Post of the Day
Half of the World’s Annual Precipitation Falls in Just 12 Days
Currently, half of the world’s measured precipitation that falls in a year falls in just 12 days, according to a new analysis of data collected at weather stations across the globe.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181116110643.htm
Today’s Celebration
Beni Local Festival – Bolivia
Flag Day – Uzbekistan
Independence Day – Morocco
Mickey Mouse’s Birthday – United States of America
National Day – Latvia, Oman
Vertieres’ Day – Haiti
Climate Change
Dozens arrested after climate protest blocks five London bridges
Thousands of protesters occupied bridges across the Thames over extinction crisis in huge act of peaceful civil disobedience
Half of the World’s Annual Precipitation Falls in Just 12 Days
Currently, half of the world’s measured precipitation that falls in a year falls in just 12 days, according to a new analysis of data collected at weather stations across the globe.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181116110643.htm
National
Turnbull says climate change has become a ‘third rail’ for Liberal party
Former PM tells Bar Association that policy remains evasive as long as group of Coalition MPs believes climate change is a fraud
European countries have banned landfill. Could we?
Paul Klymenko
I asked an engineer working in the Swiss waste industry where their landfills were located. He replied there weren’t any. It’s time we got rid of them too
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-18/now-is-the-time-to-scrap-landfill-in-australia/10487726
Victoria
How Melbourne’s great bat war was won
As the sun set, the volunteers gathered at parks across the city. Some exchanged sheepish glances. If this did not work, they were about to look pretty stupid.
Possum protection zones could be chopped in Coalition timber plan
Logging no-go zones for the critically endangered Leadbeater’s possum and other threatened species could be scaled back by the Coalition, opening up more of the state’s forests for timber harvesting.
We can’t afford bill for Victoria’s cladding crisis, pensioners say
In February, Jennifer Opie and husband Kevin were told to leave their South Yarra home immediately because the flammable material it was clad in was a danger to their lives.
New South Wales
Museum examines what a world without koalas would look like
Conservation groups say wild koalas could extinct in NSW by 2050.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/museum-examines-what-a-world-without-koalas-would-look-like
Vandalism’: environment groups slam move to increase native forestry
Critics say the Berejiklian government’s measures would “trash large areas of old-growth forests, which are among the last refuges on earth for an astonishing array of species”.
NSW government accused of conducting ‘alarming experiment’ on Sydney
The NSW government has been accused of conducting an “alarming experiment” on Sydney by rapidly transforming it into a high-density city.
Parks and prams: how to improve Sydney apartments for kids and families
Easy storage for prams. Rooms large enough to play about in. Courtyards visible from kitchen windows. And, of course, a park only a hop or a skip away. These are some of the principles put forward for how to improve apartment living for Sydney families.
ACT
Developers could soon buy offsets instead of saving water
Developers who don’t want to stick to Canberra’s strict water-saving urban design rules will be able to buy offsets instead, a change environmentalists warn could have dire consequences.
Queensland
Hundreds of electric scooters appear on Brisbane streets
People have been warned not to drink-ride or double-up on Lime’s electric scooters, which have rolled out in Brisbane under a temporary permit so users do not face hefty fines.
FNQ towns named in 50 most polluted suburbs in Australia [$]
Two FNQ towns are among the most polluted in Australia, a new report has revealed.
South Australia
Hundreds of barnacle-covered shopping trolleys removed from underwater graveyard
A regional South Australian council has begun removing about 500 trolleys from waters near its wharf, amid concerns over community safety.
Right turn for tram would cost $117 million [$]
The cost of adding a right tram turn on to North Tce to fulfil a State Government election pledge would be $117 million – a blowout of $80 million. Here’s why it would cost so much.
Tasmania
Devils, quolls and bandicoots caught venturing closer to humans
Native Australian animals are learning to live in urban areas and are frequenting Hobart’s residential suburbs — Tasmanian researchers believe a drought 18 years ago could explain why.
Timber investors reap reward at last [$]
Forestry Southern landowners dudded by the collapse of the Gunns, Great Southern and Forest Enterprises Australia plantation timber growing schemes are finally seeing their payday.
Chicks on beaches – do not disturb!
Eric Wohler
BirdLife Tasmania today reminded beach-goers around the state to not pick up
or remove chicks supposedly ‘abandoned’ by their parents, or appearing to be
‘lost’.
https://tasmaniantimes.com/2018/11/chicks-on-beaches-do-not-disturb/
Liberals’ Wilderness Wrecking a National Disgrace
Cassy O’Connor
The Hodgman Government’s ‘open for business’ mantra is backfiring on both them and Tasmania.
https://tasmaniantimes.com/2018/11/liberals-wilderness-wrecking-a-national-disgrace/
Western Australia
Prescribed burns cause thick smoke to hang over Perth
Perth residents wake to a thick blanket of fog and smoke caused by prescribed burns as far away as Walpole, in Western Australia’s south.
WA unions vote to ban gas fracking
Premier Mark McGowan is under growing pressure to introduce a Statewide ban on gas fracking.
https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/wa-unions-vote-to-ban-gas-fracking-ng-b881024005z
Sustainability
Citizens prefer landscapes that combine nature with built infrastructure
A pioneering study analyses the photographs shared by citizens in social networks to evaluate the aesthetic consideration of natural landscapes. In the province of Barcelona, the preferred images are those taken in urban and periurban environments that integrate green spaces with grey infrastructure.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181112131538.htm
Cotton-based hybrid biofuel cell could power implantable medical devices
A glucose-powered biofuel cell that uses electrodes made from cotton fiber could someday help power implantable medical devices such as pacemakers and sensors. The new fuel cell, which provides twice as much power as conventional biofuel cells, could be paired with batteries or supercapacitors to provide a hybrid power source for the medical devices.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/giot-chb111518.php
Human excrement efficiently converted to hydrochar — World Toilet Day Nov. 19
The discovery addresses two challenges prevalent in the developing world: sanitation and growing energy needs. The researchers said the reaction that creates the hydrochar sterilizes the waste material, so it becomes safe to handle. The ‘coals’ can potentially be utilized for household heating and cooking, while the liquid byproduct (the aqueous phase) could be used as fertilizer.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/aabu-hee111418.php
Next-gen batteries possible with new engineering approach
Dramatically longer-lasting, faster-charging and safer lithium metal batteries may be possible, according to Penn State research, recently published in Nature Energy.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/ps-nb111418.php
Organizations with broad social ties help recovering from natural disasters
In order to encourage a wide economic recovery following a natural disaster, communities should think about activating advocacy organizations such as local environmental groups, political organizations and human-rights groups. New businesses alone, do not offset rise in post-disaster poverty levels.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/uab-owb111618.php
Now for something completely different …
Not sure how to vote this state election? Here’s where Victoria’s major parties stand
Whether you care about housing or hospitals, public transport or police numbers, our guide will help you understand where Victoria’s major parties stand on the issues that matter most to you.
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