Bipartisan support for greater indigenous invlovement in Murray Darling management

The Greens

Australian Greens amendments to improve Indigenous representation in the Murray Darling Basin plan have won bi-partisan support. However, proposed amendments in support of Indigenous water rights and delivery of cultural flows were rejected.

posted by seamas on November 29, 2008 at 4:20 pm · filed under

ACF welcomes Government investment in nature

Australian Conservation Foundation

The Federal Government’s 2009-10 Caring for Our Country business plan, released on Friday, represents an improvement in the way governments invest in Australia’s natural capital, according to the Australian Conservation Foundation. However, the ACF’s Rural Landscapes Campaigner, Corey Watts, has pointed out that some key gaps in the approach to protect these critical ecosystems and resources remain.

posted by seamas on November 29, 2008 at 4:10 pm · filed under

BHP Billiton called to account for damaging projects

Friends of the Earth

Indigenous and environmental campaigners will highlight the ecological and social impacts of BHP Billiton’s operations in Australia and overseas at the company’s AGM in Melbourne today. According to Friends of the Earth, BHP Billiton has tried to greenwash over the damaging impacts of projects such as its Olympic Dam uranium and copper mine in South Australia, while exploiting legal loopholes to avoid environmental and social responsibility.

posted by seamas on November 27, 2008 at 2:39 pm · filed under

Human Rights and Climate Change Lecture (Melbourne, Dec 10)

EcoShout

Public lecture on how climate change is threatening fundamental human rights. To be delivered by Dan Adams, organiser of the Make Poverty History Concert and Young Victorian of the Year for 2008.

Zinc at Federation Square, 12:30-1pm. Registration required for this free event.

posted by seamas on November 27, 2008 at 2:18 pm · filed under

International Buy Nothing Day (Nov 29)

Reduce your environmental footprint by participating in International Buy Nothing Day on November 29.

posted by seamas on November 27, 2008 at 2:11 pm · filed under

Peats Ridge Festival (Glenworth Valley, Dec 29-Jan 1)

Peats Ridge Sustainable Arts & Music Festival features entertainment, indigenous culture, education on sustainable living, as well as markets, rainforest bush walks, kayaking, horse riding, camping and idyllic swimming holes.

From 29 December 2008 to 1 January 2009 in the Glenworth Valley, New South Wales (1 hour north of Sydney)

posted by seamas on November 27, 2008 at 2:05 pm · filed under

WMO announces rise in GHG emissions

ABC News

The World Meteorological Organisation has announced that greenhouse gas emissions reached historical highs in 2007, with carbon dioxide reaching 383.1 ppm, a 0.5 per cent rise on 2006 levels.  Nitrous oxide and methane levels rose by 0.25 and 0.34 per cent respectively.  The WMO says that, “Using the NOAA Annual greenhouse gas index, the total warming effect of all long-lived greenhouse gases was calculated to have increased by 1.06 per cent from the previous year and by 24.2 per cent since 1990.” 

posted by ruby on November 26, 2008 at 9:25 am · filed under

Pioneer study enlists indigenous understandings of water management

CSIRO Media Centre

The TRaCK (Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge) funded research in the Daly River catchment in the Northern Territory and the Fitzroy River catchment in the Kimberley region of Western Australia is pioneering the inclusion of indigenous concerns and knowledge in water management.  Indigenous peoples will be involved not only in consultation, but also in research, monitoring, and as advisors on river health. 

posted by ruby on November 26, 2008 at 9:19 am · filed under

Companies pledge to remain GM free

Greenpeace

Leading supermarket brands Coles, Aldi and IGA Metcash, top users of canola oil Goodman Fielder, Unilever and Peerless foods, and some of the biggest consumer food brands including Kellogs, Heinz, Arnott’s, Carman’s Fine Foods, King Island Dairy and Lilydale have pledged not to use genetically modified canola in their products. Australia’s first GM canola crops are being harvested this year in Victoria and NSW after independent reviews allowed the state based moratoria on GM canola crops to expire last year. Greenpeace, meanwhile, has recently released a True Food Guide Canola Edition instructing consumers on how to shop ‘GE Free.’

posted by ruby on November 26, 2008 at 9:06 am · filed under

Australia may sell uranium to Russia

ABC News

Following a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at APEC in Peru over the weekend, Russia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Sergey Lavrov, has been telling local media outlets that Australia is offering to do ‘everything possible’ to ratify a nuclear cooperation agreement and commence sales of Uranium to his country. Australia’s Foreign Minister, Steven Smith, told Sky News that it was quite clear to him that Russia is “..very keen to pursue or proceed with the agreement.”

posted by Vinnie on November 25, 2008 at 8:53 pm · filed under