A savage history : the story of whaling in the Pacific and Southern Oceans

The slaughter of the leviathan -- Whaling in ancient times -- New South whales -- Whaling among the Maori and missionaries -- The business of whaling -- The Pacific capital of whaling -- The floating abattoir -- Exploration and the whaling boom -- The stockbroker and the artist -- Whaling craft -- Life, food, booze and sex -- Women go whaling -- Mechanised slaughter -- The Norwegians in Western Australia -- Ten thousand years of eating whale -- Japan against the world -- End game -- What now for whales? -- Whaleography.;Celebrated, revered, and studied, whales hold particular allure, but for much of history they have been relentlessly hunted throughout the oceans. A Savage History is a powerful account of a complex and bloody relationship that tells the rich history of whales and whaling, following the stories of whalers from the 18th century to the present day. It explores not only the drama and danger of whaling but the ways in which whales have infused human imagination throughout history. The book also covers the end of industrial whaling and the work still to do to protect these magnificent and intelligent creatures. Nothing prepares you for your first sight of the world's largest mammal. Celebrated, revered, studied and increasingly watched for pleasure rather than hunted, whales hold particular allure. Humans have always been in awe of them, but for much of history we have been compelled to dominate and kill them – though like Moby Dick, sometimes whales fight back. A Savage History tells the rich history of whales and whaling. We learn about these highly intelligent and magnificent creatures, and follow the stories of whalers from the eighteenth century who hunted their prey along the coasts of Australia and New Zealand, across the Pacific and into the Southern Ocean. The result is a powerful account of a complex and bloody relationship. Although the modern era has seen the end of industrial whaling, as John Newton shows, the work of those who want to protect whales is far from over. Since the 1980s, Australians have had a system of universal health care that we largely take for granted. But the road there wasn't easy. Making Medicare is a comprehensive account of the Australia's long, tortuous and unconventional path towards universal health care – as it was established, abolished and introduced again – and of the reforms that brought it into being. With its detailed investigation of the policy debates that have determined the shape of health care in Australia, this book is the most thorough survey of Medicare's history published to date. But it is not just about the past. The authors offer a timely overview of further reforms needed to address the challenges facing our health care system: new technologies, the ageing population and the rising tide of chronic disease. Since the 1980s, Australians have had a system of universal health care that is often taken for granted. But the road there wasn't easy. Making Medicare is a comprehensive account of Australia's long, tortuous, and unconventional path toward universal health care—as it was established, abolished, and introduced again—and of the reforms that brought it into being. With its detailed investigation of the policy debates that have determined the shape of health care in Australia, this book is the most thorough survey of Medicare's history published to date. But it is not just about the past. The authors offer a timely overview of further reforms needed to address the challenges facing our health care system: new technologies, the aging population, and the rising tide of chronic disease. Since the 1980s, Australians have had a system of universal health care that we largely take for granted. But the road there wasn't easy. Making Medicare is the most comprehensive account of Australia's long, tortuous and unconventional path towards universal health care - it was established, abolished and introduced again - and the reforms that brought it into being. This book details the policy debates that have determined the shape of health care in Australia, but it is not just about the past. The authors offer a timely overview of further reforms needed to address the challenges facing our health care system: new technologies, the ageing population and the rising tide of chronic disease. 1 Health reform efforts to the 1950s -- 15 -- 2 Whitlam and health system reform, 1960-74 -- 36 -- 3 Making Medibank a reality, 1974-75 -- 52 -- 4 Organised medicine versus Medibank -- 64 -- 5 Fraser's health system reforms, 1976-81 -- 78 -- 6 Medibank weighed in the balance, 1976-78 -- 90 -- 7 Why Fraser abolished Medibank -- 102 -- 8 Hawke brings Medicare into being -- 114 -- 9 The politics of Medicare, 1984-96 -- 143 -- 10 John Howard, Medicare's greatest friend? -- 159 -- 11 Current issues, future challenges-- 175.