Gone for a bit

I am gone from this blog for a short period of time, while I get on top of work committments again. I’ll be back soon.

Thanks for your ongoing support everyone.
Margi

Wendy Carlisle: Evidence destroyed (Timor Sea Oil Spill)

I highly recommend that anyone interested in the impact of oil spills reads Wendy Carlisle’s article on The Drum – Evidence destroyed: the luckiest oil spill – detailing the tragic mismanagement and shameful response by the Australian Government to the Timor Sea Oil Spill.

From Carlisle’s article:

Borthwick [Head of the Inquiry] did not conclude the environmental damage was minimal.

“It is unlikely that the full impact of the blowout will ever be known. This reflects the vast and remote area affected by the spill; the absence of solid reliable baseline data on species and ecosystems, and the slow response in putting together a monitoring plan.”

The crime scene had been destroyed, by time, by wind and by the seas.

Beyond Cosmic Dice: Moral Life in a Random World

by Jeff Schweitzer and Giuseppe Notarbartolo-Di-Sciara

I am ashamed to admit how long it took me to clear the space to read this book, but once opened I went through to the end in one sitting. It is brilliant.

If you treat yourself with just one thought provoking read for the season break, please make it this one.

From the book promotion material: The very foundation of our moral code is fundamentally flawed. The current code of ethics predominant in modern societies, shaped largely by divine command theory, is based on false promises of eternal salvation or threats of damnation, not on a morality inherent to the human condition.

Timor Sea oil spill inquiry: no research, no findings, no responsibility

The Timor Oil Spill was this issue that prompted me to start the WildPolitics.net blog. Its been an interesting writing journey for his past year, and this post marks an important moment to say thankyou for the growing group of readers who regularly visit and read. You have my gratitude for listening.

 

This article has just been posted on Crikey: November 26, 2010 – 4:49 pm

“Following a period of detailed consideration the Government has today released the Report of the Montara Commission of Inquiry and a draft Government response” says this week’s press release from Martin Ferguson’s office, “…the impact on the marine environment was minimal. … We can’t just turn our backs on this industry — it is too important to Australia’s economic and energy security.”

The Montara (Timor Sea) oil spill was amongst the worst in Australia’s history, with what the industry euphemistically call “an uncontrolled release of oil, gas and condensate” between August 21 – November 3 2009 within the Australian waters of the Timor Sea.

Despite early statements by the then Minister for Environment, Peter Garrett, that the spill would have negligible impact, they eventually admitted that their previous estimations of impact may have been undercooked, and that plans, technologies and processes companies must have place to respond to this type of spill are now subject to greater scrutiny. To their credit, the Government did establish the Montara Commission of Inquiry to investigate and identify the circumstances of the spill and to assess and report on the environmental impacts.  However, they didn’t move to this position without a push from the Greens.