Daily Links Dec 11

Aussies’ Nobel Prize ‘straight to the pool room’
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/aussies-nobel-prize-straight-to-the-pool-room-now-give-us-global-nukes-ban-20171210-h022kq.html

Australian Government accused of Nobel Peace Prize ‘shame job’
Anti-nuclear activists says the Turnbull Government “should be ashamed” for not formally congratulating an Australian-born group, which will receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway later today.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-10/nobel-peace-prize-australian-government-accused-of-shame-job/9244194

Pests or pals? How to live in harmony with urban wildlife
Calamitous cockies, pushy possums and the odd snake: love them or loathe them, Australian cities are rich in native wildlife that’s adapted to an urban lifestyle.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2017-12-10/living-with-urban-wildlife-ecology-possums-cockatoos-snakes-pest/9231420

Delays causing needless exposure to dangerous toxins in Australia, advocates say
A process to review air pollution standards for two toxins began two years ago but consultations are only just starting
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/11/delays-causing-needless-exposure-to-dangerous-toxins-in-australia-advoates-say

Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions highest on record
Renewable energy and proper climate policy are key to dropping emissions, carbon consultancy chief says
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/11/australias-transport-emissions-in-past-year-the-highest-on-record

Native fish populations on the rise as species come back from brink
Wherever you look, native fish populations are on the rise, possibly for the first time since European settlement more than 150 years ago.
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/national/native-fish-populations-on-the-rise-as-species-come-back-from-brink/news-story/4c8adff29515450c4403f77a45f8b907

42,000 ‘energy poor’ families
Large low-income families, pensioners and indigenous Australians face ‘energy poverty’ as electricity and gas bills climb.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/energy-poverty-hits-42000-families/news-story/bdee4ea602bde0672f261dd115c7d89e

The rise of energy poverty
Bernard Salt
The communities most exposed to rising energy costs are those most vulnerable: large, low-income households.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/bernard-salt-demographer/energy-poverty-is-a-social-problem-that-needs-to-be-tackled/news-story/72d81c77f536900b5ab1695b2a636398

‘Existential threat’: climate change risks finally grab Australia’s attention
Peter Hannam
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/climate-change/existential-threat-climate-change-risks-finally-grab-australias-attention-20171206-h00am7.html

Glencore’s growing coal dominance worries Japan
Glencore’s growing dominance of Australian thermal coal is ringing alarm bells in Japan where power utilities are moving fast to secure alternative sources of supply.
http://www.afr.com/business/mining/japanese-hunt-alternative-coal-options-as-glencore-power-grows-20171208-h01enx

Angry retailers confront minister over light rail impact
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/angry-retailers-confront-premier-transport-minister-over-light-rail-business-impact-20171210-h020jm.html

Self-interest while looking virtuous
Judith Sloan
Energy company AGL’s hypocrisy is breathtaking.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/backing-selfinterest-while-trying-to-look-virtuous-thats-agl/news-story/aad81fe87790d1826ef6e3720afff727

ACT ready for bushfire season, despite hampered burn-offs
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/act-ready-for-bushfire-season-despite-hampered-burnoffs-20171124-gzs6vd.html

Clean-up underway after storm brings 130,000 lighting strikes to south-east
Residents in Landsborough report the worst storm in decades, after 130,000 lighting strikes and heavy wind and rain causes havoc across parts of south-east Queensland.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-10/storm-damage-queensland-sunshine-coast/9244558

Mining booming but Adani mine unlikely: BIS
Growth in Australia’s mining industry is expected to more than double this year even without Adani’s Carmichael mine, which is unlikely to proceed.
http://www.afr.com/news/politics/mining-investment-surges-but-adani-project-unlikely-bis-20171210-h01zti

BHP mulls lifting output of coking coal as prices remain red hot
As the price of the nation’s second biggest export, coking coal, soars in the final months of the year, BHP Billiton has revealed it is studying Queensland mine developments with the potential to boost its production beyond recent guidance.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/bhp-mulls-lifting-output-of-coking-coal-as-prices-remain-red-hot/news-story/a4ec7d45a147f9c8d3bc722745ae579c

Queensland entrepreneurs aim to ‘turn everyday Aussies into everyday Elon Musks’ with new venture
http://www.smh.com.au/queensland/tesla-inspired-queensland-entrepreneurs-turning-e-waste-into-power-supply-for-remote-communities-20171210-p4yxkn.html

TasWater slams Government after report warning of skyrocketing water bills
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/taswater-slams-government-after-report-warning-of-skyrocketing-water-bills/news-story/87246b40815637213b6ebdfd9e034ec9

Chinese suitor eyes east coast for AWE’s WA gas
China Energy Reserve and Chemicals Group, which has made a $463m takeover offer for AWE, says its bid is driven by a strategy of supplying gas to customers in the domestic – rather than export – market.
http://www.afr.com/business/energy/gas/awes-chinese-suitor-talks-up-domestic-gas-ambitions-20171210-h01zad

The eco guide to Christmas trees
Do you keep it real or try and fake it? When it comes to Christmas trees try and find an organic one and, if possible, a living one so you can dust off the tinsel and keep it going for next year
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/10/the-eco-guide-to-christmas-trees

A radical idea to rethink car ownership
A pilot project where motorists get free cars from their energy provider, just as they might get smartphones from their telco provider, is being trialled.
http://www.afr.com/markets/rethinking-car-ownership-and-solving-the-renewable-energy-storage-problem-20171209-h01xaj

Is the World Full Yet?
With spiralling population growth, what is the world going to look like in 120 years? A new book paints an alarming picture
https://independentaustralia.net/art/art-display/is-the-world-full-yet,11016