Category: Archive

Heavy losses from bleaching: The study focused on reefs near Africa’s Seychelles islands, north of Madagascar, which sustained heavy losses from bleaching in 1998.

Outlook “quite bleak”: "The outlook for recovery is quite bleak for the Seychelles," said lead study author Nicholas Graham, a tropical marine biologist at England’s University of Newcastle Upon Tyne. The study, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, predicted that isolated reef ecosystems like that around the Seychelles would suffer the most from global warming-caused bleaching events.

Temperature rises cause algae to be expelled: Small but prolonged rises in sea temperature forced coral colonies to expel their symbiotic, food-producing algae, a process known as bleaching. While the dying reefs, which turn ghostly white, could recover from such events, many did not.

Over 16 per cent of coral reefs lost in one year: In 1998 an El Nino weather pattern sparked the worst coral-bleaching event observed. "Over 16 per cent of the world’s reefs … were lost in that one year," said Graham.

Study in 2005: In the western Indian Ocean, regional currents compounded the heat effect, bleaching 90 per cent of the coral reefs there. With data from a 1994 survey in hand, researchers returned to the Seychelles in 2005 to study the bleaching event’s long-term impact on coral reefs and fish communities.

50,000 square metres surveyed: Surveying 50,000 square metres of coral reef across 21 sites, researchers found that fish diversity declined the most on reefs that had sustained physical and biological erosion.

Reference: Digest of latest news reported on website of Climate Change Secretariat of United Nations Framework on Climate Change Control (UNFCCC). 17 May 2006. Address: PO Box 260 124, D-53153 Bonn. Germany. Phone: : (49-228) 815-1005, Fax: (49-228) 815-1999. Email: press@unfccc.int
http://www.unfccc.int

Erisk Net, 22/5/2006

Hit and miss process overcome: This compares with the normal direct seeding where gemination rates can be as low as five per cent. “Large scale direct seeding of saltbush is very attractive to environmental managers because it costs about a third of the price of seedlings," Dr Stevens said. "But until now it has been a very hit-and-miss process – in both success rates and timing.”

Basic seed science works wonders: The research is showing that a basic understanding of seed dormancy and germination requirements has the potential to significantly improve field emergence of saltbush species.

Further investigation planned: Dr Stevens has been working with three common varieties of saltbush, but the others, old man saltbush from Australia and wavyleaf saltbush from Argentina, had not had the same results from the gibberellic acid. But other treatments, such as removing bracteoles (the wings around the saltbush seed) before planting, were increasing rates of emergence significantly, as did salicylic acid (the active ingredient in aspirin). These will be investigated further in coming months if funding is available.

Contact: Dr Jason Stevens. Phone: (08) 9480 3639. Email: jstevens@bgpa.wa.gov.au

Focus on Salt, 3/2006, p. 18

Source: Erisk Net  

Fears rise after tumour discovery: The Electrical Trades Union ban came as preliminary testing at RMIT University’s business school found no evidence that rooftop phone towers caused brain tumours in seven staff since 1999. While medical experts said there was no proven link between phone towers and cancer, fears rose after it was revealed that tumours were found in staff working on the top floor.

Tumours linked to long-term electromagnetic exposure: Electrical union state secretary Dean Mighell said there was overseas evidence linking tumours to long-term electromagnetic radiation exposure, whether from high-voltage power lines or phone towers. "Saying it is inconclusive is not good enough," he said. "It needs to be conclusive that it’s safe, and when there is so much evidence saying it’s not, we think it is time the telecommunications industry adopts the same standards as the power industry and protects workers and residents."

Safety measures demanded: Mighell urged communications companies to adopt regulations forcing electrical workers to wear protective equipment, carry radiation meters and work on towers for limited periods. City authorities have sought council control over medium-sized phone towers through planning permits. There are 169 mobile phone network masts in the Melbourne CBD.

Executives label union attempt unjustified: Chief executive Chris Althaus said the ETU’s move was unjustified and unwarranted. Althaus said agency studies had noted AM radio contributed about 91 per cent of radio frequency emissions while mobile phone towers contributed only 1.4 per cent.

The Age, 19/5/2006, p. 6

Source: Erisk Net  

Young people prefer cities: Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) mining and energy division president, Tony Maher, says the industry is often viewed by young people as a dinosaur and there is a strong tendency for young professionals to seek employment in one of the big cities rather than regional locations. "The big attraction for workers is the lifestyle that companies can offer, which does make it more difficult in remote areas."

No problem in Hunter Valley That’s a view shared by Xstrata Coal chief executive, Peter Coates. Xstrata is one of the nation’s big three coal producers, along with BHP and Rio Tinto. Xstrata’s operations are in the Hunter Valley in NSW and Bowen Basin in Queensland. "In the Hunter Valley we have no difficulty, in attracting workers. It is the ultimate location for a mining workforce in the country."

Big Three finds biggest obstacle to expansion is locating workers: In Western Australia, Worsley has said the biggest obstacle to a proposed $1.5 billion expansion of its alumina operations is finding the 1000 workers needed to do the expansion. BHP has made the same statement regarding its proposed $7 billion expansion of the Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine in South Australia. The company needs thousands of workers when work commences early next decade and is hoping that attractive residential developments at the remote Roxby Downs town site that will be onsold to workers at cost will be a drawcard.

The Australian, 13/5/2006, p. 6

Source: Erisk Net  

UK eco-village, BedZed, has struggled to meet its zero carbon emissions targets and has led different partners to take different approaches to future developments. An analysis of the lessons learned indicates some of the important issues to be considered in urban planning.

Guardian article  

Top efficiency award: The decision helped the company win an unprecedented accolade in the newly released green office interiors ratings by the Green Building Council (GBC). It received the 5-Star Green Star Certified Rating for office fit-out recognising "Australian excellence".

Location: It is all the more unusual because, unlike most investment banks with offices in Sydney’s CBD, Morgan Stanley’s new digs are on Level 2 of 30 in The Bond in Sydney’s Flickson Road – the Lend Lease headquarters well to the west of the CBD.

These feet are made for … Instead of an air-conditioned ride straight to the car-park lifts, staff will have a 10-minute walk from Wynyard train station or buses.

Variety of green design inputs: Designed by a bevy of consultants – Bovis Lend Lease as head contractor, the Lend Lease Design Sustainability Unit, Arup and Elan Creative – the fit-out involved green solutions at every turn. The floor covering is 85 per cent low-impact. Carpet tiles, for example, can be replaced as pieces wear out: while the goats’ hair carpet uses fewer chemicals and less water in its treatment. The new plumbing improves water savings. Facilities include child care, bicycle storage and showers.

Green guidelines produce user-friendly workspace: Acting GBC chief executive Romilly Madew said its new interiors rating tool would promote fit-outs that provide healthier, more productive workplaces for office workers, who spend more than 40 per cent of their waking hours at work.

The Australian Financial Review, 17/5/2006, p. 3