Category: Sustainable Settlement and Agriculture

Riding the wave of new development in China, Studio SHIFT recently won a competition to design a fantastic new landmark in Miyi County. Miyi Tower will sit on the edge of the Anning river as a symbol of the new face of Sichuan provence. The tower’s most striking feature is its whimsical latticework skin, which suffuses the structure with daylight and ‘”evokes the shimmering surface of the river below.” This connection is reinforced by the project’s goal of filtering and transforming the polluted Anning river into a lush landscape of wetlands, lakes, leisure and agricultural areas.

Los Angeles based Studio SHIFT and SWA Group were selected to create a master plan for the developing area of New South Town in Sichuan Provence. The northern section will include a new high-density residential and cultural hub devoted to regional arts while the southern section will transform the highly-polluted Anning river into a viable ecosystem. The design will utilize natural and mechanical filtration to turn what was once an environmental liability into an a significant community and cultural asset.

More pictures inHabitat

THIS week the NFF officially released its Budget Submission highlighting the need for any Government stimulus tackling the impact of the global financial crisis on the Australian economy to take full account of agriculture’s vital function in underpinning economic growth, prosperity, jobs and food production.
Further, the Government must focus on a strategy for addressing the short-term fiscal shot-in-the-arm necessary to bolster the economy now, but ensure that investment generates lasting growth and prosperity.
The NFF maintains that it does not have a Budget ‘wish-list’, rather a clear plan to secure the Australian economy and jobs through the global financial crisis. In doing so, ensuring Australia is front-and-centre in overcoming the world food shortage.
This is an important message, reminding people just how important agriculture is to the Australian economy. Our farm sector underpins 12% of GDP, 1.6 million Australian jobs and 20% of our national exports.
When you throw the world food shortage into the mix – which is worsening as the global population grows by 100 million people a year, while there is less land for food production – it’s a compelling case for the Australian Government to re-invest in Australia’s agricultural capacity now.
The NFF’s media release launching the Budget Submission is available at: http://www.nff.org.au/read/2464041787.html. Contact: NFF Manager – Economics and Trade, Charlie McElhone.

A MASSIVE surge of polluted water has spewed onto the Great Barrier Reef following heavy rains that hit north Queensland last week, environmentalists say.

WWF reef spokesman Nick Heath has called for tougher regulations on farm chemicals following the flow of polluted runoff.

“When big weather systems blow through the area, a lethal chemical cocktail of farm pesticides, nutrients and sediment gushes on to the reef from Queensland’s many rivers,” the WWF said.

The WWF estimated up to one million megalitres – enough polluted water to twice fill Sydney Harbour – entered the reef after a monsoon brought drenching rain to north Queensland.

Mr Heath said satellite imagery confirmed water flows travelled to mid-shelf reefs, causing algal blooms.

“If we are to give our iconic reef the best chance of withstanding climate change, we must ensure its water quality is as clean as possible,” Mr Heath said. “It is astounding what we are allowing to happen to the reef.”

Premier Anna Bligh last year flagged farming regulation and penalties after years of voluntary efforts to help save the reef had not worked.

The announcement was unpopular with farmers but Ms Bligh said the reef would die if nothing was done.

A recent study showed more than 6.5 million tonnes of sediment was discharged into the reef in 2007 – four times higher than estimated pre-European settlement levels.

It’s estimated the reef injects $6 billion into the tourism economy each year and provides about 65,000 jobs

From The Land

The facts read like a Crichton-esque thriller: A fish farmer’s latest brood turns out bizarre two-headed fish larvae, allegations of chemical contamination emerge and government agencies remain baffled about just what caused it.

Mystery continues to surround the the two-headed fish larvae at Gwen Gilson’s Sunland Fish Hatchery, which came to national attention this week after 90pc of her latest batch of embryos, taken from breeding stock from the Noosa River, emerged deformed, including some with two heads.

But Ms Gilson said the problem wasn’t a new one and claimed it was clear to her what was causing it: chemicals from an adjacent macadamia farm.

She and NSW veterinary expert Dr Matt Landos made a video to explain what they thought the impact from the chemicals were, including reducing the catch from the Noosa River and causing health effects in people.

“Over two years ago, we noticed that after the spraying drifted over our ponds, our next batch had convulsions and every time we have used water that has been exposed to the (Carbendazim) spray, we have the same results,” Ms Gilson said.

Ms Gilson said that ever since, she has had problems with contaminated water on the site affecting the hatchlings.

“This time, we went to the river to get wild stock and this has happened.

“We still can’t use the water from the site and can only get normal births by using water from our other site or treating them with atropine.”

Carbendazim products are used for the control of mould, spot, mildew, scorch, rot and blight in a variety of crops including cereals, fruit (pome, stone, citrus, currants, strawberries, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, avocados), as well as macadamia production.

Australian Macadamia Society CEO Jolyon Burnett said no other cases like this had been reported near macadamia farms and the chemicals used by farmers were thoroughly regulated.

“Macadamia farmers often have their families on the farm and they wouldn’t spray anything that would have serious health effects on their children,” he said.

Initial Department of Primary Industries have so far found the adjacent farms complied with the regulations on Carbendazim limits, a spokesman said.

A spokesman for the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Minister Peter Garret said the Department Environment had been asked for an evaluation of whether Carbendazim or another chemical is implicated in the reported fish kills and deformities.

Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority spokesman Simon Cubit said the regulations on the fungicide had been under review and if Carbendazim, which is banned in New Zealand for a different use, was found to play a role that would play a critical role in determining whether restrictions would be tightened.

Despite all the speculation, the DPI, which is investigating the matter, along with EPA and local authorities, says dietary, and other environmental factors haven’t been ruled out.

“So far we haven’t had any traces of the Carbendazim in the water samples taken from the river,” an EPA spokesman said today.

Acting Premier Paul Lucas said people should not jump to conclusions until the bizarre incident is thoroughly investigated, as the appearance might be a natural genetic variation.

So as to what caused the two-headed fish hatchlings, only time and solid science will tell.

Leader of the Australian Nationals in the Senate, Barnaby Joyce, has said that the international trade lobby is squashing Australian farmers and small business people through uneven trade practices and poor labelling laws. Discussing the fight to label Australian grown food he noted, “The majors are saying you can’t have branding because it discriminates against imported products.That’s exactly what I want it to do!” He said that he is economically to the left because “people have bastardised the free market to mean anything goes for the major player in town.” He believes that family farmers, small business people and regional citizens are disadvantaged by global trade agreements and multinational agribusiness. “Are we prepared to pull down our strides (on international free trade), while the rest of the world is fully clothed?” he asked.

From The Land

Australian family farmers and small businesses are being rolled by forces that have grown powerful in the absence of dissent, Barnaby Joyce believes.

The self-confessed ‘agrarian socialist’ and leader of the Nationals in the Senate says he is ‘economically to the left because people have bastardised the free market to mean anything goes for the major player in town.’

“This ultimately leads to small business, whether they are farmers or otherwise, being squashed,” Senator Joyce says.

“Look at the ridiculous fight we are having trying to get Australian branding onto home-grown fruit and vegetables and foodstuffs.

“The majors are saying you can’t have branding because it discriminates against imported products.

“That’s exactly what I want it to do!”

He applauds moves by the upcoming Obama administration in the United States to implement reciprocity in trade.

Obama’s approach, as the President-elect puts it: “You put a tariff on your product, I’ll put a tariff on mine,”

Senator Joyce asks: “Are we prepared to pull down our strides (on international free trade), while the rest of the world is fully clothed?”

The statement from the city administration reads …

Masdar City is the most ambitious sustainable development in the world today – it will be the world’s first zero carbon, zero waste, car-free city powered entirely by renewable energy sources. It is part of the Masdar Initiative; a long-term strategic endeavour by Abu Dhabi to accelerate the development and deployment of clean future energy solutions.

By taking sustainable development and living to a new level, Masdar City will lead the world in understanding how all future cities should be built. The City is a free zone cleantech cluster, which is already attracting the world’s best in all areas of sustainability, from renewable energy to biomass. All types of companies including innovators, incubators, research and development, pioneers and solution providers will be part of the journey to create, work and live in Masdar City.

Masdar City is more than a concept – it is happening. Phase One of Masdar City has now begun – The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology is underway and Masdar City will be home to 100 students and faculty by fall 2009. Masdar is embarking on a global drive to attract industry partners in energy and utilities fields to achieve this important objective.

Your expertise in energy and utilities will contribute to the development of a blueprint for the cities of the future.

To find out how to become a partner please visit us at www.masdaruae.com