http://www.kelvinthomson.com.au/Editor/assets/speeches_2011/110714%20spa%20%20agm%20speech%20for%20sat%2016%20july%2011%20mt.pdf
Graph http://www.kelvinthomson.com.au/Editor/assets/speeches_2011/1953-2010.pdf

We Should Be Outraged! At Ourselves
Germans want to end nuclear power and turn to renewable energy, but they keep buying SUVs. Global carbon emissions and oil consumption have risen sharply over the last two environmentally conscious decades—and the trends will continue, as long as Westerners keep discovering new “needs.”  …
Germany Spiegel 14/7/2011
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,773992,00.html#ref=nlint

Plastic-Bottle Bulbs Help Manila’s Shantytowns See the Light of Day
For the millions who live in the shantytowns of the developing world, there are better things to spend money on than electricity. But many corrugated-iron-roofed shacks, like the ones seen throughout the poorer neighborhoods of Manila, Philippines, lack windows to let in natural light, leaving residents the choice of complete darkness or running expensive electric bulbs all day. However, a new development project called Liter of Light aims to solve that predicament through an unexpected and highly affordable technology: old soda bottles. … Philippines 2 minute Video  http://isanglitrongliwanag.org/

Zapped: The high cost of Ontario’s renewable Electricity Subsidies
Toronto, May 31 – Ontario’s subsidy program for renewable electricity suppliers will cost Ontario electricity users about $310 a year, per household, unless the program is reformed, according to a report released today by the C.D. Howe Institute. …. subsidies paid to renewable energy producers under the province’s Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) program are a costly means of reducing domestic GHG emissions and creating jobs. Each new job that the Ontario government projects the program will create will cost Ontario residents about $179,000 in subsidies, say the authors, who conclude the program should not continue in its present form. …Canada CD Howe Institute. 2011 – Benjamin Dachis and Jan Carr
http://cdhowe.org/pdf/ebrief_117.pdf

Brain cap morphs thought into motion
A non-invasive sensor-lined cap with neural interface that allows users to turn thoughts into movement could lead to life changing technologies for millions of people who have suffered paralysis, stroke, or other injury or illness.
U. MARYLAND (US) —Interface technology that connects mind to machine could soon be used to control computers, robotic prosthetic limbs, motorized wheelchairs and even digital avatars…..University of Maryland USA http://www.futurity.org/top-stories/brain-cap-morphs-thought-into-motion/?utm_source=Futurity+Today&utm_campaign=004f73953f-July_287_28_2011&utm_medium=email

DEEPAK CHOPRA
In a fun and relaxed talk that involves stories from time spent as a Buddhist monk, Deepak Chopra shares some of his research into the deep corners of our consciousness and discusses how he is working to make sense of it all….10 minute Video TEDMED
http://www.tedmed.com/videos-info?name=Deepak_Chopra_at_TEDMED_2010&q=updated&year=all