More on Muckaty and the proposal to dump radio-active waste. It deserves a thumbs down from all Australians.

* ABC News: Date set for court fight over Muckaty nuclear waste dump
* Tennant & District Times: Muckaty trial date set
* Lawyers Weekly: QC to fight nuclear dump plan
* Oliver Milman, The Guardian: Northern Territory nuclear waste dump 'contravenes UN declaration'
* Greens Senator Scott Ludlam: Greens condemn plan to turn Australia into the world’s nuclear waste dump
* Antinuclear: Dump under the pump: Pressure grows against Muckaty radioactive waste plan
* Dave Sweeney, New Matilda: Nuclear Waste Lasts Longer Than Politicians
* Dr Tom Keaney, Tennant & District Times: Reconsider dumping at Muckaty
* care2 petitionsite: Australia - Stop Nuclear Waste Dump in Northern Territories
* Background to the proposed Muckaty nuclear waste dump

As Lewis Carroll wrote in Alice in Wonderland, “Begin at the beginning," the King said, very gravely, "and go on till you come to the end: then stop.” And isn't that the story of waste!!!

Here is the Waste Strategy for Ballarat, the city where I live. I know it looks boring but what I would like to know is - do you think it does the trick? Does it help people to REALLY know how and what to recycle?

News from Gerry McCarthy in Tennant Creek - Muckaty campaign heading to the Federal Court - the NT Government & economic rationalism

Networkers, Gerry McCarthy - the Member for Barkly in the Northern Territory Parliament - has been in touch on the Muckaty issue.   You can follow Gerry on Facebook here.  I am so taken with Gerry's Facebook photo that I am reproducing it here.

Now - onto the real story which is Gerry's latest info to me on Muckaty.

Gerry McCarthy 18 June 22:14 Hi Brigid Thanks for the information post and I hope you are well with good health and happiness. Essentially the Muckaty campaign has peaked with a Federal Court case, Traditional Owners v's the NLC to answer a good question, 'can a small family group of TO's make a decision to use Aboriginal land that affects the wider Clan, Moiety and Tribal groups including surrounding Tribal groups?' We hope for the hearing in Tennant Creek, maybe this year if our luck holds out! Apparently the 'silks' of Australia are very interested in this case and it is a good case to set the 'road map' for Aboriginal Land Use. If it is a caravan park then consultation is needed, a safari camp, sure consultation is neded. What about Australia's first nuclear waste dump? Its OK to develop Aboriginal land in consultation with Traditional Owners but the first Oz nuclear waste dump, 'stop the bus' we had better have a serious consultation about the location of this! In relation to the NT in general, I am in Darwin participating in the 2013 Estimates Hearing as an Opposition member so you can imagine its 'heavy going' with the CLP showing their true colours! In my opinion the Territory is on the crest of a very good economic wave however CLP policies of economic rationalism are hurting the best resource, Territory families who are being 'priced out of the Territory.' Anyhow, we will hold the Government to account, present innovative policies to the electorate and stand as an alternative Government in 2016! Wish us luck to make these 'jokers' a one term Government! Good hunting & God Bless.

ABC Open : Neighbourhood Houses : Worm Farming

Have you come across ABC Open in your region yet?

In the Ballarat region, we have the marvellous Marc Eiden teaching about all sorts of things. Marc helps and encourages ordinary mortals to get their stuff on to the web and even television: blogging, sound recording, video.  I did one of his blogging courses and even though I have been blogging for eight years this month, I still found the session informative and helpful.

Individuals can turn up at the courses run by the ABC Open producers. In addition,  I really think this regional ABC project is something that Neighbourhood Houses should think about.  Here is an opportunity to record in word or sound or vision some of the wonderful stuff being done by some very dedicated people in urban and regional Australia.  

Below is an informative video about worm farming in the Ballarat area.  This was done as part of ABC Open.  It concerns a huge worm farm operation - particularly when it's compared with my l'il ole Can o' Worms multi-tiered job.  I love my little wormies and get a bit concerned for them in winter as they snuggle up together.

Are the London Olympics as green and sustainable as they promised? Bioregional and WWF report on the outcomes...

The promise of the London Olympics was to be a green Olympics with clever waste management front and centre to the policy.  Has LO achieved what it sought to achieve?  How was waste managed or mismanaged?  Is it an example of sustainability in action? Please see the report below to find out ...

Related articles

• London 2012 falls short of 'greenest ever' targets, report shows

  ---

• London 2012: The Greenest Games Yet?

  ---

• London 2012 declared greenest Olympics ever

  ---

• London's 2012 Olympics wins my green gold medal

  ---

• London Olympics to Reuse 90% of Demolition Waste

  ---