Thursday, January 31, 2013

Off to see the Wizard ...

We like visiting our friend Adam, today we are visiting him and we are pleased the sun is out finally.  Drying out the carpets at home from the shed and mopping up the mess left behind from the big wet.
The tree that fell in our yard has now been taken away. 

The council came and did this job.  They cut some rounds for me.  I was pleased to have some plant pillars as I call them.  Wood to elevate some of the plants to a higher status in the world.
IMG_5898

I was out photographing trees and I noticed this cute little round nodule on this one in the light.  I thought it looked cute and I told it so.
Images @ Melonpopzdropz Flickr
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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Tjanpi .... means Grass

Grass weaving is something that I have been burning in my spirit to learn, I am just using the Lemandra here in these baskets.  Lemandra grows profusely on the cliff east of my back door.  I soak it and strip it into thinner pieces and let it dry and then re-soak it.

IMG 8514 Way to Go
Baskets I made while it was raining
I would love to learn more and use other materials.  I am presently drying out some banana stem pieces to see how they weave.  I am excited by this, besides cooking, there isn't much else to do in this wet weather we are experiencing here on the North Coast of New South Wales.

Images @ Melonpopzdropz Flickr

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

The Rain Rains On and now its Windy Hill!

The wind started and I am quite pleased the tree in the front yard has already fallen because it would not have stood up to this onslaught of weather here on the hill.

IMG 8473 Urunga in Deluge
Lights on in the day time in Urunga today.
My friends at Glenugie are holding fast and trying to stay dry the best they can.  The drill rig is holding fast inside of the compound, like a yellow bird in a cage.  The longer this stays there the better as well.  Every single day it now stays put once again will cost it thousands of dollars in lost time and production.  In turn this effects the share price.  The share holders are going to get edgy in the end.  This is all we can do to try to save the planet from this type of mining madness.
Solar can hold a base load 24/7 now so we need to adopt this model as soon as possible in my life time would be bloody good.

Images @ Melonpopzdropz Flickr
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Monday, January 28, 2013

Shaping up for a serious Flood

hello

 IMG 8048 Black Monday at Glenugie
NSW Severe Weather Warning

IDN28500
Severe Weather Warning
for destructive winds, damaging winds, heavy rain, abnormally high tides and damaging surf
for people in the Metropolitan, Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Hunter, Northern Tablelands, Illawarra and Central Tablelands forecast districts

Issued at 4:14 pm EDT on Sunday 27 January 2013.

VERY HEAVY RAIN, DAMAGING WINDS AND SURF OVER NORTHEASTERN NSW.
Weather Situation

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald currently located over southern Queensland expected to move rapidly south through eastern New South Wales on Monday to be near Sydney around midnight on Monday.

Abnormally high tides which may cause sea water flooding of low lying areas and very heavy surf which may lead to localised damage and coastal erosion are forecast for the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast expected to extend to Hunter, Metropolitan and Illawarra forecast districts during Monday. Beach conditions in these areas will be dangerous and people should stay well away from the surf and surf exposed areas.

Destructive winds around 80 km/h with peak gusts of 140 km/h are forecast for parts of the Northern Rivers forecast district. Destructive winds are expected to ease gradually during Monday morning.

Damaging winds around 60 km/h with peak gusts of 100 km/h are forecast for Mid North Coast and Northern Tablelands expected to extend to Metropolitan and Hunter forecast districts during Monday.

Heavy rain which may lead to flash flooding is falling in Northern Rivers, Northern Tablelands, Mid North Coast districts and is forecast to extend to the Hunter overnight and to the Metropolitan, Central Tablelands and Illawarra forecast districts by Monday afternoon.

Heavy rain is expected to ease in the Northern River district during Monday morning and in Mid-North cost in the afternoon.

Since 9am Sunday 99 mm has been recorded at Hopkins Ck (near Mullumbimby), 70 mm in Coffs Harbour and Comboyne.

Images @ Melonpopzdropz Flickr
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Sunday, January 27, 2013

We invoke the sacrifices of our fallen heroes in the abstract, but we seldom take time to thank them individually.

~ Rahm Emanuel ~

Last night at approximately 1.30am this Eucalyptus Tree came crashing down in our front yard.  It woke me with the death groan it made falling,  I was awake before it hit the ground.
The result of the fall was a tree across the road on the crest of the hill.   I had no telephone connectivity, it had gone with the tree.  
I thought for a minute and weighed up the consequenses and rang 000 and told them on my mobile phone there was a tree across the road and someone needed to help me to avert a fatality.


IMG 8489 Fallen Comrade
Our Fallen Tree
The tree looked to me like a fallen warrior,  for the three years we lived here I could feel the pain of this tree, its branches all contorted and twisted.   I had wondered how old it was,  I wonder even more now.
Flooding has increased all over the North Coast area and many are experiencing the worst flooding in white recorded history.  
The weather is going to hang around for a little while and the worst of the wind is yet to come.

Images @ Melonpopzdropz Flickr

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SOL

Dates for MERCURY RETROGRADE 2013

2013 Retrograde Dates

In 2013, Mercury will be retrograde from:
  • February 23–March 17
  • June 26–July 20
  • October 21–November 10

The Sun
File:Circumpunct.svgThe Sun is a magnetically active star. It supports a strong, changing magnetic field that varies year-to-year and reverses direction about every eleven years around solar maximum. The Sun's magnetic field leads to many effects that are collectively called solar activity, including sunspots on the surface of the Sun, solar flares, and variations in solar wind that carry material through the Solar System. Effects of solar activity on Earth include auroras at moderate to high latitudes, and the disruption of radio communications and electric power. Solar activity is thought to have played a large role in the formation and evolution of the Solar System. Solar activity changes the structure of Earth's outer atmosphere.

SolThe astrological symbol for the sun in all charts and tablets is the circle with a dot in the very center -  Divine spirit (circle) surrounding seed of potential (dot)
THE ELEMENTS ARE IMPERATIVE TO LIFE

IMG 0914 The Sun is our healer
IMG 0914 The Sun is our healer (Photo credit: Images @ Melonpopzdropz)

Fire logo

 The signs of the zodiac are broken down into the elements of fire, earth, air, and water. If we learn the elements we will understand how the signs share common features. This simplifies astrology, and makes it easier to learn.

THE FIRE ELEMENT: (ARIES March 21-April 19, LEO July 23-August 22, SAGITTARIUS November 22-December 21)

FirepitFire is bright, strong, and takes control. It wants to be in charge. You never can miss fire. Never subtle, the most confident of all the signs. When it wants something you will know! Fire people do not stop until they get what they want. Look to the fire people as the leaders. The majority of world leaders have strong fire elements in their charts. People look to fire people as the energy boosters of the zodiac. Want to start something with enthusiasm? Find yourself a fire sign. The motivator s and pep talk people are usually fire people. These people are very proud and confident.

Fire people can also be very arrogant and self-centered. Don't go to a fire person for sympathy or comforting. They just don't have the time. They are too busy getting their needed recognition. They have no patience for emotionalism or heaviness. They tend to run over the weaker, shyer signs.

Generally compatible with air signs, fire signs can become tired and bored with the intellectual observations of the more communicative air signs. Without the encouragement and ideas of the air signs the fire signs would be lost. A fire sign is the boss who takes your ideas and motivates and leads all the employees to better sales and marketing while taking all the credit.

THE ELEMENT AIR: (GEMINI, May 21-June 21, LIBRA, September 23-October 22, AQUARIUS, January 20-February 18)

windy photoHere you will find the talkers and communicators of the zodiac. If you need something written or spoken, ask an air sign. Ideas seem to materialize out of thin air for them. These people are like the air we breathe. Always moving and changing. Just when we think we know them poof, they change again. Very social these air signs. If your party seems dull and no one is talking, you don't have enough air sign people to fill in the gaps between words with more words.

Objective and rational no emotionalism here. The air signs are so objective they can become impractical in their actions and beliefs. Superficial, these signs never want to get into heavy emotional discussions about the dreaded "feelings" dialog that are more important to watery signs. Like the air, these signs hate to be restricted. Freedom of thought and movement are their most cherished desires.

Fire signs work well with air signs. Fire needs air to generate heat. The fires stimulate and help motivate the air signs into new ideas.
waterfall

THE ELEMENT WATER: (CANCER, June 22-July 22, SCORPIO, OCTOBER 23-November 21, PISCES February 19-March 20)

Like the water in a glass, water signs conform to the elements around them. Feelings, emotions, and deep personal conversations are what motivates and stimulates the water signs. Sensitive to a fault, the water signs are often more concerned with your feelings and needs then their own. You can find them at movie's crying loudest and most often. Everything seems to touch them.
Psychic and secretive are often characteristics of the water elements. When they can no longer withstand the emotions of the world, they often retreat into their own private worlds. Sometimes this leads to compulsive behaviours and fearful ways of life. If the emotions get too strong, these people can be become addicted to drugs, alcohol, food or anything that keeps them from feeling as deeply.
Trust is a big need of theirs, which the earth signs can bring to water. Earth signs also bring the need stability and consistency to water that keeps it contained in a healthy calmer manner. In fact, water signs can be so emotional that the simplest things can get blown out of proportion into big dramatic scenes. Water signs dislike the strong boisterous personalities of the air and fire signs.
spinning globe

THE ELEMENT EARTH: (TAURUS, April 20-May 20, VIRGO, August 23-September 22, CAPRICORN December 22-January 19)

Talk about rocks. The most stable, consistent and sometimes rigid of all the signs. Once they make up their minds, like mountains they cannot be moved without huge efforts. Practical, patient, reasonable, and persistent are these signs. If you want to make sure a project gets done and gets done "right" call, on an earth person. They will stick with it until the bitter end. Not much one for spontaneity or flexibility. (We have to leave that up to the air signs) Not as sensitive as the water signs, the earth signs are still aware of the needs and often want to serve others. These people are not much one for the limelight. If it can be done, an earth sign will do it without the need for recognition.
Often so rigid, they become stuck with old routines to the point of impracticality. Fear of starting something new, earth signs can be very cautious to the point of missing a great opportunity. Conventional to a point of boredom.
The fast moving, changeable air signs fascinate Earth signs though they are un-trusting of their unworkable schemes. If you see an adult asking why repeatedly, you can pretty much be assured you are in the company of an earth sign. Fire signs are too forceful for their slower thorough nature. Sharing with the water signs the characteristics of retentiveness, self-protectiveness, and acquisitiveness. Water signs will sooth and comfort the worry element so often found in the earth people. With this support and encouragement, earth signs can work and work and work.
Saturn

Saturn's Rings in Ultraviolet Light 

Spitzer and Hubble Create Colorful Masterpiece
NEBULASource: Hubblesite.or
Giant  Twisters  in the Lagoon Nebula

Giant  Twisters  in the Lagoon NebulaSource: Hubblesite.org


Cone Nebula (NGC 2264): Star-Forming Pillar of Gas and Dust

Cone Nebula (NGC 2264): Star-Forming Pillar of Gas and Dust Source: Hubblesite.org
DANNY WILTON is a person who needs a lot of thanks for all of this hard work.
Moon phases 2012
Moon phase Date Time
Full moon January 9    2012 00:32:14
Last quarter January 16    2012 02:09:22
New moon January 23    2012 00:41:40
First quarter January 30    2012 21:11:43
Full moon February 7    2012 14:56:10
Last quarter February 14  2012 10:05:41
New moon February 21  2012 15:37:09
First quarter February 29  2012 18:23:15
Full moon March 8        2012 02:41:42
Last quarter March 14      2012 19:27:01
New moon March 22      2012 08:39:28
First quarter March 30      2012 13:42:04
Full moon April 6           2012 13:20:26
Last quarter April 13         2012 04:51:14
New moon April 21         2012 01:20:17
First quarter April 29         2012 03:58:16
Full moon May 5           2012 21:36:07
Last quarter May 12         2012 15:48:03
New moon May 20         2012 17:48:21
First quarter May 28         2012 14:16:04
Full moon June 4          2012 05:11:44
Last quarter June 11         2012 04:42:42
New moon June 19         2012 09:03:00
First quarter June 26         2012 21:30:31
Full moon July 3           2012 12:51:46
Last quarter July 10         2012 19:49:33
New moon July 18          2012 22:24:32
First quarter July 26          2012 02:56:52
Full moon August 1       2012 21:27:24
Last quarter August 9       2012 12:56:40
New moon August 17      2012 09:54:31
First quarter August 24      2012 07:54:46
Full moon August 31      2012 07:57:45
Last quarter September 8  2012 07:16:10
New moon September 15 2012 20:10:34
First quarter September 22 2012 13:42:34
Full moon September29  2012 21:18:32
Last quarter October 8      2012 01:34:11
New moon October 15    2012 06:02:36
First quarter October 21    2012 21:33:48
Full moon   October 29  2012 13:50:30
Last quarter November 6   2012 17:36:55
New moon November 13 2012 15:08:20
First quarter November 20 2012 07:32:36
Full moon November 28 2012 07:47:28
Last quarter December 6   2012 08:32:49
New moon December 13 2012 01:42:24
First quarter December 19 2012 22:19:55
Full moon December 28 2012 03:22:40



2013 Full MOON DATES (for AEST Subtract 2 hours)

Sunday, 27th January 2013, 05:38:24 am
Monday, 25th February 2013, 09:26:06 pm
Wednesday, 27th March 2013, 10:27:18 am
Thursday, 25th April 2013, 09:57:06 pm [*]
Saturday, 25th May 2013, 06:24:54 am
Sunday, 23rd June 2013, 01:32:18 pm
Monday, 22nd July 2013, 08:15:30 pm
Wednesday, 21st August 2013, 03:44:36 am
Thursday, 19th September 2013, 01:12:48 pm
Saturday, 19th October 2013, 01:37:42 am
Sunday, 17th November 2013, 04:15:42 pm
Tuesday, 17th December 2013, 10:28:06 am
 

What the Moon is in when its full in 2012 and 2013

05/04/2012   -   Libra          =   Pink Moon
06/05/ 2012  -   SCORPIO =  Flower Moon
04/06/2012   -   Sagittarius =  Strawberry Moon
04/07/2012   -   Capricorn  =  Buck Moon
02/08/2012   -  Aquarius    =   Sturgeon Moon
31/08/2012   -  Pisces        =   Sturgeon Moon
30/09/2012   -  Aries          =   Harvest Moon
30/10/2012  -   Taurus        =   Hunter's Moon
29/11/2012   -  Gemini       =   Beaver Moon
28/12/2012   -  Cancer       =   Cold  Moon
27/01/2013   -  Leo             =   Wolf Moon
26/02/2013   -  Virgo          =    Snow Moon
27/03/2013   -  Libra           =   Worm Moon
26/04/2013   -  Scorpio      =    Pink Moon

NORSE MYTHOLOGY 

Name of the Gods in order of appearance:

Æegir, Norns,  Hel , Freyja, Sleipnir,  Skaði,  Váli, Viðar, Sól
Odin was the chief of the Aesir gods and the ruler of Asgard.   Odin would do anything for wisdom, and sacrificed his eye.
Thor god of thunder had a hammer named Mjölnir.  Thor's father was Odin.
Yggdrasil in Norse Mythology was the ash tree of life.
Loki was the trickster god in Norse Mythology.  Loki was the father of Hel, Midgard Serpent, and The Fenrir Wolf.
IMG 0914 The Sun is our healer
IMG 0914 The Sun is our healer (Photo credit: Images @ Melonpopzdropz)
Sunna
Sunna is the Norse Goddess of the Sun, also known as Sól, though some hold that Sól is the mother and Sunna Her daughter. In Norse mythology, the Sun is female while the Moon is male. When the world was created from the body of the dead giant Ymir by the triad of Odin, Vili, and Ve, the Sun, Moon and Stars were made from the gathered sparks that shot forth from Muspellsheim, the Land of Fire.
Sól ("Mistress Sun"), drives the chariot of the Sun across the sky every day. Pulled by the horses Allsvinn ("Very Fast") and Arvak ("Early Rising"), the Sun-chariot is pursued by the wolf Skoll. It is said that sometimes he comes so close that he is able to take a bite out of the Sun, causing an eclipse. Sol's father is Mundilfari, and She is the sister of Måni, the Moon-god, and the wife of Glaur or Glen ("Shine"). As Sunna, She is a healer.
At Ragnarok, the foretold "Twilight of the Gods" or end of the world, it is believed the Sun will finally be swallowed by Skoll. When the world is destroyed, a new world shall be born, a world of peace and love, and the Sun's bright daughter shall outshine Her mother.


Balder the Good, having been tormented with terrible dreams indicating that his life was in peril, told them to assemble the gods, who resolved to conjure all things to avert from him the threatened danger. Then Frigg, thewife of Odin, exacted an oath from fire and water, from iron and all other metals, from stones, trees, diseases, beasts, birds, poisons,and creeping things, that none of them would do any harm to Balder. But the other gods, feeling that what Frigg had done was quite sufficient, amused themselves with using Balder as a mark, some hurling darts at him, some stones, while others hewed at him with their swords and battle-axes; for do what they would, none of them could harm him.

And this became a favorite pastime with them and was regarded as an honor shown to Balder. But when Loki beheld the scene saw that Balder was not hurt, he was annoyed, assuming, therefore, the shape of a woman, Loki went to Fensalir, the house of Frigg. When Frigg she saw the pretended woman “Loki” he asked Frigg if she knew, what the gods were doing at their meetings. She replied that they were throwing darts and stones at Balder, without being able to hurt him "neither stones, nor sticks, nor anything else can hurt Balder, for I have exacted an oath from all of them. "What," exclaimed the woman, " have all things sworn to spare Balder?"

"All things," replied Frigg, "except one little shrub that grows on the eastern side of Valhalla, and is called a Mistletoe, and which I thought too young and feeble to crave an oath from." As soon as Loki heard this he went away, and resuming his natural shape, cut off the mistletoe, and went back to the place where the gods were assembled. There he found Hoder standing apart, without partaking in the sports, Loki went up to him and said, "Why do you not also throw something at Balder? Because I am blind, answered Hoder, and I can’t see where Balder is standing, and I also have nothing to throw. “Come, then, “said Loki, do like the rest and show some honour to Balder by throwing this thing at him, and I will direct your arm towards the place where he stands.

Hoder then took the mistletoe, and under the guidance of Loki, darted it at Baldur, who, pierced through and through, fell down lifeless. Surely never was there witnessed, either among gods or men, a more atrocious deed than this. When Baldur fell, the gods were struck speechless with horror, and then they looked at each other, and all were of one mind to lay hands on him who had done the deed, but they were obliged to delay their vengeance out of respect for the sacred place where they were assembled. They gave vent to their grief by loud lamentations.

When the gods came to themselves, Frigg asked who among them wished to gain all her love and good will. "For this," said she, "shall he have who will ride to Hel and offer Hel a ransom if she will let Balder return to Asgard." Whereupon Hermod the son of Odin offered to undertake the journey, Odin's horse Sleipnir, which has eight legs and can outrun the wind, was then led forth, on which Hermod mounted and galloped away on his mission. For the space of nine days and as many nights he rode through deep glens so dark that he could not discern anything, until he arrived at the river Gyoll, which he passed over on a bridge covered with glittering gold. The maiden who kept the bridge asked him his name and lineage, telling him that the day before five bands of dead persons had ridden over the bridge, and did not shake it as much as he alone. "But," she added, "You are not dead” why do you then ride into Hel? "I ride to Hel," answered Hermod, "to seek Balder. Have you seen him pass this way?

She replied, "Balder had ridden over Gyoll's bridge, and yonder lied the way he took to the abodes of death" Hermod pursued his journey until he came to the barred gates of Hel. Here he alighted, girthed his saddle tighter, and remounting clapped both spurs to his horse, who cleared the gate by a tremendous leap without touching it. Hermod then rode on to the palace, where he found his brother Balder occupying the most distinguished seat in the hall, and passed the night in his company.

The next morning he besought Hel to let Balder ride home with him, assuring her that nothing but lamentations were to be heard among the gods. Hel answered that it should now be tried whether Balder was so beloved as he was said to be. "If, therefore," she added, "all things in the world, both living and lifeless, weep for him, then shall he return to life; but if any one thing speak against him or refuse to weep, he shall be kept in Hel." Hermod then rode back to Asgard and told them of all he had heard and witnessed. The gods upon this despatched messengers throughout the world to beg everything to weep in order that Balder might be delivered from Hel.

All things very willingly complied with this request, both men and every other living being, as well as earths, and stones, and trees, and metals, just as we have all seen these things weep when they are brought from a cold place into a hot one. As the messengers were returning, they found an old hag named Thaukt sitting in a cavern, and begged her to weep Balder out of Hel. But she answered, It was strongly suspected that this hag was no other than Loki himself, who never ceased to work evil among gods and men. So Balder was prevented from coming back to Asgard.

The gods took up the dead body and bore it to the seashore where stood  Balder's ship "Hringham," which passed for the largest in the world. Balder's dead body was put on the funeral pile, on board the ship, and his wife Nanna was so struck with grief at the sight that she broke her heart, and her body was burned on the same pile as her husband's. There was a vast concourse of various kinds of people at Baldur's obsequies.
First came Odin accompanied by Frigg, the Valkyrie, and his ravens; then Freyr in his car drawn by Gullinbursti, the boar; Heimdall rode his horse Gulltopp, and Freya drove in her chariot drawn by cats. There were also a great many Frost giants and giants of the mountain present. Balder's horse was led to the pile fully caparisoned and consumed in the same flames with his master.

But Loki did not escape his deserved punishment. When he saw how angry the gods were, he fled to the mountain, and there built himself a hut with four doors, so that he could see every approaching danger. He invented a net to catch the fishes, such as fishermen have used since his time. But Odin found out his hiding-place and the gods assembled to take him. He, seeing this, changed himself into a salmon, and lay hid among the stones of the brook. But the gods took his net and dragged the brook, and Loki, finding he must be caught, tried to leap over the net; but Thor caught him by the tail and compressed it, so that salmons ever since have had that part remarkably fine and thin. They bound him with chains and suspended a serpent over his head, whose venom falls upon his face drop by drop. His wife Sigun sits by his side and catches the drops as they fall, in a cup; but when she carries it away to empty it, the venom falls upon Loki, which makes him howl with horror, and twist his body about so violently that the whole earth shakes, and this produces what men call earthquakes.


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Saturday, January 26, 2013

Invasion Day, Thong Throwing

Hello..


I am setting off to Glenugie today,.   Uncle Tom Kelly has travelled to Glenugie with Joe Walker.  Suzie and I decided we would follow up later.
It will be a big day for me seeing everyone I came to love because of our huge common connection of the love of the Mother Earth and our desire to see her set free from bondage.

IMG 8359

Dawn in Urunga is always a surprise.  I always feel like its a gift from the Universe.  I feel special when I see this.

Images @ Melonpopzdropz Flickr

Friday, January 25, 2013

Got Gas

Got Gas: An interesting day planned and one that will be successful and answering people's questions regarding the big question mark that surrounds Csg with a lot of ordinary hard working folks. These folks are seen as asleep by those that know more.  However, I see them as the "Great Brainwashed".  These are the folks who still believe in fairy tales like our government cares about us as people.  Now there is a big one right there. 
Some still believe our governments would never hurt us intentionally.  Well it is time to wake up from that nap because its time to act.  The time for sleeping was yesterday and the time for action is now.

GOT GAS? Poster - print (hi res)
Images @ Truth-Action Flickr

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Step Aside Julia - The Sun is where it's at!

Our country must stay abreast of this foreign intelligent pattern of solar energy which guarantees the base load 24/7.  This is ground breaking and important and a contemporary subject considering the ongoing fight about Csg in Australia.

This is what is happening in other parts of the world and so it is very feasible it also happens here in Australia.  Our Government is selling us out saying, "WE HAVE TO MINE COAL AND GAS".  We most certainly do not Julia Gillard.  You are very out of line and you ought to step down as Leader of this country.

In contrast, federal government actions and energy policy reform in Germany have created an environment and conditions that have diversified, expanded, and made Germany�s economy more dynamic, robust, and resilient; driving employment to record-high levels and improving social and environmental conditions.

Companies like Metgasco and Arrow and Santos are not to be trusted for one minute as they do not do what they say they will do and they are continually greasing palms on a daily basis.
  Look at this
Provision for Cultural Values in Water Management: The Anmatyerr Story

The truth is there is no real value place on cultural values as there are identified sites up near Glenugie and the entire Pillar Valley is a sacred place and there is no mention in this by Metgasco or the Government and this is absolute proof they are lying to us all.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

The Public Order and Riot Squad


Hello, Welcome to PORS.  and the Major Events and Incidents Group . . .

IMG 8001 Glenugies Black Monday 

The Public Order and Riot Squad (PORS) is the full-time 'riot squad' of the New South Wales Police Force. PORS is within the command of Field Operations under the Major Events and Incidents Group (MEIG) which is responsible for planning for major events such as Operation Vikings, APEC, World Youth Day and New Year's Eve celebrations.

History The New South Wales Police Force Public Order and Riot Squad (PORS) is a full-time riot squad created in September 2005 becoming operational in January 2006 within the Major Events and Incidents Group Command. PORS was created as a result of Parliamentary reports into the response and handling of riots in Redfern (February 2004) and Macquarie Fields (February 2005) where command and control and resources were criticized and found to be lacking/uncoordinated.
PORS is essentially the re-creation of the defunct Tactical Response Group of the 1980s except for some differences in charter and organisation. They are supplemented by State-wide based part-time Operations Support Group units.
In 2009 the squad was featured in an episode of 60 Minutes titled 'Brute Force' showing officers in action across Sydney.

Equipment

The flag of the New South Wales Police Force. ...
The flag of the New South Wales Police Force. The New South Wales Police Force has the Police Force badge on a light blue over white bicolour. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
PORS are issued with a wide variety of specialised crowd control and riot equipment including Taser weapons and fully equipped black vans and black 4WDs to allow rapid deployment across the State at a moments notice. The vans allow a team in full tactical/riot gear to deploy on the move and access equipment as needed quickly, without need to return to a station to access gear as the part-time Public Order and Operations Support Group (OSG) officers do. PORS also have a $600,000 water cannon truck which is fitted with an airtight cabin to protect police from smoke, gas and other irritants. It also has shatterproof "anti-bandit glass" reinforced with wire mesh, and a heavy push bar allowing it to clear barricades and other obstacles. The high pressure 12,000 litre water cannon is able to shoot a stream of water more than 50 metres.
Each officer is equipped with more than $8500 in gear including flameproof overalls, bulletproof vest, ballistic goggles, arm and leg guards, capsicum spray, an Asp baton, long baton, utility knife, handcuffs and cable tie flex-cuffs.

Roles

The Public Order and Riot Squad, currently commanded by Chief Superintendent Steve Cullen, specialise in:
  • riot control/response;
  • search warrants;
  • searches for missing persons;
  • crowd control;
  • bomb search;
  • disaster victim identification;
  • response to major chemical biological and radiological (CBR) incidents;
  • performing disaster victim identification duties and manpower support; and
  • assisting general duties Police whenever a rapid co-ordinated response is needed at incidents such as brawls or street parties.
PORS role also includes attending major public protests and demonstrations, assisting with searches for evidence, people, property and drugs and canvassing witnesses during large-scale investigations. The unit also clears cells, transfers inmates and performs other security duties during industrial disputes at the State's prisons.
PORS also provide core officers for Operation Vikings. Operation Vikings was designed to provide a highly visible police presence across New South Wales . Large numbers of Police are deployed to these operations, targeting antisocial behaviour, alcohol-related crime, street level drug possession and traffic offences in known trouble (or "hot") spots

Images @ Melonpopzdropz Flickr
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