Category: Sustainable Settlement and Agriculture

The Generator is founded on the simple premise that we should leave the world in better condition than we found it. The news items in this category outline the attempts people have made to do this. They are mainly concerned with our food supply and settlement patterns. The impact that the human race has on the planet.

Reprieve for old forests as Gunns down axe

admin /10 September, 2010

Reprieve for old forest as Gunns downs axe

Paddy Manning and Andrew Darby

September 10, 2010

TIMBER giant Gunns Ltd has broken ranks with Tasmania’s forest industry and confirmed it will pull out of native forest logging altogether.

At a trade conference in Melbourne yesterday Gunns revealed it would quit the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania, which was arguing for a continuation of native forest logging in the state.

The chief executive of Gunns, Greg L’Estrange, said the company would focus on plantation hardwoods and softwoods and processing forest products.

State mulls uniform ban on outdoor smoking

admin /9 September, 2010

State mulls uniform ban on outdoor smoking

Louise Hall

September 10, 2010

THE state government is considering a statewide ban on smoking in outdoor areas such as alfresco dining areas and children’s playgrounds following lobbying by local councils and health groups.

The new five-year NSW Tobacco Strategy, which is yet to be approved by cabinet, is believed to recommend the introduction of uniform anti-smoking laws in crowded outdoor areas such as concerts, markets and shopping malls.

Meat eating can be an environmentally friendly choice, argues George Monbiot

admin /9 September, 2010

Meat eating can be an environmentally friendly choice, argues Geoge Monbiot 44

by Bonnie Azab Powell

7 Sep 2010 2:01 PM

As a meat-eater, I’ve long found it convenient to categorise veganism as a response to animal suffering or a health fad. But, faced with these figures, it now seems plain that it’s the only ethical response to what is arguably the world’s most urgent social justice issue.
-George Monbiot, “Why vegans were right all along,” Dec. 2002

Guardian columnist and well-known environmentalist George Monbiot ate the above words yesterday — with a dash of salted crow, one imagines. In a column titled “I was wrong about veganism. Let them eat meat — but farm it properly,” he tells how a book released in England this week has persuaded him that meat eating per se isn’t environmentally irresponsible, it’s the current industrial farming model that is.

Monbiot himself is not vegan. In 2008 he wrote that he gave up all animal products “for about 18 months, lost two stone, went as white as bone and felt that I was losing my mind. I know a few healthy-looking vegans, and I admire them immensely.”

Green economy growing in West Midlands

admin /9 September, 2010

7 September 2010

Green economy growing in West Midlands

( COURTESY OF SUE STOCK)

Firms in the West Midlands are increasingly looking at green industry to grow their businesses, a survey has revealed.

Some 70% of professional services firms see the low carbon and environmental technologies sector as a key growth area, according to the survey commissioned by business support hub West Midlands (WM) Knowledge.

Jo Miners, of WM Knowledge, said of the findings: “As a region with a strong focus on low carbon industries, the West Midlands has a leading reputation in advanced manufacturing, electric vehicle engineering, low carbon building and environmental technologies.

Tax row ‘exposes cracks’ in Government

admin /8 September, 2010

Tax row ‘exposes cracks’ in Government

Updated 2 hours 53 minutes ago

Joe Hockey says divisions are already forming in the new government. (AAP: Alan Porritt)

The Federal Opposition says misunderstandings about the proposed mining tax have exposed cracks in the newly formed Gillard Government.

Independent MP Tony Windsor this morning said he would like the mining tax to be on the agenda at a national tax summit.

Windsor at odds with Labor over mining tax review

admin /8 September, 2010

Windsor at odds with Labor over mining tax review

September 8, 2010 – 12:16PM

Mining tax and election deal trouble the markets

Business columnist Malcolm Maiden takes a look at the news in this week’s business market

A key independent MP already appears to be at odds with federal Labor, less than 24 hours after it secured his support for Australia’s first minority government in 70 years.

Tony Windsor announced his decision to support Labor yesterday, giving the party one of four crossbench votes it needed to form government.

However, the Gillard government’s tenuous relationship with the country independent has hit a snag over Labor’s proposed 30 per cent mining tax.

Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott.leave their historic press conference yesterday. Photo: Nic Walker

Mr Windsor wants the minerals resource rent tax to be discussed at a tax summit next year, which was one of Labor’s many offerings to win over the independents.

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