One of the underreported stories of the past year has been the enormous shift in public opinion in Australia due to the massive toll extreme weather fueled by global warming has had on industry, trade, and agriculture.

The driest continent on earth, Australia is already facing drastic water shortages... ones that global warming will make exponentially worse. The IPCC, warned in their spring report that temperatures could rise 6.7 degrees Celsius (that is 12 degrees Fahrenheit for us non-metric types) by 2080. In many parts of the world that would be disastrous, but in the already dry and hot continent down under, that spells catastrophe. In response, we have seen a powerful and radical climate action movement take off in Australia, led partly by our very own Anna Rose, as well as marked by Rising Tide - which has recently shut down the largest coal export port in the world in a scene evocative of the personal courage displayed at Tiananmen square.

So soon after 150,000 Australians marched for climate action, John Howard - Bush Ally #1 and Carbon Criminal #2, on opposing the Kyoto Protocol has been defeated in the Australian elections. His replacement broke with Howard's complete stonewalling of action to address global warming and has struck out a new stance.

Mr. Rudd, 50, campaigned on a platform of new leadership to address broad concerns about the environment, health and education. He has said his first acts as prime minister would include pushing for the ratification of the Kyoto agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and negotiating the withdrawal of Australia's 500 troops from Iraq. - NY Times

Thank you Australia and in solidarity we will see you in Bali.