Archive for October, 2011
Four Corners & Today Tonight; the dichotomy of journalistic integrity
Posted by jaysondcooke in Agenda driven press, Consumer advocacy, Discrimination, Human Rights, Media mishaps, NSCP, racism or just plain old ignorence?, What can you do? on October 24, 2011
Last night on ABC1 we were shown an example of inspirational journalism with Sarah Ferguson and the Four Corners team taking us behind the razor-wire and electric fences of Australia’s on-shore detention centres. Anyone who wasn’t able to watch it can find the story here. What we saw was simply terrible, sickening and saddening in equal measure.
What followed after on Media Watch was yet another example of the much higher rating tabloid media (in this case Today Tonight) distorting facts in order to propagate many of the myths that lead to our country relying on detention centres in the first place.
A better example of the dichotomy between quality journalism and tabloid trash I can’t imagine, nor a better example of the harms caused by such unethical misuses of journalistic freedom.
Culling great white sharks in West Australia; what’s the harm?
Posted by jaysondcooke in Activism, Education, News, Politics, What can you do? on October 24, 2011
In response to the tragic death of 32-year-old American George Thomas Wainwright last Saturday, the Western Australian Government has given the go-ahead for any great white sharks to be killed if they pose a threat to human life.
Read the rest of this entry »
The Citizens Electoral Council: Attempting to indoctrinate at university campuses near you
Posted by jaysondcooke in Activism, Climate Change, Cons and Scams, Discrimination, Education, Equality, Politics, Racism, racism or just plain old ignorence?, unintentionally funny, Weird on October 24, 2011
A couple of weeks ago I wrote that I was preparing a story on the Citizens Electoral Council (CEC), but until today had posted nothing more on this subject. This was in no small part due to the vast amount of research I ended up compiling, but also because I had received correspondence from around the country regarding CEC activities. Among many concerning activities I’ve discovered is that cartloads of the CEC’s propaganda paper, The New Citizen , have been regularly appearing not just at Griffith University campuses and Bond University on Queensland’s Gold Coast, but on university campuses Australia wide.
Megaherzzz!
Posted by jaysondcooke in Activism, Equality on October 22, 2011
As part of my training in Outside Broadcasting at 4ZzZ Brisbane, our small team will be producing the Megaherzzz program from a secret location in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley at 11am QLD time today.
I’m really looking forward to it and you can share my excitement by tuning in online. Read the rest of this entry »
Cancer experts welcome new worldwide breast cancer findings
Posted by jaysondcooke in Health, News, Zedlines on October 21, 2011
Women with breast cancer who receive radiation after surgery are half as likely to have their disease return within 10 years and one-sixth less likely to die over a 15-year period, according to the latest research. Read the rest of this entry »
No link detected between mobile phone use and cancer
Posted by jaysondcooke in Consumer advocacy, Health, News, Reason Australia on October 21, 2011
The world’s largest study into mobile phone use has found no evidence of an increased risk of brain cancer. Read the rest of this entry »
New regulation of live exports announced
Posted by jaysondcooke in News, Politics, Zedlines on October 21, 2011
Exporters of live cattle are now entirely responsible for each animal they export ,even once they’re overseas, under changes made by agriculture minister Joe Ludwig. Read the rest of this entry »
ADF full-time members more likely to consider suicide
Posted by jaysondcooke in Health, News, Zedlines on October 21, 2011
Australian defence Force Members are more likely to contemplate suicide, according to a new study.
The 2010 ADF Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study was the first comprehensive survey of the mental health of full-time, serving defence force members.
The research found that ADF members were more likely than civilian counterparts to consider committing suicide, to make a suicide plan, and to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
However the rate of attempted and completed suicides was not significantly higher than the general population.
GetUp backs poker machine reforms in latest campaign
Posted by jaysondcooke in Activism, Consumer advocacy, News, Politics, Zedlines on October 21, 2011
GetUp have announced today it would be starting a direct mail campaign, explaining the proposed poker machine reforms.
Despite Australians losing over $12 billion every year on pokies, and problem gamblers potentially losing over $1000 in a single hour, GetUp found in a recent survey that the public have been greatly misinformed by the Clubs Industry.
The direct mail campaign will target communities that received information from Clubs Australia, GetUp said.
Getup are asking supporters to help problem gamblers kick a habit that’s destroying Australian families.
Community groups encouraged to join school chaplaincy and welfare program
Posted by jaysondcooke in Chaplains, NSCP, Politics, Religious Instruction, Religious instrusion, Secularism, Zedlines on October 21, 2011
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations is seeking expressions of interest from community groups to take part in the controversial School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program, which is being expanded to an extra 1000 schools from next year.
Earlier this year the Government expanded the scheme to include secular welfare workers, introduced minimum qualifications for new and existing chaplains and welfare workers and set benchmark standards for service providers. The complaints management process has also been overhauled.
Schools in regional areas, and in disadvantaged communities have been prioritised in the new program, while grants for schools in remote communities have been increased to
$24 000 a year for three years, while other schools are eligible for funding of $20 000 a year to engage a welfare worker or chaplain.
