https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-04/history-and-genesis-of-modern-environment-movement/11366782
Post of the Day
From polite persuasion to violent confrontation — the birth of modern environmental activism
In the 1960s and 70s, the push to protect Australia’s rich environmental heritage shifted from polite persuasion to sometimes violent confrontation. These five campaigns revolutionised activism in the bush and city alike.
Today’s Celebration
Civic Holiday – Canada
Labor Day – Samoa
Farmers’ Day – Zambia
National Childrens’ Day – Tuvalu
Youth Day – Kiribati
Commerce Day – Iceland
Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day – Croatia
Independence Day – Burkina Faso
Our Lady of Africa Day – Ceuta
Islamic Human Rights Day – Iran
Nag Panchami – Hinduism
Climate Change
Climate could be an electoral time bomb, Republican strategists fear
A growing number of young voters, including conservatives, identify climate change as a top priority. Republican strategists fear that could soon pose a big problem.
US borrowing as the future burns
Bob Hennelly
We spend billions we don’t have to protect fossil fuels on the other side of the planet.
Bob Marshall
“Adaptation” has become all the rage among states where bashing/denying climate science remains a requirement for political status.
Climate change Mammoth in room largely being ignored
NZ Herald editorial
If people worldwide still struggle to look doomsday in the eye amid issues that seem more immediate, Mother Nature is forcing us to focus.
National
Minister says ‘broader issues at play’ over import delays of Australian coal into China
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham has defended the strength of Australia’s relationship with China despite ongoing tensions and lingering questions about coal exports.
‘Very dangerous’: Labor criticises government’s nuclear power inquiry
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has criticised the federal government’s inquiry into nuclear power, saying the issue has been fully canvassed already.
From polite persuasion to violent confrontation — the birth of modern environmental activism
In the 1960s and 70s, the push to protect Australia’s rich environmental heritage shifted from polite persuasion to sometimes violent confrontation. These five campaigns revolutionised activism in the bush and city alike.
Too good to be true? Australia’s high-speed rail dream leaves a bitter taste
A would-be developer’s vision involves building eight cities between Melbourne and Sydney. But a Guardian investigation has uncovered serious doubts
Michael Kirby urges Australia to sign up to nuclear weapon ban treaty
Former high court judge says it’s a fluke the world has avoided nuclear disasters since the second world war and weapons remain a peril
Nuclear power inquiry welcomed [$]
The Minerals Council of Australia has welcomed the federal government’s inquiry into the feasibility of nuclear power.
Murray-Darling Basin: water ministers agree to independent umpire to police plan
Federal, NSW, Victorian, Queensland, ACT and South Australian ministers agree to an inspector general who ‘can investigate allegations of water theft’
Adani-style red tape first on Canberra’s hit list [$]
Ben Morton says the government will actively work with business and the states to identify and eradicate impediments to investment.
‘Both sides’ of the climate change debate? How bad we think it is, and how bad it really is
Greg Jericho
It’s time to stop being mealy-mouthed about this. No more silent passes to climate science deniers
Accepting cost of new energy path [$]
Bernard Salt
Not only do we need to get an energy solution, we need to ensure that it matches our population growth and spending aspiration
Koala-detecting dogs sniff out flaws in Australia’s threatened species protection
Romane H. Cristescu et al
In a country like Australia – a wealthy, economically and politically stable nation with multiple environmental laws and comparatively effective governance – the public could be forgiven for assuming that environmental laws are effective in protecting threatened species.
Nuclear becomes latest round in energy wars [$]
Michelle Grattan
The government has formally reopened the highly contentious debate on nuclear power by referring the issue to a parliamentary committee, with it to report by the end of the year.
Victoria
Moonee Valley set for major transformation [$]
A $2 billion redevelopment of the home of the Cox Plate will transform Moonee Valley Racecourse into a “neighbourhood inside a park”. Townhouses, apartments, cafes, shops and leisure areas will be integrated with green spaces.
Mayor reveals plan to combat recycling crisis [$]
Mini compactor bins or specialist recycling trucks could be rolled out across Melbourne in bid to stop 45 tonnes of recycling being sent to landfill every day.
Taylor blasts state’s rebate ‘disaster’ [$]
Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor has blasted the Andrews government in Victoria over its solar rebate scheme.
Green targets ‘cloud future’ [$]
Victoria’s looming emissions and renewables targets may limit the lifespan of a major coal generator in the state.
Tania Constable
The nuclear inquiry announced by the government is an important first step towards a mature and overdue conversation.
New South Wales
‘Coals versus foals’: The mine the Hunter Valley thoroughbred industry doesn’t want
Plans to reopen a mine in the Hunter Valley are being welcomed by business owners, but horse studs say it could impact Scone’s international reputation as the perfect home for race-winning thoroughbreds.
Leaked charts ‘undercut’ case to lift Warragamba dam wall: opponents
Plans to lift Warragamba dam to cut flood risks to downstream communities have been challenged after charts show a 14-metre raising of the wall provides only moderate benefit in the biggest events.
ACT
Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur to leave ACT Legislative Assembly
Two-term ACT Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur will not be recontesting her Murrumbidgee seat at the 2020 election, opening the door for another minor party member to stand for the coming preselections.
Manuka plane tree removed for Sotiria Liangis Franklin St hotel development
Canberra Times editorial
It’s not unusual for trees to cause angst in Canberra, especially when it comes to the possibility of any being cut down in their prime.
Queensland
Activists call for CCTV over proposed ‘farm invasion’ laws
New trespass offences would spell up to 10 years in jail for animal or anti-coal activists.
Trevi Fountain-style attraction among ideas for new Brisbane mega park
People have been asked to submit their wishlist for the biggest public park to be created in Brisbane in almost half a century.
The drought town where families can’t afford to wash their clothes
Locals describe it as the “worst drought in living memory” but things are about to get worse in the Queensland town of Stanthorpe with its water supply just weeks from drying up.
South Australia
RSPCA releases images of SA’s worst animal cruelty cases
The RSPCA opens up its case files to highlight hundreds of shocking animal mistreatment and cruelty cases which have occurred in South Australia over the past 12 months.
Tasmania
More than 350,000 hectares of Tasmania’s forest could soon be open to logging
Huge swathes of Tasmanian forest were made off-limits to logging under what became known as a “peace deal” in 2012, ending decades of conflict — with that deal set to end next year, it is feared there could be a return to “forest wars”.
Prime specimens set to be protected [$]
Hobart City Council is preparing to add almost 750 trees and three hedges to its significant tree register. Find out the one spot where more than 70 per cent can be found.
Another city set to join climate declaration [$]
Tasmania could become home to the nation’s latest city to declare climate emergency as they look to ramp up pressure on state and federal MPs to do the same.
Northern Territory
NT mega-solar project draws interest {$]
The Sun Cable project proposed near Tennant Creek would export renewable power to Singapore, competing against imported LNG.
Yolngu seek bauxite mining compo [$]
The Yolngu people are planing a compensation claim against the government over bauxite mining on the Gove Peninsula.
Western Australia
Critically endangered sawfish deaths on cattle station drew fears of ‘negative story’, FOI reveals
When more than 40 freshwater sawfish were reported to be dying in a parched billabong on a cattle station owned by billionaire Gina Rinehart in Western Australia’s far north, State Government bureaucrats swung into action.
Sustainability
Energy storage will attract $662 bn investments through 2040; China, US, India to lead the pack
This 122-fold boom of stationary energy storage over the next two decades will require $662 billion of investment, according to Bloomberg NEF
How ‘flushable’ are wipes really? This experiment is testing them to find out
The problem of so-called flushable wipes is so out of control, a 7-metre fatberg was pulled out of a Queensland sewer, prompting authorities to test the big brands to see which ones really do break down.
Fears of ‘Chernobyl on ice’ as Russia prepares floating nuclear plant
Russia is planning to dispatch the vessel, its first floating nuclear power station, on a 4,000-mile journey along the Northern Sea Route, in a milestone for the country’s growing use of nuclear power in its plans for Arctic expansion.
Renewable energy is good money, not just good for the earth
Climate change has been framed as an ethical issue for years now, with mixed success. But now the calls for socially responsible investing to save the planet are increasingly being reinforced by cold economic logic.
Leaving a hero’s footprint on Earth
Peter Dykstra
Environmental heroes and villains have been around long enough to compile quite a history. One of the heroes died this week.
Matthew Stevens
Industry consolidation and the GFC have robbed the world of the discovery pipeline needed to replace the depleting giants of the global minerals production.
Really, Harry? There are better ways to help the planet [$]
Darren Levin
While it’s true that we could all be doing more to help tackle climate change, being lectured by jetsetting royals to whom the manor has been gifted feels more than a little rich.
Would President Trump use nuclear weapons today? [$]
Rex Jory
On Tuesday it will be 74 years since the bombing of Hiroshima. Today’s world is very different and far more dangerous – can we trust nuclear state leaders not to resort to these weapons again?
Nature Conservation
Bolsonaro vows to fight ‘illegal deforestation’ in Brazil
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro vowed Saturday to combat “illegal deforestation,” a day after the head of the agency that measures deforestation said he was being sacked after a row over the scale of the problem in the Amazon rainforest.
Climate change outruns evolution, studies find
Most vertebrates would need to evolve 10,000 times faster than their normal rates to survive climate change over the next century.
Beach or ashtray: How cigarettes are destroying nature
Bianca Caruana
Cigarette litter hurts our beaches, wildlife and ecologies
Now for something completely different …
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