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  • Guardian launches divestment campaign 350 org

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    Guardian launches divestment campaign

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    Charlie Wood – 350.org Australia <350@350.org>
    4:34 PM (2 minutes ago)
    to me

    Dear Neville,

    Last Monday, The Guardian, one of the world’s most respected and influential newspapers, joined the fight to keep fossil fuels underground by launching its very own divestment campaign in partnership with 350.org. In less than a week, more than 118,000 people have added their support.

    In a watershed moment for the growing divestment movement, The Guardian is setting its sights on the fossil fuel investments of two of the largest philanthropic health and development organisations — the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust.  Both are heavily invested in the industry wreaking havoc on our climate — a move that’s completely at odds with their missions to create a better world.

    Both foundations are full of good people who recognise the huge threat that climate change poses to the health of millions — but their investments are out of step and actively undermining their own good work. Join our new campaign with The Guardian to end this double standard now:

    Call on the Wellcome Trust and Gates Foundation to divest from fossil fuels!

    Together, we can convince these leading philanthropic organisations to lead by example and stop profiting from the industry wrecking our chances of a safe, healthy future. If the Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust divest from fossil fuels, it will send a powerful signal that tackling climate change and promoting global health and development are two sides of the same coin.

    We know this can work – it already is! The fossil fuel divestment movement is winning new victories every week – from the City of Oslo to the Rockefeller Foundation and councils across Australia – each act of divestment helps build an even stronger case for keeping fossil fuels underground.

    With enough of us on board – and working with The Guardian newspaper – we know that we can convince huge health and development charities like Wellcome and Gates to divest and create the watershed moment needed for climate action.

    Sign the petition now – and then please share it widely with friends and family

    It makes no sense to help those affected by climate change by using money made from the fossil fuel industry. And it’s increasingly clear that fossil fuels are a bad long term investment too. To avoid the climate crisis, we’re going to have to leave 80% fossil fuels in the ground — which means current fossil fuel shares are massively overvalued and investors could lose billions.

    This is a battle we must win, and together we will.  Over the coming months we’ll be working with The Guardian, Avaaz and other global partners to help us secure some major divestment wins around the world – please do join us.

    Charlie

    P.S. click here to listen to a fascinating podcast by the Editor of The Guardian on why he decided it was time to use their influence to make an impact on climate change.

    350.org is building a global climate movement.You can connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and become a sustaining donor to keep this movement strong and growing.
    You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time.

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  • Catastrophic Global Water Crisis Looming Large, UN Warns

    TechnologyScience
    Catastrophic Global Water Crisis Looming Large, UN Warns
    By Avaneesh Pandey @avaneeshp88 a.pandey@ibtimes.com on March 21 2015 2:25 AM EDT

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    A worker of SABESP, a Brazilian enterprise of Sao Paulo state, that provides water and sewage services to residential, commercial and industrial areas looks at the cracked ground of Jaguary dam in Braganca Paulista, 100 km from Sao Paulo January 31, 2014. Reuters/Nacho Doce

    If current trends of water usage continue, the world could suffer a 40 percent shortfall in water supply by 2030, just 15 years down the line, the United Nations warned in its World Water Development Report released Friday. The report also predicts that the global water demand would increase by 55 percent by 2050, resulting in potentially catastrophic consequences.

    “By 2050, agriculture will need to produce 60 percent more food globally, and 100 percent more in developing countries … global water demand for the manufacturing industry is expected to increase by 400 percent from 2000 to 2050, leading all other sectors, with the bulk of this increase occurring in emerging economies and developing countries,” the report, released just two days ahead of the World Water day, said. “Unless the balance between demand and finite supplies is restored, the world will face an increasingly severe global water deficit.”

    The report highlighted the increasing stress on freshwater resources posed by untrammeled population growth and unplanned urbanization. For instance, in sub-Saharan Africa — a region that has witnessed rapid urbanization in recent years — the percentage of people with piped water on their premises decreased from 42 percent in 1990 to 34 percent in 2012. Globally, this number also witnessed a marginal decline — from 81 percent to 80 percent of the population — indicating that access to safe drinking water sources continues to be a major problem in cities in the developing world.

    water supply Trends in urban water supply coverage (1990-2012). WHO/UNICEF/UN World Water Development Report 2015

    “The world’s population is growing by about 80 million people per year. It is predicted to reach 9.1 billion by 2050, with 2.4 billion people living in Sub-Saharan Africa, the region with the most heterogeneously distributed water resources,” the report said, adding that because water use is unregulated and often wasteful in many nations, and since water pollution remains largely ignored and unpunished, safe drinking water supplies would continue to dwindle unless drastic action is taken.

    global water demand Global water demand in 2000 and 2050. OECD/UN World Water Development Report 2015

    In Asia, the report noted, groundwater quality is affected by both anthropogenic and natural contaminants. “Natural groundwater contaminants found in the region’s aquifers include arsenic fluoride and iron. Anthropogenic contaminants come from fertilizers and pesticides used in agriculture; mining, tanneries and other industries; landfill and garbage dumps; and inadequate sanitation and wastewater disposal,” the report said.

    It pointed out that experience from high income countries shows that a combination of incentives, “including more stringent regulation, enforcement and well-targeted subsidies,” can help reduce water pollution.

    The U.N. also warned that anthropogenic climate change could bring “additional risks” to water supply by increasing the frequency of extreme weather events.

    “Two global trends are converging — climate change, and growing economic development in least developed countries and emerging economies. This convergence is certain to intensify the water insecurity of poor and marginalized people in low income countries,” the report said.

    In order to mitigate this looming disaster, the U.N. in its report urged politicians and communities to rethink their water policies and make a greater effort to conserve water. It also called on industries reliant on water to implement more efficient mechanisms to treat wastewater and ensure acceptable quality of discharged water.

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    Neville, thanks for not giving up

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    Jody, Common Grace <info@commongrace.org.au>
    11:00 AM (2 hours ago)
    to me
    Dear Neville,

    This week has been wonderful. Our movement’s #acceptthegift action has been listed as a top five news story across several major media publications and shared on Facebook by over 10,000 people.

    Thank you for not giving up on Aussie renewables. Thanks for signing the open letter and sharing the images.

    deliveryshot.jpg

    As a daggy mob of Christians learning how not to be jerks, we’ve brought a new voice to the Renewable Energy Target (RET) debate.To build on this momentum, Common Grace is joining with Earth Hour next Saturday night. Christians across the country will be getting some mates together, enjoying a candlelit meal or BBQ, and having a chat about what following Jesus has to do with our ecological crisis. It’s simple and fun, and one of the most effective ways you can continue to inspire your friends not to give up on a sustainable world for our children and those most vulnerable around the world.

    Check out the Common Grace Earth Hour resources here

    Then, register your Earth Hour event here

    From Jody, Byron and the whole Common Grace team

    P.S. The devastating impact of violent weather in Vanuatu is a timely reminder of why we’re not giving up on renewables. Please keep the unfolding emergency in Vanuatu in your prayers. 

    P.P.S. Below are selected articles written about our #acceptthegift action and here is our media release. Well done to everyone on this – let’s keep the momentum going. Host an Earth Hour event 

     

    Common Grace
    http://www.commongrace.org.au/

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    The John James Newsletter 51

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    John James
    		7:29 AM (40 minutes ago)

    The John James Newsletter 51
    21 March 2015

    Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what’s for dinner.James Bovard

    Solar and wind power have halted the rise in global emissions   !!!!!!!!!!The IEA has hailed a “surprising” and “unprecedented” halt in the rise of global CO2 emissions as directly credited to the growth in solar and wind power, increased hydro, and the decline in coal-fired generation. Global emissions stood at 32.3 billion tonnes in 2014, unchanged from the preceding year, despite a 3% increase in global economic growth. This is the first time in 40 years that a halt in emissions was not part of an economic downturn.http://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/solar-wind-power-aid-unprecedented-halt-in-global-emissions-75353 http://www.vox.com/2015/3/16/8224915/economic-growth-carbon-emissions
    Because this is now the trend everywhere !Under the sun: Australia’s largest solar farm set to sprout in a Queensland fieldA sea of glass panels may soon be sprawling across a paddock in Queensland’s Darling Downs cranking out two gigawatts of energy – 100 times more than the largest solar farm in Australia today – and a former top flight barrister is the unusual shining light behind its development. That is equivalent to one fifth of the current total renewable energy target for the entire country in a single power station. It is also more power than any coal fired station in Queensland can currently muster.\http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/02/under-the-sun-australias-largest-solar-farm-set-to-sprout-in-a-queensland-field?CMP=ema_632 andTexas city to go 100% solar, wind – because it’s cheaper, more reliablehttp://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/texas-city-to-go-100-solar-wind-because-its-cheaper-more-reliable-75098 and Costa Rica powered by 100% renewables for first 75 days of 2015http://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/costa-rica-powered-100-by-renewables-for-first-75-days-of-2015
    Australia top tan climate pollutersWhile most of the top 10 polluters publicly accept climate change and their responsibilities to reduce pollution, some have opposed important mechanisms such as the carbon price and the RET. All are Australian owned except for the worst which is owned by the Chinese.https://www.acfonline.org.au/sites/default/files/resources/ACF_Biggest_Polluters_Report_FINAL_V1.2.pdf

    How plants FEEL when insects eat them A cabbage knows what creature is attacking it by the way it chews. Caterpillars produce more drool when eating a plant leaf so  it responded to caterpillars differently. The plant could tell various caterpillars apart, and can identify nearby sounds of eatinghttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2988798/How-plants-FEEL-insects-eating-alive-cabbage-knows-creature-attacking-way-chews-claims-study.html
    Kurds of Syria, Turkey and Iraq unite to build Kurdistan Is this possible when these three states would have to give up territory to achieve it? And when you read how this wrong was inflicted after WWI.‘A consolidated Kurdistan is an impossibility. There is no reason why the distribution of the Kurds should dictate frontiers or why Kurds should be regarded as a people who require consolidation.’ – Lt Col Sir Mark Sykes, March 15, 1915’Major Noel . . . considered that British policy demanded the setting-up of a Kurdish buffer state which could be used to counterbalance any strong anti-British movement which might occur in Mesopotamia.” – minutes of Cairo Conference, March 15, 1921. Meeting chaired by Winston Churchill.’We demand that independence which is our birthright, and which alone will permit us to fight our way along the road of progress and civilisation, to turn to account the resources of our country and to live in peace with our neighbours.’ – General Sherif Pasha, president of the Kurdish delegation to the Peace Conference in Paris, March 22, 1919.http://www.smh.com.au/world/kurds-of-syria-turkey-and-iraqi-unite-to-build-kurdistan–an-alternative-state-and-direct-challenge-to-islamic-states-caliphate-20150314-141xwp.html
    After four years of conflict, Syria is ‘entering the dark ages’83% of the country’s lights have gone out since its conflict began and life expectancy has dropped by 20 years, As the conflict enters its fifth year this month, the death toll stands at more than 200,000, Nearly 11 million have been forced to flee their homes, including hundreds of thousands trapped in combat zones with little access to food, shelter or medical care. More than 3 million have sought shelter in neighbouring countries, whose governments say they are struggling to cope. Syria is entering the dark ages, literally and metaphorically,http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-syria-lights-20150312-story.html
    Moscow Launches Ruble-Renminbi Futures To “Facilitate Trade Between China And Russia”http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-03-17/moscow-launches-ruble-renminbi-futures-facilitate-trade-between-china-and-russia After the UK announced it will join the new China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as a founding member, Germany, France and Italy decided to follow Britain’s lead and join as well (AND possibly Australia too!). Is this the end of the US dollar’s dominance? Is one reason that the total net assets of the US — every acre of land, every tank, every drone, every drop of oil in the strategic reserve – leave the US government owning MINUS $60 trillion.http://www.bbc.com/news/world/asia/china/ http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/australia-ready-to-join-us100-billion-china-bank-20150319-1m33pa.html
    Poor Farmers Bear The Brunt Natural Disasters In Developing CountriesTwenty-two percent of all damages inflicted by natural hazards such as drought, floods storms or tsunamis are registered within the agriculture sector, most often incurred by poor rural and semi-rural communities without insurance and lacking the financial resources needed to regain lost livelihoods. Yet only 4.5 percent of post-disaster humanitarian aid in the 2003-2013 period targeted agriculture.http://www.countercurrents.org/cc170315.htm
    Watch how 7-12 metre waves battered the Arctic ice between March 13-20http://arctic-news.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/strong-winds-and-waves-batter-arctic-sea-ice.html The latest sea ice thickness measurement (9th March 2015) for the US Navy submarines shows that the thick and rigid multiyear sea ice congestion has cleared from the Fram Strait between Greenland and the Svalbard Archipelago. The wave penetration is stronger within soft and highly fragmented seasonal ice packs, and so, the sea ice is now primed for faster transport out of the Arctic Ocean.https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153101217844449&set=p.10153101217844449&type=1
    German Officials: Claims of Russian Invasion of Ukraine Are American Propaganda
    US officials regularly claim ceasefire violations in Ukraine, and Russian “invasions” that no one questions. The German government is increasingly annoyed over “dangerous propaganda” meant to sabotage the ceasefire, saying that the US claims are wildly inaccurate or unconfirmed.
    http://www.mintpressnews.com/german-officials-claims-of-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-are-american-propaganda/203338/
    Putin in film on Crimea: US masterminds behind Ukraine coup, helped train radicals“The Ukrainian armed coup was organised from Washington. The Americans tried to hide behind the Europeans, but we saw through it. The trick was to get the [Ukrainian] opposition supported by the Europeans whereas we knew for sure that the real masterminds were our American friends. They helped train the nationalists and facilitated the armed coup.http://rt.com/news/240921-us-masterminds-ukraine-putin/
    What They’re Not Telling You About Monsanto’s Role in Ukraine In the guise of ‘aid,’ a claim has been made on Ukraine’s vast agricultural riches. It is the world’s third largest exporter of corn and fifth largest exporter of wheat. Ukraine has deep, rich, black soil that can grow almost anything, and its ability to produce high volumes of GM grain is what made biotech come rushing to take it over.http://naturalsociety.com/theyre-not-telling-monsantos-role-ukraine/
    Terrorists: The US Creates Them, Turkey Trains Them, Qatar Finances ThemFew are aware that Turkey is ruled by a Muslim Brotherhood government. As a NATO member, Turkey has long provided recruitment, intelligence, training and armaments (including a daily flow of ammunition and spare parts) on behalf of US interests. With Qatari financing, American equipment and Turkish training, it was like a marriage made in heaven. Although the Syrian army and security forces were exhausted they were not defeated. But the problems in this clever scheme came when IS started beheading Westerners and using the universal reach of social media to ensure that the whole world would see it. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article41244.htm

    Please pass this newsletter on to your friends.

    to John

  • 5&5 Tony Burke Labor
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    5&5

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    Tony Burke via sendgrid.info 
    4:32 PM (25 minutes ago)
    to me
    .
    Neville –
    The final afternoon of Parliament this week needs a quick explanation. It was extraordinary. Our questions were going right to the heart of the Government’s economic credibility and the Libs and Nats were hating it. Tony Abbott finally snapped and made an unbelievable reference to Nazi Germany. Bill Shorten then moved a motion to condemn the Prime Minister for the cruelty of the budget and the appalling economic management. When the debate ended Tony Abbott left the chamber as quickly as he could and Bill stood up to talk calmly in a nonpartisan way about closing the gap with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

    Anyone watching could only be left with one impression. Tony Abbott publicly demonstrated he wasn’t fit to lead Australia. As he left the room, Bill stood up and showed the decency Australia needs.

    BEST:

    1. On Wednesday the Government’s higher education changes were voted down in the Senate. This is good news, but it’s not the end of the fight against $100,000 degrees. Christopher Pyne says he’s not backing down and will reintroduce the legislation later this year. Bill gave a speech on Monday on all the reasons why Labor will continue to stand and fight against these unfair changes.
    2. On Tuesday the Parliament debated a piece of legislation called the Succession to the Crown Bill 2015. This bill changes the law to allow Australia’s next Head of State (the Monarch) to be chosen on birthright, not gender, and to also be a Catholic. While Labor doesn’t oppose these changes, Bill gave a great speech questioning why, in 2015, we’re still having this debate in Australia.
    3. When it comes to the Budget, the Australian Financial Review headline on Thursday said it all: “Abbott loses the plot on debt”. As Opposition Leader Tony Abbott called a debt to GDP ratio of 13% a “debt and deficit disaster”, yet a debt to GDP ratio of 50-60% under his watch “a pretty good result”. Chris Bowen slammed Tony Abbott for his hypocrisy in this speech on Thursday.
    4. Last week Tony Abbott said Indigenous Australians living in remote communities were making a “lifestyle choice.” On Thursday Labor made indigenous disadvantage a Matter of Public Importance. Bill Shorten, Shayne Neumann, Catherine King, Warren Snowdon and Stephen Jones gave speeches about investing in policies to close the gap, not close the door, on indigenous disadvantage.
    5. Tomorrow is the 15th anniversary of Harmony Day. Harmony Day is about celebrating cultural diversity, inclusiveness, respect and sense of belonging for everyone who lives in Australia. This week Michelle Rowland organised A Taste of Harmony morning tea in Parliament House for MPs to share the many and diverse cultures that make up our electorates.

    WORST:

    1. On Monday afternoon Christopher Pyne gave an interview on Sky News that would not have looked out of place on Clarke and Dawe. It is one of the most bizarre interviews I have ever seen on television. He called himself “The Fixer”. No really, he did.
    2. Despite saying in January if the Senate voted down the Government’s higher education scheme for $100,000 degrees it “will have expressed its will”, Christopher Pyne this week committed to reintroduce the legislation later this year. Sometimes I have to remind myself that Christopher Pyne is real.
    3. The Budget is in chaos. They can’t decide if there’s an emergency, or if everything is awesome. They can’t decide if we should be confident or if we should be concerned. They can’t even decide which decisions they’ve made, attributing to Labor billions of dollars worth of decisions they made in the Intergenerational Report. The nickname “Captain Chaos” will stick.
    4. I’ve shared with you previously the the saga around Barnaby Joyce changing his official Hansard record. Well, late last week Tony Abbott sacked the Head of the Department of Agriculture, Dr Paul Grimes PSM. Dr Grimes is the epitome of the frank and fearless public servant and his sacking is a disgrace. There were plenty of questions from Bill and from Joel Fitzgibbon on this, which Tony Abbott and Barnaby Joyce were refusing to answer.
    5. This week Tony Abbott managed to offend the Irish community, the Greek community and then wanted to compare Bill Shorten to one of the most evil people in Hitler’s regime. He’s completely out of control. No one knows what will come out of his mouth next.

    Finally, Speaker Bronwyn Bishop appeared to rule that answering questions during Question Time was optional, saying: “If the Honourable Treasurer wishes to answer the question, he may.” Maybe we should rename it to “Optional Question Time”. Chris Bowen opened the next question with the words “My question is to the Prime Minister, if he chooses to answer”. Bronwyn Bishop was unimpressed.

    On a final note, many people have been wanting information on the reasons behind Labor taking the stance we did on data retention. I’d encourage you to have a look at Shadow Attorney General, Mark Dreyfus’, speech in the Parliament which covers how the Bill was changed from what the Government first tried to do.

    The #5and5 will be back next week.
    Tony

    PS: I know I used Pearl Jam last week, but in dedication to Christopher Pyne, this week’s #5and5 song had to be “The Fixer”.
    Australian Labor Party
    Authorised by G. Wright, Australian Labor, 5/9 Sydney Avenue, Barton 2600 ACT
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  • NSW’s fossil fuel madness ramps up 350 org

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    NSW’s fossil fuel madness ramps up

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    Blair Palese – 350.org Australia <australia@350.org>
    8:34 AM (33 minutes ago)
    to me

    Dear friend,

    As you probably know, NSW has a history scarred by fossil fuels — endless stories of coal and gas projects thrust upon communities, trashing precious places and productive lands, and forcing climate change impacts upon the world.

    This past month, in the lead up to a state election, it seems the fossil fuel madness has gone to the next level in NSW.

    We’ve had leaked proposals for 16 new coal mines in the Upper Hunter Valley*, a region already grappling with decades of pit digging and coal dust. Then the cancellation of coal seam gas licences over large parts of central Sydney and the Illawarra, a great win for many in the area! But still no commitment from the Government to permanently rule out coal seam gas licences that cover NSW water catchments. And just yesterday, Premier Baird said that, if granted another term, he’d work hard to expand the industry.

    And then there’s the logic-defying approval of Rio Tinto’s Warkworth Coal Mine, and the suggestion that the nearby village of Bulga may be relocated. Yes, that’s right, an entire town to be moved because Rio Tinto wants to scrape the last profits from the bottom of the coal barrel.

    With an election just around the corner, and public outrage swelling, now is the time to show Premier Baird that we believe in a future powered by the sun and wind, and that communities deserve to be protected from Big Coal and Gas who’ll stop at nothing to make a buck.

    Premier Baird needs to hear loud and clear from voters that it’s time for coal seam gas to be banned in NSW and to leave Bulga alone. Call his office today – (02) 8574 5000 and register your concerns. Then click here to encourage others to call Premier Baird too.

    The story of Bulga speaks to what is so deeply wrong about the coal industry and their influence over our politicians. Twice, the community has challenged approval of the mine in the courts, and twice they have won. But rather than respect the verdict of the people and the courts, the Government has worked behind the scenes with Rio Tinto to rewrite the legislation and once again have the mine approved.

    Make sure the Premier hears how outrageous this proposal is and that its time to stop new coal mines and rule out coal seam gas. Call now – (02) 8574 5000.

    As the Queensland election showed, when we mobilise at the right moment, communities can change who holds power and lay down strong demands. This is the opportunity that the next few weeks present. Help build this pressure by putting through a call to the Premier’s office today – (02) 8574 5000.

    Thanks for all you do!

    Blair – for the 350.org Australia Team

    P.S: Check out Lock the Gates’ infographic to learn more about where coal and coal seam gas expansion is proposed for NSW. Sign up to learn more about the Bulga campaign here.

    —

    *Sydney Morning Herald, “A Massive Increase in Coal Mining is a Cause for Concern“, March 4th.

    350.org is building a global climate movement.You can connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and become a sustaining donor to keep this movement strong and growing.