Government Corruption over Coal Dust particle levels.

Each day we examine papers, emails, correspondence where we can to keep up with the collusion of government with the mining sector and the involvement of other industries with this.

Quirindi trains.

Yesterday Glen Shaefer via the Hunter Community Environment Centre discovered some huge inconsistencies and a systemic cover up by a detailed examination of   the figures regarding the coal dust particulates and  emissions. 

The Freedom of Information act gives us all access to these emails.   The HCEC carefully sieved through methodically noting the inconsistencies.  HCEC spokesman James Whelan says the documents show the EPA prepared a draft press statement that stated the coal trains did not increase pollution before the agency received the monitoring results.

''There has been a systematic cover-up that warrants a parliamentary inquiry,'' Dr Whelan said.

 ''The documents demonstrate a public relations effort of deception and spin to conceal the extent and nature of pollution caused by uncovered trains.''

''The documents demonstrate a public relations effort of deception and spin to conceal the extent and nature of pollution caused by uncovered trains.''

Luke Foley who is the opposition Environment spokesperson has noted the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) is more concerned with colluding with the polluters than protecting the communities and their health concerns.

''If the minister has unknowingly misled the Parliament as a result of false advice from the EPA, she must correct the record immediately,'' Mr Foley said. ''And she needs to put a broom through the EPA.''

Then there was the  inevitable statement made by Environment Minister Robyn Parkin  which says she stands by the figures and that the  statements were made on the latest advice of her departments.

EPA chief executive Barry Buffier had an identical approach to Parkin and funnily enough he takes the same tac and also  stands by all EPA statements that have been released concerning the  covering of coal wagons.   

An independent expert, Professor Louise Ryan of UTS is reviewing all of the data and this report is also due to be released later in February this year.

A statewide campaign to cover up these coal trucks has been initiated by ordinary people who are seriously concerned with the health impacts people are made to endure.  They want these wagons covered up.  

This will cost these colluding companies a lot of money they never wanted to spend.  Why? 

Because they do not give a dam about peoples health in reality.  This same "in your face" attitude is reigning through all of the mining industry at present in this country.  Ordinary people who pay taxes are not listened to over large company profit margins.

The documents that were viewed clearly show the EPA had prepared a very premature media statement in advance before the results of the studies were viewed by Professor Wayne Smith of the NSW Health Department and before his report was prepared. 

 The drama has ensued over  coal trains that haul tonnes of coal in uncovered wagons from Hunter Valley mines to the Newcastle port.   They are licensed polluters.  This is the  federally owned Australian Rail Track Corporation.

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

GOOD BYE BILL, Australia is shedding some tears for you!

It is officially raining, actually it has been pouring and hailing a terrible lot.  Quite a  few of my friends cars are hail damaged.

See Australia reallly knows how to turn on the tears for real... especially when we are saying see you later to a special friend and brother.

 

This is  me and Bill at the Train Station at Wingham as he left there to head to Sydney to the Airport for the USA.

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

Catching the Train again for me!

 Today I got on the train very early just before 7am in Urunga and travelled down to Wingham Station where my friend Kathy met me and we drove out to their property at Killawarra.  Such a beautiful area to live.

The reason for my trip this time was not to head to an action but to actively participate in saying good bye to Bill Bunting who is going back to the USA on the train tomorrow morning at about 2am.

 

 

I have gathered a couple of minutes to write about the days events because it was very meaningful to us all.
When I arrived Nathan, Ian and Bill were attaching guttering to the house and it was wonderful to see the boys all working together.  The children were all there as well and everyone was having fun.  There was a good chance there would be a lot of rain on the way and there had already been the Typhoon in the Philippines and the tanks were very low.

When this job was finished we settled into party mode and Lei came over and Bruce as well. 

Lei's Image

Bruce has some serious car problems when he arrived but he was amongst friends and it was soon sorted, and serious goodbyes began as we all sat around together laughing and sharing wine and beer with friends. 

Good Bye Bill,  it was so awesome to meet you in person and to share your inner most thoughts about the planet and love and family.  You are definitely a brother from another mother and on another level and we were all destined to meet and we had to just weather the fire first and we all passed the test with flying colours.

Lei's Image at Kathy and Ian's house.

Thank You for teaching me what you have.  We will always miss you until you come back again.  God Speed my Friend and Brother.

Images @ Eminpee Fotography .

Catching the Country Link Bus from Ulmarra to the Train.

Ulmarra is a lovely little village these days and a shadow though of its former lively glory that it had in the past times'

Ulmarra was established when Thomas Small bought the land in 1857. Small's family had been timber cutters but he tried his luck firstly with general farming - they grew maize - and later (around 1865) with sugar cane.

Heritage Listed Ulmarra Hotel

By 1871 it had a population of nearly 1000 people. Sugarcane failed and eventually dairy farming started to dominate. It was as a result of this that the town developed as an important river port.

By 1900 Ulmarra was a thriving town with four blacksmiths, a bacon works, an abattoir, a hospital, two schools and three policemen.

Suzanna and I wandered through the various little craft shops that were in abundance and I took photographs of the interesting buildings while I had time.

The Bus came too soon and I boarded and waved good bye to Suzanne and headed for the Train Station to catch the train to Urunga and to my home

The Wide River Cafe Ulmarra

 The train station is at the end of my street and the bus stop is at the end of Suzanne Street in Ulmarra.  If that is not perfect I know nothing.

References: The Sydney Morning Herald Traveller

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

TRAIN HOME THURSDAY - Seeing New South Wales for $2.50.

Well all I can say is thank you N.S.W. Rail.  I did all of that for $5.00. 

Simply amazing!

 

I can go anywhere in NSW for Two Dollars and Fifty Cents that is $2.50.   I am amazed by this and I love Suzanne for telling me this.  I can go to see the Blue Mountains now and I will have no excuse for not seeing this now.  It may be a long way around but I will get there that is for sure.

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

Heading to Killawarra with my friend to see our friends

Today we train tripped.

The sky at Killawarra

 I had a wonderful sleep last night and it has been a busy day as I cooked scones and packed my things to catch the train today.  I got on the train at Urunga and Suzanna got on the train in Grafton and we have a big job to do in Sydney for the planet we live on.  We are en route to an action at the Sydney Courts.

We arrived at Wingham at around 4.00pm and we were greeted by the Barbours, who our friends.  Off back to their house for a well deserved celebratory drink and to plan tomorrows events

In the early morning tomorrow we are off to Sydney to an action at the courts re a mining decision for the Bulga residents.   We are fighting a decision that is impacting in the negative to these defenseless residents.  This is so very important!  We meet everyone in Gloucester in the morning at 6am.

Images @ Eminpee Fotography