Authorities have issued a shipping warning as a rare giant iceberg is spotted approaching Australia’s southwest coast.
The cliff of ice, measuring 54 square miles, was seen 1,100 miles (1,700 kilometres) off the coast of Sydney today, sparking fears for passing ships.
Experts fear that the iceberg, known as B17B, will collapse into hundreds of smaller blocks as it approaches warmer waters, creating hazardous conditions for mariners.
The Bureau of Meteorology said the iceberg was observed southwest of the West Australian coast at 12pm on December 9 and is being monitored through satellite imaging.
The iceberg dislodged from Antarctica around a decade ago when parts of two major ice shelves – the Ross Sea Ice Shelf and Ronne Ice Shelf – fractured.
Glaciologist Neal Young of the Australian Antarctic Division said he was not aware of such a large iceberg being found in the area since the days when 19th century clipper ships plied the trade route between Britain and Australia.
Dr Young said: “It’s still 1,700 kilometres away, so it’s quite a long way away, it’s not really on our doorstep yet but it’s been heading steadily towards us.”
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Giant-Iceberg-Set-To-Hit-Australian-Coast-Authorities-Issue-Shipping-Warning/Article/200912215497919?lpos=World_News_First_Strange_News__Article_Teaser_Region__4&lid=ARTICLE_15497919_Giant_Iceberg_Set_To_Hit_Australian_Coast:_Authorities_Issue_Shipping_Warning
Tag: Australia
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Once-In-A-Century Iceberg Set To Hit Australia
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Tony Abbott says Copenhagen summit is a PR stunt.
True.Those who speak of saving environment are the same people who grant permission to start heavy industries and manufacturing of of consumer products, whose emissions cause pollution.
Politicians need industrialists to finance their elections.If they refuse them, how will they get elected.
Circus called Climate discussion goes on..
Story:
OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott has dismissed the international climate change summit in Copenhagen as little more than a public relations exercise.And he has warned the summit of 192 countries could actually increase greenhouse emissions.
“I think Copenhagen is going to turn into a PR stunt at best. I just think what we are going to get out of Copenhgen is a lot of words and not much action which is typical of Kevin Rudd.”
“I hate to think of the carbon footprint of the people who go there though. They are certainly making a very substantial contribution to their own emissions.”
Mr Abbott also seized on a draft proposal at the summit which would see Australia slash its greenhouse emissions by 25 percent in a decade.
He said that could cost Australia $300 billion to $400 billion.
“I think that the Australian people ought to be very concerned about anything that Mr Rudd might sign us up to in Copenhagen.”
In Brisbane today, Mr Abbott inspected a solar grid connection at a home in Warner on the city’s northside.
He said if the Rudd Government wanted to reduce greenhouse emissions it should not have wound back solar energy rebates for households.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26462448-952,00.html?referrer=email&source=CM_email_nl#submit-feedback -
Pair ‘urinate on Anzac memorial’-Courier Mail,Australia.
Revolting behavior.Is the value system deteriorating in Australia or I am reading only these types of news?Australia has recently been voted as one of the best places to live.I do not know what to believe.
Story:
A 20-YEAR-OLD man and a 17-year-old woman will face court accused of urinating in the Shrine of Remembrance in Brisbane’s Anzac Square War Memorial.Police issued the duo with a Notice to Appear just before midnight yesterday.
Anzac Square War Memorial, located on Adelaide Street in Brisbane’s CBD, is one of the state’s main dedications to Australia’s military heritage and hosts one of the city’s main Anzac Dawn Services each year.
The woman is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on December 21.
No court date has yet been set for the man.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26439350-952,00.html?referrer=email&source=CM_email_nl -
Do not drug the toddlers.
I have a grand son of just 70 days.My daughter, who reads a bit of medical books and browses internet expects miraculous disciplined behavior from him.She expects him to feed at fixed time play himself and sleep, wake up and start the process all over.She would like him to drink her milk to the full, not a little less.If he does not pass motion for more than six hours;if he cries; she immediately consults a paediatrician on phone or cosults friends of her age group and immediately starts giving him medicines not withstanding my protests.
Children unto the age of six act instinctively;they do not deliberate;if they are hungry they eat,feel sleepy, they sleep.They have, fortunately, not become slaves to time and habits as yet.
best is to leave child be.Let it grow naturally.Let Nature and the body run according to its rhythm.Now read on.here children are given drugs for behavioral disorder. What behavior?They do not know what it is.Do not give fancy names and drug the child.
Story:
CHILDREN diagnosed with ADHD could be weaned off medication as new Government guidelines warn doctors not to use drugs for first option treatment.The Federal Government draft guidelines released yesterday will substantially change the way doctors treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, especially in preschool-aged children.
One of the biggest medical turn-abouts is the change from guidelines in 1997, which recommended medication was a suitable treatment for children diagnosed with the behavioural and learning problem.
Now it is advised: ”Medication should not be used as first-line treatment for ADHD in preschool-aged children.
”For children under six years of age, a stage when child development is rapid, it is essential to distinguish ADHD symptoms from normal developmental variation in impulsivity and attention.”
Doctors have been warned to weigh-up the benefits of drugs, which are recommended for some patients and risk factors, such as ”growth impacts”.
More than 350,000 children and adolescents have ADHD and in the past financial year taxpayers have forked out more than $21 million on drugs, including medication for the growing number of adults who have the illness.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon, who is trying to rein in an explosion of medical costs, has been frustrated at the lack of clear evidence on how to treat the condition.
”I am pleased that we can finally provide this more up-to-date information on ways to identify and care for those in our community who may be suffering from ADHD,” she said.
But in a twist that could change the guidelines again soon, a US researcher referenced in the updated Australian guidelines is at the centre of a US conflict of interest inquiry after it was alleged he had failed to declare his full relationship with a drug company.
The National Health and Medical Research Council with Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) updated the guidelines. The document is almost 300 pages.
RACP guidelines working group chairman David Forbes said there had been ”substantial” changes in advice in prescribing medication and expected some children may be taken off drugs.
”Not all kids should get medication,” Professor Forbes said.
There had not been enough research about whether children’s behaviour could be controlled through exercise and diet, he said.
Restricting some foods for some children may work if done in consultation with nutritionists, he added.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26422996-952,00.html -
Lost man drives nine hours to get newspaper-Reuters.
I am reminded of of H.D.Thoreau’s of observation.
‘What is the purpose of reading news papers?To know what is happening in the world?better to know what is happening inside you-that is more important;your knowing what is happening in the world is not going to change the world.’
Story:
CANBERRA (Reuters) – An elderly man who went out to fetch a morning newspaper ended up driving nearly 400 miles after getting lost and taking a wrong turn onto a major Australian highway, police said on Wednesday. The man, 81-year-old Eric Steward, eventually stopped and asked for directions after driving for nine hours, from the New South Wales country town of Yass to Geelong in the southern Victoria state.Steward, who did not know where he was, eventually approached a policeman at a petrol station and asked for help late Wednesday.
“This little old man came up to me saying he was lost. He handed me his mobile and asked if I could speak to his wife,” said Victorian Police Senior Constable Clayton Smith.
Steward, who was reunited with his family on Wednesday, said he took the wrong turn and just kept on going.
“I just went out on the road to have a drive, a nice peaceful drive,” he told reporters, adding he did not need a satellite navigation device as he’d only been lost once.
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE5AH48D20091118?feedType=nl&feedName=usoddlyenough
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