EcoRadio

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  • CSIRO forecasts for farmers

    Research carried out by the CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology would forecast weather conditions in 100 kilometre by 100km quadrants across the country, with the collected data then used to identify probable changes to factors such as growing seasons, yields and the effect on livestock, reported The Land (23/8/2007, p. 3).

    Predicitons in 20-year increments: The study also looked at broader climate change impact forecasting predictions for the years 2030, 2050 and 2070. NSW Department of Primary Industries project leader, Climate Risk Management Agriculture and Fisheries, Gary Allan, described the report as "ground breaking stuff". The research will be released on October 2 at the 2007 Greenhouse conference in Sydney.

    The Land, 23/8/2007, p. 3

  • Costello bans ethical boycotts

    To quote David Marr:

    No price is too high to pay to protect the Aussie woolgrower. With marked contempt for the effect it would have on freewheeling public debate, Peter Costello has introduced a little bill to clobber campaigners against the bloody business of mulesing sheep. But not only them: his strategy will snare anyone calling for customer boycotts.

    So if you’re asking Australians not to buy lipstick tested on caged rabbits, rugs woven by Pakistani slaves or suits made with mulesed wool, then pray your boycott calls don’t succeed, for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is about to be given the power to sue you out of the water if they do.

    I am sure the vegetarians amongst us here would find this situation unacceptable.

    What are some less problematical alternatives to protect legitimate industry interests but also protect the rights of those who wish to speak up on behalf on animals when unnecessary suffering is taking place for the sake of profits?

    Source: Ethics forum ; Photograph: Steve Ferrier

  • Iceland to suspend commercial whaling

    August 26, 2007 – 4:37PM

    The Government of Iceland wants to suspend commercial whaling, Fisheries Minister Einar Gudfinsson confirmed. He told radio RUV in Reykjavik that, as of the close of the current whaling season on September 1, Iceland would for the time being provide no new catch quotas in light of the absence of interest from clients of whale meat.

    In 2006, against the backdrop of strong international protest, Iceland approved for the first time after a break of more than 20 years the killing of 39 minke whales and nine fin whales for commercial purposes.

    But just seven of each of the species were hunted by Icelandic whalers, mostly because of the surprisingly low prospects for sales in Japan.

    Gudfinsson added that he would release catch quotas if there was a clear interest in whale meat from customers.

    "We always said that whale catching has to function according to the rules of the market," he said on Saturday.

    Commercial whale hunts have taken place in the North Atlantic island despite a worldwide ban on whaling by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in the 1980s.

    In Hamburg, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) welcomed the suspension as "the only correct decision."

    Now Iceland should take a second step and terminate the 2003 measure that provides for whaling "for scientific purposes", the IFAW said.

    Source: SMH

    Recent related article of interest: Bloody whate hunt off Japan shocks tourists

    Arseholes slaughter whalePhoto: Right – the Baird’s beaked whale is pictured at Abashiri Port being processed.

    Incredible brutality

    The Faeroese proudly boast of how much they enjoy the pleasure of making the whales bleed, poking out their eyeballs and ripping the fetuses from the pregnant females. Whether or not the mercury contributes to this barbarism, we can’t say, but it does show that these people have a depraved indifference to the suffering of others.

     


  • Clear skies for Australia’s ‘blood moon’

    A Sydney astronomer says Tuesday night’s "blood moon" lunar eclipse should be visible to most people across the country.

    Lunar eclipses occur at least twice a year, somewhere in the world, but the last time a total eclipse was visible from Australia’s eastern states was in July 2000.

    "It’s a pretty spectacular sight tonight. It’s also a convenient time for families and safe to look at," Nick Lomb, curator of astronomy at Sydney Observatory, told AAP.

    "It’s rare but not as rare as a blue moon and we will have to find out if it is a full eclipse," he said.

    If the sky is clear, most people should be able to see the moon become red as the earth’s shadow passed over it, Mr Lomb said.

    The moon is expected to rise at 5.22 pm (AEST).

    At 6.51pm (AEST) the eclipse will begin with earth’s shadow starting to block light travelling from the sun to the moon’s surface.

    The eclipse will be full from 7.52pm (AEST) until 9.23pm (AEST), with the moon appearing red, because only the red component of sunlight will be diffracted around the earth onto its surface.

    The Bureau of Meteorology’s website suggests relatively clear conditions for most of the country, although cloud is expected over parts of Victoria and southwestern Australia.

    For those unfortunate to miss out due to bad weather, The Discovery channel is hosting a live broadcast of the eclipse on the internet at http://www.discoverychannel.com.au/eclipse

    Source: SMH  

  • NSW Electricity network to cost $2b per year

    Network investment the issue: "To meet growing peak power needs, regulated network investment in NSW of $9 billion has been committed over the 5 year regulatory period – this is a staggering $2 billion per annum – this is more than 5 times the annual capital expenditure required to build 400MW of intermediate generation (combined cycle gas plant). The key issue for future investment in the NSW electricity system is therefore about network investment – generation investment pales into insignificance.

    DM and efficiency needed: "NSW is significantly outspending other states in Australia on network investment: to deal with this issue NSW desperately needs to implement strong demand management and energy efficiency programs, to bring these costs under control while concurrently providing a greenhouse reduction benefit," the submission added.

    Reference: Australian Business Council for Sustainable Energy, Submission to the Owen Inquiry into Electricity Supply in NSW. Suite 301, 3rd Floor 60 Leicester St Carlton Victoria 3053, Tel. +61 3 9349 3077, Fax. +61 3 9349 3049
    http://www.bcse.org.au, admin@bcse.org.au

    Erisk Net, 6/2007

  • Feds plan water and GM crops for Top End

    Fed taskforce sees strong water-pricing and GM crops as key to land, water use in Top End
    The Federal Government’s Northern Development Taskforce will soon call for expressions of interest and ideas for developing land and water in the Top End, reported <>Queensland Country Life (5/7/2007, p.114).

    Water-efficiency element: Meeting for the first time in Canberra last week, the taskforce has already commissioned work on the Ord region in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Taskforce chair and NSW Liberal Senator, Bill Heffernan, said the taskforce will investigate new ways to maximise land and water use in the Ord, with a focus on strong price signals for water which will lead to water efficient infrastructure and high-value crops.

    Frankenstein-food element: He said the taskforce would urge the Northern Territory and West Australian Governments to "come to terms with GM technology" – believing the use of genetically modified cropping in the north would be the key to its future. "We’ll be presenting those governments with the findings we have on te science of GM and the role it can play in the future of agriculture in the north of Australia," Senator Heffernan said. "We’re not intrested in playing politics with State and Territory Governments. We want a co-operative relationship with the States."

    Queensland Country Life, 5/7/2007, p. 114