Leading  Issues Journal  

Section A

How far and how fast? The critical issue of speed and scale - Illustrated by the case of global warming 

and Greenhouse Response: An Opportunity for Economic Renewal

By Philip Sutton

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Greenhouse Warming and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are issues which have featured in media reports and now, more so, as part of political campaigns trying to capture the Green Vote.  What are the facts behind these environmental concepts? To make an informed decision one needs to understand the scientific basis underlying these phenomena. 

Philip Sutton, founder and Director of Policy and Strategy for Green Innovations, a non-profit environmental policy think tank and consultancy organisation promoting the achievement of global and local ecological sustainability, poses the questions "how far?" and "how fast?" in his Paper, "How Far and how fast? - The critical issue of speed and scale - Illustrated by the case of Global Warming."  Through a presentation and evaluation of the data of atmospheric CO2 levels, CO₂ emissions and temperatures spanning over 25 million years he arrives at a conclusion that none of us can ignore. Although he points out that, " The intention behind writing this paper is not to distress or alarm people. The purpose is simply to get as realistic as possible an idea of the task before us if we are to create a sustainable world," he urges that, "There needs to be debate about whether the conclusions of this paper are right. Do we need to pursue a 'zero greenhouse gas emissions' policy and do we need to make a quick 100% switch from the use of fossil fuels?" 

The issue of whether economic change of the speed and scale suggested in this paper would cripple or enhance the economy is discussed in his next Paper, "Greenhouse Response: An Opportunity for Economic Renewal." Using the analogy of the wartime destruction of the German and Japanese economies and their re-emergence as stronger and more advanced economies, Philip Sutton proposes that the greenhouse response might not cripple the economy. It might actually kick it on to greater heights.

Section B

Industry Reacts to Kyoto Agreement Failure

The United States recently withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol, an international environment agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions around the world.  The 1997 Treaty required ratification by 55 countries producing 55 percent of greenhouse gases.  This section contains a Transcript of a discussion relating to the Agreement on  PM Broadcast, ABC Radio on 30 March, 2001 at 6.42pm.    

Mark Colvin, Presenter of PM;  John Stewart, Reporter interviewing Russ Martin who is an Environmental Consultant and Kyoto specialist.

JOHN STEWART: In 1997 at Kyoto, targets were set for reducing pollution. Multinational companies and Governments then spent tens of millions of dollars finding ways to reduce their emissions without harming local industries. It was then agreed that heavy industries, like car makers and oil companies, could buy trees in places like Australia, as so called carbon sinks, to help balance out their pollution emissions in Japan or America. Carbon credits could also be traded on the stock exchange to encourage a new market in clean, green technology. The plan was to punish countries and companies which didn't meet their pollution targets, and reward those who invested in carbon sinks and new technology. But now America has pulled out of the treaty, the new industry of reducing pollution through investment, may fall apart....

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Section C

World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance 

The Report of the Regional Meeting of Indigenous Peoples of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Hawaii and the United States, in preparation for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance held at Sydney, Australia,
20-22 February 2001

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The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) hosted a Regional Meeting of Indigenous peoples of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Hawaii and the United States at Sydney University Australia from 20-22 February 2001. The purpose of the Sydney Meeting was to examine in detail the issues of racism against Indigenous peoples, with a particular focus on Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Hawaii and the United States of America.

Part III - Recommendations is featured from the Report of the Sydney Regional Meeting. The Report   requests the Secretary General of the World Conference Against Racism, Mrs Mary Robinson, to ensure that the World Conference Against Racism to be held in Durban South Africa to acknowledge and adopt certain recommendations of the Sydney Meeting in the following areas:

UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; An International Convention on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; Accession to and Ratification of UN Human Rights Instruments; Observation of Customary International Law; Monitoring Human Rights; Education; Health; Removal of Children; Land and Resources; Economic Self-sufficiency; Cultural Equality, Intellectual Property and Identity; Consent; Law Reform; Treaties

Section D:

Why Practical Reconciliation is Failing Indigenous People

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The annual Social Justice and Native Title reports of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Dr William Jonas were tabled in Federal Parliament in March 2001. "It has now been 10 months since the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation released its four national strategies for reconciliation and four months since their final report was tabled in Parliament, yet where is the commitment to ongoing processes from government?" Dr Jonas asks.

Section E:

Aboriginal Mentoring Program

Education Department of Western Australia

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Lesley Fogarty-Radloff commenced her first 12-month contract with the Education Department of Western Australia in January 2000, to design and implement a culturally sensitive mentoring program for the teaching and non-teaching Indigenous staff.  Lesley is now on her second contract to focus on strengthening existing mentoring partnerships (85 mentorees and rising) and to establish a mechanism for ongoing management of the program once her contract expires in June 2001.   

In this Report written for the Centre by Lesley Fogarty-Radloff, she presents the aims, processes and outcomes of the Aboriginal Mentoring Program designed by her for the Education Department of Western Australia. The Award winning Program has been successful in attracting 15 mentors from other government agencies such as the Treasury Department, Aboriginal Affairs Department, Aboriginal Community Health, Bunbury TAFE and private consultancies.  The Aboriginal Mentoring Program was a finalist in the Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity category in the Premier’s Award 2000.

Section F:

Carol Martin, the first Indigenous woman elected to any Parliament in Australia

The Centre for Leadership for Women would like to congratulate Carol Martin on being elected to the West Australian seat of Kimberley. Her election is significant not only because  women remain underrepresented in all Australian parliaments but because she is the first Indigenous woman to represent an Australian electorate, at either the State or Federal level. 

Section G:

The new Australian Universities Quality Agency

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David Woodhouse's is the new executive director of Australia's first universities quality agency. Dr Woodhouse will switch midyear from founding director of New Zealand's quality assurance agency, the Academic Audit Unit, to CEO of the Australian Universities Quality Agency. The key appointment of a CEO will enable the agency to move ahead with preparations for the external audits of universities and state and territory accreditation authorities.  Having an independent quality agency will bring Australia into line with most of its overseas counterparts. 

Section H:

Civic education a must for Australian Schools 

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A recent study on civics education by the Australian Council for educational research (ACER) ranked Australia 11th behind countries such as USA, Italy, Greece and Poland in the level of youth awareness of democratic processes and institutions.

Citizenship and Education in Twenty-eight Countries: Civic Knowledge and Engagement at Age Fourteen, by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), was released in March in Washington and Berlin, culminating five years of cross-national research involving 28 countries. ACER and UC worked on the Australian component of the international project. 

The study found that students in most countries have an understanding of fundamental democratic values and institutions – but depth of understanding is a problem. Preliminary results from the Australian National Report reveal that 75 per cent of Australian students recognise the importance of having more than one political party. The rate was similar for students elsewhere in the world. Young people throughout the world agreed that good citizenship includes the obligation to vote. In Australia, 89 per cent thought it important that citizens vote, and 85 per cent expected to vote as adults. Only 55 per cent believe they learn about the importance of voting in school.