As Christmas time approaches; some of you are surrounded by snow; some by sleet and rain and others by brisk, chilly days. Others still, are surrounded by heartache and are seeking solace.
So I thought, here, in my sunny and unreasonably hot corner of the world I would show you something that may make you smile.
THIS is how Santa travels in Australia

by air



by sea


by land


and I hope he brings you the gift of peace this year (along with the requisite chocolates and stocking fillers)

(thank you to my husband for his key role in photos number 2 and 3, and next year I'm sure they'll let you fly the hydrofoil honey, love Mrs Claus)

For months, global warming skeptics have been touting The Great Global Warming Swindle as a balanced and fair counterpart to those calling for urgent action on the issue of climate change. In reality, The Swindle is a misleading, dishonest and ill-conceived work of propaganda that is chock full of paid industry mouth pieces while being anorexically thin on genuine evidence.

Nowhere was this better revealed than in a recent interview conducted by ABC Australia's Tony Jones with the Martin Durkin, the film's director. Durkin lurches, sputters and sweats his way through the 10 minute grilling as Jones lines up example after example of omissions and lies that he presented in his film.

For those on the sane side of the spectrum, you are excused from debating this movie with anyone who insists on citing The Swindle as 'evidence' after watching this clip.





Rest in peace GGWS.

See part one of the interview at DeSmogBlog.

A radical plan is being suggested to save the Tasmanian devil from extinction.

The rare marsupial once inhabited wide areas of Australia, but predation and human impacts wiped it out everywhere but the small island state of Tasmania. A healthy population of 150,000 had flourished there until the mid 1990s when a mysterious facial cancer began sweeping through the island.

Dubbed devil facial tumor disease, the infectious cancer spreads through mouth to mouth conflict and infects the face with large visible tumours. Eventually, the cancer crowds out the animal's teeth, essentially starving it to death as eating and hunting become more difficult.

Scientists believe that many as 70,000 have already perished, with 65% of the remaining population infected. In the northeast of the state where the disease was first diagnosed, 90% of the population has disappeared.

Now, scientists are proposing a controversial plan to transfer 30 healthy animals to nearby Maria Island - a national park that is also home to several endangered bird species.

Critics are concerned about the impact that the new species will have on local species, an understandable fear given Australia's previous failed experiments in introducing foreign species to sensitive habitats. However, unless a new home or a miracle cure is found there will be no uninfected Tasmanian devils in as little as 5 years.

Those wanting to help save the species can visit the Save the Tasmanian Devil website to donate or find out more.