Category: Archive

Nationals mock Vic proposal to pump water across the state

admin /7 June, 2007

Government recycled water-pumping plans made no financial sense, according to Peter Ryan, leader of the Nationals in Victoria, reported erisk.net (23/5/2007).

Govt plans: Let us have a look at the propositions which are generally under consideration by the government. One of them – without taking them in any order of priority – is to do with the piping of the recycled water out of the eastern treatment plant down at Carrum and sending it about 135 kilometres across the hills to the Latrobe Valley. In exchange the government is going to supply some of that water to the power generators, and it is also, it says, going to then release the potable water which was going to the power generators and send most of it back to Melbourne, although some of it will go down the Gippsland rivers – so the government says. That is the plan.

Australia a nuclear threat: Sweden

admin /7 June, 2007

A highly respected international peace and security watchdog has listed Australia as a country of potential nuclear strategic concern, following Prime Minister John Howard’s decision to expand Australia’s nuclear program, reported The Canberra Times (2/5/2007, p.1).

Making nuke industry easier: Howard announced last weekend that he would take immediate action to remove unnecessary constraints impeding the expansion of uranium mining and committed Australia to participation in the Generation 4 advanced nuclear research program. He said the government would repeal the legislation prohibiting nuclear activities, including provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

 

Cattle feed ethanol plant for Queensland

admin /7 June, 2007

US-based biofuels company BBI International was conducting a feasibility study into two sites, east of Miles and east of Condamine, to build an ethanol plant, reported The Queensland Country Life, (24/05/2007, p.39).

Local producers and businesses to pool in $100m: Western Downs Ethanol, financially backed by local producers and businesses, plus urban investors, would spend $100 million establishing a new ethanol plant within three years. Company directors David Campbell and Godfrey Morgan, both cattle and grain producers in the Condamine area, said the Western Downs had the key ingredients of rain water, gas and cattle to make an ethanol plant viable.

Lipton Announces Green Tea

admin /6 June, 2007

Reporting by Roddy Scheer Unilever’s decision to go sustainable could benefit millions of tea growers. © Getty Images International consumer products conglomerate Unilever, which owns and operates the world’s two leading tea brands (Lipton in the U.S. and PG Tips in Great Britain), announced last week that it plans to shift sourcing of its entire Continue Reading →

Watson calls for Greens to put their lives on the line

admin /6 June, 2007

Sea Shepherd Captain Paul Watson says he feels like “Dr. Frankenstein” for co-founding Greenpeace.

© AP

Captain Paul Watson was a co-founder of the Greenpeace Foundation in 1972, and Greenpeace International in 1979. He created the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in 1977 with the express purpose of hunting down and forcibly intervening against pirate whalers and sealers. Watson has served as Master and Commander on seven different Sea Shepherd ships since 1978, and currently commands the 657-ton Canadian-registered research ship Farley Mowat and the Canadian-registered research and patrol ship Sirenian. He was a director of Sierra Club USA between 2003 and 2006, and is currently a director of the Farley Mowat Institute.

 

E Magazine: What is the worst thing on the planet?

Paul Watson: The greatest threat to this planet is rising human population levels. From three billion people to nearly seven billion people in 60 years. It is these numbers that are responsible for escalating species extinctions as we literally steal the carrying capacities of other species. It is the gaseous, solid and liquid waste of these numbers that is polluting the air and water and causing escalating greenhouse gas emissions. The key to addressing all the world’s ecological problems is in reducing human populations. The goal should be under one billion.

How could the environmental movement reinvent itself?

The environmental movement responds to the issues. It is a reactionary movement. It needs to have the vision to see the world as it will be if we continue on our present path and to visualize how it can be if we choose a different course of action. The environmental movement lacks vision and it lacks passion. We need people with the courage to actually risk their lives to protect this planet and such people are very few.

US scuttles G8 emissions scheme

admin /6 June, 2007

The US believes efficiency goals should be decided and developed on a national basis. (AFP)