(NB) Carefully read last line re “Fully Funded”. NSW govt does hybrid tax backflip By Adam Bennett, Leah McLennan and Lisa Martin, AAP February 24, 2010, 6:30PM Related Links US orders Prius brake probe, adding to Toyota woes February 5, 2010, 3:10 am Prius owners to be contacted in recall February 10, 2010, 2:31 am Continue Reading →
Shine on Source (GRIST)
This country spends, in a typical year, $350 billion importing oil from Saudi Arabia and other foreign countries. While this is no doubt good news for the Saudi royal family, one of the richest in the world, it is bad news for the average American.
The vast majority of the American people understand that now is the time to move to energy independence so that we are no longer subject to the greed of OPEC or Wall Street speculators, or need to fight “wars for oil” in the Middle East. Americans also know that if we are serious about addressing environmental pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and the imperative to create millions of good-paying jobs, we must move aggressively to energy efficiency and such sustainable technologies as solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass.
Thomas Edison, one of history’s greatest inventors said; “I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.” He was right then, in 1931, and he remains right today. The American people agree. Today, 92 percent of all Americans want our country to develop solar energy resources, and 77 percent believe the federal government should make solar power development a national priority.
Ecologist
16th February, 2010
The number of cars on British roads with an engine size of more than 2 litres has doubled from around 2 million in 1999 to 4 million today, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics.
EU biofuels 10% targets cause millions of peope to go hungry and increase food prices and landlessness, says report
Trucks are loaded with sugar cane, which will be used to produce biofuels, in Brazil, but a new report by ActionAid says biofuels are taking away vital land for food production in developing countries, and are sending millions hungry. Photograph: Paulo Whitaker/Reuters
EU companies have taken millions of acres of land out of food production in Africa, central America and Asia to grow biofuels for transport, according to development campaigners. The consequences of European biofuel targets, said the report by ActionAid, could be up to 100 million more hungry people, increased food prices and landlessness.
For the avoidance of doubt, Peter Garrett should be in a world of political pain at the moment. His capacity to manage a portfolio and large-scale programs should be under the microscope.
But not for the foil insulation business.
The Opposition yesterday finally got around to doing what it should have done on Tuesday and Wednesday, focusing most of its Question Time fire on Garrett. Because he’d had time to shore up his defences, Garrett looked relatively relaxed. The ensuing Censure Motion lacked any bite, not least because it was painfully obvious when it was coming.
Greg Hunt opened his statement in the censure debate by saying that under the Westminster system, Garrett should resign.
federal politics
12 Feb 2010
With scandals mounting and the ability of his department to manage policy roll-outs in doubt, Ben Eltham assesses Peter Garrett’s prospects for political survival
The Rudd Government’s high-profile Environment Minister is struggling to keep his head above water right now, buffeted by scandals within several programs in his department.
Ordinarily, any minister can survive a botched scheme or two. Whatever the history books say, the Westminster convention that ministers take ultimate responsibility for their departments is just that: history. But Peter Garrett has now presided over at least three debacles: the solar hot water rebate, the Green Loans program, which Fairfax reporter Tom Arup has called an “unmitigated disaster”, and of course, the insulation debacle — which has cost the lives of at least four young Australians.