arbilp3

Tanker traffic in the world’s most critical energy chokepoint, the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply is transported, has effectively halted. Brent crude surged as much as 13 per cent intraday to $82 a barrel. UBS analysts warn Brent could hit US$120 a barrel if the Strait remains blocked; and Barclays estimates a three-to-four week squeeze could push prices above US$100. On Monday, Qatar’s national LNG company, 20 per cent of global supply, halted production and Saudi Arabia shut its biggest domestic oil refinery after a drone strike.

Australia, watching all of this unfold in real time, has just 25 days of diesel reserves and 29 days of petrol coming into 2026. Australia imports over 90 per cent of its refined oil products – diesel, petrol, aviation fuel – as well as crude oil feedstocks. While our largest direct supplier is Singapore, those supply chains trace back through primary fuel extracted across the Gulf. We have essentially no buffer against what is unfolding.

And if you want the issue to be debated in parliament you can sign a petition linked in the article.

Following up on posts about the night sky, I've discovered an Aust/NZ organisation dedicated to the conservation of the natural darkness of the night: https://australasiandarkskyalliance.org/ You can subscribe to their free newsletter.

There's a wealth of actions we can take. Click above to see what you can do as an individual.

Switch to renewables if you can.

The stereotypes of democratic decline are rigged elections or daily street chaos. However, Australia’s democratic decline is happening much more quietly, with weakening whistleblower protections and the steady expansion of laws over several years that have made protest riskier than ever. https://thepoint.com.au/opinions/260306-the-decline-in-democracy-what-does-it-mean-for-the-generations-to-come

Young people, do not stay quiet. Make it clear to the politicians that you can see what's going on and that you won't stand for it. Believe it or not, there will be plenty of Boomers who will support you.

Ok, let's get more down to earth. We may not be able to screen ourselves from satellites but we can screen ourselves from unwanted local vistas. Native plants can do this while also providing food and shelter for insects, birds, lizards and small mammals. More birdsong, butterfly flutterings and discoveries of other other tiny wildlife all help to bring balance to our life and respite from intrusive technology.
https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/how-to/naturally-useful/106424036

A short video for those of you who may want to know more about the satellites orbiting our planet. I believe we should be demanding transparency from authorities and a night sky treaty. We are being attacked from every angle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOFFF0TnvwE

I've just found out about this 😮 😡 . It is not Australian in origin but it could affect us here, our skies, our health, our natural ecosystems. These tech companies think they can do whatever they like and with the US govt being what it is they could get away with this proposal.

A private California-based startup is proposing a... future... in which thousands of in-space mirrors mounted on satellites direct light down to targeted areas on Earth, threatening natural darkness. The company describes this concept as “sunlight on demand,” an idea that would fundamentally alter the nighttime environment as we know it...

Artificial light from orbital illumination would introduce a powerful new stressor to nocturnal ecosystems. Research shows that even low levels of artificial light at night disrupt essential behaviors such as navigation, migration, feeding, and reproduction across hundreds of species. These disruptions can destabilize food webs and accelerate biodiversity loss.

In humans, exposure to artificial light at night disrupts circadian rhythms that regulate sleep, metabolic processes, and hormonal cycles. Research links circadian disruption to a growing number of health concerns. Reflected orbital illumination viewed through optical devices may also pose a risk of eye damage, similar to observing a partial solar eclipse.

These are just some of the threats to consider. Please read the short article and if you oppose the proposal please sign the open letter to say so

Aussie planting and Climate resilient tips by region.

With the state of the world getting more challenging it is inevitable that food prices will continue to grow. Let that also be a challenge for you to grow some of your own food. It is possible, even if you don't have much space or money.

Policy changes introduced and maintained under Abbott's leadership [PM from Sep 2013 to Sep 2015] played a central role in driving that growth. The rate of growth in overseas student numbers from 2013 to 2019 is extraordinary (an increase of over 200,000 in just six years). These understandably fell during COVID and then increased even more rapidly after COVID due to further measures to accelerate the return of students implemented by the Morrison Government. These measures included unrestricted student visa work rights, fee-free applications, and a covid visa, which attracted huge numbers of students to switch to this cheap visa with unrestricted work rights and no requirement to study. The new Albanese Government was slow to tighten these policies.

For the first time, important Koala habitat corridors throughout Greater Sydney have been mapped... [It is] a cost-effective opportunity that allows Sydney’s critical Koala populations and other threatened species to persist amidst growing threats from development. https://www.tec.org.au/greater_sydney_koala_green_belts_corridors_of_survival

This is really positive news and needs to be done for all Australian cities. Wildlife corridors help animals survive through the ability to move, not caught in bush 'islands' where they are endangered by threats like fire and lack of food with nowhere to go.