The Real World: SYDNEY @ozzie2ptoh - Tumblr Blog

Where ever you go, go with all your heart.

If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.

Profits versus Preservation

The Point

Prime Minister Tony Abbot has released an industrialization proposal, which plans to extend and build mega ports along the coastline of the Great Barrier Reef. The expansion calls for the significant growth of 6 existing ports, with one being the world’s biggest coal terminals in close proximity of the reef. This plan calls for dredging, dumping, and expansion of ports in order to promote and increase trade.

The Problem

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef, as well as a great national wonder. The reef is spans at about 1800 miles and is composed of over 3000 individual reef systems, including 400 different types of coral, 1500 species of tropical fish, 200 bird species, about 20 different types of reptiles, and other exotic animals such as dolphins, humpback wales, sea turtles. The reef is also home to engendered species, for example, the Sea Cow and the Green Sea Turtle. The spectacular variety of sea species and sea life are what make the Great Barrier Reef one of the worlds most sought after tourist destinations, for people in search of having an opportunity to participate in activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving. The Great Barrier Reef is listed in the World Heritage Site.

The Prime Ministers proposal will call for the dumping of over 3 million cubic meters of dredge sediment and material among the reef. Once proposal became public it caused uproar due to the potential environmental implications. According to The Guardian, the impacts this expansion will have on the reef were described as “significantly uncertain”. By expanding just the Port of Townsville the amount of sediment expected to accumulate and be dumped into this natural treasure are about 6 million tons. The significant increase of polluted sediment through out the reef could be catastrophic, and extremely detrimental to the marine life inhabiting the reef. Infesting these waters will leave the plant and animals susceptible to toxins and chemicals that could cause them to disintegrate and die.

The Perspective

To put it into an extreme perspective, try to visualize the change in the ecosystem if this abundance of plant and animal life were to disappear. It is well known that boats pollute water, and by sending more and more boats into this area the risk for pollution increases. “By 2020 the Reef may be a shipping superhighway, with 7,000 coal ships crisscrossing the Reef every year.” Now by dumping sediment along with this already inevitable increase of chemicals and toxins in the water, disaster is bound to occur. The wildlife, and the marine life and not mean to be subjected to this type of treatment, and I personally find it imperative to preserve this area instead of destroying it.

This proposal is of environmental danger to the species that make up and life amongst the reef, as well as a danger to current businesses and industries that thrive and survive off of some aspect of the reef. For example, the Great Barrier Reef is a prevalent tourist attraction. People travel from near and far to be able to visualize this wonder up close. Tours take out numbers of people that snorkel or scuba dive, and create an experience that is unique to the specific location of the reef. Tourists travel to see the wild life, the marine life, the plant life, all of which is specific to this habitat. They do not travel to see dead coral. By killing the reef a major sector of business can suffer, and the reef will no longer be an attractive moneymaker, as the tourist industry brings in about $6 billion. Another example, although possibly extreme, is within the fishing industry and it’s simple. As plant life dies, the small fish that eat it will starve and die as well. This trend will continue up the food chain and all the species will be subject to minimal or no source of food. This can lead to a change in the behaviors of animals around the reef also. The decay of species can lead to endangerment and extinction. The abundance of fish will cease to exist, and therefore the amount or variety of fish that can be caught and sold will change. I feel that if the repercussions of this proposal were actually considered this would not have passed as the consequences are not nearly weighed out by the benefits. 60000 jobs supported by the reef will be at stake with the installment of these ports.

After spending time on snorkeling on the reef, I’ve deemed it one of the most memorable experiences of Australia. The sight was absolutely mind-blowing, and the abundance of wild life to see is overwhelming. I could not fathom the idea that this one-day could possibly not exist. Protests have commenced in attempt to counteract this decision and conserve and important bio diverse coastal ecosystem. After learning so much about the reef, both in a class and by having the opportunity to experience it, I am adamant that this should not happen.

http://fightforthereef.org.au/risks/mega-ports/

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jun/30/abbott-point-dredging-proposal-leaves-significant-environmental-uncertainty

http://www.greatbarrierreef.org/about.php

http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au3

To travel is to take a journey into yourself.

We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.

Understanding the Difference

The Discrepancy of Cultural Stereotypes, Expectations, and Reality

Up here the Mountains are Blue

The Blue Mountains

The Three Sisters

Retail in AU

For what you see & hear depends a good deal on where you are standing.

A Current Problem: Homelessness in Australia

Brief Overview

It is not necessary to spend a significant amount of time in Sydney to notice the large homeless community. According to the 2011 Census there are current about 105,237 people living homeless in Australia. 25 percent of this population is amongst the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders, and 30 percent are immigrants. New South Wales currently has 28,190 people living without a permanent home. A large percentage of people who are homeless stay in temporary accommodations that are either boarding houses or supportive housing, as well as in dwellings. It became a norm to see people coming from all different walks of life asking the public for help, a sight that had to be seen daily. New South Wales has the highest percentage of people living homeless, followed by Victoria and then Queensland.

Demographic Statistics

An advocate site for homelessness in Australia provides statistics regarding the topic. First, the disturbing statistics of the distribution percentages by age, as this category stood out as disturbing to me. The highest percent homeless people at 18% are ages between 25-34, then followed by children under 12 at 17%. The following age groups of 19-24 and 35-44 have 15% and 14% of the population homeless, respectively. A poll describes reasons for homelessness as domestic and family violence, financial difficulties, housing crisis, inadequate or inappropriate dwellings, relationship or family breakdown, housing affordability stress, and what was listed as “other”. Domestic and family violence and other reasons weigh in at the highest percentages falling at 23 and 20 percent, respectively. Other contributors to homelessness are social inequality, and youth unemployment.

Education System and Employment

One in six Australians ages 15-24 are currently living in poverty. A large and increasing number of the Australian Youth Population no longer attend what the Aussies call Uni. After graduating at 18, a significant percentage of Australian students choose to no longer further their education and enter into the labor work force. Specifically, the coal-mining field is attractive work to the young population because of the get rich quick notion surrounding the job. Therefore, less people are able to enter upper level corporate positions, enhancing Australia’s workforce, because of the number of people who do not receive a degree. The younger population is less likely to further their education and gain enough work experience to gain access to sufficient employment that compensates living costs.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Australia is outrageously high, as well as the Standard of Living. Due to the large minimum wage, and the significant amount of price inflation, and many other factors, the cost to live in Australia is steep. Minimum wage, however, is typically not enough to keep the youth population out of poverty. Without a formal education, less people are qualified for higher paying jobs. This contributes to the ability to acquire enough funds to be able to support a comfortable and appropriate living situation, with or without any outside support.

It was hard to see people I could relate to, in my age group, sleeping on a sidewalk in a sleeping bag. It left me with a feeling of helplessness. It was impossible to not wonder why this person was in their current situation and want to help. This is an issue that I believe desperately needs to be taken care of. Each of these numbers are 2011 statistics, which come out every couple years, which if the trend is consistent means these numbers are simply increasing and the problem is getting worse. Each states demographics in the homeless community vary; however, tend to be aligned. If this problem is not addressed not only with the Australian population suffer, but its work force will as well, affecting the country’s ability to be competitive. This is all personal speculation, however covering this topic was important to me. It was such a struggle to not be able to help people in need, and have to be comfortable with the amount of people who were in need of help. I feel it is necessary for more government intervention in helping those in need. Many of the issues leading to homelessness, although not necessarily preventable, could possibly be decreased with an increase of alternative options other than leaving and being on your own. I am not extremely educated on this issue, but from hearing about it on the news, and based on my research; I am passionate about the fact that an outlet needs to be created for people to know their other options and to seek help. I know this is not an issue that can really be spoken about generally, and is unique to each individual; I just could not remove the image of the amount of people that were asking for help, and that often simply offering a meal wasn’t enough. This was an observation that really struck a cord with me, which is why I chose to write about it.

The statistics provided in this post are of the general population and not specific to any state or territory.

http://australia.gov.au/people

http://www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au/index.php/about-homelessness/fact-sheets

http://www.australia.com/about/australias-landscapes/cities.aspx