Australia’s strange rejection of science, on Climate Change
Australia is missing out on a boom in the growth industries of the 21st century. Early adopters of new energy technology have prospered. …….. Globally, renewable energy has attracted more investment than fossil fuels three years in a row……..
Australia lags as the rest of the world acts, The Age, March 29, 2011 GEOGRAPHY has always isolated Australia. Rarely, though, is the effect so obvious as it is in the debate on climate change. Globally, the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions is widely accepted. Visitors to Australia are surprised to find that not only is the effect of emissions in dispute, but even scientific records of climate trends. Continue reading
Young Australians rally for action on Climate Change, oldies rally against it
When you know that you will be directly affected by decisions made by those in power, you think about things in a new light. It’s an entirely different world-view to those who are only a decade or two away from leaving this world behind.
Climate Change has become a generational battle, Anti-Carbon Tax Rallies | AYCC Rallies, Sydney Morning Herald, Ellen Sandell, national director of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, 11 March 11, The debate on pricing carbon has rapidly deteriorated in the past few weeks since Opposition Leader Tony Abbott predicted a “people’s revolt” over the issues. Now, it’s turning into a full-blown generational war. Continue reading
As Australians dither over carbon emissions, seas rise up to our cities
major cities – particularly Sydney – are shown to be under much more immediate threat from sea level rises than previously predicted.
Seas ‘will swamp Sydney yearly‘ | The Daily Telegraph, Simon Benson, 11 March 11, SYDNEY will suffer major sea level inundation events once a year instead of every 100 years, according to an alarming new report on climate change impacts from the Government’s chief adviser. Continue reading
30 European countries successfully managing a carbon price
“The thing that struck me is how the debate has changed here and also that wide perception that I keep hearing that Australia shouldn’t go first,”
“Coming from Europe, that sounds slightly bizarre because there are 30 countries in Europe that have had a carbon price … since the beginning of 2005.”
Aussie carbon tax revolt ‘bizarre’: expert, Sydney Morning Herald, 9 March 11, A European Union climate expert has described Australian opposition to a carbon tax as bizarre, diplomatically pointing out Britain’s Conservatives were more co-operative in opposition. Jill Duggan, who managed Britain’s initial emissions trading scheme (ETS), said there was an incorrect perception that Australia would be going it alone if it put a price on carbon. Continue reading
Australia’s Minister for Coal, and Nuclear? and – er Climate Change
Combet .. is also adamant the coal industry will continue to grow under a carbon price,…..he says a carbon price will make the nuclear option more economically viable…..
Can-do Combet well used to taking heat, The Australian, Sid Maher, March 05, 2011As he approaches the sharp end of negotiations to flesh out the detail of the climate change framework announced by the Prime Minister, Combet makes several principles clear. Continue reading
Australian govt spends 12 $billion for fossil fuel industries, 1 $billion for clean energy
Federal spending favours fossil fuels, study finds, The Age, Adam Morton, March 1, 2011 AUSTRALIAN taxpayers spend 11 times more encouraging the use of fossil fuels than on climate change programs – and the sum is growing. Continue reading
Koch brothers’ influence will reach Australia to fight carbon tax
The nastiest end of the anti-tax campaign will come from a right-wing extremist grouping that includes Fox News’s Glenn Beck and is backed by the notorious Koch brothers. Koch and Koch are oil barons who run the largest private company in the USA and fund climate sceptics, race haters and the Tea Party, with funding tentacles reaching into Australia……
Another step towards renewable energy – Unleashed (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 25 Feb 2011, “…..The “can’t do” campaign will be meeting in PR war rooms across Australia this morning, deciding how much to spend on lobbying, advertising and astro-turfing. Continue reading
Julia Gillard playing it smart with carbon tax
This time, Julia Gillard is playing a cannier game. There were almost no policy details released yesterday beyond the decision to implement a fixed price, and the decision to include transport but to leave out agriculture. That left little for industry critics to go on, and allowed Gillard to cleverly foreshadow Abbott’s anti-tax attack.
It’s Getting Hot In Here | newmatilda.com, 25 Feb 2011, By Ben Eltham Whether you call it a carbon tax or a carbon price, the carbon wars are back on. This time round, Gillard is playing it smart on climate policy. Continue reading
Greenhouse gas emissions and extreme weather events – Australia take note
The Canadian/Oxford research is highly politically significant, because it will help to strip away the “stonewall”, do-nothing tactics that various governments have used to excuse themselves from dealing seriously with climate change. The studies will have particular relevance in Australia, where extreme weather events are all too evident, and where token gestures by government are the order of the day as far as climate change is concerned.
Greenhouse gas emissions linked to climate change, CPA – The Guardian, Peter Mac, 23 February 2011In Australia the public’s attention has been firmly fixed on the havoc wrought by floods in the eastern states, cyclones in Queensland and the Northern Territory, and bushfires in Western Australia. However, extreme weather events are also occurring in many nations overseas. Continue reading
BHP’s world-wide operations hit by floods
Big firm, big profit, big problem, The Age, Eric JohnstonFebruary 17, 2011 “….In the last six months BHP wasn’t just affected by the devastating floods in Australia. It also had to contend with floods in South Africa, Columbia and Brazil.”In some cases it is worse than we’ve had in Australia,” Kloppers said yesterday….”Big firm, big profit, big problem
Australia’s finance sector can address climate change
Renewable power is in our hands, Sydney Morning Herald, Paddy Manning, February 12, 2011 “…….Funds must factor in climate change Only the finance sector has enough power to take on Australia’s resources industry, but will it? Continue reading
Australia’s politicians and media downplay climate change
that pattern is exactly what we would expect from climate change due to increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.”…Despite this, mainstream politicians and media outlets have sought to deny or downplay the connection…….
Floods: Climate link can’t be denied, Green Left Weekly, January 30, 2011 Climate change was a big factor in the devastating floods that swept through Queensland and other states in January. For decades, scientists have warned that carbon pollution will lead to more frequent weather disasters. Continue reading
Crikey’s Graham Readfern refutes climate sceptic Lord Monckton
the core of what sceptics such as Monckton wish to achieve in their ideologically-driven and fossil-fuel backed quest (including Exxon funding). That mission is to spread doubt and it is being aided by our only national newspaper The Australian.
Is The Australian addicted to Monckton’s denial? January 28, 2011 , Crikey, Graham Readfearn His choice of the Gershwin song It Ain’t Necessarily So was unfortunate, if not a little ironic. Continue reading
Set up disaster relief funds, postpone corporate tax cuts, say Australian Greens
“While we are open to the idea of a levy, the Greens see establishing a long-term, well-resourced disaster relief fund as a high priority in the face of climate change.” Senator Milne added deferring the top end corporate tax cuts planned for July 1, 2013, was a better way to save money.
Greens angry at climate cuts, Sydney Morning Herald, January 27, 2011 – The Australian Greens say they are angry the federal government flood recovery plan is turning its back on what it says is the disaster’s cause – climate change…… Continue reading
Gillard cuts climate change programs, but not the perks for polluters
`It is remarkable that carbon abatement programs have been singled out while fossil fuel subsidies, such as fringe benefits tax benefits for car use and diesel fuel rebates for miners remain untouched,” The Climate Institute chief executive John Connor said.
Gillard government criticised for slashing funding for green energy projects to pay for flood rebuilding Kerrie Sinclair The Courier-Mail January 27, 2011 THE clean energy industry has criticised the Gillard government for cutting funding for climate change technology to help pay for the flood recovery. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 