from Antony Loewenstein …

Well, that’s one way to see.

If you are an international jet-setter, you may have noticed that all the gang-planks, the access ramps and many of the corridors of international airports are sponsored by HSBC.

There are the same posters in Arabic, English or French depending on the city you've landed in and they will tell you the wonderful story of the future... The future is in good hands, the hands of the HSBC that in partnership with you will make the world prosper... Even the vegies that grow in your garden will be in partnership with HSBC... You will see your genetically manufactured turnip with a bio-engineered HSBC logo growing in the flesh. I made that last bit up...

It should come as no surprise that here in Canberra ACT Labor Party Chief Minister Katy Gallagher supports an increase in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and broadening its base.  It was Labor ‘Messiah,’ the neoliberal Paul Keating, who first proposed a broad based consumption tax for Australia in 1985 and only backed down when the unions got cold feet at the last minute.

It can be demonstrated that the Abbott government was only elected by default and a on a mountain of lies repeated through the press, especially the merde-och press... It can be demonstrated that the Abbott government is full of dumb people...

from Crikey ….

Macfarlane swallows spin from gas industry on drilling ….

Shock. Awe. Magician unable to find Abbott

Now you see him, now you don't. A month ago you couldn't switch on your TV without Tony Abbott leaping out at you in a hi-vis vest or crotch-grabbing bike shorts, making that strangled braying noise that passes for laughter. HA HA HA HA.

from Crikey ….

The latest from Gus' headquarters on global warming is not good news...

Despite whatever everyone is saying, Gus' analysis still points to a major event towards 2015. It's simple... In less than one hundred and fifty years, humans have added about 200 ppm of CO2 in the atmosphere. It takes nature to cycle variations of 100 ppm over 10,000 years or more. Result? Comparing the charts of this and that, humans have compressed an enormous of energy into the carbon cycle that has not fully reacted to or being accounted for yet — yet the planet is slowly on the road to adjust to the new levels of CO2. 

Students and universities have warned the Coalition against its proposal to abolish compulsory student fees, voicing concerns it could damage the international standing of Australian education and lead to critical services being scrapped.

from Crikey ….

sovereign risk at last? WA Premier threatens Browse venture

from politicoz ….

"Could it have been a case of lost in translation when Julie Bishop met with her Indonesian counterpart Dr Marty Natalegawa in New York on Monday – or simply falling on deaf ears? Ms Bishop described her meeting earlier this week as 'very cordial', 'positive and very productive'.

We are the hollow men

We are the stuffed men

Leaning together