Jennifer Marohasy

a forum for the discussion of issues concerning the natural environment

Good Causes

Happy in the New Year

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It’s that time of year when there is much wishing one another a “Happy New Year”. 

But how does one become “happy”?

According to the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus the path to happiness requires just three things: friends, freedom and thought (an analysed life).*  

Epicurus is also associated with the early development of the scientific method insisting that nothing should be believed except that which is tested through direct observation and logical deduction.

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*from the DVD ‘Philosophy: A Guide to Happiness’ by Alain de Bottom http://www.alaindebotton.com/philosophy.asp

Photograph of rocks at Alexandra Bay, Noosa National Park, Australia, taken in November 2008 by Jennifer Marohasy.

Another Tax and More Politics: The ETS Proposed for Australia

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I am the Chair of The Australian Environment Foundation and we are planning an Internet campaign to oppose the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) proposed for Australia on the basis:

1.  An ETS will not change the global temperature;

2.  Will force many clean and green Australian industries overseas; and

3.  Will make Australians poorer; while it is generally richer, not poorer nations that are better able to protect their natural environment. 

We have a fundraising target of A$30,000 and already we have already raised just over $11,000 from donations.  So we need another A$19,000.

[Read more…] about Another Tax and More Politics: The ETS Proposed for Australia

Best [Australian] Blogs of 2008

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Each year On Line Opinion and Club Troppo collaborate to publish a Best Blogs feature in January, which features the best blog pieces from the previous year selected from reader nominations.

This year we are doing it again.

What was the best blog piece that you read in 2008? It can even be one you have written yourself – so don’t be shy.

Let us know, by casting your votes here http://polling.nationalforum.com.au/index.php?sid=54429&lang=en

We will take look at your votes, weigh them up with our expert panel, and get the right to republish as many of them as we can in On Line Opinion over the January period. While you’re thinking, you might like to check out last year’s Best Blogs feature http://onlineopinion.com.au/feature.asp?year=2008&month=1

Some Nuts Can be hard to Crack

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Spare a thought for this scrub turkey unable to open that nut.  I watched the bird struggle with it for quite a while at Alexandra Bay, Noosa National Park, on November 24, 2008. 

If only I’d had a parang, I would have opened the nut for the turkey.

I try hard with this blog to open issues in a way accessible to everyone. 

I received the following comment from a reader not so long ago:

“I have seen on your blog site where a great deal of healthy debate has raged.  This has the benefit of  not only giving all a go, but also challenges those commenting to tidy up loose ends of their argument, or cuts off invalid arguments totally.  One point that I have noticed is that the comments also help us as readers, to see similar comparisons to our own situation.  While we may not agree with a particular persons view on most points even, we are stimulated by other points that draw out ’sleeper’ issues.”

Don’t forget that as well as the main page, this blog has a ‘Community Home’ and a Donation Button.

The IPA Review & Articles by Jennifer Marohasy

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I have been a senior fellow with the Melbourne-based Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) for more than five years now.   I have written a lot for the magazine,  which used to be published by the IPA quarterly, but now comes out every two months.   A year’s subscription is not that much – just $33 a year.

Anyway,  Nichole Hoskin has made a list of many of the articles I have had published in the ‘Review’ over the years, and here goes:

Jennifer Marohasy, ‘Deceit in the Name of Conservation?’, IPA Review, March 2003, http://www.ipa.org.au/library/Review55-1%20Deciet%20in%20the%20name%20of%20conservation.pdf

Jennifer Marohasy, ‘Where’s the Data?’, IPA Review, June 2003, http://www.ipa.org.au/library/Review55-2%20Wheres%20the%20data.pdf

Jennifer Marohasy, ‘GM Fish and Chips? Already and Australian Staple!’, IPA Review, September 2003, http://www.ipa.org.au/library/Review553%20GM%20Fish%20and%20ships.pdf

Jennifer Marohasy, ‘How Useful are Australia’s Official Environmental Statistics?’ IPA Review, December 2003, http://www.ipa.org.au/library/review554%20How%20useful%20are%20Australias.pdf

Jennifer Marohasy, ‘The Taboo Food- Genetically Modified Anything’, IPA Review, March 2004, http://www.ipa.org.au/library/review56-1%20The%20taboo%20food.pdf

Jennifer Marohasy, ‘There are Votes in the Murray’, IPA Review, September 2004, http://www.ipa.org.au/library/56-3-%20there%20are%20votes%20in%20the%20murray.pdf

Jennifer Marohasy, ‘Time to Redefine Environmentalism’, IPA Review, December 2004, http://www.ipa.org.au/library/56-4-Time%20to%20Redefine%20Environmentalism.pdf

[Read more…] about The IPA Review & Articles by Jennifer Marohasy