climate change

demanding action

young and old australians

our future calling

September 20th was one of the most significant days of this century and perhaps of all times. This was the day when young people across the world responded to Greta Thunberg’s call to turn out and let world leaders attending the UN Climate Action Summit in New York to start acting, (fast) as time has almost run out to keep carbon emissions at a safe level. Here in Australia hundreds of thousands heeded Greta’s call. Jill and I attended the response in Melbourne along with over 150,000 others. Our conservative government is ignoring the science and reality, making a lot of noise about acting, however emissions in Australia have kept rising and we are exporting huge quantities of coal to Asia to be burnt. Our Prime Minister was in New York but did not attend the summit, he was not allowed to speak because of his government’s poor record. Instead he met with President Trump, attended a gala function with lots of right wing political and business people and also opened a factory with Trump. The mood has strengthened for Climate Change Action in Australia since September 20 and will continue to strengthen despite our government. They will grow increasingly irrelevant and could not possibly win the next election. I have included a short video I took on the 20th to share the mood.

https://vimeo.com/manage/362738055/general

sunfish

sudden appearance
mysterious and lifeless
decomposing

Earlier this year Maggie and I were taking a walk along the Black Rock coastal path as we often do in the morning when a rich odour alerted us to something as yet unseen on the other side of the sea wall. Leaning over we observed an object that was clearly animal but of a shape and size that confounded me. As I was taking photos other walkers arrived and someone announced we were looking at a dead Sunfish.

Once home and on Google I soon established this was a young Sunfish and it had clearly come in through the heads to our Port Phillip Bay and arrived at the eastern end up against the sea wall . How the poor fish had died and when could only be guessed. They are ocean dwellers and why I knew this was a young one is because the big adults can weigh up to 1000 kilo. This one was probably around 150-200 kilo. They are the heaviest bony fish and very strange being the shape of a huge fish head with a laterally flattened body. They have large rudder like a tail however something had eaten the tail and fins from this dead example. The body remained floating at this site for a few more days slowly rotting and being eaten by predators then suddenly one morning 5 days after these photos were taken it had disappeared

a dogs day

ever-changing life
fulfilling expectations
seeking challenges

Anyone who was following my blog before I took a break to finish my novel draft that is not yet finished will remember Maggie was a growing young pup. She is now two and a half , fully grown and has experienced a range of dog activities that all add to her maturity. Photos from top down show we have 1. the reflective wise dog. 2. The I don’t want a stick when a stump has more promise dog. 3. The play leader at the park dog. 4. The I am so well behaved at the groomers dog. 5. The I definitely know possums hang out in this bush dog. 6. The mentor, as in (what mischief next little mate?) dog.

As you see she plays hard, behaves when she wants to, does not take second best and is curious. She is also very beautiful and endearing especially when she gets on the bed each morning, gives us a lovely kiss and muzzle and settles in so that when we get up and find a chewed book or de-fluffed slipper, or tooth marked brush or shredded roll of toilet paper we forgive her and say, ” she is getting less destructive with her naughty acts”