A Good News Day: Trump set to be impeached… WA closer to passing assisted dying legislation… Corporations agree to greener building
Despite pockets of the usual ugly articles in today’s press featuring suburban crime and violence (those papers have got to scare readers into buying insurance and security alarms, of course), today looks like being a very good news day.
》Western Australia is that much closer to legalising voluntary assisted dying – giving sufferers of pain and disease an option to end their life early.
》The questionable behaviour and immoral tactics of US President Donald Trump are finally being put under the microscope.
》And corporations are officially agreeing that greener building practices are actually more profitable.
Heck, it ain’t even the end of the working day and we’re already smiling.
More folks get to choose when to end their life…
Western Australia has gotten that much closer to passing a bill that legalises voluntary assisted dying.
After Lower House MPs spent some 70 hours debating the bill, it was ultimately passed 41 votes to 11 for terminally ill individuals to have the right to euthanasia, giving sufferers of pain the option to end their life early. Now it is up to members in the Upper House to decide on whether the bill passes.
Police Minister Michelle Roberts, Energy Minister Bill Johnston, and Opposition Leader Liza Harvey all voted against the bill, arguing that “safety issues” may arise.
Health Minister and Deputy Premier Roger Cook has insisted that WA’s proposal is a “cautious and safe” one.
Watch this space for the Upper House verdict on this issue.
Presidential Impeachment…
After years of allegations of corrupt practice, a formal impeachment inquiry will finally begin against President Donald Trump.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has used the example of Trump’s phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which Trump urged Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son for corruption, while withholding nearly $400 million in military aid to the country.
The misdemeanor clearly falls under the category of ‘bribery’, and is the first impeachment against Trump after months of resistance on Pelosi’s behalf. As more members of her caucus pressed for a probe, Pelosi made the decision to impeach the US President.
Impeachable offences in the US include “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors” but what exactly constitutes the category of ‘High Crimes and Misdemeanors’ is constantly being debated. We’re fairly certain Trump has committed a high-falutin’ lot of ’em, and if only someone had the time to tally up the guy’s blatant wrongdoings, it might speed up the trial process.
Swedish eco-activist Greta Thunberg’s words for corporate leaders this week look like having morphed into action faster than she may have imagined.
Building greener buildings…
An international study has revealed that corporations are willing to pay up to 20 percent more for buildings and properties with green certification, which would help boost real estate value (good news for property owners) while also encouraging greener building practices.
Sustainability will become the established building and property standard, with nine out of ten experts agreeing that green-certified office and commercial buildings will be easier to market. Meanwhile, businesses both small and large are increasingly stipulating ‘green labels’ as a precondition when renting new office and commercial space.
A German firm conducted the study which found certification pressure emanated primarily from large-scale, national corporations that were based overseas.
As a motivating factor to maintain eco practices, businesses who hold a green building certificate will be rewarded with lower capital gains taxes (for when it comes to selling their properties) and lower operating and ancillary costs.
Construction doesn’t look so ugly going forward, then, even though Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently took it upon himself to warn children against “needless anxiety” about climate change. Like Trump, we’re pretty sure he’ll learn eventually.
Lisa Andrews & Antonino Tati
CREAM MAGAZINE 
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