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  • A Hard Rain (dvd)

    Twice Academy award nominee and five times AFI winner David Bradbury’s latest contribution, A Hard Rain, explores the ‘other side’ of the nuclear debate.

    A Hard RainTraversing five countries – China, France, UK, Japan and Australia, and using what Bradbury learnt from his previous three nuclear documentaries (Public Enemy Number One, Jabiluka and Blowin’ in the Wind), A Hard Rain takes a closer look at the global nuclear industry in its entirety – from the mining of uranium through to the nuclear power plant to the radioactive waste and weapons manufacturing. It exposes the hidden agendas behind this latest push for Australia to go nuclear.

    Included are interviews with some of the world’s top scientists and environmentalists on the subject such as Dr Rosalie Bertell from Canada, Dr Chris Busby from the UK, and from Australia, Dr Mark Deisendorf (Ex CSIRO) who heads up the Environmental Institute at the University of NSW, Dr Ian Lowe, President of the Australian Conservation Foundation, and Dr Gavin Mudd from the Monash University Engineering Department.

    Click here to buy the dvd.

  • Who killed the electric car? (dvd)

    With gasoline prices approaching $4/gallon, fossil fuel shortages, unrest in oil producing regions around the globe and mainstream consumer adoption and adoption of the hybrid electric car (more than 140,000 Prius’ sold this year), this story couldn’t be more relevant or important.

    Who killed the electric car?The foremost goal in making this movie is to educate and enlighten audiences with the story of this car, its place in history and in the larger story of our car culture and how it enables our continuing addiction to foreign oil. This is an important film with an important message that not only calls to task the officials who squelched the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, but all of the other accomplices, government, the car companies, Big Oil, even Eco-darling Hydrogen as well as consumers, who turned their backs on the car and embrace embracing instead the SUV.

    This documentary investigates the death and resurrection of the electric car, as well as the role of renewable energy and sustainable living in our country’s future; issues which affect everyone from progressive liberals to the neo-conservative right. Click here to buy the dvd

  • An Inconvenient Truth (dvd)

    Director Davis Guggenheim eloquently weaves the science of global warming with Mr. Gore’s personal history and lifelong commitment to reversing the effects of global climate change.

    An Inconvenient TruthA longtime advocate for the environment, Gore presents a wide array of facts and information in a thoughtful and compelling way. “Al Gore strips his presentations of politics, laying out the facts for the audience to draw their own conclusions in a charming, funny and engaging style, and by the end has everyone on the edge of their seats, gripped by his haunting message,” said Guggenheim.

    An Inconvenient Truth is not a story of despair but rather a rallying cry to protect the one earth we all share. “It is now clear that we face a deepening global climate crisis that requires us to act boldly, quickly, and wisely,” said Gore. Click here to buy the dvd.

  • Wave power generation takes off in UK

    Three wave-energy companies are already working with the RDA to use Wave Hub, and a fourth will soon be selected. The companies involved include, Ocean Power Technologies Limited, Fred Olsen Limited and WestWave, a consortium of E.On and Ocean Prospect Limited, using the Pelamis technology of Ocean Power Delivery Ltd.

    "This pioneering project is crucial for the success of wave energy development, not just in the UK but around the world. These funds represent a strong signal of intent from the South West RDA to help Britain retain its lead in this rapidly emerging, and potentially huge, clean energy industry and we look forward to welcoming the necessary consent to build, so that momentum can be maintained for UK marine renewables," said Maria McCaffery, CEO of the British Wind Energy Association.

    The funding announcement coincided with the publication of an independent report into Wave Hub’s possible impact on surf conditions on parts of Cornwall’s coastline. Dr. Kerry Black, the New Zealand-based physical oceanographer, has concluded that the impact on wave height would be less than five percent — or less than five centimeters off a meter-high wave.

    This is in line with the RDA’s own findings and far less than the 11 percent feared previously by some surfers.

    "Wave Hub is a flagship project and this investment is very good news for South West England and particularly for Cornwall. Sustainable energy and carbon reduction will be the key to Cornwall’s 21st Century industrial revolution and the Wave Hub will become a major part of the county’s reinvention as a leader in innovation," said Tim German, director of the Cornwall Sustainable Energy Partnership, which has been focusing on the benefits of the Wave Hub to Cornwall.

    The investment, which was agreed last week by the South West of England RDA, means Wave Hub has the necessary GBP 28 million [US$55.8 million] needed to build it. Approximately half the GBP 21.5 million [US$42.9 million] approved by the RDA is expected to come from the European Regional Development Fund through the Convergence Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

    "We are determined to see South West England leading the world in the development of wave energy technology and capturing the economic benefits that will flow from it. Wave Hub has the potential to make an enormous contribution to tackling climate change and we believe it could transform the wave technology industry," said Stephen Peacock, Executive Director of Enterprise and Innovation at the South West RDA.

    The South West RDA has applied to the UK Government for planning permission to build Wave Hub with a final decision expected by June.

  • Kansas prepares for bio-fuel boom

    The North Central Bioeconomy Consortium recently received a $100,000 grant from the Energy Foundation of San Francisco to coordinate regional public policy development and research for a renewable energy future. A strategic partnership has been formed with the Great Plains Institute of Minneapolis to help coordinate, facilitate and implement the 12-state consortium agenda.

    "These are exciting and changing times for the north central region and the United States as we move toward greater renewable energy and fuels," said Sara Bergan, executive director of the Great Plains Institute. "This consortium provides our region the opportunity to develop the next generation of biofuel feedstocks and energy technologies while providing the research and policy tools necessary to ensure long-term sustainability and economic vitality."

  • Forests primary defence against global warming

    Logging cycles weaken forest carbon storing features: The same ANU study has found that the carbon store of these forests is dramatically reduced to around 300-500 tonnes of carbon per hectare if they are subject to 80 year logging cycles. “Logging is clearly contributing massively to global warming” said Matthew Wright, lead campaigner for Beyond Zero Emissions. “Unfortunately Tasmania has suffered under state and federal governments conspiring with the likes of the Gunns Corporation. Some of the worst logging in the world is occurring in that state."

    Logging releases GHG, causes heating: “Native forests create clouds and humidity which result in local precipitation. Those same clouds also reflect large amounts of sunlight back into space. Logging not only releases phenomenal amounts of naturally sequestered carbon from forest soils and canopy, but also allows greater light penetration through the atmosphere causing heating and a positive feedback loop".

    (References: Dean C, Roxburgh S, Mackey B (2003), Growth Modelling of Eucalyptus regnans for Carbon Accounting at the Landscape Scale, (CRC for Greenhouse Accounting, Australian National University) Roxburgh S, Wood S, Mackey B, Woldendorp G, Gibbons P (2006), Assessing the carbon sequestration potential of managed forests: a case study from temperate Australia, Journal of Applied Ecology.

    For comment ring: Matt Wright 0421 616 733, Adrian Whitehead 0403 735 118, Adrian Whitehead is currently touring Tasmania giving a series of zero emission talks. website: http://www.beyondzeroemissions.org Beyond Zero Emissions is an independent Zero Emission Minus Climate Change campaign. This document is available at http://www.beyondzeroemissions.org/Press-Releases)