On a remote atoll, a concrete dome holds a toxic timebomb. And it’s leaking
Thousands of cubic metres of radioactive waste lies buried under a concrete dome, the legacy of over a decade of US nuclear tests in the Pacific. Now rising sea levels are threatening to spill its contents into the sea.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-27/the-dome-runit-island-nuclear-test-leaking-due-to-climate-change/9161442
Today’s Celebration
Anniversary of Cerro de Pasco Peru
National Flag Day Sri Lanka
16 days of activism against gender violence http://saynotoviolence.org/
GiveNow Week http://www.givenow.com.au/
More about Nov 27 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_27
Climate Change
In Peru’s deserts, melting glaciers are a godsend (until they’re gone)
Accelerating glacial melt in the Andes caused by climate change has set off a gold rush downstream, letting the desert bloom. But as the ice vanishes, the vast farms below may do the same.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/26/world/americas/peru-climate-change.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=photo-spot-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
Non-partisan communication in a partisan world? It’s possible.
Mike Hill
There is a chance that Congress—divided as it seems to be —will indeed act in a bipartisan manner to correct the nonpartisan issue of climate change.
http://www.citizen-times.com/story/opinion/2017/11/25/non-partisan-communication-partisan-world/886720001/
National
Deadly mix of heatwaves and humidity could make some Australian cities virtually ‘uninhabitable’
Centuries-old heatwave records have been shattered all over Australia in the past week as cities from Hobart to Sydney have been hit by prolonged stretches of temperature far above normal.
http://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/climate-change/deadly-mix-of-heatwaves-and-humidity-could-make-some-australia-cites-virtually-uninhabitable/news-story/f90ff75e2f982e741efc714a1b7cf0a6
Charity coalition hit back over election advocacy restrictions
Turnbull government legislation likely to stop some charities publicly advocating on policy near elections
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/nov/27/charity-coalition-hit-back-over-election-advocacy-restrictions
Pay-as-you-go is a much fairer way to charge motorists
Leslie A. Martin and Sam Thornton
Road congestion in large Australian cities is estimated to cost more than $16 billion a year.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/payasyougo-is-a-much-fairer-way-to-charge-motorists-20171123-gzrkuo.html
Power prices, a political distraction
Jonathan Fisk
Our energy future debate is being deliberately complicated to make it easier to polarise public opinion – politics at its best.
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/5075637/power-prices-a-distraction-from-long-term-issues/?cs=97
Victoria
One in 10 Victorians get power bill reprieve, but prices still surging
Thousands of Victorians will soon be eligible for a new power rebate from three major companies, under a new deal brokered by the State Government, but a price hike is still on the way next year.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-26/victorians-to-get-power-bill-reprieve-but-price-hike-to-come/9194344
Victorian seaside town Queenscliff faces population explosion
Residents of the mostly sleepy coastal town of Queenscliff on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula must work out how to manage an influx of new residents, as the shire next door prepares to reap the financial benefits.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-26/victorian-seaside-town-queenscliff-faces-population-explosion/9190184
‘This is just the beginning’: Residents to fight North-East Link
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/angry-home-owners-vow-to-fight-north-east-link-and-make-it-an-election-issue-20171126-gzt41d.html
ALP seeks electoral boundary redraw to stem Green tide
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/battle-for-inner-melbourne-as-labor-and-greens-fight-for-electorate-boundary-changes-20171126-gzt487.html
New South Wales
Check your NSW public transport timetable amid state’s ‘largest’ overhaul ever
Check your public transport timetable before leaving the house this week in Sydney and NSW as more than 9,000 new weekly train, bus and ferry services launch for the Greater Sydney network.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-26/new-sydney-and-nsw-public-transport-timetable-launched/9194538
‘Change is never easy’: Commuters urged to prepare for public transport shake-up
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/commuters-urged-to-prepare-for-public-transport-shakeup-20171126-gzsznb.html
The new Opal: Cashless payments for trips set to be expanded
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/the-new-opal-cashless-payments-for-trips-set-to-be-expanded-20170706-gx5rvt.html
‘Big as a ballpoint’: Westconnex debates what a tree is
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/governments-change-to-definition-of-a-tree-draws-accusations-of-sneaky-tactics-20171125-gzsw2a.html
Queensland
Queensland election: how Adani helped undo the LNP’s push to regain power
Exit polls in the state’s south-east found up to 70% of respondents were against the billion-dollar rail line loan for Adani
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/nov/27/queensland-election-how-adani-helped-undo-the-lnps-push-to-regain-power
Queensland election result threatens future of Adani coal mine
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/5081181/queensland-election-result-threatens-future-of-adani-coal-mine/?cs=7
Katter’s Australian Party would want to scrap Cross River Rail in any Labor deal
While Labor is predicted to narrowly win a majority in the Queensland Parliament, the state’s third political force would be willing to negotiate.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland-election-2017/katter-s-australian-party-would-want-to-scrap-cross-river-rail-20171126-p4yx86.html
South Australia
Steven Marshall backs Royal Commission into Murray River water theft
Premier Jay Weatherill’s plan for a royal commission into the alleged theft of Murray River water has been labelled a “stunt” — but has the support of his political rival.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/steven-marshall-backs-royal-commission-into-murray-river-water-theft/news-story/52abdb9e33ade5d08c0d7010846d5f96
SA irrigators may push for judicial inquiry if royal commision fails ensure river flows
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/sa-irrigators-may-push-for-judicial-inquiry-if-royal-commision-fails-ensure-river-flows/news-story/d4ee92a04ec1c3e77f6f292de5cd29ec
Murray deserves a clearer future
Sunday Mail editorial
IT’S easy to be cynical about Premier Jay Weatherill instituting a Royal Commission into the health of the River Murray only months before a state election.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/opinion/sunday-mail-editorial-murray-deserves-a-clearer-future/news-story/357d43be60f5bc1f52b3393c2ac7b017
Tasmania
Wilderness photographer documents illegal Tarkine 4WD usage
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/5081367/wilderness-photographer-documents-illegal-tarkine-4wd-usage/?cs=95
Labor’s $30m pledge for Cradle Mountain cable car
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/5081209/labors-30m-pledge-for-cradle-mountain/?cs=95
App aims to stop frogs croaking
Amphibian experts are urging Tasmanian citizen scientists to get behind a new smartphone application that is trying to save frogs from extinction by recording their various calls.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/citizen-scientists-encouraged-to-download-frogid-app-to-help-save-frogs-from-extinction/news-story/289e43226e62e0447801f8e74f655966
Northern Territory
Uluru climb closure misguided
Marc Hendrickx
Australians want to climb the unique natural wonder and might not visit if they cannot.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/uluru-should-be-open-for-all-to-share-the-experience/news-story/470ea3c4a5b7eb4b7903c47aa3a98c92
Western Australia
Community calls on WA government to save ‘oldest mountain ranges in the world’
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/community-calls-on-wa-government-to-save-oldest-mountain-ranges-in-the-world-20171126-gzt710.html
Government puts extra $200,000 towards shark deterrent devices
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/government-puts-extra-200000-towards-shark-deterrent-devices-20171126-gzt2au.html
Sustainability
A radiation cloud, and a mystery, from Russia
The release of a nuclear isotope traced to an area in the Ural Mountains was harmless, but Moscow’s reluctance to release data has spurred fears of future cover-ups.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/23/world/europe/russia-radiation-cloud.html?smid=tw-share
Coal use could release toxic nanoparticles
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/some-bad-actors-coal-burning-found-to-release-possibly-toxic-nanoparticles-20171123-gzrjvs.html
On a remote atoll, a concrete dome holds a toxic timebomb. And it’s leaking
Thousands of cubic metres of radioactive waste lies buried under a concrete dome, the legacy of over a decade of US nuclear tests in the Pacific. Now rising sea levels are threatening to spill its contents into the sea.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-27/the-dome-runit-island-nuclear-test-leaking-due-to-climate-change/9161442
The eco guide to yoga
Mindfulness helps us deal with the stress of climate trauma, and seek solutions. Make sure your kit’s sustainably sourced and exercise outside
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/nov/26/the-eco-guide-to-yoga
Is capitalism killing the planet?
Investors Business Daily editorial
Environmentalism: Every once in a while, environmentalists will let slip that the goal of fighting climate change can’t be won unless capitalism is first defeated. The fact that there’s no evidence to support the claim doesn’t seem to matter.
https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/climate-change-crisis-capitalism/
Nature Conservation
Senate sticks up for lake protection
$300M that Trump tried to cut will help ensure the Great Lakes and Wisconsin’s waterways stave off Asian carp, other threats.
http://host.madison.com/wsj/opinion/editorial/editorial-senate-sticks-up-for-lake-protection/article_14171eae-cb1b-55f0-9a2a-93abd837065b.html
Combining Tradition and Modern Science to Survive Climate Change in the Pacific Islands
A network of protected and locally managed marine areas that began as a tool to ensure food security could also increase Fiji’s resilience in the face of climate change.
https://psmag.com/environment/cop23-combining-tradition-and-modern-science-in-the-pacific-islands
Maelor Himbury