From The Australian, the beginning of a nationwide convoy protesting the carbon tax. I’m sure the delicate sensibilities of the ruling class in Canberra, most of which don’t know the meaning of actual work, will be greatly offended when these folks roll into town.
Note that there are some familiar faces to WUWT involved. Read on.
Mass convoy to make ‘real’ voices heard
Peter Whyteroff (third from left) with other members from the convoy of No Confidence to Canberra, who will take the longest trip to the country’s capital, photographed in Port Hedland where they leave from on Tuesday. Picture: Aaron Bunch Source: The Australian
FOR some it’s climate change alarmism; for others too much wasted taxpayers’ money on boatpeople, school halls, or pink batts; and for others still it’s the importation of Chinese apples, the temporary ban on the live cattle trade, or same-sex couples rearing children.
But the common thread in what is emerging as a national Tea Party-style revolt in the form of a “Convoy of No Confidence” to Canberra is a burning conviction that politicians of all persuasions have lost touch with the real-life needs of the common man and woman they are supposed to represent.
What began as a truckies protest against the carbon tax has grown into a mass alliance of those outside the urban elites who feel they have lost their voice.
It’s an amalgam of butchers, bakers and candlestick makers who are mad as hell and not going to take it any more.
The convoy, whose drivers will start their engines this week from around the country and converge on Canberra next Monday, was conceived by the National Road Freight Association.
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But it now looks likely to be joined by a wide range of supporters and vehicles ranging from big rigs to utes to campervans, and even motorcycles.
They will ride under the banner “Real people — facing the forgotten issues with friendship and a little fun.”
The first of a total of 11 convoys — each with its own leaders and colours — will set off tomorrow from Port Hedland in Western Australia, led by truck owner-driver Peter Whytcross.
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Mr Whytcross’s convoy will sport brown balloons and streamers. The convoy starting in Perth and led by cattle producer Matt Thompson and his wife, Janet, will emblazon theirs with orange.
Mr Thompson led grain feedlot cattle farmers in a campaign against having the greenhouse gas emissions from their belching beasts included in the national reporting regime, presenting the sceptic’s view at a public meeting.
That speech, Ms Thompson said, led to a backlash from the Greens. “He put us on the radar screen in terms of the environmental lobby,” she said.
The Thompsons will pile their four young children into a campervan for the trip to Canberra, taking the message, Ms Thompson said, “to all political parties to not just ignore our existence”.
The carbon tax, she said, was just one example of how the government “takes us to centralised control rather than allowing the market to work”.
Here’s the map:
And the website at:
http://justgroundsonline.com/forum/topics/convoy-of-no-confidence-in-the
I think it is going to be like “Mad Max” meets “Smokey and the Bandit”.
In the meantime, some campy Americana from the movie “Convoy”:
No, please don’t use that one! Looks too much like a symbol for Homestarrunner! http://homestarrunner.com/
Go, Aussie, go!
Regards, An Aussie Pom/Pommie Aus…
Just to be sure, this political movement is founded on the principals of two things:
Fighting a carbon tax which the current PM of Australia campaigned AGAINST.
Fighting lying cheating stealing politicians.
I for one wish them luck in this endeavor and hope that they do not give up until the goals are met.
I’ll bet all the support for the carbon bill is in the cities. You know, the places where they think electricity is generated in light switches and food is grown in grocery stores.
Let them live for a week or 2 without any food deliveries and see if their opinions change.
As long as we’re talking of flags, the Confederate battle flag is near and dear to me with no racial overtones. But that’s the problem, it’s no longer useable. The Gadsden flag will have to do. As far as politics, all I want is a limited, fiscally responsible government. That’s not OT, AGW is all about pervasive government with no accountability.
This convoy needs the support of a lot of city dwellers in Canberra to succeed. Don’t alienate them. Stick to the unjust taxation issue.
Joanne Nova got the most comments in her blog career when she posted this. Much of the traffic was from the sycophants of Gillard who apparently are very worried about the convoy. Not surprising, the left down under is as ignorant about their government as the left is up top.
There is an even better article in the Sydney Morning Herald about the convoy.
“”We were hesitant to participate due to time and cost, but two things put us over the line,” said Thompson, who will be driving a campervan. ”The first was reading the 340-page Clean Energy Bill 2011 [the federal carbon tax bill], and the other 12 bills to which it is attached.
”The words ‘global warming’ are not mentioned but monetary transfers to the United Nations are outlined and power is given to an international consortium of finance companies. This bill makes the Copenhagen treaty [COP15] look like a children’s book.”
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/cattlemen-driven-to-desperation-by-canberra-20110814-1isu6.html
Is this a reasonable topic for WUWT?
IMHO, it is. It is directly tied to AGW.
There are two types of AGW believers – the first is those that truly believe that global [warming] is happening, is a direct threat to humanity, and is caused by humans. I believe that they are uneducated/misguided in that belief, but they probably think the same of me. I have no problem with these people provided that they are willing to discuss the issues with a somewhat open mind.
The second type are those that see any crisis as a means of enrichment … their own enrichment. These come in multiple forms, individuals, corporations and governments. they have no interest in the truth, only in suppressing dissent and continuing their schemes of self-enrichment.
Too many governments have been seduced by the idea of a “carbon tax”. Its right up there with their desire to tax air. Something everyone will have to pay, and a HUGE club (end of the earth – death, famine, destruction) to force compliance.
Since this is so tightly coupled to AGW, it is reasonable (IMHO) to discuss it here.
Long live to the queenbee !!!
http://apiaraucania.blogspot.com/2011/08/gmo-honey-tomar-partido-o-tomar-palco.html
These men work hard and render service. They are great value. So the leftists want to punish them. Punitive taxation makes no sense.
Then we have Evergreen solar which went broke today. 50 million here and 50 million there in “subsidies” and it goes broke. Solar too expensive and panels cheaper from china.
http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1358998&pos=breaking
Obama’s green pet died. Again so why punish truckers and waste money on solar. I favor solar if the output price is right.
I suggest we demand a referendum.
Our American mates will get a laugh out of this You-tube-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uV1USxnweY
M2Cents says:
August 15, 2011 at 10:38 am
I’ll bet all the support for the carbon bill is in the cities. You know, the places where they think electricity is generated in light switches and food is grown in grocery stores.
Let them live for a week or 2 without any food deliveries and see if their opinions change.
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Yeah but the population of the top 5 cities accounts for nearly 2/3 of the population. Sorry to hear you don’t like how democracy works, but I doubt communism or fascism would work much better…
Just passing Broome,,, http://pindanpost.com/2011/08/16/convoy-of-no-confidence-passes-broome/
Please check the batteries in your sarc detector. I said …
You see, it’s snowing down in NZ, but they will just have to buck up and stop complainin [sarc] because the arctic is in crisis! [says the AGW cult]. Warm snow [what a warmie would say]. Oh nevermind.
It wasn’t meant to be taken literally.
Yep, I think the Snotrocket backfired.
I hope they become a force to be reckoned with… what they need is a leader equivalent to a Ron Paul to present their message and idea
Folks, I am a Yank expat living here in oz. The govt here has gone downhill since the overthrow of the PM Kevin Rudd by Julia Gillard. She is not only the Deputy that stabbed him in the back to overthrow him but she lied in a follow up election to gain control in a vote that was literally tied. The tie was broken by an Independent loon. She proclaimed that there would be NO CARBON TAX under her government and once elected promptly put all in motion to impose a tax with NO VOTE needed. These are not just truckies in this convoy…you will see cars, pickups and caravans, etc. Lets make sure it gets the global coverage it deserves.
The Convoy of no Confidence has been a remarkable success.
I was extremely proud to be part of the 2000 plus peaceful protest. It was an unprecedented military style logistical effort performed by ‘Salt of the Earth” Australians and their many thousands of supporters along each of the 11 routes.
The commitment of the Convoy leaders and the heirarchy of the National Road Freighters Association was an inspiration. The strength of character to embark on this unknown venture showed the true courage of everyone’s conviction despite the threat of failure and ridicule.
After our symbolic drive through the Parliamentry precinct we all gathered on the lawn for the official proceedings. There was a wide spectrum of speakers representing Large Industry, Small Business and Social Groups. While all political parties had an open invitation to speak, only various conservative coalition members responded. Our own Just Grounds members Senator Joyce and Williams gave memorable speeches as did Bronwen Bishop and Tony Abbott. Two outstanding young speakers were, Rashida Khan from the Northern Territory and Stuart Austin representing Australians Supporting Beef Farmers.
Due to a week of intense buildup and anticipation the Convoy had captured the imagination of the greater population. This was largely due to the wonderful support of the Talkback Radio across the country, which is the defacto peoples parliament. The leaders of this were the 2GB network – Alan Jones and Ray Hadley in Sydney, and Steve Price and Andrew Bolt in Melbourne. We sincerely thank them for their tremendous support. Alan Jones arrived from Sydney after doing his breakfast show of 3 hours and proceeded to MC for the next 5 hours without a break. I personally, will not hear a word against this man, as his commitment to results for our country is there for all to see.
The Convoy of No Confidence was labelled of no ‘consequence’ two hundred metres from where we were in the House of Representitives. This is an insult from a disgraceful government by a minister of no ‘significance’.
It was resolved that we would not submit the 30 000 strong petition signitures on the day. Given the short timeframe and massive support all over the Australia along the way, we are going to continue gathering signatures with an aim of 1 million to be tabled by Senator Joyce in the parliament.
The community spirit that the Just Grounds members have shown was one of the bonds that made the Convoy a success. It eliminated the isolation and aided the organisers to communicate ideas into action right across Australia in a matter of weeks. Give yourselves a huge pat on the back.
We have led by example with the future template for groups to interact and mobilise with one hundred percent participation-all for no cost. This is the beginning of the electronic era for us to be able to STAND OUR GROUND.