Suspicions of nepotism arise from pulping of new Australian industrial relations information booklets
Tuesday, November 8, 2005 Wikinews Australia has in-depth coverage of this issue: Australian industrial relations legislation, 2005 The Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, was asked in parliament today about the contract to print the new industrial relations legislation booklets. Kelvin Thomson asked the question because the contract was awarded to Salmat Ltd., who has been said to have donated $120,000 to the Australian Liberal Party, of which the Mr Howard is a member. The contract was worth $800,000 AUD. It was revealed by Stephen Smith the week earlier that these booklets were “pulped” at a cost of $152,000 to the taxpayer. The Prime Minster John Howard said that “the contract was awarded in the normal fashion”, and that he did not know if Salmat donated to any other parties, and said that he ask someone to “just do a little bit of research this afternoon” to get further information…
The Worlds Worst Industrial Catastrophe
More On This Topic: Barry Brown And Sons Site Submitted by: Lawrence Reaves The Bhopal Gas Tragedy is said by many to be the most severe industrial catastrophe to ever occur. On the night of December 2nd and morning of December 3rd 1984 the Union Carbide India Limited Pesticide plant leaked a dangerous combination of methyl isocyante and other gases from its grounds. The plant is located in the highly populated city of Bhopal Madhya Pradesh, India so the leak exposed hundreds of thousands of people to the sometimes deadly gas. Many factors are said to have led to the disaster. After the tragedy it was reported by some workers that they were regularly punished for refusing to work outside the safety regulations provided by plant designers. The practice of filling containers well beyond their suggested limits with volatile MIC was also a major factor. Poor general maintenance and a…
Dog laws strengthened in Virginia county
Thursday, May 12, 2005 Amid publicity that arose from deaths and injuries due to dog attacks in the region, the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to impose tougher penalties on dog owners who let their dogs run free. After a public hearing Tuesday evening, the board voted for a new animal control ordinance. Now dog owners who are repeat offenders face a misdemeanor crime of $2,500 or up to a year in jail. Dogs that repeatedly chase cars and run free, or otherwise trespass on property, could be euthanized if so ordered by a judge. A dog that is “roaming, running or self-hunting off the property or premises of its owner or custodian and not under the immediate control of the owner or custodian or his agent,” meets the county’s legal definition of a dog running at large. The mauling death of an elderly woman by 3 Pit…
Study says poor African American women less likely to receive pap smears
Wednesday, December 28, 2005Black American women living in communities with high poverty rates are significantly less likely to be screened for cervical cancer, a study finds. The Harvard School of Public Health’s Geetanjali Dabral Datta investigated the relationship between individual characteristics and larger socioeconomic factors and cervical cancer screening rates. The Febreuary 1 issue of Cancer carries the study. More than 40,000 black women from across the United States participated in the Black Women’s Health Study. “African-American women have twice the mortality rate from cervical cancer as white women,” said Elizabeth Ward, the director of the American Cancer Society. “Researchers need to investigate how those differences are related to socioeconomic status. One of the big factors that may account for this finding is access to high-quality medical care. Often communities that have high poverty rates either lack access to good quality care, or people have to travel longer distances to…
Possible eruption at Ruapehu Volcano in New Zealand
Thursday, October 5, 2006 A volcano alert has been issued after a moderate 2.8 magnitude earthquake occurred at Mount Ruapehu last night at 10.30 p.m. (NZDT). The quake also broke the Crater Lake cable which generated a call-out from the lahar response team. The New Zealand Department of Conservation has issued a high risk warning for the crater at Mount Ruapehu and Dave Wakelin, community relations officer for Tongariro-Taupo, said: “The warning was issued Thursday morning, in case more volcanic activity follows.” It is yet to be confirmed if there was an eruption, as poor weather made it hard to see the crater from plane. Craig Miller, vulcanologist for Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS Science), said: “I had hoped to see if the lake was surrounded by blackened snow. All we could see was cloud.” Steve Sherburn, duty vulcanologist for GNS Science, said: “The cause of the alert would remain…
Why Choose An Accommodation Away From The City
More On This Topic: Cattle Loading Ramp byAlma Abell Sometimes it is important to get away from it all, and rest for a while. When looking for an alternative accommodation, going to the country may be your best option. There are many reasons why people should consider going to a bed and breakfast or an inn in the country rather than a hotel in the city. Good Reasons to Go to a B&B There are many advantages to staying at a bed & breakfast, with one of the main ones being the opportunity to save money. Anyone who travels can get more for their money by seeking cheaper lodgings. Staying at a bed and breakfast is a good way to make the best of a tight travel budget. Some of the other factors that make this is a good option include: * The personal touch can never be replicated at…
Iraqi activist forced to change t-shirt with Arabic peace slogan
Wednesday, August 30, 2006 Raed Jarrar, an Iraqi peace activist who lives in the United States, was forced to change his T-Shirt, which bore an Arabic slogan, because it was found “offensive”. The incident took place in JFK airport in New York. The activist Jarrar reported in his blog RaedInTheMiddle that he had checked-in his bags and was issued a boarding pass. After waiting near the gate to board his jetBlue airlines flight, and after having to gone through a secondary search, two officials approached him. “People are feeling offended because of your t-shirt,” Raed reported that one of the men said to him. The writings on the T-Shirt said in both Arabic and English: “We will not be silent”. Raed asked why this has offended anyone, and insisted his right to freedom of expression was violated. According to Jarrar, one of the inspectors said, “You can’t wear a T-shirt…
UK PM’s speechwriter awaits sentence
Wednesday, August 29, 2007 An English lawyer has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice. He faked a legal judgment and sent it to a father who was pleading in Taunton family court to be able to remain involved in his child’s upbringing. The lawyer, London barrister Bruce Hyman, now awaits his sentence. The judge indicated that he could receive a prison sentence. Bruce Hyman is well-known in media circles, having produced The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy on BBC Radio. He also produced a series with Clive Anderson, at Above the Title Productions, called Unreliable Evidence. The father, a former City financier, had attended a series of court hearings in order to make suitable arrangements to see his child following an acrimonious divorce. Shortly before one of these hearings he received an email, ostensibly from a self-help group to which he belonged, which had attached a Court of…
EU, US declare intent to cooperate on climate change at summit
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 A European Union-United States summit held in Slovenia produced a draft declaration outlining the groups’ future cooperation on climate change, energy security and financial stability. Yesterday was the final day of the summit, the last EU-US summit that US President George W. Bush will attend in his current role. Hopes of a major breakthrough on the topic of climate change were low going into the summit. The foreign minister of Slovenia, Dimitrij Rupel, commented last week that, “on climate change, the positions are split.” Members of the 27-nation EU have regularly expressed their dissatisfaction with the US for not having ratified the Kyoto Protocol, an agreement with binding greenhouse gas emissions targets. Doubts about the summit’s efficacy were not misplaced, as no firm targets were set for actions on climate change. The EU and US agreed to cooperate increasingly in science and technology research for energy…
What About Breakfast?}
More On This Topic: Plastic Manufacturer Australia Submitted by: Michelle Stewart Whats for breakfast? It is National Breakfast Month and the question is what are we eating? I share with my clients that it is not necessarily when you eat, but what you eat. It is important to eat something to fuel your body as your day starts. Research shows that eating breakfast can aid in improved performance and concentration in both the conference room and the classroom. Additionally breakfast helps you eat adequate amounts of the vitamins and minerals recommended for a healthy lifestyle. If you eat breakfast you are more likely to control your weight and eat less fat and cholesterol. Key ingredients for a healthy breakfast include: Whole grain rolls, bagels, cereals, low-fat bran muffins, English muffins, Melba toast, and crackers. Low-fat protein such as peanut butter, almond butter, Nutella spread, Canadian bacon, low-fat mozzarella cheese sticks,…