‘Global deforestation hotspot’: 3m hectares of Australian forest to be lost in 15 years
Australia is in the midst of a full-blown land-clearing crisis. Projections suggest that in the two decades to 2030, 3 million hectares of untouched forest will have been bulldozed in eastern Australia
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/05/global-deforestation-hotspot-3m-hectares-of-australian-forest-to-be-lost-in-15-years
Today’s Celebration
Arrival of First Missionaries French Polynesia
Customs Chiefs Day Vanuatu
National Tree Planting Day Iran
Be Cruelty Free Week http://www.hsi.org/issues/becrueltyfree/be_cruelty_free.html
Kidney Health Week http://www.kidney.org.au/
More about Mar 5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_5
Climate Change
x
National
‘Global deforestation hotspot’: 3m hectares of Australian forest to be lost in 15 years
Australia is in the midst of a full-blown land-clearing crisis. Projections suggest that in the two decades to 2030, 3 million hectares of untouched forest will have been bulldozed in eastern Australia
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/05/global-deforestation-hotspot-3m-hectares-of-australian-forest-to-be-lost-in-15-years
Bodies, glass eye, inflatable doll: The Clean Up Australia Day discoveries
Other strange discoveries included drug stashes, a safe with valuables and documents inside and an iPod Touch.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/queensland/bodies-glass-eye-inflatable-doll-the-incredible-discoveries-made-during-clean-up-australia-day-20180304-p4z2rf.html
Plug in for pre-paid power bills
Energy retailers are starting to offer consumers the option of pre-paying bills, taking their lead from the mobile phone industry.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/plug-in-for-pre-paid-power-bills-20180302-p4z2l6.html
Australia loses top mining spot [$]
Australia has lost its mantle as the world’s most appealing mining investment destination to Canada.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/government-policy-costs-australia-top-spot-in-the-mining-beauty-parade/news-story/3324b6dc98f33d0515b21b4493edd648
While politicians question the reality of climate change, farmers and businesses act
One of Australia’s biggest wine makers has already moved part of its operation to a cooler climate and other industries are also taking action. They’re not waiting for the politicians to make up their minds about the changing climate.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-05/farmers-and-businesses-take-action-on-climate-change/9502320
Sorry, burning our recyclables isn’t the solution
Vivienne Waller
Burning recyclable material to produce energy is about as smart as burning your antique furniture to keep warm.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/sorry-burning-our-recyclables-isn-t-the-solution-20180302-p4z2jd.html
Victoria
V/Line regional rail to get $633m boost under Coalition election promise
Ageing diesel trains will be phased out on Victoria’s V/Line regional rail network under a $633 million election pledge from the state Opposition, aimed at boosting regional growth and services.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-04/vline-regional-rail-to-get-$633m-funding-boost-coalition-pledge/9507248
Asbestos find leads to shutdown of part of Melbourne Metro project
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/asbestos-find-leads-to-shutdown-of-part-of-melbourne-metro-project-20180301-p4z2dd.html
Thousands protest development of parks in Melbourne’s leafy north-east
Battle lines are being drawn in Melbourne’s leafy north-east suburbs between those who want to protect green space and those who want recreational infrastructure built to meet the needs of a growing population.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/thousands-protest-development-of-parks-in-melbourne-s-leafy-north-east-20180304-p4z2rh.html
One in five Melbourne veggie patches contaminated with lead, study finds
One in five backyard vegetable patches across Melbourne tested as part of a new study are contaminated with levels of lead that exceed health guidelines.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/one-in-five-melbourne-veggie-patches-contaminated-with-lead-study-finds-20180302-p4z2hv.html
Vic coalition pledges $633m rail splurge
The Victorian opposition says they will spend $633 million on the state’s country rail network if elected in November.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/vic-coalition-pledges-633m-rail-splurge/news-story/fd2941782edb636df29640ddbe2d24fa
New South Wales
$7bn pledge for Badgerys Creek airport rail link to Sydney’s west
Federal and New South Wales governments to co-fund a north-south rail link under western Sydney city deal
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/04/7bn-pledge-for-badgerys-creek-airport-rail-link-to-sydneys-west
Asbestos crisis as damning report reveals failures to protect workers
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/asbestos-crisis-as-damning-report-reveals-failures-to-protect-workers-20180303-p4z2nk.html
Western Sydney city deal to be unveiled at last
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/western-sydney-city-deal-to-be-unveiled-at-last-20180303-p4z2oc.html
‘Really scary’: NSW environment minister warned of land-clearing leap
NSW Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton was warned by her own department that an easing of land-clearing codes could trigger a 45 per cent jump in the rate of native vegetation destruction on farms.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/nsw-environment-minister-land-clearing-upton-20180302-p4z2ji.html
ACT
West Basin plans spark global concern for Lake Burley Griffin
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/west-basin-redevelopment-plans-spark-international-concern-for-preservation-of-lake-burley-griffin-20180304-h0wyqi.html
Queensland
Government apologised to landholders suspected of planning unlawful clearing
Environment department originally wrote to 51 landowners asking them to show why planned clearing was not illegal, but later reversed course after lobbying from Queensland MPs
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/02/deeply-regret-australias-apology-to-landholders-suspected-of-planning-unlawful-clearing
Litter bugs us and we’ll dob you in [$]
Record numbers of Queenslanders are dobbing in litter bugs to authorities with nearly nine alleged offenders reported every day.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/crime-and-justice/record-numbers-of-queenslanders-dobbing-in-litter-bugs/news-story/281290ec36115f6252f29510dbd6e372
South Australia
Cash for kids to get back to nature [$]
A $6m funding boost for 20 more nature play spaces in preschools and schools has been pledged by the Labor Government if re-elected on March 17.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sa-election-2018/labor-pledge-6-million-for-more-natureplay-spaces/news-story/24f2b0392b6393f746f72fdd90ddac3d
What the green groups are saying [$]
Environmental groups run a ruler over political parties green policies — Does Premier Jay Weatherill’s love affair with renewable energy, battery storage and electric cars get him the nod?
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sa-election-2018/sa-election-2018-is-jay-weatherills-love-affair-with-renewable-energy-and-electric-cars-enough-to-make-him-a-five-star-greenie/news-story/3797fd04de28a968d609722565dbf424
Tasmania
Gains for Labor all Greens’ pain [$]
Labor’s gains in Saturday’s election were mostly voters who deserted the Greens, Tasmanian Electoral Commission figures reveal.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/politics/labors-gains-in-state-election-came-from-voters-abandoning-the-greens/news-story/7a6a0581fa8c580a98617150c8bb89dd
Northern Territory
Multi-million-dollar investment boosts tourist offering at NT’s most popular national park
Five waterfalls will soon be added to the list of things to see at Litchfield National Park, as a $12.1 million government investment works to maximise the park’s tourism industry.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-04/litchfield-tourism-waterfalls-investment/9507182
Sustainability
The world is embracing S.U.V.s. That’s bad news for the climate.
For the first time last year, S.U.V.s made up more than one in three cars sold globally as drivers in China, Australia and Europe ditched sedans.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/03/climate/suv-sales-global-climate.html?smid=tw-share
Economic growth: its the scientists vs the economists
Kenneth Rogoff
Economists are pessimistic about long-term growth, but technological advances could soon give us far faster rates than we are comfortable with.
http://www.afr.com/brand/business-summit/economic-growth-outlook-its-the-scientists-vs-the-economists-20180304-h0wyot
Nature Conservation
Jaguars killed for fangs to supply growing Chinese medicine trade
Demand from Chinese workers raises demand for skin and body parts of endangered species
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/04/jaguars-killed-for–fangs-chinese-medicine-trade
From Utah’s Red Rock Desert, a call for protecting our public lands
President Trump has ordered vast portions of two national monuments in Utah stripped of protections. But these lands – expanses of sandstone canyons and mesas dotted with sacred Native American sites – are our public commons and should not be open for business.
https://e360.yale.edu/features/from-utah-bears-ears-a-cry-for-protecting-our-public-lands-terry-tempest-williams
Maelor Himbury