china: cold hits 28-yr low, 1000 ships trapped, page-15

Drought in Australia a natural phenomenon

Ooooooooh Dear. :))

1921:
Australia denies the image as being drought-prone.

Politicians and bureaucrats were eager to deny the image of Australia as drought-prone, lest this deter immigrants.
H. S. Gullett, the Commonwealth Superintendent of Immigration, was quoted as saying:
“Many thousands of Australians go abroad every year on business or pleasure.
The Commonwealth Immigration Office appeals to every one of them to embark with the resolve that he will on all possible occasions speak well of Australia.
Let none of them speak evil. Such words as 'drought' should be thrown overboard as the vessels put out to sea.”
(Sydney Morning Herald, 6 June 1921. )


1990:
Drought is part of the natural variability of the Australian climate.
" The 1990s saw formal Government acknowledgement that drought is part of the natural variability of the Australian climate, with drought relief for farmers and agricultural communities being restricted to times of so-called “exceptional circumstances”. In other words, the agricultural sector was expected to cope with the occasional drought, and relief would be available only for droughts of unusual length or severity."
Source: Bureau of Meteorology Australia http://www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/c20thc/drought.htm

2008:
Australia bans word 'drought' as too upsetting for farmers
The word "drought" makes farmers feel depressed and should be replaced with "dryness", a panel of Australian government experts has said.
Source: Report by the Drought Policy Review Expert Social Panel


http://home.iprimus.com.au/foo7/droughthistory.html