arbilp3

Following up on posts about the night sky, I've discovered an Aust/NZ organisation dedicated to the conservation of the natural darkness of the night: https://australasiandarkskyalliance.org/ You can subscribe to their free newsletter.

There's a wealth of actions we can take. Click above to see what you can do as an individual.

Switch to renewables if you can.

The stereotypes of democratic decline are rigged elections or daily street chaos. However, Australia’s democratic decline is happening much more quietly, with weakening whistleblower protections and the steady expansion of laws over several years that have made protest riskier than ever. https://thepoint.com.au/opinions/260306-the-decline-in-democracy-what-does-it-mean-for-the-generations-to-come

Young people, do not stay quiet. Make it clear to the politicians that you can see what's going on and that you won't stand for it. Believe it or not, there will be plenty of Boomers who will support you.

Ok, let's get more down to earth. We may not be able to screen ourselves from satellites but we can screen ourselves from unwanted local vistas. Native plants can do this while also providing food and shelter for insects, birds, lizards and small mammals. More birdsong, butterfly flutterings and discoveries of other other tiny wildlife all help to bring balance to our life and respite from intrusive technology.
https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/how-to/naturally-useful/106424036

A short video for those of you who may want to know more about the satellites orbiting our planet. I believe we should be demanding transparency from authorities and a night sky treaty. We are being attacked from every angle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOFFF0TnvwE

I've just found out about this 😮 😡 . It is not Australian in origin but it could affect us here, our skies, our health, our natural ecosystems. These tech companies think they can do whatever they like and with the US govt being what it is they could get away with this proposal.

A private California-based startup is proposing a... future... in which thousands of in-space mirrors mounted on satellites direct light down to targeted areas on Earth, threatening natural darkness. The company describes this concept as “sunlight on demand,” an idea that would fundamentally alter the nighttime environment as we know it...

Artificial light from orbital illumination would introduce a powerful new stressor to nocturnal ecosystems. Research shows that even low levels of artificial light at night disrupt essential behaviors such as navigation, migration, feeding, and reproduction across hundreds of species. These disruptions can destabilize food webs and accelerate biodiversity loss.

In humans, exposure to artificial light at night disrupts circadian rhythms that regulate sleep, metabolic processes, and hormonal cycles. Research links circadian disruption to a growing number of health concerns. Reflected orbital illumination viewed through optical devices may also pose a risk of eye damage, similar to observing a partial solar eclipse.

These are just some of the threats to consider. Please read the short article and if you oppose the proposal please sign the open letter to say so

Policy changes introduced and maintained under Abbott's leadership [PM from Sep 2013 to Sep 2015] played a central role in driving that growth. The rate of growth in overseas student numbers from 2013 to 2019 is extraordinary (an increase of over 200,000 in just six years). These understandably fell during COVID and then increased even more rapidly after COVID due to further measures to accelerate the return of students implemented by the Morrison Government. These measures included unrestricted student visa work rights, fee-free applications, and a covid visa, which attracted huge numbers of students to switch to this cheap visa with unrestricted work rights and no requirement to study. The new Albanese Government was slow to tighten these policies.

For the first time, important Koala habitat corridors throughout Greater Sydney have been mapped... [It is] a cost-effective opportunity that allows Sydney’s critical Koala populations and other threatened species to persist amidst growing threats from development. https://www.tec.org.au/greater_sydney_koala_green_belts_corridors_of_survival

This is really positive news and needs to be done for all Australian cities. Wildlife corridors help animals survive through the ability to move, not caught in bush 'islands' where they are endangered by threats like fire and lack of food with nowhere to go.

This imposing bird has become rare because of loss of habitat. Last year it won Birdlife's Bird of the Year voting competition. Here's a little video but there's plenty more if you're interested. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ePEdJaD9KE&t=21s

There is growing momentum that the insanely generous capital gains tax discount needs to change.

Recent Parliamentary Budget Office figures show that more than 80% of the discount goes to the top 10% of income earners and if that was not bad enough almost 60% goes to the top 1% (those who earn more than $362,900).

That’s $13 billion a year going just to the top one percenters...

The Government needs to answer... Who should pay more tax on their extra income, those on the lowest wages, or those with the most? It’s over to you Prime Minister.

https://thepoint.com.au/opinions/260302-the-simple-question-at-the-heart-of-the-capital-gains-tax-debate-why-do-should-pay-more-tax-minimum-wage-workers-or-wealthy-investors

Roo & Wombat little mates https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZwo9PtIHZU

While we're on the topic of bees, let's see what is happening with honeybees (European bees) and the implications for big sectors of our cropping industry and our economy.