Daily Links Aug 11

Matteo Canavani is a seriously worrisome Minister with the selective clap-trap he spouts and the dystopian future to which he is leading us. We once regarded our Parliamentary representatives as leaders in our communities, people  we respected and people who were worthy of that respect. We can’t say that now.

Post of the Day

Climate change conversations can be difficult for both skeptics, environmentalists

Having productive conversations about climate change isn’t only challenging when dealing with skeptics, it can also be difficult for environmentalists, according to two studies presented at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association.

 

Today’s Celebration

Independence Day – Chad

Mountain Day – Japan

Day of Armenian National Identity – Armenia

Turkmen Melon Holiday – Turkmenistan

Latvian Freedom Fighters’ Remembrance Day – Latvia

Flag Day – Pakistan

Children’s Day – Uruguay

Children’s Day – Chile

Father’s Day – Brazil

Day of Arafah – Islam

Tisha B’Av – Judaism

Eid al-Adha – Islam

Son and Daughter Day

More about Aug 11

 

Climate Change

Australia’s push to ‘step up’ in the Pacific sobered by climate change pleas

Pacific countries know they’re the focus of renewed attention from Australia, the US and China and are looking to leverage that attention from global powers into real support for climate change action.

 

Climate change conversations can be difficult for both skeptics, environmentalists

Having productive conversations about climate change isn’t only challenging when dealing with skeptics, it can also be difficult for environmentalists, according to two studies presented at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association.

 

Ten years of icy data show the flow of heat from the Arctic seafloor

In addition to 10 years of data on the flow of heat in the Arctic ocean seafloor, the USGS and Geological Survey of Canada have published an analysis of that data using modern seismic data.

 

National

Matt Canavan: The night watchman for coal

Joanne McCarthy

Canavan has ramped up support for coal since the Coalition was re-elected in May, claiming the surprise result gave the government a mandate for coal-fired power stations.

 

New South Wales

Residents on alert after fire warning issued for NSW mid-north coast

Emergency services are keeping a close watch on large blazes at Middle Creek Road, Kangaroo Creek north of Coffs Harbour, and at Verges Creek north of Crescent Head in northern NSW, after residents were warned to seek shelter.

 

Fears family behind ‘evil’ land-clearing act will avoid court order

The northern NSW farm where a government compliance officer was murdered is on the market even though the owners are yet to carry out court-ordered remediation for illegal land-clearing done years earlier.

 

Desalination plant to double as water crisis worsens [$]

The state government is drawing up plans to double the size of the controversial Sydney Desalination Plant as the water crisis gripping the state shows no signs of breaking.

 

Secret plans to ‘track and wipe out’ feral cats [$]

They hunt and kill as many as 2600 animals every minute, but the days of feral cats stalking our national parks are numbered. The Sunday Telegraph can reveal plans to film wild cats in nine locations across NSW as part of an eradication program.

 

ACT

ACT short-changed on federal transport spending: Leigh

The ACT isn’t getting its fair share of transport spending, Labor says, with new figures showing just 0.7 per cent of federal transport funds are going to projects in the ACT, despite the territory having 1.6 per cent of the country’s population.

 

Enforce cycling laws, or don’t bother with them

Canberra Times editorial

Cycling should be encouraged. For starters, there are health benefits for those who hop on bikes, and the reduction in pollution and traffic is good for everyone.

 

Queensland

Howard Smith Wharves bike path to be covered like a ‘suburban street’

Cyclists are worried the compressed granite pathway running through the site under the Story Bridge will simply break down again over time.

 

Why Brisbane couple turned to climate protesting after a decade in an Indian slum

Matt Wade

We’ve been arguing about climate policy for five elections: how many more before we get it right?

 

South Australia

Rubbish Police: Three strikes, and you’re in the bin

Putting rubbish in your recycling bin? Misuse your green bin? The waste management company responsible for seven Adelaide council areas wants to implement a three strike policy — and on the third, you’re fined.

 

Nuclear tourism is so hot right now [$]

Matthew Abraham

In the 1950s and 1960s, the UK Government merrily blew up SA’s backyard with nukes and Matthew Abraham was one of the first to visit the sites — but how does it compare to nuclear tourism today?

 

Tasmania

Spectre of ‘67 disaster haunts us [$]

The two men whose gripping reports from Tasmania’s 1967 bushfires went around the world are sounding the alert for a new fire that would equal if not surpass the horror of that year.

 

Northern Territory

Kakadu Hwy in need of more than 1000 safety upgrades [$]

A substandard, poorly maintained and poorly signposted part of the road through Kakadu National Park contributed to the tragic deaths of a driver and three of his passengers, the Territory Coroner has found.

 

Sustainability

Enhanced natural gas storage to help reduce global warming

Researchers have designed plastic-based materials that can store natural gas more effectively. These new materials can not only make large-scale, cost-effective, and safe natural gas storage possible, but further hold a strong promise for combating global warming.

 

Low-income, black neighborhoods still hit hard by air pollution

Disease-causing air pollution remains high in pockets of America — particularly those where many low-income and African-American people live, a disparity highlighted in research presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association in New York.

 

Nature Conservation

African wildlife rangers fight fire with fire in the battle with poachers

Australian fire experts team up with African rangers to protect wildlife and habitat by combating fires lit by poachers and criminals.

 

 

 

Maelor Himbury

6 Florence St Niddrie 3042

93741902

0432406862