When you鈥檙e the world鈥檚 biggest resource corporation, and aim to gouge high profits for the next century from the world鈥檚 largest mine, you probably won鈥檛 care to let environmental considerations block your path.
Add in a state government frantic to get investment dollars flowing, and the outlook for threatened species in the vicinity could be grim.
BHP Billiton is due to decide early next year whether to spend an estimated $20 billion on a massive expansion of its Olympic Dam copper, gold and uranium mine near Roxby Downs, 560 kilometres north of Adelaide.
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Socialist Alliance Hobart branch notes the recent expressions of disillusionment with all political parties in parliament in Tasmania.
The state government continues to disappoint with its lack of transparency when it comes to funding dodgy deals such as the proposed Aprin loan (now scuttled after Gunns chose a different bidder), with its inability to support the proper funding of public services such as education and health.
Federal police raided the rooms of asylum seekers in the Christmas Island detention centre in the early morning on July 22. Refugee advocates said some refugees "have been beaten" and "dragged out of the compounds".
Critics of the Gillard government鈥檚 proposed carbon price get daily coverage in Australia鈥檚 mainstream media. But some types of critic 鈥 those who want Australia to stay a polluter鈥檚 paradise 鈥 are heard the loudest.
Other views, which say the carbon price plan is a dangerous diversion from real climate action, are mostly frozen out.
Below are four green reasons to oppose the carbon price.
1. Emissions and fossil fuel use go up
For a policy that is supposed to drive Australia鈥檚 carbon emissions down, the carbon price does a very bad job.
Julian Assange, John Pilger and Noam Chomsky have added their names to a new in support of former Guantanamo Bay prisoner David Hicks.
They join scores of other signatories, including Greens MP Adam Bandt, human rights lawyer Julian Burnside, Liberty Victoria President Spencer Zifcak and Overland Journal editor Jeff Sparrow. Overland released the online petition on July 21.
On July 20, 150 Israeli soldiers in three missile ships and seven commando boats attacked a small boat, the Dignite Al Karame, and arrested the 10 activists, three crew and three journalists on board.
This took place in international waters, rendering Israel's interception an act of piracy under international law. The boat was towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod, where one of those on board, Israeli journalist Amira Hass, was released.
A group of about 40 protesters chanted 鈥渨e can't eat coal, can鈥檛 drink gas, lock the gates鈥 as they gathered outside Ipswich Civic Centre on July 21 to oppose the coal and coal seam gas industries. Inside, Prime Minister Julia Gillard addressed a business and community breakfast, co-sponsored by the Ipswich City Council.
The headline on the final issue of Rupert Murdoch鈥檚 News Of The World, 鈥淭hank You & Goodbye鈥, provoked speculation of suitable rejoinders like 鈥淧iss Off & Good Riddance!鈥 and more colourful expressions of the same sentiment.
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