Campaign to end whaling shifts to Japan

Greenpeace

The decision by Environment Minister Peter Garrett not to send customs vessel Oceanic Viking to the Southern Ocean for this year’s whale slaughter, following a  Japanese government decision not to send armed customs officials, signals a shift in the campaign from the high seas to Japan according to Greenpeace Australia Pacific CEO Steve Shallhorn. Mr Smallhorn said that the organisation will now focus it’s efforts on building opposition to the whale hunt from within Japan.

posted by patrick on November 21, 2008 at 2:51 pm · filed under

Indonesia hopes to plant 100 million trees

ABC News

An Indonesian forestry ministry spokesman has said the country will aim to plant 100 million trees this year and is gearing up for a busy December rainy season planting frenzy. Indonesia has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world, but, in 2007, the country managed to plant more than 100 million new trees, according to government reports.

posted by seamas on November 20, 2008 at 7:37 pm · filed under

Funding to help groups care for our country

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts

The Australian Government has announced over $28 million in funding for 137 local and community groups to implement environmental and sustainable farming projects under its Caring for our Country program.

posted by seamas on November 20, 2008 at 7:23 pm · filed under

e-Waste recycling plant opens at Villawood

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts

Environment Minister Peter Garrett today opened a new Sims e-waste recycling facility in Villawood, Sydney. The plant expected to divert as much as 20,000 tonnes of electronic waste from landfills when it operates at full capacity.

posted by seamas on November 20, 2008 at 7:16 pm · filed under

Aerospace giant investigates clean energy from the oceans

New Scientist

Aerospace company Lockheed Martin has been studying the potential of  Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), a clean, renewable energy source that has the potential to free many economies from their dependence on oil. The process utilises the heat in ocean surface water to create steam from a low boiling point solution of ammonia and water to drive power generating turbines.

posted by patrick on November 20, 2008 at 1:15 pm · filed under

Climate Crime protest targets Gunns as company’s stock plummets

The Launceston Examiner

A protest group calling itself the Climate Crime Scene Investigation Unit set up outside woodchipping giant Gunns Limited’s head office in Launceston today. Gunns’ share price also dropped significantly on the ASX in response to comments by former Premier Paul Lennon casting doubt on the company’s proposed mill going ahead.

posted by warrick on November 19, 2008 at 4:05 pm · filed under

BP Solar announces closure of Sydney plant

The Age Environment

BP has announced that it will be closing its Sydney-based solar panel plant in March 2009.  The plant is Australia’s only commercial scale solar operation.  BP has cited high raw material import costs, lack of expansion potential and lease agreements as leading to the closure.  The Opposition and the Australian Greens are calling on the federal government to do something about the closure, accusing it of lack of support for the solar industry following its decision to limit access to the rooftop solar panel rebate.  

posted by ruby on November 19, 2008 at 10:05 am · filed under

Northern Territory hearings on Howard nuclear site close

ABC News

Hearings into whether the nuclear waste site outside Alice Springs proposed by the Howard government should go ahead have closed this week.  The Northern Territory Government’s Dr Diana Leeder has called the federal government plan an “erosion of rights,” stating that ”The Northern Territory Government maintains its strong objection to the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act’s capacity to override Northern Territory laws.”  The hearing committee is expected to deliver its report by the end of the year.

posted by ruby on November 19, 2008 at 9:56 am · filed under

Australia-China ministerial dialogue on climate change

Minister for Climate Change and Water

Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, hosted a ministerial dialogue with the Vice-Chair of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Chinese Minister responsible for climate change, Mr Xie Zhenhua, in Canberra yesterday.  The meeting highlighted Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) as an important developing technology for both national administrations, with China agreeing to support efforts under Australia’s proposed $100 million Global (CCS) Institute and stating that it was an important vehicle to accelerate global demonstration of CSS technology at a commercial scale.

posted by ruby on November 19, 2008 at 9:47 am · filed under

WA gives uranium mining the nod

WA Today

West Australian Premier, Colin Barnett, announced Monday that his cabinet has officially given the green light to opening up Western Australia to uranium mining. Uranium mining was banned in WA in 2002 by former Premier, Geoff Gallup, and even though national Labor had voted to overturn it’s ‘three mines’ policy and support expansion of the uranium industry in Australia, Mr Gallup kept the ban in place.

Premier Barnett said that the decision would boost the uranium industry, as the Australian Uranium Association has identified 8 major uranium sites in WA. The lifting of the ban comes into effect immediately, meaning that any new mining license granted will have no restrictions concerning uranium. Mr Barnett said that despite falling uranium prices, a new mine could be up and running within 3-5 years.

posted by Vinnie on November 18, 2008 at 8:35 pm · filed under