$2.5 Billion investment by Apple in Renewable Energy Data Centres
Apple’s Investing $2.5 Billion On Two Entirely Renewable Energy Data Centres http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2015/02/apples-investing-2-5-billion-on-two-entirely-renewable-energy-data-centres/
It’s the latest in a recent burst of green-friendly moves by Apple, with the company also recently announcing plans to build a giant solar farm in Monterey, California.
Opportunities for jobs and TAFE in renewable energy in New South Wales
TAFE key for new renewable energy industries, says Brown Maitland Mercury By NICK BIELBY Feb. 24, 2015,
Manufacturing products and equipment for the renewable energy sector could combat the rising unemployment rate in the Hunter Valley, Greens candidate for Maitland John Brown says. He said TAFE could be the place to train employees for work in the new industry.
Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show that unemployment reached 11.4 per cent in the Hunter, outside Newcastle, last month – almost double the state average of 6.3 per cent. This was a rise from 7.1 per cent in January, 2014.
Greens reveal plans for Hunter beyond coal | VIDEO
Mr Brown said the Greens’ plan to strengthen TAFE would help to address the rising unemployment rate in the Hunter. But he said it was equally important to develop an alternative industry to replace jobs in mining, one of the region’s largest employers, so training could be targeted.
Mr Brown said manufacturing for renewable energy projects, such as solar panels, could become a thriving industry in the Hunter.
“There has been a downturn in the coal industry and I think that will be a long-term downturn,” he said.
New South Wales Labor wasting their chances fighting the Greens
NSW Labor has to go Green or go home NSW Labor has historically turned its attention to competing with the Greens, giving the Liberals a free run.
Labor is back in power in Queensland by the tiniest of margins on the strength of Green preferences in nine critical seats across the state, from Barron River in far-north Queensland, to Brisbane Central, to Springwood on the Gold Coast. (subscribers only) http://www.crikey.com.au/2015/02/24/nsw-labor-has-to-go-green-or-go-home/
Australian Aboriginals’ widespread resistance to fracking
Australia Needs New Approaches to Fracking http://firstpeoples.org/wp/australia-needs-new-approaches-to-fracking/ Fracking in Australia continues to meet widespread resistance from Aboriginals. In Western Australia, Buru Energy’s negotiations with traditional landowners in the Canning Basin have been largely unsuccessful, and communities are organizing camp outs to stop the company. In Queensland, the weakening of environmental protections has prompted the Mithaka Peoples to go the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, claiming that “Australia has taken no action to ensure that we are consulted and involved in these decisions, or to protect our rights to our culture.” In the Northern Territory, communities have formed the Northern Territory Frack Free Alliance to oppose the drilling of boreholes and wells near aquifers.
The Australian government is attempting to circumvent these groups with legislative and regulatory changes. While this may accelerate the issuance of permits in the short term, Australia cannot expect to develop a sustainable oil economy without Aboriginal support, and will need to drastically shift its approaches to fracking on Aboriginal territories.
This post is excerpted from First Peoples Worldwide’s Corporate Monitor, a monthly report on key trends affecting companies interacting with Indigenous Peoples. To sign up for monthly e-mail updates, click here.
India is not accountable for what uses it has for Australia’s uranium
Undermining Nuclear Non-Proliferation: Energy and Security Politics in the Australia-India-Japan-U.S. Nuclear Nexus 核不拡散の土台崩し オーストラリア·インド·日本·米国間におけるエネルギーと安全保障政策 The Asia-Pacific Journal, Vol. 12, Issue 46, No. 2, November 1, 2014 Adam Broinowski
“……….Ten of India’s twenty nuclear facilities are beyond the regulatory authority of the IAEA and India only selectively recognises IAEA safeguards for specific foreign supplied reactors and facilities. India also refuses to submit to suppliers inventory reports and accounting processes for nuclear material flowing through the nuclear cycle. As the IAEA is not able to fully inspect India’s dual-purpose (civilian and military) indigenous reactors and facilities for reprocessing, enrichment, retransfers to third countries, research and development or the production of tritium (used as a trigger for weapons), India is not fully accountable to either the IAEA or the supplier nation with which it has a bilateral agreement with in-built IAEA norms. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 