Picture by Sarah Ammon

–by Sarah Ammon

There is more commotion on the Korean peninsula. Pyongyang has again denounced the 60-year-old armistice that symbolises its ceasefire. Seoul and Washington are drilling their militaries in preparation for the worst. So is war really imminent? No way, some experts say, unless western forces strike first.

There are many things you and I don’t know about North Korea. A lot of these are secrets withheld by the country’s propaganda system. But what if I told you that much of what we hear about this propaganda state is propaganda in its own right? There’s a lot of unknown history here that explains why North Korea is so bizarre, and why it loves to threaten its neighbours with nuclear annihilation.

North Korea has neither physically nor psychologically recovered from the war that laid to waste most of its cities and killed four million, 20 per cent of its people, fifty years ago. Napalm had just begun to be used by the USA but unlike in Vietnam, there was little media there to report it. In fact more Napalm was dropped on Korea than has been dropped on any other country in history.

This is a fact that unjustly, is not well known. It is also a fact that needs to be acknowledged in order to understand why these people are so hell bent on defending themselves. Of the Korean War, the only people who remember the war crimes perpetrated by western forces seem to be the Korean people themselves.

“North Korea’s whole post-war period has been marked by this Cold War ‘struggle against US imperialism’ paradigm,” Associate Professor in Korean Studies Joanna Elfving-Hwang says.

“A lot of North Korean foreign policy is – at least ostensibly – influenced by official, state-sanctioned memories of the Korean War.

“In official discourses the US is always presented as the ultimate threat to the nation’s existence.

“For the party leadership and the three generations of Kims, this has also served very effectively to deflect attention from any domestic concerns or discontent.”

In the sixty years that have passed since the 1953 armistice, a peace agreement has not been signed. North Korea is still at war and has been subjected

Picture by Sarah Ammon

constantly to economic blockade.

In the 80s, the USA turned South Korea into its biggest nuclear outpost, storing in it more than a thousand nuclear weapons. In 1994, America and North Korea agreed on a framework in which North Korea agreed to let nuclear inspectors in, in return for a pact of non-aggression by the USA. In 2002 George Bush broke this agreement in including North Korea in his ‘Axis of Evil’, a concept designed to unite America in its ‘war on terror’. Tens of thousands of American troops are stationed at the Demilitarised Zone to this day, seemingly waiting for the country to collapse and the Cold War to finally end.

North Korea questions why America, of all nations – with its dark history of chemical warfare – is the country that chooses who can and cannot defend themselves. Whatever their reason for asking, it is a valid question.

When we try to understand the crisis as the North Koreans do, it begins to make a little more sense. While history never justifies war such as that being threatened by the North Korean leadership, it does help us understand their desire to build up arms as leverage to use against another invasion by the USA.

Joanna Elfving-Hwang is among the many academics that believe the chances of North Korea reigniting the war are very slim.

“Almost all North Korea observers agree that war is extremely unlikely, mainly because neither North or South will gain from it in any way,” she says.

“But the media attention has been welcome for North Korea. It means that the international community pays attention to them, which helps to solidify young Kim Un-Jong’s position as a military leader.

“It also helps to have an outside threat (whether imagined or real) to unite and rally the nation behind its new leader – it means that a lot of what is talked about in North Korea is as much domestic politics as it is foreign politics.”

“What’s more, the North Korean leadership has also seen what happened to Libya (which was weakened and eventually ousted after giving up its nuclear program), and so its leadership may see nuclear warheads as the only way to keep foreign powers from interfering in its affairs.”

Contrary to popular belief, Kim Jong Un is probably not about to wage war. The primary objective of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is to stay in power – hence everything the North Korean government has ever done ever, like the lengths made to shut its populace off to the outside world.

To launch a nuclear weapon at South Korea or the USA would provoke a reaction that would undoubtedly in an instant demolish the leadership. It would be an utterly doomed and unwinnable move, and yes, they know it.

Satellite technology has uncovered brutal North Korean work camps used to keep their economy turning and their internal enemies quiet. DPRK society is one of the most tightly policed societies in the world. The people are raised to hold a creepily godlike adoration for their Kim Dynasty leaders, who shoddily, were the few exceptions of the suffering of the North Korean people during the 1990s famine that killed an estimated two million.

The DPRK might appear crazy, but when you consider what its people are put through, the fact that the government still stands today is evidence of its stability – and in turn – smarts. These threats being shouted over the DMZ at the moment are indeed just that, tactical threats; with a number of possible motives, all ultimately being to assist in government stabilisation.

DPRK Special Representative Alejandro Cao de Benos is in North Korea assisting with media preparations for the potential war. In 2002 he became the first foreigner appointed by North Korea to represent the state in the foreign press.

He stated that the DPRK’s reasons behind its threats and preparations are not for preemptive war.

“If America dares to launch a single shell or tries to occupy an inch of North Korean sovereign territory, North Korea will unleash a war,” he said.

“[North Korea represents the interests of] those who are tired of imperialism and who do not want a repeat more invasions by economic, political or geo-strategic interests.”

“DPRK has been always wanted to open to international trade. It is impossible to become a developed country without it. No country can produce 100 per cent of its needs by itself”

A denuclearised North Korea has been rendered almost impossible since Bush’s hostilities in the 2000s. So assuming the USA isn’t moments away from provoking an unnecessary nuclear war, what is it to do? Moral considerations ought to be based upon human cost, and given how exceedingly unlikely it is that North Korea will attack the USA before it implodes, I recommend they simply keep out of the conflict as best they can.

Bruce Cumings in his book ‘North Korea Another Country’ (2004) sums it up nicely -

“North Korea has posed the same question that Nazi Germany and militarist Japan did, namely, that morality in warfare always requires the separation of the enemy leadership from the innocence of the people whom they lead, whether in the 1950s or today when 23 million human beings live in North Korea. In this, we have constantly failed.”

–by Brooke Stanley

A new flexible material, which allows users to recharge electronic devises by moving their bodies, has been developed by CSIRO scientists.

The battery-like technology, called piezoelectricity, harnesses body heat from movement and could be used to recharge items like smartphones, heart monitors and GPS systems on clothing.

CSIRO senior research scientist Adam Best says the material could revolutionise how people charge their goods.

“We believe this is a game changing technology… It gets people away from using standard shaped batteries and allows us to really think about…doing things differently than we have currently been able to do,” he said.

The technology could be used in hospitals and sports as a wearable heart monitor that senses heart rate changes, or cycling shorts fitted with a GPS and performance analysis software.

Follow the CSIRO’s Flexible Electronics Twitter for further information https://twitter.com/FlexElectronixx

NEWSROOM MULTIMEDIA3_mixdown

Research has indicated a rise in sea level.
Source:www.fabiusmaximus.com

–By James Whittington

Research into the rise in sea level over the past century has confirmed a change in climate as a result of human impact, says Dr Will Hobbs.

Dr Hobbs, a researcher at the University of Tasmania, said that measurements gathered from an expedition by the HMS Challenger in 1873 indicate there has been a significant rise in sea level over the past 135 years.

Researchers found that thermal expansion of sea water caused by global warming accounted for approximately 40 per cent of the total sea level rise since 1873.

Dr Hobbs, who also works at the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science, said that this information only further reinforces beliefs about the human influence on climate change and global warming.

“This is a new independent data source that really confirms the overwhelming evidence that human influence has changed the global climate over the last century and continues to do so,” Dr Hobbs said.

The Interview can be found below:

Dr Hobbs Interview

B-Cell Lymphona, a blood cancer that nanotechnology may be able to fight. Photo courtesy of Nephron/ Creative Commons

-by Jordan Holloway

Despite the possible health risks of nanoparticles, The University of Western Australia has started a new company which will use the technology to fight cancer.

The company aims to use nanoparticle drug technology to target certain parts of the body, such as tumours.

This is despite claims that nanoparticles may be damaging to general health, as studies have found that inhaling large amounts of the particles can damage the lungs.

However, the developer of the company’s technology Dr Swaminatha Iyer says that many of the concerns about nanoparticles are unfounded and that his research has been well tested.

To hear the full story, clink the following link:

Nanoparticle Story.

Quenda bouncing down a Murdoch University path. Photo by Sarah Ammon.

–by Sarah Ammon

The State Government is re-homing native, rat-like marsupials displaced following land clearing, to Dianella, Trigg and Star Swamp.

Quenda, or southern brown bandicoot populations, are on the rise in areas like Murdoch, despite habitat loss, which forces the creatures into backyards.

City of Stirling senior conservation officer Daniel Rajah says that land clearing has resulted in the destruction of native bushland inhabited by quendas.

“Approximately 700 quendas displaced from habitat loss through land clearing in various parts of the metropolitan area will be relocated to surrogate habitats,” he said.

“This project forms part of the city’s implementation of its Local Biodiversity Strategy, which aims to restore habitat for threatened, endangered or priority species.

Dianella Bushland. Photo by Trevor Ammon

“(The Dianella Bushlands) were chosen due to the advanced protection measures already in place, including protection fencing and rabbit control. The habitat is also in condition to support a large quenda population.

“The recent release marks the first of many that will occur over the next few years in other reserves including Star Swamp and Trigg Bushland.”

Katherine Howard, species conservation manager of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) says that quendas help to maintain a healthy eco-system.

“They help to spread beneficial fungi and turn over a lot of soil. This increases water penetration.

“There are now very few quendas left North of the river. Roads, cats and dogs have taken their toll. Where quendas have been lost, so has that valuable ecosystem.

“In places like Dianella, they are trying to reintroduce them to get this ecosystem back.”

Quendas are a common sight around Murdoch University and have endeared themselves to Murdoch students.

“They’re so cute,” Mal Bradley, ex Guild President exclaimed.

“I first saw one when I was in Walters Cafe and one crawled through my legs.

“I thought it was a rat at first, but then I saw it hopping.

“There is definitely a quenda loving culture here at Murdoch Uni.”

The first waste-to-energy facility in Australia has been given the green light for WA

–by Phoebe Phillips

The first waste-to-energy facility in Australia has been given the green light for the Pilbara region in WA.

The Environment Minister Albert Jacob announced his approval for the project which will convert non-hazardous household and industrial waste into electrical power.

“This is an exciting step forward for waste management in Western Australia,” he said in a statement to media.

“This waste-to-energy facility should significantly improve waste management by diverting waste from unlined landfills, increasing recycling rates, recovering energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

The large scale New Energy plant has the potential to process 255,000 tonnes of waste a year and put 15.5 megawatts of power back into the grid over the next 5 years.

The New Energy facility will use gasification, a process which breaks down organic waste to produce a synthetic gas. This synthetic gas is then burnt to produce electricity.

A waste management expert at Murdoch University Dr Jaya Nair raised concerns to Faxts Media about the sustainability of this management system.

“A few initial thoughts on the operation….will there be a definite quantity of waste required daily to operate the plant economically for projected energy generation?  If so, how will it impact the WA strategy to recycle and reuse when it will encouraged to generate waste to feed the plant?” She said.

The Environmental Protection Authority Chairman Dr Paul Vogel said an independent review by the Environmental Protection Authority and the Waste Authority found that these facilities could operate within international emission standards.

“The EPA and Waste Authority’s advice to the Minister for Environment clearly outlines that in assessing any waste to energy proposal, proponents must demonstrate that the technology components have a track record in waste treatment and are capable of meeting best practice in emissions standards,” he said in a media statement.

The final design of the facility will be controlled by the Department of Environment and Conservation.

The standards of emissions will be assessed at each stage before the development proceeds.

Image courtesy of Steve Evans

–by Sydney Menezes

The first World Indigenous Network Conference begins on Sunday, with Aboriginal Rangers from five countries coming to Australia to take part.

Rangers from South Africa, Mexico, Tanzania, New Zealand and Kenya have made the trip to experience Australian aboriginal culture.

The conference will run from Sunday 26^th May to Wednesday 29^th with speakers coming from all around the world to attend.

“Australia has taken a lead on the World Indigenous Network because we strongly value traditional knowledge and skills to help protect our land and sea not just here in Australia but across the globe,” said Environment Minister Tony Burke.

“We’re providing a fantastic opportunity for Indigenous land and sea managers from all over the world, including our rangers, to continue to share their experiences and learn from each other.”

Some of the country’s Indigenous rangers have travelled to specific locations around Australia and are being walked through the native culture before heading to Darwin for the start of Sunday’s conference.

New Zealand Maori rangers have travelled to Yalata in South Australia, while African rangers are at Kakadu national park to learn more about management. The rangers from Mexico are visiting the National Heritage Listed West Kimberley.

The inaugural conference on Sunday will feature more than 1200 delegates from all around the world.

Steven Dhu, Manager of the Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre at Murdoch University, believes that this inaugural conference could become an annual event.

“There’s always scope for that, but you have to have a starting point.”

He also expressed his hopes that the foreign representatives would experience aboriginal communities and conditions here in Australia, which he described as a ‘unique environment’.

“I hope they see the current environment that aborigines are faced with.”

Spokesman for the conference are unavailable until the conference gets underway next week, from which regular updates will be available.

Activists around the world are uniting to March Against Monsanto on Saturday, 25th May. Image courtesy of www.march-against-monsanto.com.

-by Cassandra Sim

The March Against Monsanto happened all around the world today, the 25th of May, regardless of time and geographical differences.

Almost 1700 people turned up for the event in Perth, many with their own personalised banners and handheld signs.

The march united people who support the same cause, people who want to protect their health from the effects of genetically modified organisms (GMO).

Some volunteers handed out flyers, while others led chants with megaphones.

Guest speakers at the event represented organic farmers, gardeners and seed collectives.

Stalls were also set up by organisations in Russell Square, gathering like-minded people to take action against genetically modified crops and food.

Cassandra Sim reports from the event.

Palaeolithical artefacts
Photo By: Giovanni Dall’Orto
Source Wikimedia Commons

–by Melissa Blom

Researchers from the University of Western Australia have teamed up with professors from across the nation as part of National Archaeology Week.

The teams hope to share research about the migratory history of people from Australia and Africa, as well as Upper Palaeolithic period – the late stone age – and Indian rock art.

Professor Martin Porr from UWA provides an insight into the Upper Palaeolithic period, which represents the earliest findings of human activity betwen people and animals 

UWA associate Professor Martin Porr, said the Early Upper Palaeolithic period, is the earliest representation of human history between animals and humans.   It dates back betwen 30 and 40 thousand years ago and is recorded based on findings of statuettes and implements from Central Europe.

UWA researchers are currently involved in archaeology and rock research internationally with Prof Porr adding that ancient Australian monoliths are central to research at UWA.

Associate Professor Martin Porr interview regarding Early Palaeolithic findings.

Activists are uniting to March Against Monsanto on Saturday, May 25. Image courtesy of march-against-monsanto.com.

Protesters in Western Australia and around the world are joining a global initiative, marching against Monsanto this Saturday, 25 May, 2013.

Monsanto Company is a multinational corporation and a leading producer of genetically engineered seeds.

The march will begin at 2PM in Perth at the Parliament House, and more than a thousand people are expected to turn up.

Organiser of the march in WA Shirley Collins says the march is for the farmers, people’s food, the future and essentially, their freedom.

She also says the way Monsanto Company operates has made the future of food a litigious and political situation.

Monsanto spokesperson Adam Blight says the company is not fixated on the protest, but rather on their role in ensuring sustainability in the future of agriculture.

Cassandra Sim interviewed both representatives and found out more.