This Little Piggy

Title: Cloud Seeding in Australia: Navigating Concerns Amid Legislative Support

Author: Luke A Roughley

Cloud seeding, once a subject of skepticism and conspiracy theories, has gained acceptance in Australia, particularly in the Snowy Mountains region, where it is actively practiced and regulated. Despite legislative support, significant concerns remain regarding its potential environmental and health impacts, prompting calls for comprehensive studies and increased scrutiny.

Snowy Hydro's Cloud Seeding Program, initiated as a trial in 2004, aims to enhance snowfall and increase water resources for clean energy production. The technique involves introducing seeding agents into clouds to stimulate ice crystal formation, ultimately leading to increased precipitation. While proponents highlight its benefits, skeptics raise valid concerns about the potential risks associated with altering natural weather patterns.

Scientific evaluations of cloud seeding programs have been conducted, focusing primarily on their efficacy and potential environmental impacts. However, comprehensive studies assessing the long-term effects on air quality, human health, and ecosystems are still lacking. Peer-reviewed research, while supportive of increased precipitation, does not fully address broader concerns about unintended consequences and environmental sustainability.

In 2012, the NSW government passed legislation to regulate cloud seeding operations, acknowledging the need for water resource management and renewable energy production. However, the Snowy Mountains Cloud Seeding Act and accompanying Environmental Management Plan (EMP) have faced criticism for their perceived inadequacies in addressing safety and environmental concerns. Oversight by regulatory bodies like the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has been called into question for its effectiveness in ensuring compliance and mitigating potential risks.

The absence of comprehensive studies on the health and environmental impacts of cloud seeding underscores the importance of a cautious and evidence-based approach. Questions remain regarding the dispersion of seeding agents in the atmosphere, their interactions with pollutants, and their downstream effects on ecosystems. Without rigorous research and monitoring, accurately assessing the risks associated with cloud seeding remains challenging.

In conclusion, cloud seeding in Australia has transitioned from a controversial subject to a regulated practice, but concerns about its potential impacts persist. As calls for transparency and accountability grow louder, policymakers and industry stakeholders must prioritize scientific research and risk assessment to ensure the responsible management of cloud seeding activities, while safeguarding public health and environmental integrity.

BGWLBH and I ran a stall at the markets this morning. It was our worst market so far. I DID get my money back for the cost of the space so I guess that’s a good thing.

This is my side of the stall …

There were lots of locals to catch up with, which was nice, but the weather was not our friend.

The winds were strong and gusty, blowing our wares off the tables and even breaking the glass on one of BGWLBH’s picture frames.

We packed up an hour early before the wind could lift our gazebo to the heavens.

I spent $45 at another stall on home made dresses for little Hazey, so I definitely ended the day with a loss.

Ah well.

I was awake at 4.30am and we returned home at 11.30am. By 2.30pm I was in bed attempting (unsuccessfully) to nap.

Spaghetti bolognese for dinner and immediately back to bed. It’s 8pm and I’m knackered.

Nite all.

Being of Assistance

The year is 1914. Years of the First World War and the farmers who grew "cannabis" in exchange for American dollars... Keep this in mind and keep reading.

Industrial hemp is not just an agricultural plant.

It's an antidote for oil and the dollar.

HOW IS IT FORBIDDEN?

👉1. One hectare of hemp produces oxygen as much as 25 hectares of forest.

👉2. Again, one hectare of hemp can produce the same amount of paper as 4 hectares of trees.

👉3. While hemp can be turned into paper 8 times, a tree can be turned to paper 3 times.

👉4. Hemp grows in 4 months, tree in 20-50 years.

👉5. Cannabis is a real radiation trap.

👉6. Cannabis can be grown anywhere in the world and it needs very little water. Also, since it can keep insects away, it doesn't need pesticides.

👉7. If textiles produced from hemp become generalized, the pesticide industry could disappear completely.

👉8. The first jeans were made of hemp; even the word "CANVAS" was the name hemp products get.

Hemp is also an ideal plant for the production of ropes, laces, handbags, shoes and hats.

👉9. Reduces the effects of chemotherapy and radiation in the treatment of cannabis, AIDS and cancer; used for at least 250 diseases such as rheumatism, heart, epilepsy, asthma, stomach, insomnia, psychology and spinal stiffness.

👉10. The protein value of hemp seeds is very high, and the two fatty acids they contain are found nowhere else in nature.

👉11. Cannabis production is even cheaper than soy.

👉12. Animals that eat cannabis do not need hormone supplements.

👉13. All plastic products can be made from hemp, and hemp plastic is very easy to return to nature.

👉14. If a car body is made of hemp, it will be 10 times stronger than steel.

👉15. It can also be used for insulation of buildings; it is durable, cheap and flexible.

👉16. Soaps and cosmetics made from hemp do not pollute water, so they are completely environmentally friendly.

In America at 18. for a century, its production was mandatory, and the farmers who did not produce were closed. But now the situation has turned upside down. FROM WHERE ?

👎-B. R. Hurst owned newspapers, magazines and media in the United States in the 1900s. They had forests and produced paper. If paper was made of hemp, it could have lost millions.

👎-Rockefeller was the richest man in the world. I was an oil company owner. Biofuel, hemp oil, was, of course, his biggest enemy.

👎-Melon was one of the leading shareholders of the Dupont company and had a patent for the production of plastic from oil derivatives. And the cannabis industry has threatened its market.

Melon later became President Hoover's finance minister. Those big names we were talking about decided at their meetings that cannabis is the enemy and they removed it. Through the media they have engraved marijuana into people's brains as a poisonous drug, along with the word marijuana.

Cannabis drugs have been removed from the market, replaced with chemicals used today.

Forests are cut for paper production.

Plague poisoning and cancer are on the rise.

And then we fill our world with plastic waste, harmful waste..

Today I played the role of counsellor.

My world is full of struggling unhappy women and this past weekend landed some triggering events for many of them.

While I am more than happy to be a sounding board and a strong shoulder, three sad people can be draining, so I’m feeling some very low energy vibes tonight.

Hopefully a good sleep will help me feel more uplifted tomorrow.

I crumbed some chicken for dinner and served it with minted tomato & cucumber, coleslaw, home made beetroot, pineapple and cold fried rice.

I’m struggling to keep my eyes open so I gotta sleep!

Nite all.

Serviced

BGWLBH’s car required a service today - at the Nissan centre.

We drove into town and did some business, after which we dropped the car at Nissan.

They have a courtesy bus which dropped us at Pialba place where I returned some white pants and exchanged them for a smaller size (always nice when you require a smaller size), slowly browsed through every shop within a one kilometre radius and I spent money on three tops and one pair of white jeggings.

We enjoyed coffee.

We did NOT enjoy the long wait for the courtesy bus to return and take us back to Nissan.

It was a long day.

Now I need to sleep. I have booked a session with The Gypsy tomorrow morning.

Nite all.

Tiresome

It’s been a big washing kind of day.

Six loads of washing and still more hand washing to do.

THAT was tiresome.

It took Adoring Husband and I about 40 minutes to package up his sick coffee machine to send down south to Buderim for repair under warranty.

THAT was tiresome.

I decluttered some of my clothes and underwear.

THAT was tiresome, but also cleansing!

I had a nap with Harley in the afternoon.

THAT was refreshing.

There was one hour and forty five minutes play time with Harley.

THAT was fun.

Very easy GF pies with salad and a little bit of bubble and squeak for dinner.

THAT was satisfying.

MAFS night! 

Those people are tiresome.

Now I need to sleep.

Nite all.

That Time of Year.

Saturday was the 45th anniversary of (My first son) Jamie’s death. 

He died of SIDS at 17 weeks of age, two days after receiving his 4 month Triple Antigen vaccine.

If I knew then, what I know now, different choices would have been made.

It has been a quiet weekend.

Adoring Husband has been working.

I tested the “raw onion poultice on the feet to stop a cough” on AH and it worked!

Lots of Harley play.

A few movies. “Hello Ladies: The Movie” and “Sweet as” - I liked both of them.

I watched “Forces of Nature” and “The Wedding Singer” oldies but goodies.

We watched the first two games of the 2024 NRL season. Those games were played in Las Vegas and I tipped both games incorrectly.

Bugger.

We made hamburgers on Saturday night. Tonight (Sunday) I made Lemon Herb Chicken with spinach, pumpkin and pine nut salad.

MAFS night!

We’ve just enjoyed some heavy showers tonight, but I think it’s finished now.

So nothing new to report. Life is cruisy right now.

Time to sleep.

Nite all.