Media failed on climate and extreme weather coverage last year. Will they do better in 2018?
Al Roker gives us reason to be a bit optimistic
https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2018/06/08/Media-failed-on-climate-and-extreme-weather-coverage-last-year-Will-they-do-better-in-2018/220400
Today’s Celebration
Abolition of Slavery – French Guiana
Army Day – Jordan
Camoes Day – Macau, Portugal
Day of National Reconciliation – Congo (Republic of)
Day to celebrate Sovereignty over the Malvinas – Argentina
National Day – Portugal
More about Jun 10 – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_10
Climate Change
Media failed on climate and extreme weather coverage last year. Will they do better in 2018?
Al Roker gives us reason to be a bit optimistic
https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2018/06/08/Media-failed-on-climate-and-extreme-weather-coverage-last-year-Will-they-do-better-in-2018/220400
Pope warns energy bosses of global destruction without fuel shift
Pope Francis warned that climate change risked destroying humanity on Saturday and called on energy leaders to help the world to convert to clean fuels to avert catastrophe.
http://www.ehn.org/pope-warns-energy-bosses-of-global-destruction-without-fuel-shift-reuters-2576537892.html
National
The rise of the mega-commuter
Dan Lysaght commutes six hours a day several days a week, from north of Newcastle to the Sydney CBD.
https://www.theage.com.au/money/planning-and-budgeting/the-rise-of-the-mega-commuter-20180607-p4zk06.html
Victoria
Developer given ultimatum over toxic site [$]
High levels of lead, benzene and other toxic chemicals have been detected at the site of a controversial apartment development proposed on the edge of Princes Park.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/developer-given-ultimatum-over-toxic-brunswick-site/news-story/8a70ad03d5d46df26c09f8c263a87944
New South Wales
Move over Elon: global energy prize goes to Australia’s solar guru
UNSW professor Martin Green, who revolutionised photovoltaics, says sun’s power is ‘the best option out there’
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/09/move-over-elon-global-energy-prize-goes-to-australias-solar-guru
Josh Frydenberg urged to step in to save national park from NSW brumby plan
Conservationists say federal environment minister has obligation to protect areas of national significance
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/09/josh-frydenberg-urged-to-step-in-to-save-national-park-from-nsw-brumby-plan
Protections for feral horses could explode population
A NSW plan to maintain a population of feral horses, or “brumbies”, in the Kosciuszko National Park could quickly lead to an explosion in horse numbers and cause problems for Victoria and the ACT, experts say.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-10/brumbies-feral-horses-nsw-law-could-hurt-environment/9850546
Healthy rays: Australia’s largest hospital solar energy system
The Port Macquarie Base Hospital is installing the largest rooftop solar panel system on a healthcare facility in Australia, significantly reducing its dependency on the grid.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-09/australias-largest-hospital-solar-energy-system-to-be-installed/9850212
Drought leads to jump in kangaroo crashes [$]
Drought and a jump in kangaroo numbers has led to a dramatic increase in car crashes — and experts are warning winter will turn into a killing season on our country roads.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/soaring-roo-numbers-and-drought-lead-to-a-big-jump-in-accidents-on-our-roads/news-story/1c5ca520f02768bd90a523e00856c5dc
Major upgrades to Sydney’s most popular bushwalks
Picnic areas, BBQs and upgraded paths are part of a $50 million plan to improve the state’s most iconic walking tracks.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-s-national-parks-to-get-50-million-for-new-and-improved-tracks-20180608-p4zkc5.html
How a ‘most beautiful plant’ helped turn the conservationist tide
A 92-year-old retired ecologist muses about what helped secure Kosciuszko National Park six decades ago and what why its future again hangs in the balance.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/how-a-most-beautiful-plant-helped-turn-the-conservationist-tide-20180608-p4zk98.html
Queensland
Our rubbish will be put to good use [$]
The Chinese may have rejected our recyclables, but our rubbish will be reused efficiently under a plan put to the State Government.
https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government/new-queensland-power-stations-to-use-rubbish-as-fuel-source/news-story/2c81ce587edad0d14d9c7ec3b8e41a2d
South Australia
Maralinga nuke test crusader’s heartfelt plea [$]
Avon Hudson is still fighting – but his battle for the rights of those exposed to deadly radiation at Maralinga in the 1950s and ’60s is becoming lonelier.
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/maralinganuke-test-crusader-avon-hudsons-plea-for-the-australian-nuclear-veterans-association-getting-lonlier/news-story/3a88136d594912f0aa8a12b59b218649
Tasmania
North-West road infrastructure projects outlined for 2018-19
The state government has confirmed its election pledge to upgrade the Bass Highway in the North-West.
https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5457933/north-west-road-infrastructure-projects-outlined-for-2018-19/?cs=95
Have your say on Freycinet [$]
The Tasmanian Government wants your views on its plans for the future management of Freycinet National Park.
https://www.themercury.com.au/news/comment-sought-on-freycinet-peninsula-master-plan/news-story/1e04470364a1481a217bd5fe13db90d1
Sustainability
Closing coal plants is reducing premature births
Mary Anne Hitt, Vien Truong
After the plants shut down, premature births dropped from 7 percent to 5.1 percent — in just one year.
http://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/391238-closing-coal-plants-is-reducing-premature-births-immediately
Nature Conservation
The ‘dark fleet’: Global Fishing Watch shines a light on illegal catches
Low light imaging data being used to expose unregulated and unreported fishing on the high seas
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/09/the-dark-fleet-global-fishing-watch-shines-a-light-on-illegal-vessels
Coral tricks for adapting to ocean acidification
A molecular process that signals distress could also help corals adapt to climate change.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-06/kauo-ctf060818.php
Study: Populations of widely spread tree species respond differently to climate change
A new Portland State University study shows that not all populations of a single, widely spread tree species respond the same to climate change, something scientists will need to consider when making climate change projections.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-06/psu-spo060718.php
Smart drones to take on illegal fishing
Drones guided by artificial intelligence could be the latest weapon in the war against illegal fishing.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/smart-drones-to-take-on-illegal-fishing/news-story/15b39df114cf93d9a40b4ed1a3a80e14
The Endling: Watching a species vanish in real time
On the frontlines of extinction in the Gulf of California, where the vaquita faces its final days.
https://psmag.com/magazine/watching-the-vaquita-vanish
Plastics undermine Ghana’s ocean turtles
Owusu-Gyamfi, manager for research and conservation science at the Ghana Wildlife Society, said the plastic menace along the beaches had become widespread and worrying.
https://www.newsghana.com.gh/plastics-undermine-ghanas-ocean-turtles-owusu-gyamfi/
Maelor Himbury