I thought our Western governing systems were short of cash, so instead of organising costly alternatives to the already set-up UN, why not sack the UN hierachy and start afresh.

If they won't allow it, just get Obama to tell - they - to jump in the lake, and tell him to do what's the right thing to do.

Getting more fed-up, BB, WA.

My dear Bushbred of WA. Your words of wisdom are appreciated on the the UN proposal but I believe charity begins at home. The state of the environment in your Western Australia is dire – salinity, desertification, lead, nickel, mercury, benzene, dioxin poisonings etc.

Now that the Emperor of Claremont (Barney Rubble) is on the loose, what does he have in store for you next? U308 – radon fall-out and its diabolical progeny?:

1. 2006:

Hazardous underground plume heading for river:

In February 2001, the industrial area of Bellevue was described as an Armageddon. The toxic inferno at Waste Control, a storage facilty, sent drums of exploding chemicals raining down on nearby properties spreading the fire.

The owner of the site was found to have breached government regulations for years and he did not provide a register of chemicals to authorities. The toxic underground plume is heading for the Helena River, which feeds into the Swan.

2. November 04, 2006

Environment Minister McGowan sacks hazadous waste committee:

BRIAN Burke and Julian Grill might have influenced a major Government climb-down on hazardous waste treatment in WA.

3. Apr 10, 2006

Fish kill raises Swan River concerns

Fishermen say the latest kill could have a long-term effect on the river's ecosystem.

Since Thursday more than 2,500 dead fish have been discovered between Bayswater and Guildford. Fishermen claim thousands more are rotting further upstream. Frank Prokop, from Recfishwest, says the river is on the verge of disaster.

4. 2007 Lead poisoning of Esperance WA

9,500 native birds killed by mining company's lead emissions.

The marine samples collected from the Esperance seabed showed lead readings between 3600mg/kg and 29,000mg/kg.

The environmental levels for lead under Australian guidelines are set between 50mg/kg and 220mg/kg.

The samples returned elevated nickel levels, with samples showing readings between 3300mg/kg to 6600mg/kg.

Environmental levels for nickel were between 21mg/kg and 52mg/kg.

The environmental levels are taken from the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000).

contd.....

Brought forward:

5. 2008

MINING giant Barrick Gold were fined a 'pittance' for spilling 4.5 million litres of toxic waste, toxicologists and Kalgoorlie residents say.

6 Jan. 2009

Four major parliamentary inquiries and audits since 2001, over significant industrial related environmental health disasters.

One complaint after another against the Department of Environment (and never a Minister to be seen!) Who’s actually running the state of WA anyway? Corrupt senior bureaucrats?

http://www.caps6218.org.au/documents/Ombudsman_Letter_to_CAPS%5B1%5D.pdf

7. 20th February 2009

The health of the Swan and Canning rivers has no chance of improving unless pollution entering the waterway is cut by almost half in the next seven years, a report for the Swan River Trust has warned.

8. 2009

Birds sick with a paralytic disease from the ingestion of toxins have been found in Perth lakes and parks.

The City of Belmont said several appear to have been affected by avian botulism, which causes paralysis of the legs, wings and neck.

Birds may drown, be predated upon or suffocate due to paralysis of the respiratory system.

9. March 30, 2009

Swan River polluted

THE Swan and Canning rivers are polluted with toxic levels of cancer-causing heavy metals, pesticides and hydrocarbons, a three-year sediment study has found.

Poisons including zinc, lead, copper, mercury and dieldrin were found to exceed guidelines at seven sites across Perth. Has the underground toxic plume from the Bellevue fire now invaded the Swan - a major catastrophe!

10. March 16, 2009

A look at how a Busselton beach went from pristine coastline to an environmental nightmare:

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25196212-2761,00.html

Dear Bushbred. These are but few and WA is in danger of crossing the tipping points where it will become irreversible.

Alas, pollutant industry captive, Barney Rubble (like his predecessor) does not intend to tackle the recession and climate change together.

The political party system has failed. What coward would dare cross the floor and risk losing pre-selection for are they not all cowards? Can your fragile ecosystems in WA sustain this ravenous genus indefinitely?

Protagoras

Thanks for the compliment, mate, but must say I am still concerned that the UN is being virtually chucked on the scrapheap when the true blame must surely be sheeted on the people who have ruined it - mostly those speaking on behalf of autocratic national leaders.

I guess that Immanuel Kant who devised the Plan for Perpetual Peace, as it was originally called, and even though a Doctor of the Church, had no room apparently for national leaders for Chair-People. .

But all the better, as far as we are concerned, because Kant as a historical philosopher surely realised that national leaders, either from Royalty or autocracy oftimes can steer policy for the wrong reasons, just by their presence.

Kant could have thus been very much against the way Condoleeza Rice as Minister of State under Bush was allowed to push in ahead of UN rep's usually in Arab-Israeli confrontations.

Finally must say that anyone like myself who has learnt all the above as an oldie in academics, does not feel like changing, in fact very distressed that the UN with all its auxillary facilities, including the environmental sciences, seems such a waste, especially when it is particularly so important save government money these days.

I was reminded of this post when hearing all about the G20 over the last week.

Do you guys think this G20 summit is pretty much setting a precedent of replacing the UN as the world's key decision-making forum? And is this a good development, or just a stopgap for this current emergency?

To Pat'S.

I don't know whether you were giving praise to the thread just above you, matey, but many thanks just the same.

From BB, WA.