Honey Spas Russia
Independence Day Pakistan
National Flag Day Paraguay
Oued Ed-Dahab Day Morocco
V.J. Day United States of America
Montserrat Annual Pilgrimage Montserrat
O – Bon / Festival of Souls (solar date) Shinto
World Lizard Day https://www.calendarlabs.com/holidays/international/world-lizard-day.php
Gay Uncles Day http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/gay-uncles-day-seen-instagram-n630576
More about Aug 14 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_14
Climate Change
Gore’s sequel turns up heat
Former US vice-president Al Gore does not consider himself a climate winner.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/al-gores-inconvenient-sequel-valerian-and-city-of-thousand-planets/news-story/6439addae40c22834fb20276c9ee9857
National
Ongoing role for coal
Josh Frydenberg says coal will continue to have a place in Australia’s energy mix, but the market will determine the extent of that role
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/frydenberg-ongoing-role-for-coal/news-story/1eb4f21af63d41e2eaa1cbcda13df1ea
Cheap coal power era ending: Morrison
http://www.afr.com/business/energy/treasurer-scott-morrison-says-cheap-coalfired-power-era-is-ending-20170813-gxv3z3
Dick Smith’s $1m anti-immigration ad
MILLIONAIRE businessman Dick Smith is launching a $1 million television ad campaign tomorrow to pressure politicians to cut immigration and increase taxes on the super-wealthy.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/dick-smith-launches-1-million-tv-ad-campaign-to-slash-immigration-increase-taxes-for-super-rich/news-story/a91ccf47c7fcf31b9e8c7957ec091812
Victoria
Calls for Victoria to reregulate ‘unusually high’ energy prices
Victorian consumers are paying 21 per cent more than the cheapest offer in the market for gas and electricity and the State Government should reregulate prices, a bipartisan report says.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-13/victoria-energy-review-recommendations/8801720
Vic energy review recommends no frills set price
http://www.afr.com/news/deregulation-has-failed-victorian-energy-users-review-finds-20170813-gxv2ru
West Gate Tunnel benefits ‘deliberately distorted’
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/west-gate-tunnel-benefits-deliberately-distorted-to-support-road-says-expert-20170813-gxv9gd.html
New South Wales
Sydney’s underwater forest makes recovery in Eureka moment for scientists
Underwater seaweed forests that disappeared off a 70-kilometre stretch of Sydney’s coastline in the 1980s are making a remarkable recovery in a project scientists believe could help other imperilled coastlines around Australia.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-13/eureka-moment-as-scientists-restore-sydneys-underwater-forest/8798190
How you can help keep track of the near-threatened platypus
A platypus census is underway in NSW and the ACT, with volunteers playing an important role in protecting and tracking the near-threatened species.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-13/platypus-census-volunteers-track-near-threatened-species/8800470
Putting drivers on road to ruin
SYDNEY’S drivers will be slugged with a staggering toll rise on the WestConnex of more than 25 per cent by the time it is completed in 2023, the opposition claims.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/westconnex-rising-toll-charges-will-put-drivers-on-the-road-to-ruin-says-nsw-opposition/news-story/4b57abe7fccfd1c9393c29c40a302388
Cabinet leak: Sydney to Parramatta in 15 minutes
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/cabinet-leak-sydney-to-parramatta-in-15-minutes-possible-but-not-preferred-20170813-gxv226.html
World Heritage Status for Royal National Park stalled
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/world-heritage-status-for-royal-national-park-stuck-in-the-slow-lane-greens-say-20170811-gxubrl.html
ACT
Icon Water’s pricing proposal: Lowest ACT water users facing biggest proportional price rises
Canberra Times editorial
Canberrans who use the least amount of water will be those facing the biggest proportional price increases under new proposals from the ACT’s monopoly provider.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/ct-editorial/icon-waters-pricing-proposal-lowest-act-water-users-facing-biggest-proportional-price-rises-20170813-gxv4uu.html
Queensland
Queensland’s hammerhead shark plan won’t nail protection: AMCS
The Australian Marine Conservation Society slams the Queensland Government’s proposal to increase monitoring of hammerhead sharks, slated to take effect next year.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-13/qld-hammerhead-shark-plan-wont-nail-protection-amcs-says/8801134
CBA says ‘no’ to Adani but ‘maybe’ to coal
Final confirmation that Adani Group will not be funded by the Commonwealth Bank will arrive with the accidental launderer’s annual report.
http://www.afr.com/business/cba-says-no-to-adani-maybe-to-coal-20170813-gxv67q
Huge electricity discount for south-east Queensland homes
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/huge-electricity-discount-for-southeast-queensland-homes-20170813-gxv6kn.html
Tasmania
Bold new plan for salmon industry
Jeremy Rockliff
THROUGHOUT recent debate on the salmon industry and its future, the overwhelming message from the Tasmanian community is the need to understand our vision for the industry in coming years.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/opinion/the-vision-for-tasmanias-salmon-industry-is-one-of-sustainable-growth/news-story/2059ffc1e1370033adaf84eb9d5a9893
Western Australia
Harry’s island of coexistence
Harry Butler helped put in place strict quarantine conditions on Barrow Island, the site of the massive Gorgon gas project.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/for-the-love-of-harry-an-island-of-coexistence/news-story/571827ecee4917d8b014c5754a8068ca
You got to pay’: Tourists to be charged $150 to visit Kimberley natural sites
Cruise passengers travel from across the world to visit popular attractions like waterfalls and rock art caves on WA’s north Kimberley coast — but in coming years, they’ll be asked to cough up for the privilege.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-13/aboriginal-group-charges-cruise-passengers-visiting-kimberley/8790004
Sustainability
Pushing the storage horse with a nuclear waste cart: the spent fuel pool problem.
In June, Energy Secretary Rick Perry gave a case of heartburn to US nuclear reactor operators when he testified before the House Energy and Water Appropriations Committee in support of the department’s proposed budget for fiscal 2018.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-3246038150322324915
Multiple violations found at Washington State’s nuclear power plant.
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) last month suspended indefinitely the shipment of radioactive waste from the state’s sole nuclear power plant.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-3246038150322324929
The Trump Administration rolls back anti-corruption efforts in the oil industry.
In February, in one of its first acts of lawmaking, the Trump Administration, with the Republican-controlled Congress, rescinded a pending Securities and Exchange Commission rule that would have required oil companies to disclose details of their payments to international governments in connection with oil and gas production.
http://www.dailyclimate.org/t/-3246038150322324931
Electric cars are not the solution
If we really want to tackle particle pollution we need carbon-free electricity and, even better, walk or cycle over short distances
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/aug/13/electric-cars-are-not-the-solution-pollutionwatch
Rise of electric car solves little if driven by fossil fuels, warns windfarm boss
Dong Energy boss says falling price of renewables means they must power the electric car revolution or the environment will gain only a pyrrhic victory
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/aug/13/rise-of-electric-car-solves-little-if-driven-by-fossil-fuels-warns-windfarm-boss
The war on food waste has a new weapon: a £99 fridge camera
Phone app offers households savings for a fraction of the cost of a top-of-the-range smart fridge
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/aug/12/food-waste-smart-homes-fridge-cameras
The eco guide to optimism
OK, the Sixth Mass Extinction may be upon us, but there are still some reasons to be cheerful
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/aug/13/the-eco-guide-to-optimism
Nature Conservation
27 national monuments are under review. Here are five to watch.
No president has ever abolished a national monument designated by a predecessor. President Trump may try to change that.
http://www.dailyclimate.org/t/-3246038150322324920
Now for something completely different …
Why most meetings are a complete waste of time – and how to fix them
Marc Hudson
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/why-most-meetings-are-a-complete-waste-of-time–and-how-to-fix-them-20170802-gxnrso.html
Maelor Himbury