You were right and I was wrong.

Not all of you. But people like Joe Cambria, Kirk Fletcher, Sinclair Davidson, Jim Fryar, Tim Andrews and Michael Sutcliffe were right all along. You warned me about the ALP. You said the days of Hawke/Keating/Walsh were over. I didn’t listen. Mea culpa, mea culpa.

Before the last 2007 election I suggested that Rudd would be a dull but safe Prime Minister who wouldn’t do much, and so would be fairly harmless. And there were people like Tanner and Emerson in the background to keep the party sane. These weren’t particularly high expectations… but they have turned out to be a massive over-estimate of the quality of the Rudd government. He has been a huge disappointment.

In partial defence, I think one reason for Rudd being particularly bad was the global financial crisis (which few people saw coming) and his populist response. Our PM seems like an empty vessel who knows nothing about economics and doesn’t want to know. Perhaps Rudd cares about and understands foreign policy… but I don’t think he cares about or understands economics. And it shows. With little understanding or concern, the only guide to his behaviour was politics, and so we were left with a very dumb stimulus package that totally fails the economics test but passed the populist test. John Howard (or Peter Costello, or Brendan Nelson, or Malcolm Turnbull, or Tony Abbott) would have done a much better job.

But it’s worse than that. With or without the GFC, there is no excuse for the National Broadband Network, or for the proposed internet censorship, or increasing union power and labour market regulation. Denying a special deal for asylum seekers is just weird, and the whole episode was a triumph of politics over policy. As was the pointless 2020 summit. Cass has just drawn my attention to their continued refusal to recognise same-sex unions. Of course, the ETS is horrible policy, and will be the 4th biggest commonwealth tax after income, company and GST. Not to mention other climate regulations and subsidies. And the Rudd government continues to deny private property rights to aboriginals while wasting millions on a non-existent home building project. Then there is the super-nanny state project under the guise of preventative health. Even foreign policy has been a failure, with inconsistent treatment of foreign investment and mixed messages to China. As Sinclair Davidson put it so well… the only real successes from this government has been that they followed through on Howard’s small tax cut and they finally abandoned the idiotic grocery-choice and fuel-choice projects.

I was a vocal critic of the Howard government regarding foreign policy, civil liberties, high tax take, ID card, middle-class welfare, ETS, and lack of liberal reform. I think those criticisms still hold.

However, what I previously failed to stress was that the ALP also supported all of these positions. I didn’t think about it too much at the time, but the policy cowardice showed by the Labor Party while in opposition was an early indicator that they would be a populist and unprincipled government in power. I have absolutely no faith that Rudd is trying to introduce the best policy. The party seems to be run entirely on spin and illusion.

If you don’t want to read this whole political claptrap, just watch this video for the ABC’s 7:30 Report’s hilarious interpretation of this week’s Liberal Meltdown by their commentarians John Clarke and Brian Dawe.  All you need to know is the bald guy (Clarke) is playing pretty much the whole party.  Dawe is for once playing himself, a political reporter.  And remember:  in Australia, “Liberal” means “Conservative”.

Recent upheavals in both major Australian political parties have left politicians on their heads, and the public scratching theirs.  Makes no sense to me, I’ll tell you.  This is how it goes, as I understand it:

The right-wing, pro-business conservative party is referred to as the “Liberal” party.  To the opposite is the left-wing, pro-union “Labor” party.  There are many other minor parties as well.  At the top of the list regarding political impact: the “Greens” judicate from an environmental perspective, “Family First” seems similar in policy to the Christian Coalition in th U.S., although they have no official religious imperative.  There’s also a nationalistic, populist “One Nation” party (read that as wing-nut-white-people-only).

The Australian Government follows a Westminster system akin to the British parliamentary system.  Whether at the state or federal level, there is a shadow ministry of opposition, barking at those in power that they are doing it wrong.  So, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of the Labor party (left of center) has an evil twin, Malcolm Turnbull of the Liberals (right of centre).  Or he did until this week…

So for whichever party is in power (or in opposition) – determined by the first and second majority of seats in Parliament – the party chooses their leaders, not the public; voters really vote for a party, regardless of how they feel about the candidate.  Anyway, the really wacky bit is that independent of public opinion, either party may revoke their leader and his/her cabinet, in what’s called a “spill”.  Which is what happened this week:  Turnbull, liberal leader and shadow P.M. was given the boot, and his fellow party members scrambled for the throne (and remember, it’s s the throne of opposition – a bit of a paper tiger, at least until the next election).

Apparently Turnbull wasn’t conservative enough, and was starting to look like one of them tree-hugging types – he had been pushing for support of the Labor party’s Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), a tax measure that would be tough on  carbon-heavy business.  The Liberal party thus far has been skeptical of climate change, and very resistant (as they would be) to anything that would cause Australian Business to lose income.  As a “why can’t we all just consume sustainably” kind of person, I really hate the notion of carbon credits and trading schemes – they’re a false economy that has nothing to do with genuine behavioural change – but I thought it was wonderfully progressive of Turnbull, and very strategic of his party to support the ETS.

But the party had other ideas.  After months of grumbling they organised a spill vote.  What followed was a battle scene of Shakespearean proportions.  For a few days, there were admissions of support and then sudden switches, backstabbings, and harsh denunciations over the airwaves.  As negotiations and collusions continued, Turnbull kept popping back up as a survivor.  Or, it was possible that one of his own cabinet, Joe Hockey, shadow Treasurer, would take Turnbull’s seat, but that ended up going to Tony Abbott, a good-looking but vile henchman of the last Liberal Prime Minister, John Howard (Australia’s version of Reagan, methinks).  Abbott, not popular with the ladies due to his loud protests of abortion rights, has re-instated Julie Bishop as deputy Leader (this is like a Vice President).  Bishop won this title by election back in 2007  (the highest position yet offered to a woman in this party), but was convinced to step down by Turnbull & Co. to take position as Shadow Treasurery; then she was moved to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Hockey took over the Treasury.  Now she’s back in the Veep’s seat with Abbott.  Hockey’s still got his job, probably as a consolation prize for clearing the path for Abbott.  Turnbull?  Shipped to the backbench, they say.

Confused?  So is the rest of the country, least of all me.  To me, it doesn’t seem to matter – they’re just the opposition.  I suppose they’re all jockeying into place for next year’s election.  But Rudd seems to be doing well, and as the standing P.M. he can choose the date of the vote (another electoral quirk of the Aussies).  He’d be smart to do it while the Liberals are all still bleeding out on the carpet.

But don’t worry, it’s not just the conservative party; just days later, the whole farce played out again in the leading Labor party of the state of New South Wales (where Sydney is).  The Premiership has passed through three pairs of hands since 2005.  While meeting with Obama and Clinton in D.C to offer further troop support in Afghanistan, P.M. Kevin Rudd sent a stern message home to Labor in NSW.   “Get your act together.  Get your act together.“

Australia’s plans for an emissions trading system to combat global warming were scuttled Wednesday in Parliament, handing a defeat to a government that had hoped to set an example at international climate change talks next week.

The Senate, where Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s government does not hold a majority, rejected his administration’s proposal for Australia to become one of the first countries to install a so-called cap-and-trade system to slash the amount of heat-trapping pollution that industries pump into the air.

The 41-33 vote followed a tumultuous debate in which the conservative main opposition party at first agreed to support a version of the government’s bill, then dramatically dumped its leader and switched sides after bitter divisions erupted within the party.

The new leader, Tony Abbott, said Australia should not adopt an emissions trading system before the rest of the world.

“The right time, if ever, to have an ETS is if and when it becomes part of the international trading system and that is not going to happen prior to its adoption in America,” he told reporters after the vote.

This was reported by ANI Wednesday 2nd December, 2009 (here)

Oz PM angers Muslims with his ‘right to leave’ remark

Canberra (Australia), Dec.2 : Muslim representative bodies across the world, and particularly in Australia, have reacted angrily to Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s ‘adjust or leave Australia’ remark, saying the comment was prejudicial to their community and uncalled for.

Rudd had said that Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law should get out of Australia.

Separately, Rudd angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation’s mosques.

Insisting that Muslims in Australia must adapt, Rudd said: “Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.”

Rudd added: “This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. We speak mainly English, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!’

“Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture,” he said further.

He said: “We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.This is our country, our land and our lifestyle, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, ‘THE RIGHT TO LEAVE’.’

If you aren’t happy here, then leave. We didn’t force you to come here. You asked to be here. So, accept the country YOU accepted.’ (AMEN!!!)

Comment: Tony Abbott couldn’t have said it any clearer.  Ray has challenged the veracity of this report in the comments below and has branded it as real redneck stuff.  What is your opinion?  Did Kevin Rudd say it?  If not, should he have said it?

With only a week to go until the start of the Copenhagen Climate Conference(COP15), sparks are already flying on promises, policies and ideas.

Copenhagan is hosting the 15th United Nations ‘Climate Change Conference’ or ‘Conference of the Parties’, with an ambition of reaching ‘ambitious global agreement’ with the involvment of the whole world.

How will this conference remain carbon neutral? There are approximately 140 flights set over two days for the airport of Copenhagen, however the carbon emissions related to COP15 will be offset via a climate project in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Also, the bullet-proof limousines tansporting IPs during the conference will run on boi-ethanol and bicycles are free to rent for conference delegates!

President Obama and Prime Minister Rudd met yesterday in Washington, where they discussed Afghanistan’s future in relation to their countries, and also dicussed policies for conference next week.

Rudd: “When it comes to climate change, the clock’s ticking for us all,”

“We’re working closely with our American friends to secure the best possible outcome for an important deal for the planet, for our economies, for jobs, for the environment.”

Rudd and his government want to cut greenhouse emissions by up to 25% below 2000 levels by 2020, hopefully coinciding with the targets to be made next week.However, Australia’s opposition Liberal Party has a newly elected leader; Tony Abbott, a climate-change sceptic; which may affect the government’s carbon-trading law plans. This contrasts to the USA’s idea to slash its greenhouse gas emissions by 17% by 2020. The pledges will be confirmed and stated in the conference next week. Officials say this reflects the broader commitment of the USA to reduce emissions by 83% by 2050.

It seems next week should be a strong and powerful, and hopefully effective, conference that will result in positive change, and brighten the future in aid of the environment.

On a different note, I am going to see Lenny Henry as Othello tomorrow! Hopefully he will rise to the many expecatations and retain the high standard of the powerful dramatic irony and strong themes in Othello.

KEVIN Rudd was forced to return to Washington today during the journey home to Canberra because his plane suffered a mechanical fault…. From The Australian. Full story

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The Wilderness Society have delivered over 14 000 letters to the Prime Minister asking him to make sure the next global climate deal protects the world’s intact natural forests.

Protecting and restoring the world’s natural forests is a crucial part of the climate change solution. People have written these letters to the Prime Minister to convince him he needs to act to ensure the next global climate deal includes the protection of the world’s intact forests.

Prime Minister Rudd will be attending the climate talks in Copenhagen in early December. He needs to take a leadership role and persuade other countries to support a deal that protects the world’s forests and provides help for indigenous peoples, local communities & governments in developing countries to avoid further deforestation, industrial logging and degradation of their forests.

The first step to achieving this is for Prime Minister Rudd, Penny Wong and the Australian negotiating team to fix up the flaws in the draft climate deal by adding the protection of intact forest – whilst ensuring that the rights and interests of indigenous peoples and communities are respected.

The science is clear that protecting intact native forests is an efficient and effective way to immediately reduce our global emissions. This can also safeguard their biodiversity and support indigenous peoples in their forest homes.

It is obvious that the Australian community will support Prime Minister Rudd if he goes to Copenhagen and supports a climate deal that protects the world’s forests, including Australia’s forests, which are some of the most carbon dense forests on Earth.

Ask Prime Minister Rudd to protect the world’s forests, including Australia’s forests at www.wilderness.org.au/forestpledge

Gemma Tillack
Climate Change and Forests Campaigner
The Wilderness Society Inc.

Election time is nearly amongst us (and possibly sooner than expected), and for some it is like Christmas.  Soon we’ll see the election banners being hung likening the Christmas decorations, all forms of media will be covered in election propaganda similar to the supermarkets, department stores, shopping malls are pumping out Christmas carols.  Next year will be ‘the season to be…’ politically active, fa la la la la?

But, the question the Water Monitor puts forward is do you know whom you are voting for?  You may know that you are voting for Labor, the Greens or the remnants of the Liberal Party.  Or you may know that you are voting for the party that Kevin leads, or Malcolm Turnbull, I mean…<insert Liberal Party member here> leads/lead/could have led, and some may even be voting for their actual electorate candidate rather then the Labor section of the slip.  But I often wonder if people know whom they are voting for.

By who I mean the actual party and people with in it.  For example, the ALP is led by Kevin Rudd, but there is more to the party than just Kevin.  Kevin represents the general opinion (slightly to the centre) of the ALP, but within the party there are left factions, right(ish) factions, and in between.  I think of this because this week it seems that a lot reminded me that there are different people and hence opinions.  It started when I was reading some article about MPs that agree with gay marriage (apparently 60% of Labor MPs agree with it, 50% of Liberal MPs do to).  Then the obvious leadership spillS in the Liberal Party representing the vast opinions of the remnants of that party.

I think a lot of people are voting for leader (or not-so-leaders in the case of the Liberal Party).  In a past place of employment of the water monitor, there was a girl of 19 who said “I wouldn’t vote for Kevin” – needless to say her parents are liberal voters and she had no idea what she was voting for, but the point I wish to make is some people have no idea what they are putting on that little slip they put into the box. I think people should be looking as a party as a whole.  For example, the Labor party doesn’t just have Kevin who represents the right(ish) part of the party, there is Julia Gillard, Penny Wong, Wayne Swan, Kate Ellis.  Living in Canberra (AKA Public servant central) I’ve heard much opinions of many of the above MPs/Senators.

For example, Julia Gillard is apparently ridiculously intelligent and really knows what she is doing.  Furthermore, she represents a more left faction of the Labor Party being 48, in a partnership (not married) with a hairdresser and has no children (OMG, say it isn’t so).  Senator Penny Wong, a lesbian who apparently is scary (in a good way).  Apparently when she walks into a building full of her staff it resembles a ‘Devil wears Prada’ moment, she gets things done, she knows what she wants.

I’d also like to use the Liberal Party as an example, but currently the water monitor isn’t exactly sure what the liberal party is, who leads the party, and what they are going to put as their ‘policy’ going into the next election.

Furthermore, by voting for the candidate of the party you like who most represents your beliefs – rather then following the forest of ‘how to vote’ you are handed in the polling line – you can alter the policy because you may vote in more lefties or rights within the party.

The water monitor can’t wait for election time next year.  I love the propaganda, I love the advertisements and the election ‘carols’ plastered everywhere. The water monitor just wonders how people will vote, for the party, for the leader, for your candidate.  Fa la la la la.

(ANSA) – PECHINO, 26 NOV – La Cina ridurra’ la propria intensita’ carbonica del 40-45% entro il 2020, rispetto ai livelli del 2005. L’intensita’ carbonica equivale all’ammontare di emissioni a effetto serra per unita’ di prodotto interno lordo. Lo ha annunciato l’agenzia cinese Xinhua presentando la decisione come ”un’azione volontaria del governo cinese” ed ”un contributo agli sforzi globali contro i cambiamenti climatici”.

Inoltre su REPUBBLICA si puo’ leggere come l’annuncio di Pechino arrivi dopo che ieri la Casa Bianca aveva anticipato che il presidente Usa Barack Obama si recherà il 9 dicembre a Copenaghen per partecipare al Vertice sul Clima con in tasca una proposta di riduzione delle emissioni di gas effetto serra negli Usa del 17% nel 2020, del 30% nel 2025 e del 42% nel 2030 rispetto ai livelli del 2005.

Qin Gang, il portavoce del ministero degli Esteri a Pechino, ha confermato che il premier Wen guiderà la delegazione cinese al summit, previsto dal 7 al 18 dicembre. La sua presenza, ha aggiunto, “dimostra la grande importanza che il governo cinese dà al cambio climatico e la sua volontà politica di lavorare con la comunità internazionale su questo tema”. Qin ha sottolineato che la Cina si attende dal vertice “un accordo equo e ragionevole” e ha ripetuto che il Paese asiatico che, insieme agli Stati Uniti, è il maggiore produttore mondiale di diossido di carbonio si attende che i negoziati rispettino il principio delle “responsabilità differenziate” tra i Paesi sviluppati e quelli in via di sviluppo.

La settimana prossima, infine, avverrà anche un incontro a Washington tra il primo ministro australiano Kevin Rudd e il presidente Obama per analizzare i temi relativi al summit sul clima di Copenaghen. “Sono stato invitato dal presidente degli Stati Uniti per un incontro lunedì prossimo”, ha detto Rudd in parlamento, aggiungendo di ritenere che sarebbe troppo sperare che dal vertice, in programma dal 7 al 18 dicembre in Danimarca, esca fuori un accordo davvero vincolante.

(fonti: radiolifegate, repubblica, ansa)

acqua passata?

Today The World Court has crossed many lines against Humanity, being linked to the U.N, the World Health Organization, which loves to use it Origin of Species, an Set the Rich to be the Stronger to Rule Over the Weak & Poor, On Top Of That you have the IMF:International Monetary Fund, being a Burden Upon Many Nations, giving out Loans to fulfill its Lustful Desires of the Flesh.

These Organizations,Courts,Banks Should be Put on Trial for there Tresspasses on mankind, Setting Selfish Goals which will never happen in there lifetime or the Next, they say they love mankind yet set stumbling blocks for mankind to Tresspass against Each Other, and to Tresspass against the Lord God Of Israel.

THE federal opposition has questioned whether Sri Lankans who yesterday disembarked from the Oceanic Viking would be given preferential access to Australian public housing, as it continued to accuse the government of doing a special deal with the 78 asylum-seekers…. From The Australian. Full story

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When one thinks of World Powers, many think on a national, an so many on the International Level, many say the USA or Israel is a World Power, in fact, that is one of the biggest myths in this day and age.

Todays World Powers are:

The United Nations-which has changed it’s name over the years Starting Off as “The League Of Nations”
European Union- which is Pressing Forth its Reich to have complete Rulings Over the Whole of Europe
an Succeeding in Hitlers Plan an other before him in bringing in complete Unity the Whole of Europe.
NATO-Northern Atlantic Treaty Organization
Amnesty International- A So called Human Rights group that does more harm than Good
UniCef-Founded by the UN
GreenPeace-When it was 1st founded, it was mainly used in regards to enviromental issues only nothing
more, now being hijacked, by people who now wish to disarm the world.
CAIR-A muslim administration that seeks to silence those who speak ill of Islam to a world wide standard of
Islams version of Polictical Correctness.
OPEC-A group that has a Majority of Arab Muslim Countries Telling the World How much we have to pay for Fuel.

The List goes on with the World Powers & Their Organizations, They Love to Go Around an Tell the Nations what to do, Now its time for the Nations to Put these World Powers & Their Organizations Up for Inspections by the Public, no doubt once many hear of this article, they will play there holier than thou game to the public, an be the best hypocrites in the World.
Thing is, Every remembers the Wrongs these Organizations an Powers have Done.

KEVIN Rudd’s personal standing has slumped in the past month as he struggled with the standoff over the Sri Lankan boatpeople’s refusal to leave the Oceanic Viking in Indonesia, and dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister is the highest it’s been in more than a year…. From The Australian. Full story

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Australian PM Kevin Rudd has apologised to the hundreds of thousands of people, some British migrants, who were abused or neglected in state care as children.

Mr Rudd said he was “deeply sorry” for the pain caused to the children and their extended families.

He said he hoped the national apology would help to “heal the pain” and be a turning point in Australian history.

Some 500,000 “forgotten Australians” were abused or neglected in orphanages and children’s homes from 1930 to 1970.

Mr Rudd’s speech comes after his formal apology last year to Australia’s Aboriginal community, especially the Stolen Generation.

These were Aborigines who were taken from their parents and sent to state institutions and white families to be brought up under a policy which ended in the 1960s.

‘Lost childhoods’

The Canberra ceremony was attended by hundreds of people forced to migrate to Australia when young, some 7,000 of whom still live in Australia.

Some wept openly and held each other as Mr Rudd shared stories of survivors he had spoken to, including those who were beaten with belt buckles or sexually violated as children.

Kevin Rudd also offered an apology to child migrants taken from the UK to Australia after the war, often without their parents’ consent.

On Sunday, the UK government said the British prime minister would apologise for the forced migration policy next year.

“We are sorry,” Mr Rudd told a gathering of 1,000 people at Parliament House.

“Sorry for the tragedy – the absolute tragedy – of childhoods lost.

“Sorry that as children you were taken from your families and placed in institutions where so often you were abused. Sorry for the physical suffering, the emotional starvation and the cold absence of love, of tenderness, of care.”

Mr Rudd said the government would work to ensure that such a tragedy would never happen again.

“Let us resolve this day that this national apology becomes a turning point in our nation’s story,” he said. “A turning point for governments… to do all in our power to never allow this to happen again.”

Mr Rudd said it was important to acknowledge the past in order to be able to move forward as a nation.

“The truth is, this is an ugly story,” Mr Rudd told Parliament House. “The truth is great evil has been done.”

Speaking directly to the gathering, he said: “It is my hope that from today, you will be called the ‘remembered Australians’.”

It takes a lot of nerves to do something like this. And Australian PM Rudd deserves kudos. He hopes this would be ‘a turning point in Australian history’.:

‘Australian PM Kevin Rudd has apologised to the hundreds of thousands of people, some British migrants, who were abused or neglected in state care as children. Mr Rudd said he was “deeply sorry” for the pain caused to the children and their extended families. He said he hoped the national apology would help to “heal the pain” and be a turning point in Australian history.

‘Some 500,000 “forgotten Australians” were abused or neglected in orphanages and children’s homes from 1930 to 1970.
The Canberra ceremony was attended by hundreds of people forced to migrate to Australia when young, some 7,000 of whom still live in Australia.
Some wept openly and held each other as Mr Rudd shared stories of survivors he had spoken with – children who were beaten with belt buckles or sexually violated.’

HISTORY OF UK CHILD MIGRANTS
UK is the only country with a sustained history of child migration – over four centuries
In 1618, 100 sent from London to Richmond, Virginia
In total 130,000 sent from the UK to Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) and Australia
Post-war, 7,000 shipped to Australia and 1,300 to New Zealand, Rhodesia and Canada
Source: -BBC, Child Migrants Trust

I would say sorry but I can’t speak cat

After all this lefty “apology” nonsense for bad stuff that happened long ago, perpretrated by folk who in the main have long since gone the way of the dodo, it seemed likely that there would be something of a backlash against the idiocy, insincerity, mendacity, hypocrisy and futility of these political publicity stunts. Some of the blogs have had a pretty good crack at it today but I especially like this one from the ever-unapologetic Gerald Warner that’s just popped up over on the Telegraph’s website.

Gordon Brown is set to make a public apology for the Norman Conquest. Last night close aides and Downing Street insiders categorically denied that any such move was being considered, fuelling the growing consensus that a fulsome apology is imminent. One source who requested not to be named said: “Gordon has always felt strongly about the Norman Conquest and its disastrous legacy of hereditary privilege and a class-based society.”

Another Labour insider commented: “The main concern is the trauma still being endured by people of Anglo-Saxon extraction. They lost their language, their social cohesion and their political autonomy as a consequence of this foreign invasion. While England has a long tradition of welcoming asylum seekers and the oppressed, arrogant Norman aristocrats on horseback are quite another proposition. A glance at the Bayeux Tapestry shows the kind of thuggish behaviour in which they indulged. When a King of England is struck in the eye by an arrow it is clear that a coach and horses is being driven through health and safety laws.”

He hastily added that there was no reason whatever why a man with one eye should not rule England successfully for many decades, but repeated his strong condemnation of the Norman invaders: “The Battle of Hastings was an early spree by Bullingdon Club louts.” Climate change campaigners also suggested that man-made global warming may have begun with the Norman Conquest: “All those forges producing chain mail and steel weaponry, not to mention thousands of imported French horses breaking wind – the effect on England’s ecological system must have been devastating.”

Kev Engels, Professor of Historical Studies and Social Inclusion at the University of Brixton, claimed: “Exclusive, class-based terminology such as “serf”, “vassall” and “churl” date back to the events of 1066. You get social alienation due to people with “De” in their names discriminating on racial grounds against the indigenous population. A Marxian interpretation would identify this as the start of colonialism, which also laid the foundations of the class struggle.”

The question that was preoccupying the Westminster village last night was the scale of compensation that would be offered to victims of William the Conqueror. A spokesman for a left-leaning think tank said: “To apologise without allocating adequate resources to victims is meaningless.” He estimated a minimum investment of £3 billion would be needed, to fund resources for outreach, counselling and rehabilitation services.

Political observers agreed that, having ruled out a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, an initiative hostile to Normandy, the nearest outpost of the EU to England, might be a popular stance for Gordon Brown to adopt in the run-up to a general election. A spokesman for the Football Association welcomed the likelihood of an apology, saying: “Hastings was a disaster. Our lads were knackered after a mid-week friendly at Stamford Bridge. They had horrific injury problems and should never have been asked to take to the field that day.” On a more optimistic note he added: “The Norman Conquest was a game of two halves.” Downing Street is still refusing to comment.

Warner clearly has asked himself, “Where will this all end?” The answer to that question is that it’s very hard to say, but his witty reductio does give us some clue. Idiot lefties like Brown and his Australian counterpart idiot lefty, Rudd, are capable of just about any level of hypocrisy if they think it will go down well with their socialist constituencies. I just wish they wouldn’t do it “on behalf of the British/Australian people.” I’m not bloody sorry.

So just where will it all end? My view? Well, you have to follow it through to its logical conclusion. Given all the leftwing hand-wringing about the impact of humanity on global ecology, I suggest that the next official retrospective apology should be to plant and animal life everywhere. The shameful period of human evolution that resulted in us inheriting the status of Top Dog of the Biosphere is a stain on the history of the world, if not the universe.

I’ve already said sorry to my cat.

Thoroughly depressing news to wake up to this morning. It looks like our feared about the Copenhagen climate change talks have come true. World leaders have admitted that there is likely to be no final resolution and that the Copenhagen talks are most likely to be a starting point to talks rather than an end point.

At the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum leaders including Barack Obama, Hu Jintao and Kevin Rudd, who have all drawn up significant plans for ETS deals and other environmental strategies in their own nations, appear to have given up on uniting world nations’ to come up with a meaningful deal.

This is disappointing, but not unexpected. There has been some intense expectation management over the last few weeks and it seemed almost inevitable that there was to be no lasting strategy to come out of this meeting. The EU has set out strategies to help nations meet their climate change targets,  but nothing has been set in stone, especially in regards to money being set-aside. Developing world nations have been consistently threatening to walk out of talks due to the lack of agreed funding from the developed world to help developing nations fund anti-climate change projects.

Personally, I never really had much faith in the COP15 meeting to come up with any large-scale meaningful treaty. The fact is though, Kyoto formally ends at the end of 2011, begining of 2012. This obviously leaves a couple of years to create a meaningful and effective post-Kyoto deal.

The significance of a no-deal result in Copenhagen, is the number of nations that have created emission reduction schemes that will only be meaningful if there is a result in Copenhagen, the EU is one of these nations. Currently the EU has committed to a 20% reduction in carbon emissions, but it would be 30% if a deal was met in COP15.

Therefore, not reaching a result in Copenhagen will obviously be a failure. Hopefully, world leaders have something up their sleeves and will be able to swoop in at the last-minute to come up with something. In my wildest dreams I can imagine Obama, Rudd or Brown flying in at the last moment and saving the day, but realistically, I think we will still be looking forward into 2010 before a post-Kyoto deal is reached.

Thoughts?