Archived material from historical editions of The Generator
$US70 a barrel: “I think $US70 a barrel is a lot closer than we
think. I think we would have got to $US70 a barrel without the
political firestorm anyway,” he said. Over the weekend, Nigerian rebels
damaged a Royal Dutch Shell oil platform and they vowed more attacks.
Iran ignited the last global oil crisis in 1979 when it cut off oil
exports during its revolution.
The Courier Mail, 19/1/2006, p. 23
Source: Erisk – www.erisk.net
Computer manufacturers have three opportunities to earn their
environmental stripes: during a machine’s manufacture, use, and
disposal. From what I’ve read, the worst environmental legacy of
computers will be toxic waste, rather than energy consumption. (Not to
sneer at energy consumption issues, natch.) What we want to be able to start looking for in our computer choices is responsible manufacture
and responsible end-of-life stewardship. We don’t quite seem to be
there yet, but take heart: think about the time lag between onset of
chemical agriculture and onset of the organics label.
Reference: New Scientist, 14 January 2006.
Erisk Net, 17/1/2006
Solar CO2 dump: CSIRO was constructing a pilot PCC plant in
Newcastle coupled with solar power and research across a range of
areas, including:
• low-emissions technologies for fossil fuel use and efficient coal production;
• renewable energy and energy storage systems;
• potential use of hydrogen in the energy cycle;
• distributed energy generation and energy management; and
• reduction of the environmental consequences of energy use.
Reference: CSIRO, 2006. Website: http://www.csiro.com
Erisk Net, 17/1/2006
Ratepayers will fund Iemma steamroller: Premier Morris Iemma has
nonetheless vowed to push ahead with a $1.3 billion, 500-megalitre
plant for Kurnell. Mr Robinson, who has since been replaced by David
Evans, also warned that water rates would have to be increased
“significantly” to fund it.
The Daily Telegraph, 16/1/2006, p. 1
A victory for the whales
Greenpeaace Argentine Ocean Defenders have hit Nissui in their pockets. Nissui
own about one third of Kyodo Senpaku — the people who run the Japanese
whaling fleet. Our cyberactivists have convinced a major Nissui client
in Argentina not to buy from a corporation involved in the killing of
whales.
Read more at http://www.greenpeace.org/international/