Cluster Bombs: Hang your head in shame Australia

The senate rejected the proposed Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill 2006 from Lyn Allison (Dem) despite the many good arguments in submissions opposing the bill.

Apart from the Australian military, the most interesting (because it was little more than an advertisement) submission was from Israeli Military Industries Ltd which I discussed in an earlier post.

How disappointing!  How this makes Australia (its government, and by inference, its voters) look inhumane and belligerent!  How this makes my head hang in shame for my country, although at least I spoke up to the committee (and was recognized in the final committee report Sections 5.2, 5.4 and 5.5.)

Per-capita CO2 Emission Standards?

Stephen Bartholomeusz is being dangerously shortsighted in Cautious carbon approach will ensure the economic apple cart stays upright in The Age 2007-06-02, touting the ingenuous line of the Howard government apologists that Australia produces about 1.5% of the world’s carbon emissions, is close to meeting meeting Kyoto targets, and therefore should not have to do much.

He fails to note that Australian’s per-capita emit more CO₂ than any other nation apart from the US, and that our economy relies on increasing the emissions from other nations, burning our exported coal.

If these proxy emissions are taken into account, the Australian economy and lifestyle depends even more on CO₂ emissions than the US, which is a net importer of carbon-based fuels.  These considerations might force Australia to accept even tighter controls than most nations.