Category: News
Add your news
You can add news from your networks or groups through the website by becoming an author. Simply register as a member of the Generator, and then email Giovanni asking to become an author. He will then work with you to integrate your content into the site as effectively as possible.
Listen to the Generator News online
The Generator news service publishes articles on sustainable development, agriculture and energy as well as observations on current affairs. The news service is used on the weekly radio show, The Generator, as well as by a number of monthly and quarterly magazines. A podcast of the Generator news is also available.
As well as Giovanni’s articles it picks up the most pertinent articles from a range of other news services. You can publish the news feed on your website using RSS, free of charge.
admin /8 February, 2009
Embattled livestock producer AACo is hoping the big wet sweeping northern Australia can provide it with the platform to rebound in 2009 from a bad year in 2008.
It is expected to lose between $39 and $42 million, according to an announcement made to the Australian Stock Exchange this week.
Drought conditions were the primary driver behind the poor result in 2008, but with many of the company’s properties are now likely to have their best season in several years, and the company is optimistic about its future – a view not necessarily shared by the market.
admin /8 February, 2009
Farmers have applauded a research breakthrough by Australian scientists linking temperatures in the Indian Ocean and rainfall in the southeastern states of Australia.
The researchers believe they have discovered what drives a crippling drought.
They have detailed for the first time how a variable and irregular cycle of warming and cooling of ocean water dictates whether moisture-bearing winds are carried across the southern half of Australia.
admin /8 February, 2009
The Australian Greens are consulting widely on proposals for including energy efficiency requirements in all school and housing projects to be funded in the stimulus package currently being scrutinised by the Senate.
In hearings this morning, officials from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet revealed that no thought had been given in preparing the package to requiring new housing stock to be energy efficient. Neither was any consideration given to funding cycleways or public transport infrastructure instead of roads.
“It beggars belief that a Government could insulate existing homes with one hand while building new uninsulated homes and schools with the other,” said Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Climate Change Spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne.
admin /8 February, 2009
From the National Farmers Federation
WITH the Australian Government releasing its $42 billion economic stimulus package mark II, capital works investment in regional Australia is vital to ensure farm production can continue to keep the national economy afloat.
Today’s announcement mirrors the National Farmers’ Federation’s (NFF’s) imperatives for sustaining Australia through the global economic meltdown and creating jobs by putting Australia ‘front-and-centre’ in overcoming the world food crisis and, in the process, generating lasting economic prosperity.
admin /7 February, 2009
According to new a new report from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), as of 2008 the U.S. has become the world’s largest player in terms of total wind power installations.
Worldwide, more than 27 gigawatts (GW) of new wind capacity was commissioned in 2008, a 36% increase on 2007. The three main markets of Europe, North America and Asia dominated.
Global wind capacity grew by almost 29% to reach close to 121 GW at the end of 2008 while the global wind market for turbine installations for the year was worth about €36.5 billion [US $47.5 billion].
admin /7 February, 2009
I suggest you sit down before you read this. Robert Mugabe is right. At last week’s global food summit he was the only leader to speak of “the importance … of land in agricultural production and food security”.(1) Countries should follow Zimbabwe’s lead, he said, in democratising ownership.
Of course the old bastard has done just the opposite. He has evicted his opponents and given land to his supporters. He has failed to support the new settlements with credit or expertise, with the result that farming in Zimbabwe has collapsed. The country was in desperate need of land reform when Mugabe became president. It remains in desperate need of land reform today.
But he is right in theory. Though the rich world’s governments won’t hear it, the issue of whether or not the world will be fed is partly a function of ownership. This reflects an unexpected discovery. It was first made in 1962 by the Nobel economist Amartya Sen(2), and has since been confirmed by dozens of further studies. There is an inverse relationship between the size of farms and the amount of crops they produce per hectare. The smaller they are, the greater the yield.
