California and Victoria agree to combat climate change together

It has been a long time since I have taken back my unflattering comments about Arnold Schwarzenegger upon becoming the governor of California. Everything he does about global warming confirms my decision. Because he is a Hollywood star - a major one - with a direct line to the electorate, perhaps he does have the cachet needed to short-circuit traditional politics and it's embedded vested interests - like the fossil-fuel industry. He certainly is running counter to the Bush line on global warming and, as we can see by his latest move, he is recruiting like-minded leaders around the world in his campaign to tackle climate change square-on.

clipped from www.smh.com.au California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has recruited an Australian ally in his plan to terminate global warming. Victorian Premier Steve Bracks "We have to take care of our world," Schwarzenegger told reporters after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Victoria to share environmental expertise. "We have to fight global warming." Schwarzenegger has been a leader in environmental reform in the US, overcoming resistance from President George W Bush's administration. California imposed America's first mandatory cap on greenhouse gas emissions, with emissions set to be cut by 80 per cent by 2050. Victoria, along with other Australian states and territories, have set targets to cut 60 per cent of emissions by 2050. The MOU will allow California and Victoria to share expertise in climate change, develop emission trading schemes and carbon offsets and encourage the development of clean energy technology.

Greens poised to win balance in Victorian election

GREENS leader Bob Brown is "cautiously optimistic" that his party will get the balance of power in Victoria's upper house.

A Galaxy Opinion poll forecast the Greens to win 12 per cent of the vote in today's state election, tipping Greens candidate Dr Richard DiNatale to take the lower house seat of Melbourne from Health Minister Bronwyn Pike.

In the 40 seat upper house the party may find the real power with opinion polls showing the likelihood of it winning between three and six seats. Enough to give it the balance of power. :::[News]

Andrew Bolt, of Melbourne, is asking, "please explain?". Time will soon tell whether Senator Brown explains right:

"Big issues like the drought, water supplies and climate change are at the forefront and people appreciate the Greens' role in tackling these issues."

Well he would say that - he's got the right to, he's leadhis party from the feral edge of Australian politics into the center, a long march in a few short years. Anyway, this is only the beginning of what I predict. :::[Australian politics starts to go green.]

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