Victorian govt fails to support Milldura’s solar plant
Tennis funded, solar power left hanging Green Left Ben Courtice, Melbourne23 January 2010“…..Save Solar Systems spokesperson Chris Breen said: “The Mildura solar power plant would provide jobs and real climate action, for not much more than the $363 million being directly given to upgrade the Tennis Centre. Continue reading
Australia not interested in Abu Dhabi’s solar city?
Deutsche Bank ranks Australia, which had a low-key presence at the conference, as the best place for certainty on clean energy investments
A green city arises from the desert of Abu Dhabi Matt Chambers Australian January 25, 2010 IN the most unlikely of places, what could be the world’s most expensive clean energy project is just eight months away from its first residents moving in………… Continue reading
Interim carbon price would mean a start to action on climate change
We are under no illusions that this solution is perfect. It is clearly a third or fourth best solution. But, unlike the CPRS, there is no way it can hold back climate action.
This deadlock helps no one. The community is denied action on the climate crisis, the business community is denied the investment certainty it craves, the government looks increasingly impotent and the opposition looks like spoilers.
Interim carbon price preferable to time-wasting political stunt Christine Milne: The Australian January 22, 2010 There is a solution to this deadlock, one that Ross Garnaut suggested a year ago in his final report, Continue reading
Greens proposing practical carbon scheme
Unlike Kevin Rudd’s scheme, it would be in surplus from the start and there would be no compensation for the coal and electricity sectors and less assistance for high-emitting industries.
Greens propose interim carbon tax ABC News By Alexandra Kirk for AM 21 Jan 2010 The Greens are attempting to break the political deadlock over emissions trading by suggesting an interim two-year scheme with a fixed price on carbon.Greens Senator Christine Milne is writing to the Government and the Opposition proposing a carbon price of $20 a tonne…………. Continue reading
Australia participated in sabotaging progressive initiatives at Copenhagen
On December 18, the international NGOs Avaaz and the Climate Action Network awarded Australia their Fossil of the Day award for “bullying Tuvalu and other small island nation states”.
Australia’s dirty role at Copenhagen Green Left Simon Butler16 January 2010 With the help of an all too submissive local media, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has crafted an image for himself as a world leader on climate change. This image took a beating at December’s Copenhagen climate change summit. Continue reading
Roxby Downs uranium mine will blow out greenhouse gases
“All of our efforts to reduce emissions, to conserve energy, will be undone by just one company, one project” The Advertiser DAVID NOONAN, 20 Jan 2010
The science of climate change demands action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. BHP Billiton’s proposed new open-pit mine at Roxby Downs would blow out SA’s greenhouse gas emissions by more than 12 per cent. Continue reading
Review- the nuclear week that has been
Australia: Climate denialists Monckton and Plimer touring Australia (wonder who’s paying for this tour?). Maralinga nuclear veterans must take their case to England. Tony Abbott calls for uranium sales to India, as India builds its nuke weapons arsenal. Australian Super decides that uranium is ethical enough. Point Lowly Action group trying to save iconic Great Australian Cuttlefish. ERA uranium shares and production fall. Govt considers airport scanning amid public ignorance on the issue.
International: Huge global renewable energy summit. France’s nuke industry embroiled in strife. Critical talks about Iran’s nukes. Germany in dilemma over mounting nuclear waste. Future very complicated for USA’s nuke industry. Colorado anti-uranium legal bid moves along. Revelations of Israel’s uranium tests on workers. Doomsday clock – slight improvement. USA – anti-uranium protest. Court action over depleted uranium in Hawaii. Protest against NASA’s radiation testing on squirrel monkeys.
Australian media, Climate Denial, and Pro Nuclear Hype
I used to think that the Australian media publicised fraudulent and anti-scientific opinions just out of a desire to have a controversy, and stir public attention to the media. I now think, alas, that it also has to do with the ignorance about science of not only the public, but also of the journalists.
Australia is now in grave danger of falling for the simplistic views of people who put up good-sounding information about very complex problems, with little regard for the scientific or economic facts.
We can now expect a year of this, with Tony Abbott in the lead position, expert in claimimg “green” credentials, while in fact furthering the interests of powerful fossil fuel and nuclear lobbies.
I would hope that climate-denialist speakers like Lord Monckton, and Ian Plimer will be met byt the media with sceptical srutiny – with those tried and tested old questions; – “Does he really make sense?, and What’s in it for him?
Beware of slick anti-science Climate Denialists
It’s a huge problem for Australian democracy and political debate in general.
Quiggin: Why I won’t debate Lord Monckton by John Quiggin Crikey 15 Jan 2010 Lord Christopher Monckton believes the hypothesis of human-caused global warming is a fraud, extended as part of a plot to destroy the world economy and establish a communist world government………… Continue reading
Queensland’s successful solar island
“The Island is now generating 285 kilowatts of renewable energy for the electricity grid through solar systems that local residents host on their property roofs,”
Australia. Solar Island defies energy trend and powers grid BYM Marine Environment News 15 January 2010 Mines and Energy Minister Stephen Robertson today announced an energy transformation in North Queensland, with a pilot project defying the trend and reducing energy consumption. Continue reading
Vital for aborigines to participate in climate change action
Environment jobs vital for aborigines, says UN study, Sydney Morning Herald YUKO NARUSHIMA 15 Jan 2010
ABORIGINES need access to jobs in the environment sector if they are to benefit from any global attempt to curb climate change, says the author of a UN report out today.
The State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples says climate change hurts indigenous people disproportionately, and in some places threatens their existence. Continue reading
World Future Energy Summit displays Solar-powered Aircraft
Dangers of radioactive uranium mill tailings
Potential hazards from uranium mill tailings League of individuals for the environment 11 Jan 2010
1994, Feb. 14 Olympic Dam, Roxby Downs, South Australia WMC Ltd. leakage of tailings dam during 2 years or more release of up to 5 million m3 of contaminated water into subsoil ?
Radionuclides contained in uranium tailings emit 20 to 100 times as much gamma-radiation as natural background levels on deposit surfaces. Gamma radiation levels decrease rapidly with distance from the pile.The radium-226 in tailings continuously decays to the radioactive gas radon-222, the decay products of which can cause lung cancer. Some of this radon escapes from the interior of the pile. Radon releases are a major hazard that continues after uranium mines are shut down….. Continue reading
Sustainable investment fund looks to the long term
The company now has an office in Australia because it sees the Australian superannuation industry as likely to be attracted to its philosophy.
In the wind: America’s drive towards clean technology Sydney Morning Herald ANNE DAVIES, WASHINGTONJ anuary 9, 2010 “….Barack Obama, facing the steepest downturn since FDR’s time, wants to transform America into a green machine, Continue reading
20% renewables by 2020 for Europe
The EU hopes to generate a fifth of its electricity needs from renewable energy sources by 2020, a move which requires new modern energy grids,
Europe’s Ambitious ‘Green Grid’ Plan. To boost new energy sources such as wind, solar, and tidal, nine countries will link up producers through a C30 billion smart grid under the North Sea, Business Week 7 Jan 2010 By Valentina Pop Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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