Glass Wings Blog

The Glass Wings mailing list and blog is for general idle chit-chat about things we find interesting, especially humor, animation or other subjects relevant to the Glass Wings web site.

A $13 billion, 30-year flop: landmark study reveals stark failure to halt Murray-Darling River decline

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 23:16:01 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/a-13-billion-30-year-flop-landmark-study-reveals-stark-failure-to-halt-murray-darling-river-decline-244296>

"Some A$13 billion in taxpayer dollars and 30 years of policy reform have
failed to arrest the devastating decline in the health of Australia’s most
important river system, the Murray-Darling Basin, new research shows.

Australian printmaker Ruth Faerber has died aged 102. She never stopped making art

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 23:15:01 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/australian-printmaker-ruth-faerber-has-died-aged-102-she-never-stopped-making-art-230119>

"In 1974, when a local Sydney newspaper wrote on the success of two local
artists, they were introduced using their husband’s names. Ruth Faerber, who
has died aged 102, was named as “Mrs Hans (Ruth) Faerber of Castle Cove”.

Protesters rally in Georgia for fourth night as opposition grows to freeze on EU talks

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 23:14:00 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/01/dozens-hospitalised-in-third-night-of-pro-eu-protests-in-georgia>

"Protesters rallied in Georgia’s capital for a fourth consecutive night on
Sunday and there were signs that opposition was spreading to the government’s
decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union.

Cool water from the deep could protect pockets of the Great Barrier Reef into the 2080s

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 23:12:39 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/cool-water-from-the-deep-could-protect-pockets-of-the-great-barrier-reef-into-the-2080s-217911>

"For coral reefs, climate change is an existential threat. Australia’s Great
Barrier Reef has endured seven mass bleaching events over the past 25 years.
Five have occurred in the past eight years.

Australia is connected to the world by cables no thicker than a garden hose – and at risk from sharks, accidents and sabotage

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 23:09:48 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/dec/02/australia-is-connected-to-the-world-by-cables-no-thicker-than-a-garden-hose-and-at-risk-from-sharks-accidents-and-sabotage>

"More than 1m kilometres of cables snake along the world’s ocean floor,
ferrying data between distant lands. Fibre-optic filaments whisk emails,
Netflix and military secrets through deep water, where the cord – about as

At ACMI’s "The Future & Other Fictions", artists challenge us to imagine a more optimistic world

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 23:08:35 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/at-acmis-the-future-and-other-fictions-artists-challenge-us-to-imagine-a-more-optimistic-world-243911>

"The Future & Other Fictions, ACMI’s flagship summer exhibition, explores
where storytelling imagines and rethinks the future.

Cruise ships urged to ‘clean up their act’ amid concerns toxic effluent being dumped on Great Barrier Reef

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 13:56:24 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/01/cruise-ships-urged-to-clean-up-their-act-amid-concerns-toxic-effluent-being-dumped-on-great-barrier-reef>

"Environmentalists and tourism operators on the Great Barrier Reef say
authorities must enforce stricter pollution standards on cruise liners visiting
the world heritage area amid growth in passenger cruise numbers and concern

The COVID inquiry report is an excellent guide to preparing for the next pandemic – health cuts put that at risk

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 13:54:19 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/the-covid-inquiry-report-is-an-excellent-guide-to-preparing-for-the-next-pandemic-health-cuts-put-that-at-risk-244820>

"The rising threat of epidemics and pandemics adds urgency for the government
to act on the recommendations of the long-awaited inquiry into New Zealand’s
COVID response.

‘I have done nothing wrong’: Juanita quit her job at a Melbourne brothel to work from home. Now she’s being evicted

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 13:52:46 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/dec/01/i-have-done-nothing-wrong-juanita-quit-her-job-at-a-melbourne-brothel-to-work-from-home-now-shes-being-evicted>

"When sex work became legal in Victoria, Juanita* decided to quit her job at a
brothel and begin working privately from her home in Melbourne’s western
suburbs.

A new model accurately predicts the migration of humpback whales – and may help them survive climate change

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 13:50:59 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/a-new-model-accurately-predicts-the-migration-of-humpback-whales-and-may-help-them-survive-climate-change-244396>

"This year’s humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) season in Australia has
almost come to an end. The beloved mammals are on their way to Antarctica for a
summer of feeding. Next year from April onwards, millions of people will again