Thursday, October 29, 2009

Australia Population

I am surprised to find out that Australia population growth rate is so high. I do worry about the limited environmental resource, especially freshwater resource in the drought Australia. I don't think that the high population growth is the key answer to solve economic and aging problems.

Growth head and shoulders above India (The Sydney Morning Herald, JESSICA IRVINE AND JACOB SAULWICK, September 23, 2009)
Australia 'sleepwalking' into population disaster (ABC news, Lyndal Curtis, Fri Sep 18, 2009 6:01pm AEST)

Demographics of Australia
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Growth head and shoulders above India (The Sydney Morning Herald, JESSICA IRVINE AND JACOB SAULWICK, September 23, 2009)
AUSTRALIA is poised to be the world's fastest growing industrialised nation over the next four decades, with a rate of population growth higher even than India.

It means that if the G20 leaders gathering in Pittsburgh this week were to line up according to expected population growth, Kevin Rudd would be in second place, standing only behind Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah who can expect his population to grow by 74 per cent by 2050.

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Australia 'sleepwalking' into population disaster (ABC news, Lyndal Curtis, Fri Sep 18, 2009 6:01pm AEST)
Federal Labor backbencher Kelvin Thomson says Australia's projected population explosion will have a "catastrophic" effect on the environment and he has called for immigration levels to be cut.

The latest Intergenerational Report predicts Australia's population will rise to 35 million in 40 years' time, up from about 21.5 million people at present.

Higher migration and women having more children will account for the boost in numbers.
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Baby Bonus
Date of effect: 1 July 2009
Rate: $5,185
Please Note: Baby Bonus is paid in 13 equal fortnightly payments for each child.

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Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Disappearance four decades of Taiwan's National Parks

I am sorry that the whole content is written by traditional Chinese character. I don't have time to translate it, so I just copy the translation by google. I know the translation is not good, but at least it can tell something. Maybe when I have time, I can try to smooth this translation and make it readable.

I am angry and upset about what KMT has done to Taiwan. If it is not because of the destruction and damage by KMT, Taiwan's forest and mountains would be preserved much better and there won't be so many mudslides, landslides and death. Japan set up those National Parks in 1937 and KMT destroyed them and started many terrible destructions when it occupied Taiwan.

今天看到這個網頁的內容,另我無限唏噓 心痛不已,除了傷心的想落淚,心中還有恨意。如果沒有國民黨的故意破壞及隱瞞,或許台灣的山林不會破碎的這麼悽慘,或許不會有這麼多人死於年年發生的土石流。

== 摘錄網頁文章一開始的部份,全文請自己連進去看 ========

消失四十年的國家公園

當我還是個國中生時,在地理課本上讀到:「臺灣的第一座國家公園成立於 1984 年」,不疑有他。直到我大學畢業後,偶然在一張 1930 年代的臺灣地圖上看到三座國家公園時,著實吃了一驚。

這三座國家公園分別位於大屯、次高タロコ、新高阿里山,當時稱為國立公園。大屯國立公園算是當今陽明山國家公園的前身,除此之外,其範圍還包含淡水河左岸的觀音山。次高タロコ國立公園 (次高山即為雪山、タロコ即為太魯閣) 除了涵蓋當今太魯閣國家公園的全部與雪霸國家公園的大部分,其西南角還延伸至霧社。新高阿里山國立公園 (新高山即為玉山) 的範圍也比當今玉山國家公園大得多,將阿里山包含在內。

這三處國立公園於 1935 年被指定為候補地,於 1937 年正式成立。事實上,臺北帝國大學地質學教授早坂一郎先生,主張再追加恆春半島為國立公園。他在 1936 年的論文中指出,國立公園的選定應著重地景之獨特性。他認為次高タロコ與新高阿里山的同質性太高,倒是恆春半島擁有當時日本國內唯一的熱帶雨林地景,不應成為遺珠。他的構想,直到 1984 年才由墾丁國家公園落實。不過,至少戰前臺灣已擁有三處國立公園,則是毫無疑問的了。

=== Partial translation by google (ps. If you want to read the whole google translation, you could use "消失四十年的國家公園" to do google search and then click " Translate this page")===

Disappearance of four decades of national park

When I was a junior high school students while in geography textbooks read: "Taiwan's first national park was established in 1984," no doubt has his. Until I graduated from college after the accident on a map of Taiwan, the 1930s saw three national park, really surprised.

All three national parks are located in Datun, the second highest Tatariロコ, new high-Ali, then known as National Park. Datun National Park which was the predecessor of today's Yangmingshan National Park, in addition, its scope also includes the left bank of the Tamsui River Mt. The high-TatariロコNational Park (namely, sub-alpine snow-capped mountains, Tatariロコshall Taroko) In addition to covering all of today's Taroko National Park Shei-Pa National Park, with most of its southwest corner is also extended to Wushe. Alishan National Park, a new high (new high mountains shall be Jade Mountain) the scope of the Yushan National Park is much greater than today, will Ali included.

This three National Park in 1935 was designated as alternate land was formally established in 1937. In fact, a geology professor at Taipei Imperial University, Mr. Ichiro Hayasaka and advocated for an additional Hengchun Peninsula National Park. In his 1936 paper states that the National Park should focus on the selection of the unique landscape. He believes that the second highest Tatari Aliロコwith the new high-homogeneity high, but added the Hengchun Peninsula at that time Japan has the only tropical rain forest landscape, should not be left unrecognized. His vision, until 1984 the implementation by the Kenting National Park. However, at least before the war, Taiwan already has three national parks, it is no doubt of.

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費驊:蔣據時代的「國家公園之父」

1939年出版的台灣國立公園攝影集全文影像 (台中圖書館 日文舊籍數位典藏)
題名: 臺湾国立公園寫真集
著者: 岡田紅陽攝影
出版: [臺北市]:臺灣國立公園協會,昭和14[1939], 143面;部份彩圖, 地圖
(ps. Partial images were collected in this slide show)

Information about Japan's National Park
日本統治時代の台湾にかつて存在した国立公園 (台湾の統治権放棄により消滅)
大屯国立公園(1937年12月27日指定)
次高タロコ国立公園(1937年12月27日指定)
新高阿里山国立公園(1937年12月27日指定)

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Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Nuke or no nuke?

I just heard the news that 49% Australian support nuclear power and only 43% opposite it. Oh my God! I am not going to support an energy that we don't know how to deal with its dangerous waste except dumping it near or in indigenous peoples' home.

The news can be found at
Nuclear power shunned for fear of political fallout (The Sydney Morning Herald, October 13, 2009)

Australians warm to nuclear power (The Age, IAN MUNRO AND GEOFF STRONG, October 13, 2009)
An Age/Nielson poll found 49 per cent of Australians believed nuclear should be on the nation's list of potential power options, while 43 per cent were opposed outright.
The finding marks a big shift of public opinion from 2006, when a Newspoll showed just 38 per cent in favour of nuclear power and 51 per cent opposed.

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Saturday, October 10, 2009

2009 Nobel Peace Prize is a kitsch

I guess everybody who watched news already knew that newly elected US president Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

This 2009 Nobel Peace Prize is a kitsch which would rather honor a person achieving nothing than other people who have dedicate their life for peace.
Use Google to search around 10:50 am in Brisbane time: Results 1 – 30 of about 8,053 related articles. Search took 0.24 seconds.
Israelis, Palestinians wary of Obama the Nobelist
Los Angeles Times - ‎18 minutes ago‎
Both sides in the Mideast conflict worry that President Obama's enhanced prestige as a peacemaker may work to their disadvantage. Israel's Shimon Peres congratulates a fellow laureate. Israeli President Shimon Peres -- who shared the Nobel Peace Prize ...

Arab world gives Nobelist Obama mixed review
Los Angeles Times - Amro Hassan, Meris Lutz - ‎45 minutes ago‎
The Nobel prize-winning American president is given credit for reaching out to Muslims rhetorically, but many in the Arab world see him as having caved in the face of Mideast peace difficulties. A Palestinian in a barbershop chair in predominantly Arab ...

President Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Washington Post - ‎47 minutes ago‎
President Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for his "efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." Chairperson of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Thorbjorn Jagland, with a picture of President Obama at The ...

How Obama Might Have Received the Nobel News: A Fantasy
Washington Post - Jason Horowitz, Dan Zak - ‎1 hour ago‎
So you're roused from sleep and told you won a Nobel Peace Prize, arguably the loftiest award in the solar system. How do you feel? President Obama was "surprised," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said. ...

Weekend Opinionator: Does the Nobel Hate America?
New York Times - Tobin Harshaw - ‎20 minutes ago‎
As we all know, Barack Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” Swell sentiments, but it seems unlikely that anyone will ever apply them ...

Obama's Nobel and His Obligation to Afghanistan
Wall Street Journal - Bob Kerrey - ‎2 hours ago‎
In a wonderfully stunning decision, the Nobel Committee in Oslo awarded our president its Peace Prize. They said the award was as much for the hope that he will contribute to a more peaceful world as it was for any specific accomplishment ...

Nobel Prize carries risks as well as benefits for Obama
Chicago Tribune - Greg Miller - ‎47 minutes ago‎
WASHINGTON BUREAU - The gold medallion given to recipients of the Nobel Prize doesn't come with a ribbon, but the award could still end up being a weight around President Obama's neck. Intended to honor how Obama has altered the nation's ...

US reaction to Obama's win of Nobel Peace Prize
The Associated Press - ‎2 hours ago‎
Some US reaction to President Barack Obama's win of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday: ___ "Let me be clear: I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations ...

Obama's Nobel puzzles Pakistanis living close to war
Los Angeles Times - ‎3 hours ago‎
While Obama is seen as an improvement over Bush, many Pakistanis feel the president hasn't done enough to merit the peace prize. They are still wary of Obama and his policies. An effigy of Barack Obama is burned during a protest led by the Islamic ...

Q+A: Is it the Nobel "Peace" or "Political" prize?
Reuters - Patricia Zengerle - ‎4 hours ago‎
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday to President Barack Obama, the third prominent US Democrat to win recently, only seemed to reinforce an impression the prize can be as much about politics as ...

Analysis: A great prize, but will it help goals?
The Associated Press - Jennifer Loven - ‎3 hours ago‎
WASHINGTON — Now that he's Nobel laureate Barack Obama, will he find smoother sailing for his plans to rid the world of nuclear weapons, to forge Mideast peace and stabilize Afghanistan, to halt climate change? Not likely. The Nobel committee members ...

Why Should We Care About the Nobel?
Washington Post - Anne Applebaum - ‎1 hour ago‎
Why did they give it to him, did he deserve it, should he have accepted it, who else should have gotten it: The nation is speaking of nothing else except President Barack Obama's Nobel Peace Prize. Here is a better question for us to ask ourselves: Why ...

Obama conducts another Afghanistan meeting
USA Today - ‎4 hours ago‎
More than a few folks have noted the irony: President Obama conducting an Afghanistan war council just hours after winning the Nobel Peace Prize. "For Obama, peace in the morning, war in in the afternoon," said a statement from the libertarian Cato ...

Questions and answers about Obama's Nobel surprise
The Associated Press - Karl Ritter, Matt Moore - ‎4 hours ago‎
Why did President Barack Obama win the Nobel Prize? Does it have something to do with Afghanistan? Is the Nobel meant to reward accomplishments, or encourage future actions? What will the president do with the big cash prize? ...

US envoy holds Mideast talks as Obama wins Nobel
The Associated Press - Steve Weizman - ‎5 hours ago‎
JERUSALEM — When President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, his Mideast envoy was hard at work in Jerusalem trying to revive a faltering peace process on which Obama has staked his credibility and that of the United States. ...

Obama, Faced With Two Wars, Wins Peace Prize
Voice of America - ‎1 hour ago‎
THORBJOERN JAGLAND, CHAIRMAN: "The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for two thousand nine is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation ...

Obama and the Nobel: He loses by winning
Los Angeles Times - ‎1 hour ago‎
Giving the Peace Prize to the president so soon in his term embarrasses him and diminishes the honor. Excessive praise can be both unwelcome and embarrassing. Just ask President Obama, who awoke Friday to discover that he had been awarded the Nobel ...

Illinoisans react to Obama's Nobel prize win
Chicago Tribune - ‎2 hours ago‎
By AP Residents around Illinois reacted Friday to President Barack Obama's 2009 Nobel Peace Prize win. Norwegian Nobel Committee members lauded the change in global mood wrought by Obama's calls for peace and cooperation, and praised his pledges to ...

Could Obama's Nobel Peace Prize have a greater purpose?
Chicago Tribune - ‎3 hours ago‎
President Barack Obama has not solved the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He has not convinced Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to play nice with other nations. He has not brokered peace between China and Tibet. But neither had the 14th Dalai Lama ...

Nickels on Obama's Nobel Prize
Seattle Times - Jim Brunner - ‎1 hour ago‎
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels put out a glowing statement today about President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize. "Winning the Nobel Peace Prize is an incredible achievement for President Obama and a truly wonderful moment for the entire nation. ...

Obama Peace Prize Award Elicits Praise, Criticism
Voice of America - Michael Bowman - ‎2 hours ago‎
Global reaction to US President Barack Obama being awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize ranges from hearty congratulations to expressions of disbelief and derision. The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognized the president for his work to ...

World reaction to Obama prize
BBC News - ‎3 hours ago‎
People around the world have given their reaction to Barack Obama winning the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) ...

The Nobel Hope Prize
Wall Street Journal - ‎1 hour ago‎
The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to President Obama yesterday was greeted with astonishment as much as any other emotion, even among many of his admirers. Our own reaction is bemusement at the Norwegian decision to offer what amounts to the world's first ...

Bush aide: Obama's prize is a slap at Bush
Bizjournals.com - ‎2 hours ago‎
A close adviser and aid to former US President George W. Bush said Friday that Barack Obama's selection as a Nobel Peace prize winner is less about substance and more of a reflection of the Committee's preference for a US president that shares the ...

State Department Lauds Obama's Nobel Peace Prize by Making Jab at Bush
FOXNews - Justin Fishel - ‎2 hours ago‎
In a clear dig at former president George W. Bush, the State Department lauded President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize award by saying it's better for the US to have "accolades tossed its way, rather than shoes." In a clear dig at former President George ...

White House Says Not a Partisan Peace Prize
FOXNews - ‎3 hours ago‎
In a stunning announcement, the Norwegian Nobel committee awarded President Barack Obama the Nobel Peace Prize for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." Several gasps were audible from the ...

Where's Our Nobel?
Washington Post - ‎2 hours ago‎
You will recall that Time magazine has occasionally given its ???Person of the Year??? award not to individuals but to collectives: Smart, Well-Coiffed Young People; Financiers With Conscience (given collectively because no individual financiers with ...

Obama's Peace Prize: Just Reward Or Premature Recognition?
Voice of America - Gary Thomas - ‎3 hours ago‎
The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama came as a surprise to most everyone. Few analysts thought a world leader with less than a year in office would win the world's most prestigious peace award. ...

Mark Russell
Chicago Tribune - ‎1 hour ago‎
The Nobel Committee has bestowed the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 on President Obama and all I can say is, it's about time. Obama was notified that he was the winner when the folks from Publishers Clearing House showed up at his door. ...

World leaders, Nobel laureates offer Obama praise, skepticism
Kansas City Star - Margaret Talev - ‎3 hours ago‎
"I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations ... To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the ...

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