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

Victoria declares war on over-consumption

The Age

The Victorian State Government is working to change consumption habits by introducing personal water targets of 155 litres per person per day this summer. The plan aims to work alongside stage 3a water restrictions which the Government hopes to be able to keep in place for the next 12 months. The targets are encouraged and voluntary, however, the State’s Water Minister, Mr Tim Holding, has alluded to tougher restrictions being introduced if Melburnians fail to comply.

The Government’s environmental arm - Sustainability Victoria - has signaled further changes to the Government’s approach to sustainability by using similar new models to change consumption habits rather than by using information campaigns in the future, with electricity and household waste as well as water use, being the targets.

posted by Vinnie on November 25, 2008 at 8:15 pm · filed under

Climate Change shrinking Fiji’s coral reefs

The Age

50 per cent of Fiji’s coral reefs have disappeared since 2005/06 according to a new study released in a publication called Global Change Biology. The study found that coral bleaching due to Climate Change and a Crown of Thorns starfish outbreak have caused the reefs to shrink. The effects have been profound on the local population, which has traditionally relied on fish for protein and has in turn fallen since fish stocks have suffered.

posted by Vinnie on November 25, 2008 at 7:45 pm · filed under

61% decline in Murray River flows

ABC News

A CSIRO report has found that there is no flow from the mouth of the Murray River into the sea 40 per cent of the time. Total flow from the river in South Australia has reduced 61 per cent - from 12,000 to less than 5,000 gigalitres - since European settlement began. Dr Tom Hatton, the author of the report predicts further reductions up to 80 per cent of original flow levels by 2030 if water usage doesn’t change, resulting in severe impacts on the ecosystems and communities in the lower reaches of the river.

posted by steve on November 24, 2008 at 6:18 pm · filed under

Beached whales rescue mission

ABC News

Only 11 out of a pod of 65 long finned pilot whales have survived being beached on Tasmania’s north-west coast near Stanley. Trucks conveyed twelve surviving whales 17 kilometres to Godfreys beach to deeper water, however one whale died as it was being released. The whales have been implanted with satellite tracking devices so their progression can be monitored. According to Parks and Wildlife Services manager Chris Arthur, strandings in that particular area are not infrequent, on the contrary have been occurring for hundreds of years.

posted by cecie on November 23, 2008 at 5:25 pm · filed under