Peter Dutton apologises for 'water lapping at your door' jibe | Australia news Australia’s immigration minister, Peter Dutton, has apologised for joking about the plight of Pacific island nations facing rising seas from climate change. Dutton was overheard making a quip about “water lapping at your door” in Port Moresby to the prime minister, Tony Abbott, on Friday, comments that offended Pacific island leaders. “I made a mistake, I apologise to anyone who has taken offence. It was a light hearted discussion with the PM and I did not mean any offence to anyone,” Mr Dutton told Sky News. Earlier the prime minister, Tony Abbott, dodged questions about his leadership and criticism of an insensitive joke made by government frontbencher, saying both issues were “not about me”. Abbott, in Western Australia to campaign for the Canning byelection – a poll which according to the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, could see a challenge to Abbott’s leadership if the swing away from the government is big enough. With AAP
Adbusters Culturejammer Headquarters | Journal of the mental environment Bernie Fraser quits as chairman of Climate Change Authority | Environment Bernie Fraser has quit as chairman of the independent Climate Change Authority, a body the government has previously sought to abolish. The authority issued a brief statement late on Tuesday saying it “regrets to announce” the resignation of Fraser, who is a former Reserve Bank governor. “The authority members thank Mr Fraser for his enormously valuable contribution to the authority’s work in providing independent expert advice to the Australian government and parliament on climate change policy,” the statement said. “Arrangements have been made to ensure the authority’s work will continue uninterrupted.” The government has previously attempted but failed to abolish the authority, which is a statutory body that provides independent advice on climate policy including emission reduction targets. Fraser was recently involved in a public dispute with the environment minister, Greg Hunt, over the government’s assertion that “Labor’s climate policy” would impose a “$600bn carbon bill”.
Free Images: Where To Find Royalty Free Stock Photos For Your Blog - Mini-Guide, Part 1 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples » Life Without Barriers Our Reconciliation Statement Life Without Barriers believes that reconciliation must live in the hearts and minds of all Australians. As a nation we need to work together to close the gap in life expectancy by improving the cultural, spiritual and emotional well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Our commitment to raising awarenessLife Without Barriers also acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the original custodians of the land and strongly believes in recognising, respecting and advancing the inherent rights, cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. We also acknowledge the importance of family, cultural and community ties for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. While we are working tirelessly in practical ways to bring about real change – advocating for children and young people, improved employment and education– we also want to change attitudes.
The Conversation: In-depth analysis, research, news and ideas from leading academics and researchers. ANTaR A Collection of Social Network Stats for 2010 For the third year running (see 2008, 2009) I’m going to aggregate stats in the social networking space on a single blog post, and update it through the year. Data fiends should bookmark this post for future reference. Stats are important –but on their own, they don’t tell us much Stats on social networks are important, but don’t rely on them alone. Data is like fire, it can be used for good and bad, proper insight and analysis is always required. Beyond that, you’ll often see conflicting stats across the industry as everyone has different methodologies, as a result, this listing will help you to see the greater trends –not numbers without context. How to interpret stats Numbers don’t tell us much without insight and interpretation, in fact, you’re going to see conflicting numbers of usage from many of the agencies and social networks themselves. A Collection of Social Network Stats for 2010 I’ll be updating this post throughout the year, bookmark it, and share it with others. Facebook
Don't swear at me, Greg Hunt tells BBC, when asked about Abbott's climate 'crap' comment | The Australian Environment Minister Greg Hunt uses Wikipedia research to dispute the relationship between climate change and bushfires. Courtesy: BBC Radio Featured Video More videos available at the The Australian video hub At the Australian Reptile Park, rescuers manage to remove a tin can stuck on a Red-bellied black snake's head. The Royal Australian Air Force is visiting WA communities before taking part in the National Balloon Championships at Northam. A Briton and three Americans have been awarded the Legion of Honor after they foiled a terrorist attack on a passenger train to Paris. Shanghai stocks plunge 8.5 percent, leading losses across Asia. A royal commission has heard Pope Francis is yet to show leadership on child sexual abuse. On The Project, Roseanne Beckett talks of her time in jail and being awarded $2.3m for malicious prosecution after spending 10 years behind bars. What do you do when you come out of the shops and find someone's parked this close to your car?
Social media positive for teens? Maybe! I'll admit it right at the start: When I think about teens and social media, I immediately begin to tally up the negatives. What good could possibly come from teens and tweens spending gobs of time on online networks, posting nonstop "selfies," some in rather suggestive poses, and often communicating with people they don't even know? A running joke at home: My girls, ages 6 and 7, can't get iPhones until they're 40. But then I chat with other moms, who always know best, and a picture emerges that social media is not always the scary enemy some of us might think it is for our tweens and teens. Take the "selfie," for example, which if you haven't already heard has been named Oxford Dictionaries' word of the year for 2013. Eileen Masio, a mom of two in New York, monitors her daughter Amelia's Instagram account 24/7. "When they post selfies, all the comments I usually see are 'You're beautiful,' 'You're so pretty,' 'Oh my God, gorgeous,'" said Masio. News outlets focus on the negative