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.
Keneally budget delivers for the big end of town Media release: 8 June 2010 Premier Kristina Keneally and Treasurer Eric Roozendaal have delivereda budget for the big end of town, according to Greens NSW MP andTreasury spokesperson John Kaye. Dr Kaye said: “Developer donors to the ALP have received a big windfallfrom this budget. “The benefits from the big Continue Reading →
Lesser consumption of animal products is necessary to save the world from the worst impacts of climate change, UN report says
An cattle ranch in Mato Grosso, Brazil. The UN says agriculture is on a par with fossil fuel consumption because both rise rapidly with increased economic growth. Photograph: HO/Reuters
A global shift towards a vegan diet is vital to save the world from hunger, fuel poverty and the worst impacts of climate change, a UN report said today.
As the global population surges towards a predicted 9.1 billion people by 2050, western tastes for diets rich in meat and dairy products are unsustainable, says the report from United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) international panel of sustainable resource management.
It says: “Impacts from agriculture are expected to increase substantially due to population growth increasing consumption of animal products. Unlike fossil fuels, it is difficult to look for alternatives: people have to eat. A substantial reduction of impacts would only be possible with a substantial worldwide diet change, away from animal products.”
THIS is no longer a joke. For those in the Labor Party who looked at last week’s Newspoll showing the Greens’ vote peaking at a record 16 per cent, they should know that this is no aberration. The hard heads will make the necessary recognition and respond accordingly. Or not. Depending on whether they still have the will to win.
Such has been the collapse in the Left’s confidence in Kevin Rudd, the Greens now represent a real threat to Labor, not just as a party of protest but as a party of constructive policy.
The Newspoll numbers are backed up by private research commissioned by the Greens. The message here is that the very fact they are carrying out such research should put the main parties on notice that the Greens are now acting increasingly as a professional and serious party of the Nick Clegg variety.
The private research was conducted in April with younger, inner-city voters and older regional voters. All were classed as Green leaning. They are precisely the group that make up the 16 per cent in the first place; the group that Labor should fear in any case when it comes to the election. Just ask Lindsay Tanner, Tanya Plibersek and Anthony Albanese.
Device captures leaking oil in Gulf AAP June 6, 2010, 2:42 PM! BP’s latest bid to contain the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill has registered a first small success, capturing 6,000 barrels of oil in 24 hours, the US official overseeing the spill response said. The figure is dwarfed by estimates that Continue Reading →
The federal government is under fire for splashing money into Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner’s seat in a bid to ward off a Greens challenge.
The cabinet minister’s marginal inner-city seat of Melbourne has received more stimulus funds for school building, housing and infrastructure than any other Victorian electorate, a News Limited investigation has found.
Under the stimulus plan, the seat received $220 million in non-road and rail spending – $80 million more than its nearest neighbour.
Another $15 million in non-stimulus grants spending has been earmarked for Mr Tanner’s seat, News Limited said.
Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said it was not right for the government to be spending money to stem a challenge from the minor party.
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The Galaxy poll published in the Courier Mail has the Coalition ahead of the Labor Party on a two-party-preferred basis of 52 to 48 per cent. (Reuters: Jonathan Ernst, file photo)