Re: “Silt tide threatens Tamar shipping”...

Obvious questions and comments come to mind:

* Are the reasons for the massive erosion/ soil transfer confirmed!?

* Why is there just a call for more research, rather than combine the research with immediate action, such as land clearing / conversion of forests to crops!?
How can this statement stand up in reality?
“The proposed Long Reach pulp mill would have little or no effect on sediment levels” ?
Who has the Blinkers on here?
Is it just about sending the fool further?
The fact is that the feedstock for the mill would mostly come from short term rotation of monoculture plantations, large scale clearfelling & conversion of forests in the St. Patrick’s River, the North Esk, the South Esk and the Meander River catchments.
Just as the carbon sink issue should be seen as part of positive land management, the soil and water issues are linked to soil disturbance and clearing of vegetation.
Forestry and Agriculture will need to change, but
is Tasmania’s leadership, are we / are you serious about developing and implementing solutions?
As a reminder of the issues have a look at
http://www.twovisions.net  and ask for a DVD copy

Also think about the shift / loss of nutrients from the upper catchments, a lot from the ash after the burning in windrows on clearfelled and plought up sites.
Plus the agricultural run off…etc.
Also the increased volume, strength and speed of water during /after rain events on cleared soil.

Three Examples of Positive Changes in forest and land management are possible - now
But it takes will power!

1. Pro Silva Principles and Carbon
”PRO SILVA promotes forest management strategies which optimise the ... PROTECTION OF
SOIL AND CLIMATE. • PRODUCTION OF TIMBER AND OTHER PRODUCTS ...
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/climat/pdf/prosilva_presentation.pdf

2. Pro Silva Ireland
ProSilva is a name given to a form of forestry management based on subtle ...
As the basis for production is the soil, attention is given to ensure the ...
http://www.prosilvaireland.org/article/ProSilva_Australian_perspective.html

3. An introduction to Pro Silva Principles of forestry management ...
http://www.prosilvaireland.org/links/index.html

The Examiner has a throw away line at the end of their coverage of this story saying that the proposed pulp mill would have little or no effect on sediment levels.

The expert in the story concedes that forestry is a key player in adding to sediment levels in the Tamar.

A pulp mill will require substantial extra forestry operations and hence more siltation.

I think this expert needs to do some more homework.

The poor ambos are copping a razzing, but they are an awesome bunch.

You can’t expect miracles when most of our Ambos are volunteers and run on the smell of an oily rag.

http://www.tasmanianambulancevolunteers.asn.au/

And our ambos do all the hard graft for nought.
With 25 out of the 38 stations manned completely by volunteers it is small wonder we have problems.

I am astounded that they manage at all.
It goes to show how professional these people are.

Our self proclaimed elite “leaders” swan around, chauffeur driven, in top of the range Statesman cars with DVD players in the headrests.

How about we sell off all those rich man’s toys that our leaders feel they deserve and give the money to our Ambos?

Step one on the road to fixing the sickness that is government in Tasmania.

A very simple policy challenge for the respective Education spokespersons: “My Party will be judged by raising Year 12 staff retention levels from 53% to 70% within the next term of parliament.”

Merit based re-election…I like the sound of that!

Am I alone in thinking De Anima’s cartoons a bit on the offensive and badly drawn side?

I really do like a clever political cartoon but this pasting of heads on figures, and the general offensive and demeaning tone, does irritate me.

Give me an excellent Kudelka or Leunig cartoon any day. I might be wrong-headed, but I do prefer my political cartoons to be funny or at least insightful. Otherwise, it is just foolish propaganda.

I agree with super Annoyed, these cartoons are losing their punch because they are getting increasingly personal and continue to play up to the political bias of most people who seem to post on this website.

I’d like to see a few Green heads pop up from time to time, just to show a bit of balance. Yesterday, for instance, the Tasmanian Greens backflipped over their opposition to the maintaining of Spirit 3. After making a principled stand based upon the financial viability of it, and arguing that it was only being kept to shore up Labor support in Braddon, the pre-election environment sees the Greens doing a Laborial. They want a seat in Braddon, so abandon sensibility to get it.

Will we see a ferry cartoon with Putt’s head on it?

Lee, I’m afraid you’ve been conned by the powers that be over the Greens’ stand on Spirit III.

In their Alternative budget for 05-06 they did not bail out the Spirit as Labor did in their actual budget.  This implied that it would be stopped, but did NOT specify that the Greens would sell or stop the Spirit III, just that the TT line would have to find another way to keep things going.  Treasury recommended this course of action and the State Labor Government ignored this, and did not publicly justify its decision.

Given the reality that the Spirit WAS bailed out in last year’s budget there’s no point in the Greens now saying they wouldn’t spend money that has already been spent!

The Greens are being realistic here, and you think its a backflip?

How can you save money that’s not there now?

I think you’ll find on closer examination that the ‘Laborials’ do more backflips than an Olympic gymnast, but the Greens do not.

Why did the Tasmanian Greens make that announcement now then? It seems to me they are coming down from their principled stand of last year by saying “what’s done is done”...I know they didn’t formulate an alternative but they did make it clear they were against its retainment.

It’s election countdown time and they want a seat in Braddon; they know they couldn’t get it without placating that electorate, so in my eyes it’s an about turn.

Yes, Labor and Liberal are both champion backflippers but it was a bit cringing to hear that the Greens are now only too pleased to join in on the Braddon act.

Poor old “un-biased” Lee and “anonymous” Super A.

Do Mark’s cartoon’s hurt the liddle diddy-widdums feelings, do they?  If they’re so offensive and badly drawn, Super Arse, why dont you have a go at it yourself mate?  Can’t be that hard, can it?  I’m sure Lee will help you out with some good heads, eh Lee?

And Lee, we’re honoured to have a famous person on the ‘site.  Did you ever end up getting your cosmotology degree?  Giving bone marrow for your sister Bessie’s operation?  Or was that just in the movie?  [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116999/plotsummary]

Jason :)

Mr Lovell - I am only trying to elevate the level of debate. I quite like a political cartoon, as long it is funny. I dont think I could do a good job in putting such a cartoon together - either in terms of drawing ability or humour - so I am not likely to attempt one.

I have nothing against De Anima’s illustrative capacity really, although the photocopy head on figures is a bit lame, I was making the point that I would like to see them more amusing and/or insightful. Your language indicates in this post and others that you are not capable of reasoned argument - I would just ask that you temper your unpleasant language in future.

SA

Super “Anonymous”, you’re obviously trying to “elevate” something, but I seriously doubt that it’s the level of this debate.

I’ve every right to display mischeviousness, humour and/or emotion if I feel like it.  And that’s that. 

You might like to look up the meaning of the word “larrikin”.  In my estimation, it is the exact opposite of your pompous and supercilious efforts.

Yours,
Jason

Hey, ‘annoyed dude’. If you were seriously interested in ‘elevating the level of debate’ on this site then you would start by using your real name instead of this childish ‘super annoyed’ nonsense.

A bit rich for someone who only ever writes comments, and does so from behind such a silly alias, to be preaching at a bloke like Jason who has been a consistent contributor, including “feature articles” for many a year now.

Like Jason, SA I am tiring of your nonsense.

Mr Lovell and Mr Pilikington illustrate with annoying regularity that if you are weak on the detail, then attack the messenger.

I await a substantitive comment. There is nothing childish about a pseudonym - it has been a strategy through the ages to allow comment while protecting the anonymity of the contributor. Very popular in 19th century literature I believe. Perhaps the best description of the use of Super Annoyed is as a “nom de guerre”. I am fighting something of a guerrilla war against the litany of nonsense and non-facts on this site, yet I need to protect myself against personal reprisals. Very important given where I work and live, being surrounded by fuzzy-headed thinkers. 

Nothing childish about it Mr Pilkington - it is a declared strategy to insulate me from a Greens and/or loony vendetta.

You dont annoy me by the way, you amuse me.