Constitution & Independence Day Marshall Islands
Constitution Day Latvia
Kazakhstan People’s Unity Day Kazakhstan
Law Day United States of America
Lei Day United States of America
Loyalty Day United States of America
Mid Year Day (Banks only) Thailand
Save the Rhino Day United States of America
Virgen de Chapi Peru
Youth & Sports Day Cyprus (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus)
Beltane (Northern Hemisphere) Celticism
Samhain (Southern Hemisphere) Celticism
Labor Day International
May Day International
Kiss Goodbye to MS http://www.kissgoodbyetoms.org/
IAIM One-in-Five Challenge http://www.iaim.org.au/take-iaim-one-five-challenge.htm
Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week http://www.chaseandtyler.org.au/get-involved/carbon-monoxide-awareness-week.aspx
International Composting Awareness Week http://www.compostweek.com.au/core/
Mindful in May http://www.mindfulinmay.org/
Miracle Month of May http://www.miraclebabies.org.au/
65 Roses http://www.65roses.org.au/
Mercy May http://www.mercyships.org.au/
International Respect for Chickens Month http://www.upc-online.org/respect/
Dine With Heart Month http://sacredheartmission.org/
Crohns & Colitis Awareness Month http://www.crohnsandcolitis.com.au/
Neurofibromatosis Awareness Month http://www.nfaa.org.au/
Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month http://www.domesticviolence.com.au/pages/domestic-violence-prevention-month-1st-31st-may-20.php
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea http://www.biggestmorningtea.com.au/
More about May 1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_1
Climate Change
Climate change: The Arctic as it is known today is almost certainly gone.
On current trends, the Arctic will be ice-free in summer by 2040.
http://www.dailyclimate.org/t/-995200128361646668
How would just 2 degrees of warming change the planet?
Why do a few degrees make such a big difference?
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-995200128361646671
National
Canavan slams ‘silly’ states
Minister says firms are being by punished by states’ moratoria on gas exploration, as poll shows majority support for bans.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/silly-states-holding-business-back-resources-minister/news-story/994a029f28672c0630e87dc10072346c
Sustainablity tail wags the Westpac dog
Matthew Stevens
The ramifications of Westpac’s new coal policy will be far more profound than the bank might appreciate.
http://www.afr.com/business/sustainablity-tail-wags-the-westpac-dog-20170430-gvvp4s
We can’t bank on Westpac support
Andrew Bolt
WE have only four big banks. Now Westpac, the second biggest, refuses to fund coal projects that would give Australians jobs
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/andrew-bolt/andrew-bolt-on-westpac-gutless-bank-sabotaging-australian-future-jobs/news-story/f43dc7b25f274c37da9b6f2fa8c71e57
Farmers urge government to embrace solar for the future
Kirrily Blomfield
Farmers on the front line see the necessity of tackling climate change.
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/4625721/farmers-urge-government-to-embrace-solar-for-the-future/?cs=97
Government’s oil and gas tax response will leave regional communities at a loss
Diane Kraal, Monash University
Local communities are likely to be dissatisfied with the report from the PRRT review because its recommendations only apply to future projects and won’t herald any changes in the budget.
http://theconversation.com/governments-oil-and-gas-tax-response-will-leave-regional-communities-at-a-loss-76859
Victoria
Airport rail link plan to receive $10 million in state budget
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/10-million-to-explore-rail-link-to-melbourne-airport-20170430-gvvphg.html
Queensland
Labor backtracks on support for Adani coal mine
Federal Labor is stepping back from its support of Adani’s proposed multi-billion-dollar Queensland coal project.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-30/federal-labor-backtracks-on-support-of-adani-coal-mine/8483932
Mega mine owner’s closed door talks
BILLIONAIRE businessman Gautam Adani has held secret meetings behind closed doors with the state and federal government in a bid to finalise planning for his massive Galilee Basin coal mine.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/adani-carmichael-coal-mine-to-have-financing-completed-by-june/news-story/f4b2652d4675a679982746d7287731ed
Pipeline fuels row with PM
Queensland has approved a critical pipeline licence as a bitter stoush broke out between the premier and PM.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/gas-pipeline-nod-fuels-bitter-war-of-words-with-turnbull/news-story/1f5c343969c28827889c64b29db7f6bf
Donations bonus for Reef body
A VOLUNTEER organisation dedicated towards long-term monitoring of the Great Barrier Reef has gained enough donations from the public to continue their work for another few months.
http://www.cairnspost.com.au/business/donations-bonus-for-reef-body/news-story/1995fb1d60cdfb128f81530528b1ffed
South Australia
Rally for Port Augusta solar thermal power plant
MORE than 200 people turned out on the steps of Parliament House on Sunday, with their own makeshift solar panels, urging the State Government to back a solar thermal power plant at Port Augusta.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/demonstrators-rally-for-port-augusta-solar-thermal-power-plant/news-story/0c142b68f658a89d7c455202a4021d56
Tasmania
Government to legislate to cap Tasmanian power price for 12 months
The State Government is to introduce legislation this week to cap the wholesale power price for 12 months.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-30/tasmanian-government-to-legislate-power-price-cap/8483948
Close lane to improve walkability
FORMER Hobart lord mayor Damon Thomas is proposing the council investigate a permanent partial road closure in Campbell Street to help the city improve its “weak” pedestrian network.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/hobart-city-council-alderman-damon-thomas-proposes-permanent-partial-lane-closure-of-campbell-st/news-story/537913a82d29288b10d15e703a8a6c42
Western Australia
Critically endangered WA possum ‘could be wiped out in 20 years’
Habitat destruction, forest dieback, bushfire and feral predators are posing a massive threat to the western ringtail possums, experts say, warning the marsupial risks extinction unless serious action is taken.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-30/critically-endangered-wa-possum-could-be-wiped-out-in-20-years/8482970
Baldivis tops nation for power from sun
The southern Perth postcode of Baldivis is Australia’s solar capital, with more than two-thirds of houses in the suburb generating their own power from the sun.
https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/baldivis-tops-nation-for-power-from-sun-ng-b88456809z
Sustainability
Pope pushes for diplomatic solution to avert North Korea war
Pope Francis says “a good part of humanity” would be destroyed in any widespread war, urging for a diplomatic solution to a dispute between North Korea and Washington that poses the risk of nuclear devastation.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-30/pope-pushes-for-diplomatic-solution-to-avert-north-korea-war/8483662
We should create cities for slowing down
Marcus Foth, Queensland University of Technology and Mirko Guaralda, Queensland University of Technology
Smart cities are usually optimised like a business for speed and efficiency. Placemaking can slow down cities to improve health and wellbeing and promote more democratic engagement of citizens.
http://theconversation.com/we-should-create-cities-for-slowing-down-75689
Nature Conservation
Man wearing gorilla suit completes London Marathon after six days
A man in a gorilla suit completes the London Marathon nearly a week after it started, to raise money to protect endangered gorillas in Africa by sponsoring ranger services.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-30/man-completes-london-marathon-in-gorilla-suit/8483650
Dingo relative rediscovered in New Guinea Highlands
Scientists confirm the existence of an ancient dog species in one of the world’s most remote places — the mountains of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia’s Papua provinces.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-30/dingo-relative-rediscovered-in-papua-new-guinea-highlands/8463208
Climate change could drive coastal food webs to collapse
Ivan Nagelkerken, University of Adelaide; Sean Connell, University of Adelaide, and Silvan Goldenberg, University of Adelaide
A new study suggests the benefits of a boost to marine plant growth from increased carbon dioxide will be cancelled out by the increased stress to fish species.
http://theconversation.com/climate-change-could-drive-coastal-food-webs-to-collapse-76798
Maelor Himbury