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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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.

=======================

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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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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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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Eyes Massage

I feel my eyes are very tired, so I decide to do some massage.

自我按摩眼睛保健
1. 揉攢竹：以拇指分別按在攢竹 (Bl2, 眉頭凹陷處)，由輕而重輕揉 20 次，以酸脹為宜。
2. 揉睛明：以拇食二指，揉壓睛明 (Bl1, 兩眼內角凹陷處)，先用力向下按壓，然後向上擠捏，如此一按一擠，20-30 次。
3. 按揉四白：以食指分別按在四白 (St2, 眼下眶正中對下 1 寸)，反覆按揉 20 次，以酸脹為宜。
4. 刮眼輪：食指屈曲，以第 2 指節緊貼上眼眶，由內至外推刮，然後以用樣方式刮下眼眶，如此先上後下，自內向外，反覆刮動 20-30 次。
5. 熨目：閉目，先搓熱手掌，然後輕按雙眼 30 秒，再輕輕揉動 10 余次。
6. 揉太陽：以拇指緊貼鬢角凹陷處太陽 (Ex-HN5)，反覆按揉 30 次，以酸脹為宜。

可以防治近視、視矇、青光眼、視神經病變。

(English version:
Massage to Promote the Eye Region
1. Knead the eyebrows: press the thumbs on the inner sides of the eyebrows (Bl2) and knead 20 times; the pressure should be increased gradually to obtain a feeling of soreness.
2. Pinch the nasal bridge: use the thumb and index finger to pinch the nasal bridge closest to the inner canthi of the eyes (Bl1), firmly press and pinch about 20-30 times.
3. Press under the eyes: use the index finger to press just below the pupils (St2), and knead about 20 times.
4. Scrape the orbits: put the thumbs on the temple areas, use the middle knuckles of the index fingers to press the inner canthi of the eyes, then scrape apart along the upper and lower orbits, about 20-30 times.
5. Compress the eyeballs: first rub the hands together to get them warm, then put them over the closed eyes with the palms for 30 seconds; then slightly rub the eyeballs 10 times or more.
6. Thumb-knead the temples: firmly knead the center of temples (Ex-HN5) with the thumbs about 30 times.

This massage is useful for the prevention and treatment of myopia, blurred vision, glaucoma and other eye problems.)
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眼睛保養按摩術
1. 以兩手大拇指按著顴骨下緣,然後以兩手中指指腹按摩眼框,由眉頭向外循眼眶骨外緣按摩一圈,回到攅竹穴是為一次,共按摩五十次,竹.魚腰.絲竹空.朣子膠.四白等穴。
2. 以左手或右手大拇指及食指,分別放在內眼角的晴明穴按壓五十次。

至於眼睛保健操,是藉由眼球運動來鬆弛睫狀肌,使恢復彈性.消除疲勞。
1. 眼睛向上.向下緩慢各看六次。
2. 眼睛像左.像右緩慢各看六次
3. 兩眼球緩慢循順時鐘即逆時鐘方向三百六十度轉動各做六次。
4. 用左手或右手伸直,眼睛注視手掌橫紋,緩慢收回手掌職倒貼至臉部。
5. 用力睜眼.閉眼做六次。


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If you want to condemn someone

法行則人從法，法敗則法從人。

The translation of 欲加之罪,何患無辭 is found at http://www.nciku.com.tw/mini/zh/detail/115970

欲加之罪,何患無辭
If you want to condemn someone, you can always discover a charge.

「欲加之罪, 何患無詞」, 你想誣衊他簡直是輕而易舉的事情。
If you are out to condemn somebody, you can always trump up a charge.
It is a piece of cake for you to slander him.

Taiwan ex-leader jailed for life (Friday, 11 September 2009 11:19 UK)

Taiwan's former President Chen Shui-bian has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of corruption by a court in Taipei.

Mr Chen was charged with embezzlement, taking bribes and money laundering, involving a total of $15m (£9m) while in office from 2000-2008.

Mr Chen had denied the charges, saying they were politically motivated.

His wife, Wu Shu-chen, already jailed for perjury in the case, was also sentenced to life for corruption.

扁珍一審判無期徒刑 罰金5億 (自由時報 Sep. 12, 2009)

〔記者劉志原、李欣芳、林慶川、陳成良／綜合報導〕台北地方法院審理前總統陳水扁家族所涉洗錢等案，認定扁、珍在國務機要費等案中收賄、貪污、洗錢，不法所得六億八千多萬元，其中三億多元匯往海外隱匿，扁、珍都被判無期徒刑、褫奪公權終身，扁、珍分別罰金兩億、三億；扁的兒子陳致中夫婦各被判刑兩年六個月、一年八個月，各罰金一億五千萬；扁家僅扁媳黃睿靚緩刑五年，但她須另付緩刑處分金兩億。

陳致中判兩年半 黃睿靚緩刑

台北地院這項九一一世紀判決，引發國內外廣泛議論及質疑。扁辦及阿扁擬於二審重新委任的律師鄭文龍直指判決違憲違法，趕盡殺絕、抄家滅族。士林地院刑庭庭長洪英花指判決程序違法，自始無效；多位法界人士也認為，同樣的法官對性質相同的國務機要費及特別費，判決卻天差地別，有雙重標準。

國際媒體也立即報導扁被判終身監禁，並普遍關注扁案司法人權，以及判決遭質疑判刑太重。馬英九總統在哈佛大學的恩師孔傑榮刻正訪台，他認為，一審判決後應有條件釋放扁，並對審理期間換法官程序表示質疑。

扁家罰金共八億，創下貪瀆案司法史紀錄，因合議庭要求被告連帶追繳不法所得六億八千多萬，而扁家罰金八億元、加上黃睿靚須付兩億元處分金，已逾不法所得總額，被告律師認為不符比例原則；審判長蔡守訓則強調一切合法。

扁家罰金共八億 逾不法所得

陳水扁遭蔡守訓裁定延押迄今兩百五十六天，連同之前特偵組起訴扁之前羈押的卅二天，扁迄今羈押已達兩百八十八天，法院最快明天，最慢後天，會將判決書送至北所由扁簽收，扁上訴後，再由高院分案決定是否續押。

蔡美利重病停審 陳鎮慧免刑

特偵組去年十二月針對國務機要費、龍潭案、南港案及洗錢案起訴扁、珍等十四人，今年五月再追加起訴扁、珍向前台北一○一董事長陳敏薰收賄千萬；珍的同學蔡美利因重病獲暫停審理。

昨宣判的十三名被告均有罪，前總統府出納陳鎮慧因認罪並擔任污點證人而獲免刑，但仍須和扁、珍共同遭追繳一億元不法所得；扁的妻舅吳景茂夫婦等五人獲緩刑；扁的昔日幕僚馬永成、林德訓雖未獲任何不法所得，但也遭認定是貪污共犯，重判廿年、十六年。

判決書提到，陳致中、黃睿靚夫婦先前態度傲慢，但後來自白，可說知恥近乎勇，但法官考量陳致中是洗錢主要操盤手，而未予緩刑。

合議庭曾審理過馬英九特別費案，判馬無罪；合議庭指出，國務機要費與特別費性質不同無法類比，扁案也不適用「支出大於收入」的「大水庫理論」。

馬扁案判決歧異 疑雙重標準

扁為抗議政治審判，昨未出庭聽判，審判長蔡守訓引用「大學」指扁、珍「一人貪戾，一國作亂」，判決書直指「陳水扁的總統職務限縮於財團豪閥之服務」，不法所得令人咋舌，故予重判；合議庭另認定陳致中等十一人為扁案共犯，一併向檢方告發。

昨天宣判前，挺扁群眾約兩百人至台北地院前抗議，高喊「阿扁無罪」；最高檢特偵組則說，台北地院積極進行審判程序並依法判決，對此表示敬意。
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Black Wave: The Legacy Of The Exxon Valdez

I just watched this documentary, Black Wave: The Legacy Of The Exxon Valdez, which is produced by CBC. It upset me very much. I am angry to the cold blood Exxon and feel sad for those people in the fisheries town Cordova and all wildlife in and near Prince William Sound.

Black Wave: The Legacy of the Exxon Valdez (Saturday July 18, 2009 at 7 pm on CBC-TV)

Almost twenty years after the massive Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska the citizens of the town of Cordova are still dealing with the environmental and social impacts, as well as the financial and legal fallout of the spill. Black Wave: The Legacy of the Exxon Valdez is a poignant reminder that the effects of North America's biggest environmental catastrophe are still with us. Over the years they have profoundly altered the lives of tens of thousands of people, reducing many of them to poverty and despair.
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Eventually a successful class-action suit, involving 32,000 people, brought the plaintiffs a huge victory when the jury ordered Exxon to pay five billion dollars in compensation. That should have been the end of the story, but it wasn't. Battalions of Exxon's lawyers started a drawn-out judicial war that dragged through the U.S. legal system. When the case finally ended up before the U.S. Supreme Court, it reduced the award to one tenth of its original amount. The decision, a victory for ExxonMobil, was a bitter defeat for the people of Cordova who are still trying to rebuild their lives.

Black Wave: The Legacy Of The Exxon Valdez
In the early hours of March 24th 1989 the Exxon Valdez oil supertanker runs aground in Alaska. It discharges millions of gallons of crude oil. The incident becomes the biggest environmental catastrophe in North American history.
For twenty years, Riki Ott and the fishermen of the little town of Cordova, Alaska have waged the longest legal battle in U.S. history against the world’s most powerful oil company – ExxonMobil. They tell us all about the environmental, social and economic consequences of the black wave that changed their lives forever. This is the legacy of the Exxon Valdez.

Facts courtesy of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council
* 11 million gallons or 257,000 barrels or 38,800 metric tonnes of oil was spilled. * This is roughly equivalent to 125 olympic-sized swimming pools.
* Approximately 1,300 miles of shoreline were impacted by the oil.
* At its peak the cleanup effort included 10,000 workers, about 1,000 boats and roughly 100 airplanes and helicopters. Exxon says it spent about $2.1 billion.
* No one knows exactly how many animals died but the best estimates are: 250,000 seabirds, 2,800 sea otters, 300 harbor seals, 250 bald eagles, up to 22 killer whales, and billions of salmon and herring eggs.

Exxon Valdez oil spill

Exxon Valdez oil spill

In the case of Baker v. Exxon, an Anchorage jury awarded $287 million for actual damages and $5 billion for punitive damages. The punitive damages amount was equal to a single year's profit by Exxon at that time.

Exxon appealed the ruling, and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the original judge, Russel Holland, to reduce the punitive damages. On December 6, 2002, the judge announced that he had reduced the damages to $4 billion, which he concluded was justified by the facts of the case and was not grossly excessive. Exxon appealed again and the case returned to court to be considered in light of a recent Supreme Court ruling in a similar case, which caused Judge Holland to increase the punitive damages to $4.5 billion, plus interest.

After more appeals, and oral arguments heard by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on January 27, 2006, the damages award was cut to $2.5 billion on December 22, 2006. The court cited recent Supreme Court rulings relative to limits on punitive damages.

Exxon appealed again. On May 23, 2007, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals denied ExxonMobil's request for a third hearing and let stand its ruling that Exxon owes $2.5 billion in punitive damages. Exxon then appealed to the Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the case.[15] On February 27, 2008, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments for 90 minutes. Justice Samuel Alito, who at the time, owned between $100,000 and $250,000 in Exxon stock, recused himself from the case.[16] In a decision issued June 25, 2008, Justice David Souter issued the judgment of the court, vacating the $2.5 billion award and remanding the case back to a lower court, finding that the damages were excessive with respect to maritime common law. Exxon's actions were deemed "worse than negligent but less than malicious."[17] The judgment limits punitive damages to the compensatory damages, which for this case were calculated as $507.5 million.[18] Some lawmakers, such as Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick J. Leahy, have decried the ruling as "another in a line of cases where this Supreme Court has misconstrued congressional intent to benefit large corporations."

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Radiation Therapy Education

Some information.

Radiation Therapy Education

Radiographer - Radiation Therapist 2391-13

Department of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences

Medical Radiation Technologists Board of Queensland

Become a Radiation Therapist

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Popular Consultation Day in East Timor

Just heard the news about the Popular Consultation Day (August 30) in East Timor. Tomorrow will be the 10th anniversary of East Timor independence. It reminds me how much difficult they have gone through to become an independent nation 10 years ago. Wish all the best to those brave people in East Timor who fought with their lives for the freedom and independence.

Agreement regaring the Modalities for the Popular Consultation of the East Timorese through a Direct Ballot

UN Volunteers to assist 'Popular Consultation' ballot in East Timor (18 June 1999)

East Timor buries independence fighters
By Sara Everingham in Dili, Posted Sat Aug 29, 2009 11:00am AEST

The remains of independence fighters killed in East Timor's remote hills were buried at a new site at Metanero.

Hundreds of East Timorese have been attending a ceremony near Dili to remember those who died in the fight for independence.

Sunday marks 10 years since East Timor's vote for independence on August 30 in 1999.

Answered by Fire

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Hot Winter in Brisbane

Today is August 25. I admitted that I came from North Hemisphere, so summer was in June-Aug in my past lives. But I am in Brisbane now, it is in South Hemisphere and June-Aug should be winter. I know it is end of winter in Brisbane and the weather in Brisbane is sub-tropical, but the temperature in Brisbane is still way too high in this week. 35 oC, 35 oC, it is like the summer temperature in my home at Taiwan.

Brisbane, Queensland: August 2009 Daily Weather Observations

Date	Day	Temps		Rain	Evap	Sun	Max wind gust			9 am						3 pm
		Min	Max				Dir	Spd	Time	Temp	RH	Cld	Dir	Spd	MSLP	Temp	RH	Cld	Dir	Spd	MSLP
		°C	°C	mm	mm	hours	km/h		local	°C	%	8th	km/h		hPa	°C	%	8th	km/h		hPa
1	Sa	8.4	22.5	0	3.2	9.8	W	19	11:17	13.7	60	1	SW	9	1025.4	19.3	52	1	ENE	11	1022.3
2	Su	8.8	23.0	0	5.4	10.0	SSW	20	08:45	14.4	69	1	SW	9	1027.2	21.8	42	1	NNE	9	1024.1
3	Mo	9.4	24.3	0	3.2	9.1	WNW	24	13:03	15.0	73	0	SSW	6	1024.8	24.1	36	0	WNW	11	1020.1
4	Tu	9.1	22.8	0	3.0	9.8	NE	22	13:47	15.5	66	5	SW	7	1023.4	20.9	52	7	NE	11	1019.3
5	We	10.8	23.4	0	2.8	9.8	ENE	22	15:17	16.3	69	6	SW	9	1021.5	22.0	46	1	ENE	13	1018.8
6	Th	11.3	22.5	0	2.8	10.1	ESE	26	13:58	15.9	72	1	SW	9	1023.6	21.5	49	1	ENE	13	1020.0
7	Fr	10.4	23.7	0	3.6	10.0	ENE	19	16:36	15.9	73	1	SW	7	1021.6	22.8	50	1	NNE	9	1016.6
8	Sa	10.5	22.7	0	2.8	10.0	E	28	15:25	16.4	69	1	SW	9	1019.7	20.5	47	1	E	15	1016.7
9	Su	8.2	22.0	0	5.0	9.8	NE	19	15:48	14.3	59	1	SW	11	1021.3	21.1	43	1	NE	9	1017.6
10	Mo	9.3	22.5	0	2.6	10.1	ENE	22	14:24	15.1	71	4	SSW	6	1022.9	21.1	48	1	ENE	13	1019.7
11	Tu	9.5	23.0	0	2.4	10.1	NE	24	12:25	16.2	70	1	SW	6	1022.2	21.9	40	1	NE	13	1017.8
12	We	11.7	23.5	0	3.6	6.9	E	56	16:07	16.8	75	7	SSW	6	1018.7	22.1	62	4	NE	13	1013.3
13	Th	10.6	26.8	2.8	3.0	10.0	NE	19	14:10	19.5	67	1	ESE	2	1016.4	25.3	51	1	NNE	9	1012.1
14	Fr	12.1	26.4	0	2.8	9.5	W	30	11:36	18.6	53	1	SW	7	1018.1	26.4	22	0	SSW	7	1014.8
15	Sa	10.8	23.4	0	4.0	10.5	NNE	20	15:52	16.5	68	1	SSW	7	1021.6	22.6	48	1	NE	11	1018.0
16	Su	10.2	25.4	0	4.0	10.8	NNE	24	16:16	16.6	68	0	S	4	1022.2	23.0	51	0	NNE	15	1017.4
17	Mo	11.2	27.8	0	4.6	10.4	W	41	21:27	18.5	69	0	SW	7	1019.0	26.1	52	1	ENE	9	1014.6
18	Tu	13.3	23.4	0.2	5.0	10.6	E	31	16:10	19.2	50	1	SSW	7	1024.9	21.7	32	1	ESE	17	1023.5
19	We	10.9	23.4	0	5.2	10.5	SE	24	12:02	17.1	58	1	SW	9	1027.9	20.6	43	1	E	7	1023.4
20	Th	10.7	22.7	0	3.4	9.4	E	22	13:16	17.5	68	1	SW	7	1023.0	22.3	41	6	NNE	7	1017.8
21	Fr	11.6	24.6	0	4.4	10.2	ENE	28	13:19	18.5	63	0	Calm		1017.9	22.7	64	1	NNE	15	1012.3
22	Sa	14.5	28.1	0	4.6	8.9	E	48	17:10	21.2	62	1	NW	2	1014.7	26.1	50	1	ENE	13	1010.5
23	Su	14.2	28.3	0	5.6	10.5	ENE	24	14:01	21.4	70	0	SSW	4	1015.7	25.4	54	1	NE	15	1011.4
24	Mo	15.5	35.4	0	3.2	10.4	N	28	16:08	24.1	68	3	Calm		1014.3	31.5	42	1	ENE	15	1008.5
25	Tu	17.6	33.4	0	5.8	10.8	W	39	13:18	29.2	29	0	WNW	15	1011.8	33.1	23	1	WNW	17	1008.3
26	We	18.0	30.0	0	7.2	10.2	W	37	14:35	23.6	21	1	W	11	1016.8	29.5	8	3	W	17	1013.6
27	Th	10.8	26.5	0	5.6	9.1	E	22	11:53	17.5	39	6	WSW	9	1020.1	25.1	36	3	ENE	11	1016.3
28	Fr	15.8	29.3	0	2.8	9.6	NNW	28	12:45	21.6	62	1	WSW	7	1018.8	26.0	57	1	NNE	11	1013.7
29	Sa	19.2		0	3.8					22.0	79	4	NNW	7	1016.8
Statistics for the first 29 days of August 2009
Mean		11.9	25.4		4.0	9.9				18.2	62	1		6	1020.4	23.8	44	1		12	1016.5
Lowest		8.2	22.0	0	2.4	6.9				13.7	21	0	Calm		1011.8	19.3	8	0	#	7	1008.3
Highest		19.2	35.4	2.8	7.2	10.8	E	56		29.2	79	7	WNW	15	1027.9	33.1	64	7	#	17	1024.1
Total				3.0	115.4	276.9

IDCJDW4019.200908   Prepared at 00:27 GMT on Saturday 29 August 2009

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