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Articles & Columns
Echonetdaily brings you quality, thought-provoking articles on a wide range of issues. Our regular columns include Mungo MacCallum's authoritative political commentary, Mandy Nolan's always hilarious Soap Box and S Sorrensen's eclectic think pieces – representing some of the best musings on offer on the northern rivers. We are also lucky to be able to bring you a selection of the excellent content from Crikey, one of Australia's finest independent media websites. Not to mention pieces from The Echo's outstanding editorial team and from across the internet. You can be sure to find an engaging read here.
Articles & Columns
Katter campaign turns back the clock in Queensland
Chris Dobney To think last week I almost contemplated getting into bed with Bob Katter (Jnr). I mean that metaphorically of course, given that we’re...
Articles & Columns
Can PR campaign help capture a monster?
Hans Lovejoy Heard of Kony 2012? If you’ve been on Facebook this week you most likely would have seen a call to arms against Joseph...
Thus Spake Mungo
Thus spake Mungo
… illegal and dangerous That is how Mungo characterises the suggestion of right-wing press pontificators that civil authority should bow to the rule of the...
Articles & Columns
Behind the Seams: who’s asking questions about coal-seam gas and health?
by David Shearman and Marion Carey, of Doctors for the Environment Australia Almost a quarter of the disease burden and deaths in the world can...
Articles & Columns
Water everywhere but not a drop to breathe
As communities across Australia’s eastern states clean up after recent heavy rain and flooding, Southern Cross University researchers are testing the waters to understand...
Articles & Columns
Charity helps to feed non-gay hungry
A Colorado-based Christian charity is providing aid for any and all heterosexual Africans in need. Video TheOnion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp4x14dAwLk
Articles & Columns
CSG has psychological impacts too
Melissa Hargraves Dr Wayne Somerville, a local clinical psychologist, is fast becoming a full-time speaker warning of the impacts of coal-seam gas (CSG) mining in...
Articles & Columns
No-one expects the Byron compliance squad
David Lovejoy Last week’s editorial in the print edition of The Echo expressed some anger that Byron Shire Council should seek to subpoena the editor’s...
Articles & Columns
TV or not TV? Time to go digital
Federal minister for broadband, communications and the digital economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has announced that 540,000 households across northern NSW will switch to digital-only,...
Articles & Columns
Debugging the black spots
There are several areas across our region that are digital black spots, as many residents wanting to upgrade to a digital TV will have...
Articles & Columns
From 10cc to the Feramones and back
Eve Jeffery - 0
Story & photo Eve Jeffery Despite Byron Shire being a world away from 10cc’s Jamaica, rock guitarist Rick Fenn has opted for a permanent dreadlock...
Articles & Columns
The mysterious life and tragic death of bandicoots
Story & photo Mary Gardner An oncoming car threatened me, so I stepped farther aside to the narrow verge and paused. The stink of exhaust...
Articles & Columns
Conservation, not confrontation, says activist
Eve Jeffery - 0
Story & photo Eve Jeffery Karl Goodsell is the founder and director of the Byron Bay-based Positive Change for Marine Life (PCFML), a group that...
Articles & Columns
And the winner is… Smith, Shorten or Crean
Crikey correspondent Bernard Keane asks who is the winner from yesterday’s unedifying events? Kevin Rudd hasn’t merely lost, he has failed to establish himself as...
Articles & Columns
NZ decides who buys their assets – what can we learn?
Lynne Wilkinson We can learn a lot from New Zealand as they give priority to their own wealth creators and long-term national interests. New Zealand...
Articles & Columns
Schoolkids benefit from meditation
The Buddhist meditation of mindfulness is now being introduced in local schools, and among those involved is Byron Bay resident Maggie Clark. She says she...
Articles & Columns
WIRES reunites frogmouth family
Muriel Kinson WIRES was called to Richmond Hill recently when a young tawny frogmouth chick was found sitting on the ground, with its caring mum...
Articles & Columns
Take a peek inside the home of the future
Mandy Nolan Michael Reynolds is on a mission to leave a low-carbon footprint with his creative low-cost housing designs using recycled materials. In 2007, he was...
Articles & Columns
Climate deniers take legal action against bloggers
Crikey journalist Amber Jamieson reports the US Heartland Institute is threatening legal action against bloggers who published leaked documents the instite now cannot confirm...
Thus Spake Mungo
Thus spake Mungo…
… the real Tony Abbott Tony Abbott likes to pretend that he’s taken up the cudgels for John Howard’s battlers. In reality his policies are...
Articles & Columns
Rubbish – could it be the latest resource?
Kate Pye It’s time we started seeing rubbish a bit differently. Waste, whether it is organic or electronic, should be seen as fuel that can...
Mandy Nolan's Soapbox
Mandy’s Soapbox #26
Mandy Nolan - 0
Smart phone versus dumb people
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8yD7x5EH1U&w=470&h=290 Mandy Nolan is worried that smart phones are becoming way too smart – and people are becoming dumber! Video Sharon Shostak
Articles & Columns
Music society matron hands over the baton
Eve Jeffery - 0
Story & photo Eve Jeffery The Byron Music Society is about say goodbye to its last founding member as Margot Dods resigns from the post. As...
Articles & Columns
New film shines light on dirty topic
Bimblebox is a peaceful 8000-hectare sanctuary in central-west Queensland. A remnant of semi-arid woodlands, it is home to a rich diversity of birds, reptiles...
Articles & Columns
Biomass burner scheme ‘Pythonesque’
Crikey’s Andrew Macintosh writes that the Oakeshott-Windsor plan to burn up our forests lacks logic as well as common sense. Imagine a climate policy plan...
Local News
It’s legal to grow and distribute – but only by the anointed
Aslan Shand - 2
Byron based medicinal cannabis producer is sending cannabis to Germany in a breakthrough $92m deal yet the humble plant remains illegal for locals and continues to put people behind bars.
Byron Echo
Rail trail debate
Geoff Meers, Suffolk Park
It was good to read David Lisle’s comprehensive and reasoned discussion of the history of the Casino to Murwillumbah rail corridor....
Byron Echo
No respect
Chibo Mertineit, Lillian Rock
Once again it’s that time of the year where we are meant to celebrate Australia day on 26 January. The day...
Byron Echo
A window of trust
Baden Offord, Ocean Shores
Wholeheartedly agree with Dave Rastovich’s spot-on letter regarding the value and benefit of The Echo, that it is a ‘trusted window’ (Letters,...
