City planning?



Hi ye all. Well it's no secret that Darwin in booming and there appears to be no limits as to what kind of construction is permitted within the CBD. High-rise apartment blocks rise like Phallices all over town a symbol of our virile economy and a monument to Darwins develop at all costs Government! Along with the apparently un-restricted erection of high-rise apartment blocks (each directly "blocking" the sea views of those before it) we are also the proud recipients of multi level fluorescent-light carparks!

Just to prove that we are a civilised city and to flaunt our blatant disregard for the environment this ugly monstrosity appears to be lit up all night! Surely now we will be granted statehood?




Just to balance this negative perspective with something a little less troubling. Last night when we left the Rapid Creek shops we came across this Nankeen Night Heron on the footpath. He must have ventured out of the mangroves looking for food. It is absolutely astounding how much wildlife seems to survive in the urban environment of Darwin

Cancer in Kakadu

ABC News online

Last Update: Thursday, November 23, 2006. 10:19am (AEDT)
Indigenous cancer rate 90pc higher in Kakadu region

An ABC news report yesterday indicated that the incidence of cancer among Indigenous people living in Kakadu is considerably higher than the national average and also much higher than other Aboriginal populations in the Northern Territory.
Questions are being directed toward a link between cancer and the peoples proximity to the Ranger Uranium Mine.
Although no evidence or proof of a connection was put forward that suggested the cancer stems from mining activities, it seems bizar the the NT Health Department would make a statement that appears to exhonorate the mine before any furhter investigation is conducted.
According to the ABC report:
"The NT Health Department says the high cancer rate is lifestyle related."

Now I wonder if they have conducted the research that will show a direct link between these peoples lifestyle and the cancer that appears to be prevelent in their community?
They must have some unique activities that they do not share with the rest of the population. What is so different about these peoples lifestyle? If the Health Department know so much about it they must have a program in place to deal with this apparent epidemic. I wonder what they are doing to help these people avoid their cancer causing activities?

I wonder if the lifestyle choices they are talking about include drinking contaminated water, breathing the same air that contains dust from the mine? Or maybe they have been deliberately eating the yellow cake.

Great Bowerbird

I don't know if it's been done but I am sure an ecological survey of the CDU campus grounds would reveal an incredible array of wildlife. I can't believe the variety of creatures I have seen while working there.



I had noticed a Great Bowerbird hanging around for the past couple of months and wondered if it was going to become a permanent resident. Well yesterday it was pointed out to me that it (I haven't yet seen two together) had built a nest that could easily be seen from a window on the third floor of the library. I swear working in that place is like being at a wildlife diorama! There's always something interesting to see right outside the library window.

Significant Rock Art under threat



(image by R. G. Bednarik - thanks to Rock Art Research Association Inc. Victorial 3162)

http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/home/dampier/web/FAQs.html

http://www.petitiononline.com/dampier/petition.html

This is an issue that has been ongoing for quite a while and these postcards occasionaly turn up so I thought I'd post it before the time for action has passed. As with many of our cultural and natural treasures out of sight out of mind. These petroglyphs are in a rather remote part of the country.

shore debris

shore debris
Originally uploaded by davidfntau.

Beauty in the backwash
These globular treasures washed up on the shore of Casuarina beach recently and have been washed up the the edge of the cliffs. The collage of rock, sand, wood and other sea debris makes a beautiful image. No matter how close to town the coastline always manages to display it's untamed nature in odd and subtly wonderful ways.

Life by the sea




The entry to the dining area on Stokes Hill Warf

An idyllic view of Stokes Hill Warf at dusk; where people toss scraps of their deep fried dinner to a writhing throng of fish and the feathered rats called silver gulls that have infested our populated shore. The people are blissfully unaware that the scraps they throw are feeding a growing population of verminous birds.
When I arrived in Darwin I noticed the absence of Seagulls. There may have been one or two floating around at that time but I don't recall seing them.
Like the handfed pigeons that had infested our suburbs and carried an infectious disease to our native birds I believe the number of gulls has increased because of our ignorance.

Silver Gulls on lamps

Beware the gulls; they are a winged scourge of the sea that invade rookeries and wipe out whole colonies of rare seabirds. These birds are one of the many animals that have benefited from human colonisation and have proliferated as a result of our wasteful ways. And the fools keep feeding them!
Ignorance must be bliss! It would be so nice to visit the coast and throw a chip to a bird with no comprehension of the disastrous repercussions of my benevolent act. But I can not un-know what is an obvious fact. Once aware of the truth there is no going back!
Suppose I could, like in the film ‘The Matrix’. Which pill would I take? The Red or the Green?

Boy feeding fish

With the build-up settling in it’s a good time to get out of our hot flat and spend as much time as we can near the coast. It’s usually a bit cooler and there is sometimes a breeze.
Last week we took our daughter to the fish feeding in Doctors Gully they have built a gift shop and put up the price for visitors but the show was essentially the same as it has always been.