I've got over 24 hours between myself and Kununurra. It's not long enough yet.
Friday, April 29, 2011
First point of reflection
I've got over 24 hours between myself and Kununurra. It's not long enough yet.
The GM Quandary Continues
Genetically Modified (GM) crops are a particularly polarising issue for many people. There is a certain stigma attached to the term and a lot of the ill feelings towards GM foods come from a lack of understanding.
The problem facing advocates for GM crops is that many people immediately think of the negative aspects of genetically modifying organisms that have so often been referred to in both culture and science. But is there any justification behind GM crops and will GM crops one day be something that is not only accepted, but sought after in the WA agricultural sector?
The science behind GM crops is exceptionally complex, which is why companies like Monsanto pay millions of dollars to ensure the intellectual property they own in regard to GM crops is tightly guarded.
In the simplest terms however, the basic explanation of GM crops is that they are crops that have had their genetic make-up altered in some way so they grow in ways that are different to typical breeding patterns. The Department of Food and Agriculture in WA defines GM crops as crops “where genetic modification has been used to insert a specific gene, or genes, for known activities into the crop plant.”
At the moment GM crop cultivation in WA is banned under the Genetically Modified Crops Free Areas Act 2003 but there are exemptions to this ban and, in what may come to surprise to some, Western Australia already has a number of GM crop trials running.
In 2009, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Terry Redman, approved a number of commercial trials of GM canola crops - specifically 'RoundUp Ready' canola crops. RoundUp Ready herbicide is a herbicide designed to have a unique "chemical footprint" that works to kill weeds around the crops it is used on. RoundUp Ready crops are crops which have been genetically modified so that RoundUp Ready herbicide can be sprayed on them, even in the early stages of growth, and the herbicide will not have any impact on the development of the plant. Monsanto manufactures both the RoundUp herbicide and the RoundUp Ready crops.
Although the trials for Monsanto in WA are involved with altering the genetic make-up of canola crops to help the crops yield more usable grain, GM crop trials are also being run by the CSIRO with human health in mind.
The GM Wheat and Barley Trial is being run by the CSIRO Food Futures National Research Flagship and is tailored towards yielding crops that are significantly higher in resistant starch which has many health benefits for people.
When consumed, resistant starch is broken down in the colon by resident bacteria and then releases short chain fatty acids which are important in bowel health. Most Australians currently consume about 10-20 per cent of the recommended daily intake of resistant starch which is contributing to the high levels of diet-related diseases like diabetes and colo-rectal cancer in Australia.
In the CSIRO trial, there have not been any genes added to the genetic make up of the plants, but some genes have been ‘switched off’ which alters the composition of the starch and increases the levels of resistant starch in the crops.
‘Switching off’ a gene can also be called silencing a gene and, in the simplest terms, involves preventing genes from making proteins that they usually naturally produce. Switching off genes targets one gene and usually is done so scientists can record what difference this makes to the organism in question. The CSIRO trial has switched off genes in wheat and canola in order to boost the activity of the genes which produce resistant starch.
There is another fundamental difference between the Monsanto trials and the CSIRO trials in that the latter will make no monetary gain from the research. As the national science agency, CSIRO is not a private company with profits in mind when conducting GM crop trials, unlike Monsanto and InterGrain.
The problem facing advocates for GM crops is that many people immediately think of the negative aspects of genetically modifying organisms that have so often been referred to in both culture and science. But is there any justification behind GM crops and will GM crops one day be something that is not only accepted, but sought after in the WA agricultural sector?
The science behind GM crops is exceptionally complex, which is why companies like Monsanto pay millions of dollars to ensure the intellectual property they own in regard to GM crops is tightly guarded.
In the simplest terms however, the basic explanation of GM crops is that they are crops that have had their genetic make-up altered in some way so they grow in ways that are different to typical breeding patterns. The Department of Food and Agriculture in WA defines GM crops as crops “where genetic modification has been used to insert a specific gene, or genes, for known activities into the crop plant.”
At the moment GM crop cultivation in WA is banned under the Genetically Modified Crops Free Areas Act 2003 but there are exemptions to this ban and, in what may come to surprise to some, Western Australia already has a number of GM crop trials running.
In 2009, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Terry Redman, approved a number of commercial trials of GM canola crops - specifically 'RoundUp Ready' canola crops. RoundUp Ready herbicide is a herbicide designed to have a unique "chemical footprint" that works to kill weeds around the crops it is used on. RoundUp Ready crops are crops which have been genetically modified so that RoundUp Ready herbicide can be sprayed on them, even in the early stages of growth, and the herbicide will not have any impact on the development of the plant. Monsanto manufactures both the RoundUp herbicide and the RoundUp Ready crops.
Although the trials for Monsanto in WA are involved with altering the genetic make-up of canola crops to help the crops yield more usable grain, GM crop trials are also being run by the CSIRO with human health in mind.
The GM Wheat and Barley Trial is being run by the CSIRO Food Futures National Research Flagship and is tailored towards yielding crops that are significantly higher in resistant starch which has many health benefits for people.
When consumed, resistant starch is broken down in the colon by resident bacteria and then releases short chain fatty acids which are important in bowel health. Most Australians currently consume about 10-20 per cent of the recommended daily intake of resistant starch which is contributing to the high levels of diet-related diseases like diabetes and colo-rectal cancer in Australia.
In the CSIRO trial, there have not been any genes added to the genetic make up of the plants, but some genes have been ‘switched off’ which alters the composition of the starch and increases the levels of resistant starch in the crops.
‘Switching off’ a gene can also be called silencing a gene and, in the simplest terms, involves preventing genes from making proteins that they usually naturally produce. Switching off genes targets one gene and usually is done so scientists can record what difference this makes to the organism in question. The CSIRO trial has switched off genes in wheat and canola in order to boost the activity of the genes which produce resistant starch.
There is another fundamental difference between the Monsanto trials and the CSIRO trials in that the latter will make no monetary gain from the research. As the national science agency, CSIRO is not a private company with profits in mind when conducting GM crop trials, unlike Monsanto and InterGrain.
Flooded Town Had No Insurance
Carol Martin has accused the Warmun community of being badly managed because many of the buildings damaged in the recent floods were not insured. The Minister for the Kimberley said that if Warmun was properly managed before the floods then there would be no need for any tax-payer money to be spent on rebuilding the town.
“Where is the insurance money? A proper community should pay insurance on its assets,” she said.
CEO of Warmun Community (Turkey Creek) Inc. Chris Clare has admitted that the buildings owned by the community were not covered by building and contents insurance. He has shifted the blame for the lack of insurance to a “Senior Commonwealth Officer”, who he claimed gave verbal advice four years ago to cancel the building and contents component of the town’s insurance.
Clare said that the advice from the Federal Officer, who he declined to name, was that the insurance would be carried by the State Government. Prior to receiving that advice, Warmun had been provided with Federal funds to meet the cost of the insurance.
He said: “We took the advice because it came from a Senior Official who made decisions about our funding.”
Asked if he had checked at the time whether the State Government would carry the insurance, he said no, he had not checked.
Clare said that although the community was not insured at the time of the flooding, he doubted whether they would have received any form of payout.
He said: “I don’t think we missed anything as insurance companies have, by and large, denied paying for flood damage in other recent disasters.”
He stressed the town did have workers’ compensation insurance, liability cover and insurance for vehicles.
The buildings damaged in the flood included the office administration block, the early childhood centre, playgroup centre, the recreation hall, the Broadcasting for Remote Aboriginal Communities Scheme building, the gym and equipment, the CDEP work centre building, the aged care centre, the disability centre and the health and dental clinics.
Other buildings damaged included the art gallery, which is a stand alone business not owned by the community, and the Ngalangangpum School, which belongs to Catholic Education WA and was insured.
John Vos, CEO of East Kimberley CDEP said: “The vehicles we had at Warmun were fully insured and we’ll be putting a claim in as soon as the assessments have been completed.”
Clare said: “All of the buildings in town were damaged, some irretrievably, some substantially. We’ve been lead to be aware that all will be fully reconditioned and upgraded.
“As we understand, the Federal Government couldn’t contribute until the state had declared the flood to be a natural disaster. Now that’s happened we are expecting more funding once a full assessment of the cost of reconstruction is worked out.”
The $15 million temporary housing project, announced by Kim Hames and Troy Buswell last week, was well received by Clare and the Warmun community who have insisted they want to return to Warmun as soon as possible.
The project will commence immediately and includes the building of a 200 bed accommodation village to house the evacuees. The houses that were washed away in the flood were owned by the WA Department of Housing and Clare expects more money will be announced once the cost of reconstruction has been properly assessed.
“We’re fortunate that we’re in the position that the Federal and State Governments have said they’ll rebuild. I think that’s wonderful. Culturally the people of Warmun are in a strange country while they’re in Kununurra. While it’s wonderful the village was available, there have been some behavioral concerns and the sooner they return home, the better.”
“Where is the insurance money? A proper community should pay insurance on its assets,” she said.
CEO of Warmun Community (Turkey Creek) Inc. Chris Clare has admitted that the buildings owned by the community were not covered by building and contents insurance. He has shifted the blame for the lack of insurance to a “Senior Commonwealth Officer”, who he claimed gave verbal advice four years ago to cancel the building and contents component of the town’s insurance.
Clare said that the advice from the Federal Officer, who he declined to name, was that the insurance would be carried by the State Government. Prior to receiving that advice, Warmun had been provided with Federal funds to meet the cost of the insurance.
He said: “We took the advice because it came from a Senior Official who made decisions about our funding.”
Asked if he had checked at the time whether the State Government would carry the insurance, he said no, he had not checked.
Clare said that although the community was not insured at the time of the flooding, he doubted whether they would have received any form of payout.
He said: “I don’t think we missed anything as insurance companies have, by and large, denied paying for flood damage in other recent disasters.”
He stressed the town did have workers’ compensation insurance, liability cover and insurance for vehicles.
The buildings damaged in the flood included the office administration block, the early childhood centre, playgroup centre, the recreation hall, the Broadcasting for Remote Aboriginal Communities Scheme building, the gym and equipment, the CDEP work centre building, the aged care centre, the disability centre and the health and dental clinics.
Other buildings damaged included the art gallery, which is a stand alone business not owned by the community, and the Ngalangangpum School, which belongs to Catholic Education WA and was insured.
John Vos, CEO of East Kimberley CDEP said: “The vehicles we had at Warmun were fully insured and we’ll be putting a claim in as soon as the assessments have been completed.”
Clare said: “All of the buildings in town were damaged, some irretrievably, some substantially. We’ve been lead to be aware that all will be fully reconditioned and upgraded.
“As we understand, the Federal Government couldn’t contribute until the state had declared the flood to be a natural disaster. Now that’s happened we are expecting more funding once a full assessment of the cost of reconstruction is worked out.”
The $15 million temporary housing project, announced by Kim Hames and Troy Buswell last week, was well received by Clare and the Warmun community who have insisted they want to return to Warmun as soon as possible.
The project will commence immediately and includes the building of a 200 bed accommodation village to house the evacuees. The houses that were washed away in the flood were owned by the WA Department of Housing and Clare expects more money will be announced once the cost of reconstruction has been properly assessed.
“We’re fortunate that we’re in the position that the Federal and State Governments have said they’ll rebuild. I think that’s wonderful. Culturally the people of Warmun are in a strange country while they’re in Kununurra. While it’s wonderful the village was available, there have been some behavioral concerns and the sooner they return home, the better.”
Listed On: http://3degree.ecu.edu.au/articles/3676
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Easter with Nick, Nick and Paul
I've been in Kununurra for just over a week now and I still haven't reached a consensus with myself about the time here. It's been really hard, but I don't work well unless the pressure is on. It's been messy and uncomfortable, but that was one of the reasons I came. It's been enlightening and I've made relationships with a few people at the very least that I'll treasure for a while. I'm sure next week when I've enjoyed the comforts of home for a few days I'll appreciate the trip as a whole a bit more. But right now all I can think about is my little corner in Smyth Rd and how badly I miss it.
We went camping in El Questro this weekend and more than anything it confirmed my ambition to drive across the US as my next big trip. I really enjoyed the comradery I've built up with some folks, but as anyone who has known me since high school can tell you, I freakin' hate camping. I can see the appeal the romanticism toward it, but its just not for me. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the weekend away.
We hiked up Emma Gorge yesterday which was spectacular. After an hour hike we slipped into the freezing water at the bottom of the gorge and after about 5 minutes I decided I couldn't take the cold any more so I lay on a rock like a lizard and got way too much sun. But it was peaceful and lovely.
The drive back to the campsite insisted music so I listened to Nick Drake (again for the one billionth time in the last few weeks) and I just fell in love with him again. On the way back to Kununurra today I listened to him again (Jesus, get over him right?), Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Paul Kelly. All desert/outback appropriate choices I like to think. We're back in the office now and 3 sleeps away from home. Boubar, get ready for me!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Smoking
I want to stop. Like for real. So I'm going to start doing regularly updates so I can guilt myself into having more responsibility than just me telling myself to stop.
It's Friday afternoon and I haven't had one day, but I have had at least one every day I've been in Kununurra. I'm sick of using the excuse of "I'm stressed" as why I've had another one. That's a straight up lie anyone, I just like it.
But its gross. You smell bad afterwards which I HATE and really and truly the main reason I'm stopping is because my skin is breaking out terribly. I know its a vacuous and vain reason to stop, but hey, everyone needs their own reason.
Unfortunately Dad's illness wasn't enough to make me stop because I'm still internalising everything about that but Jesus- if I needed a wake up call that should have been it. It's a punch in his face to keep going so I'm going to stop.
I've written it down now. It's out. And maybe only one or two people will read it but maybe that'll be enough of a reminder to stop.
I feel a bit more determined this time. I'm not addicted, its a choice I'm making about a stupid habit that I don't need to do. Fingers crossed eh?
Thursday, April 21, 2011
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