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News (back to current News) November - Toyota moves to make plug in hybrid! October - Atmospheric CO2 Buildup Accelerating? September - Fiercer Hurricanes September - Russian Government Approves Kyoto September - Futureenergy.org goes head to head with Bellmany September - US Elections and Global Warming August - Bracks Contemplates State Base Carbon Trading August - Bald Hill Wind Farm is go! August - Pelamis completed its first week ocean trials August - Environmentalists' Surprise Party for Dr Kemp August - Iranian Expert Predicts Oil Peak in 2008 August - August the 4th - Beginning of the Oil Peak? July - Futureenergy.org Speaks at National Wind Industry Conference July - 8 US States Sue Greenhouse Polluting Power Companies July - Brazil In Top 10 Greenhouse Emitters Due to Amazon Deforestation July - Students of Sustainability Conference 2004 June - US Scientists: Faster Global Warming June - Thousands Volunteer to Run Climate Change Models at Home May - Putin: Russia to ratify Kyoto Protocol May - Deputy PM quizzed on Oil Peak May - Deputy PM backflip on Oil Peak May - Howard Budget 2004 May - Oil Crisis acknowledged? Apr - Futureenergy.org lobbies John Howard Mar - Denmark to invest extra A$1 billion in wind farms by 2007 Mar - Clean Energy protest Mar - WWF says emission crisis can be solved Feb - US Pentagon climate change report Feb - Suzuki stunned by Bellamy's attack Jan - Shell cut oil reserve estimates by 20% Jan - Tambling Report - 98% non-renewable Jan - Victorian Wind Atlas released Jan - 1/4 of Earth's species threatened Jan - Big Day Out and Rainbow Serpent Jan - 20,000 leaflets hit the streets of Hawthorn Dec - ABC 7.30 Report - greenhouse issues Dec - Greenhouse/Free Trade Agreement Dec - $75 million storm hits Melbourne Nov - Wind Rally No. 1 November November 14, 2006 Toyota moves to make plug in hybrid! As you probably know Toyota produces a Hybrid electric petrol vehicle that enhances fuel efficiency. In America these vehicles are commonly modified by adding additional batteries and turning the petrol engine off, enabling the cars to be drive on battery power only. They are plugged in at night to recharge, hence the the name "plug in" Hybrid and if charged using wind or solar power become "zero emission" vehicles while running in "plug in" mode. If the owner needs to travel long distances the car is returned to it normal "hybrid" mode of driving where the petrol engine kicks in as required. These modifications are done privately and void the warranty. However Toyota has announce they will look a making a factory version of the "plug in" Hybrid. "When you combine plugging-in - which pushes fuel efficiency over 100 miles per gallon - with biofuels, then you're getting into multiple hundreds of miles per gallon," says Bradley Berman, publisher of hybridcars.com, a technology website. "It starts to look like a real here-and-now solution to oil dependence, air quality, and climate change." From The Christian Science Monitor July 20th See also US News Top October October 11, 2004 Atmospheric CO2 Buildup Accelerating? Independent article Guardian article Top September September 30, 2004 Fiercer Hurricanes Hurricanes are predicted to become significantly more fierce (typically about an extra half step on the five-step scale used to measure them), with 20 percent more rain, due to global warming. The Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in Princeton, New Jersey has conducted the most comprehensive computer modelling analysis yet. An independent hurricane expert MIT, asked about the link between the warming of tropical oceans and storm intensity, said: 'This clinches the issue.' New York Times article Full paper in the Journal of Climate Top September September 30, 2004 Russian Government Approves Kyoto Another positive step towards tackling climate change, this time from Russia. After years of mixed messages from President Vladimir Putin, today the government approved the Kyoto Protocol. A ratification law will now go to the parliament, where it is almost bound to be passed. Once the law is passed, the conditions for the Kyoto Protocol will at last be met. Australia and the United States are now totally isolated from the rest of the international community on global warming action. Reuters article BBC News article Top September September 29, 2004 Futureenergy.org goes head to head with Bellmany Futureenergy.org campaigners attended a public meeting in Foster designed to promote anti wind sentiments. Bellamy was the guest speaker who was campaigning against wind farms. The event was report by The Age and they said, "The one direct challenge to Professor Bellamy, who was paid by 60 Minutes for his attendance, came from Adrian Whitehead of sustainable energy group Future Energy.org who had campaigned with Professor Bellamy on other environmental issues." The meeting was reported as being 800 strong with at least 90% of the people not supporting wind farms. Age article Top September September 9-11, 2004 US Elections and Global Warming US online magazine Salon offers three articles of election analysis from the perspective of global warming. Particularly interesting for the Australian electorate is an incisive look at Democrat candidate John Kerry. Though Kerry may appear to be striking deals with the coal mining industry, one observer points out that 'if you look closely at environmental track records, if you compare Bush to Kerry, you have the devil and the angel.' Familiar? Exactly the same comparison on climate change makes sense in comparing John Howard to anyone else. Salon article #1 Salon article #2 Salon article #3 Top August August 25, 2004 Bracks contemplates state based MRET. August 25, 2004 Premier Bracks, faced with no increase in new renewable energy target from the federal government, is contemplating a state based MRET system to increase our renewable energy use. Futureenergy.org applauds this view. Top August August 25, 2004 Bald Hill Wind Farm is go! August 25, 2004 The Bald Hills wind farm in South Gippsland has been given the go ahead. Anti wind groups have threatened to blockade the site. Futureenergy.org has visited the site a number of times and calls on all Victorians who care about our future and climate change to support this new wind farm. Congratulations to the Brack's Labor government for having the foresight to continue the shift of our power generation capacity from greenhouse causing coal to clean renewables such as wind. Top August August 23, 2004 UK offshore wave power passes first week's test August 23, 2004 The UK-made Pelamis completed its first week of grid connected testing at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney. The Pelamis is made by Ocean Power Delivery Ltd and is rated at 750kw. Take a look at their news page Offshore based wave generators also have the added bonus of creating an instant marine sanctuary in their immediate vicinity. Top August August 20, 2004 Surprise Party for Dr Kemp LIBERALS' ENVIRONMENT POLICY A RECIPE FOR EXTINCTION Conservationists from a broad spectrum of environment campaigns including Melbourne Tarkine Action Group and Futureenergy.org converged on David Kemp's Electorate Office at 368 Centre Road, Bentleigh, to highlight his achievements in his time as the Minister for Environment and Heritage, and to mark his retirement from Federal politics. Campaigners delivered to Dr Kemp an "extinction cake," honouring his contribution to Australia's growing number of threatened and endangered species through his endorsement of a fossil fuel reliant energy industry, ongoing logging of old-growth forests, broad scale clearing of bushland and a reluctance to enact definite sustainability targets or to legislate to meet environmental treaty obligations. "During his four-year term as the Federal Minister for Environment, Dr Kemp has done nothing to tackle climate change by refusing to sign the Kyoto protocol. He has failed to raise new renewable energy targets and has cut funding for renewable research," said spokesperson for the action, Adrian Whitehead (futureenergy.org). "Failure to tackle climate change will mean 25% of all species will be extinct by 2050, yet the Howard government is proposing to give us a $1.5 billion subsidy to use diesel and produce more greenhouse gases." Detailed in a report from the Humane Society International, it was stressed that during his time as Environment Minister, Dr Kemp has listed just one critical habitat, for one threatened species, under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. This falls far short of the government's 2001 election commitment to list all critical habitats for Australia's 654 critical endangered and endangered species, such as the giant freshwater crayfish and the spotted tailed quall. The conservationists held a retirement soiree at the office of Dr Kemp. Although this is a light-hearted gesture, the inability of the government's environmental actions has direct undertones to a serious issue that has grave implications for the re-election possibilities of the current government. Partygoers enjoying cake and cops The extinction cake being delivered to Dr Kemp's Office Top August August 12, 2004 Iranian Expert Predicts Oil Peak in 2008 With world oil prices hitting new highs, Dr Ali Samsam Bakhtiari, of the National Iranian Oil Company, predicted that we have reached the end of cheap oil and that we will reach the oil peak in 2008. Dr Bakhtiari discussed the approaching global oil peak in the context of his work in the global oil market. The prediction was made at public talks held at the 60L Green Building. International Perspectives on Oil Vulnerability was put on by the Victorian Local Government Association and Environment Victoria. Dr Bruce Robinson of the Sustainable Transport Coalition of Western Australia also spoke, introducing the topic of Oil Peak. Dr Robinson had recently returned from the June global meeting on World Oil Peak, held in Germany and run by the Association for the Study of Peak Oil. Issues discussed included effects of the oil peak on our oil-based economy, the length of the OPEC plateau, and how during the last oil shock Australia was shielded from its effects and why we won't be this time. One of the most disconcerting messages of the talk was how few Australian governments are taking the looming Oil Peak at all seriously, the West Australian government being the only exception in that it has acknowledged that the Oil Peak exists. Yet even it is still selling its gas resources to overseas countries. Top August August 4, 2004 Markets Fall as Oil Peak Begins Will August 4th, 2004 eventually be recognised as the beginning of the oil peak? As oil hit highs of US$44.15 and service stations sold petrol for A$1.20, global markets fell as fear of sustained high oil prices took hold. Commentators are calling on the federal government to reduce petrol taxes to ease prices. Price relief is at best a short term solution. The only real solution is to move our transport fuels away from fossil fuels to alternatives such as hydrogen and electricity. OPEC, which normally increases production to reduce prices, are claiming they are close to their production peak. Top July July 30, 2004 Futureenergy.org Speaks at National Wind Industry Conference Adrian Whitehead from Futureenergy.org was a speaker at this year's Wind Industry Conference held in Launceston in the last week of July. His topic was Grassroots Campaigning in the context of Futureenergy.org. His talk was well received. Futureenergy.org would like to thank the Australian Wind Energy Association (AUSWEA) for the opportunity to speak at the conference. Top July July 21, 2004 8 US States Sue Greenhouse Polluting Power Companies Eight US states and the city of New York have sued five of American's largest power companies, on the grounds that these utilities are the country's biggest emitters of carbon dioxide, responsible for approximately 10% of the nation's CO2 emissions. According to a press release, the lawsuit, filed under a relatively obscure federal common law of public nuisance, isn't intended to seek financial penalties but to demand emission cuts. A spokesman for New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer (famous for his indictment of financial services companies) said, 'The states are collectively deciding that our economy, our public health, our environment is being damaged.' Predictable responses came from the utilities. New York Times article Top July July 20, 2004 Brazil In Top 10 Greenhouse Emitters Due to Amazon Deforestation In the next few months, Brazil is expected to publish a much-delayed report on its greenhouse gas emissions. According to scientists, this report will show that burning of the Amazon rainforest has made Brazil one of the world's top 10 polluters. According to press reports, a researcher at the nongovernmental Institute for Amazon Research claims the inventory should show that Brazil produces around 300 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent annually, two-thirds of which is due to logging and burning of the world's largest tropical forest. Destruction of the Amazon jungle, which is larger than continental USA and home to up to 30% of the globe's animal and plant species, reached its second-highest level last year with destruction of 5.9 million acres. Environmentalists lament that, although Brazil has signed the Kyoto Protocol, that treaty doesn't require Brazil to cut emissions. Planet Ark article Top July July 15, 2004 Students of Sustainability Conference 2004 The 2004 Students of Sustainability conference was held this year at Latrobe University, Bundoora, Melbourne from the 11th to the 16th of July. 13 different forums or workshops were held directly relating to energy issues. Futureenerg.org presented two workshops, ran one tour, and participated in an energy workshop in open space. Future energy woulld like to thank Catherine Fitzpatrick - Greenpeace Renewable Energy Campaigner, Stephanie Long - Friends of the Earth Climate Justice Campaign Coordinator, Paul Martin - Australian BioDiesel Expert, Daren Gladman - Environment Victoria Climate Change Campaigner, Lindsay Marriott - Bald Hill's Farmer, Dave Berry - Toora Wind Info Center and Dean from Power Works for providing information at a Futureenergy.org activity at SOS04. Visit the Students of Sustainability website. Top June June 24, 2004 US Scientists: Faster Global Warming The US National Center for Atmospheric Research, using a new supercomputer, projects that global temperatures could rise by 2.6 degrees Celsius if CO2 emissions continue unabated. The modeling results from CCSM3 (the Community Climate System Model) exceed previous best estimates. Scientist Clifford Jacobs states that with the new models 'the degree of uncertainty has narrowed. We have a higher degree of confidence in these results than in the previous results.' Terra Daily article Top June June 22, 2004 Thousands Volunteer to Run Climate Change Models at Home A worldwide experiment starts today to test the plausibility of the extreme climate change scenario that underpins the disaster movie The Day After Tomorrow. The project is the baby of climateprediction.net, a consortium of UK universities and the Met Office, which in September 2003 launched a global online effort to generate 'the world's most comprehensive probability-based forecast of 21st century climate.' Volunteers could download a unique, slightly different 'physically plausible' version of the Met Office's climate model, simulating several decades of global climate at a time. 49,000 participants from 130 countries joined in. The volunteer climatologists run the model for a few weeks as a background activity. The project coordinator says this latest exercise goes further: 'Now we are extending the project to investigate how predictions might change if the thermo-haline circulation in the oceans were to slow down, altering the flow of the Gulf Stream.' Because such a simulation is more computationally intensive than even the world's most powerful computer, individuals can genuinely help. BBC article Climateprediction.net Top May May 21, 2004 Putin: Russia to ratify Kyoto Protocol Russian President Vladimir Putin has stunned and delighted the world by promising to move quickly on ratification of the Kyoto climate change treaty. Mr Putin made the concession after the EU backed Russia's bid to join the WTO, making its support dependent on Russia ratifying Kyoto. Press reports mention two reports, commissioned by Putin, which had rejected Kyoto, so his move was unexpected. For the global emissions-reducing agreement to come into effect, Kyoto needs the support of developed nations responsible for 55% of emissions. Since US President George Bush pulled out in 2001, Russia is the only country big enough to carry Kyoto over the 55% threshold. Environmentalists have welcomed the announcement while warning that the deal isn't done yet. The Russian announcement further isolates Australia from the international community seeking to reduce global warming. BBC article Top May May 16, 2004 Deputy PM John Anderson quizzed on oil peak "I do share the community's quite deep concern about the outlook [for oil prices] because it really is related to very heavy demand for fuel around the place, limitations of global refining capacity and, I have to say it, the very real prospect that at some stage in the next few short years global production may very well peak and it may be hard to increase it further at a time when countries like China, of course, are looking for a lot more fuel and even in places like Australia our dependence on oil, on petrol and transportation continues to increase. This is one of the reasons why I believe, in common with legislators in most other Western countries, that we need to be determinedly looking at alternative fuels, both extenders and new fuels and that includes biofuels. But I don't want to fudge and say that there is an easy answer to this. The realities of global fuel refining are quite stark." Deputy PM John Anderson, appearing on ABC's Insiders program Futureenergy.org is pleased that the federal government is finally acknowledging that a peak in oil production is approaching. However this is yet to be reflected in the budget, with no new initiatives on renewable energy or fuels. The only record this government has on biofuels is hitting bio diesel with a levy and stopping funding for the Australian Center for Renewable Energy. What's more, it is increasing the $5 billion worth of subsidies for the fossil fuel industry so they can find expensive oil. By encouraging further oil exploration, it is plain that the government has no real understanding of the oil peak and why it is occurring. Put simply it takes energy to get energy. In the early days, farmers hit their paddock in Texas with a pick and oil came bubbling out of the ground. This is no longer the case. Oil is harder and harder to get and costs more and more energy. Eventually it costs more energy to get the oil out of the ground than you get out of the oil. At this point you stop production. We have already obtained all the easy oil, which is why world production will peak and start falling off. We need to take the oil peak issue seriously and seek an alternate energy path. More on oil peak Top May May 16, 2004 Deputy PM John Anderson backflips on oil May 9 - Queensland Greens Senate Candidate Drew Hutton in The Age: "If we keep going on as we are believing that this stuff (oil) is never going to run out or it's never going to get too expensive for us to use, then we're living in a fool's paradise." May 9 - Deputy PM John Anderson's spokesperson in the same article: "The Greens like the idea of catastrophe, it didn't happen in the 1970s (when they first predicted one) and it won't happen now," 7 days later: ". . . the very real prospect that at some stage in the next few short years global [oil] production may very well peak . . ." May 16 - Deputy PM John Anderson on ABC's Insiders program In only seven days our Deputy PM John Anderson changed his tune on whether or not the oil peak is coming. On May 9th, in response to Queensland Greens Senate Candidate Drew Hutton's call that we are running out of oil, a spokesperson denied we are facing an oil catastrophe. Seven days later Anderson acknowledged the approach of the oil peak. Drew Hutton correctly identified the importance of understanding the oil peak when he said "the economies of most civilized nations were heavily dependent on oil and the countries which would deal with this impending crisis best were those that had set themselves up with a quick and efficient public transport system and allowed for bicycle and pedestrian travel." Futureenergy.org finds it disturbing that John Anderson's spokesperson seems to have little or no understanding of the coming oil peak and its implications. He said that to "link current spiralling prices with oil reserves was ridiculous, given the instability of the oil-rich Middle East." This indicates total failure to grasp global oil politics. Currently the only Middle East oil instability is in Iraq, despite the US military presence. Saudi Arabia, a US-backed royal dictatorship, and the world's largest oil producer, is only threatened by internal overthrow, having had the only conventional army which could threaten it destroyed by the US in Gulf War II. However, Saudi Arabia's super giant oil wells, (which are now over 60 years old), are approaching the end of their lives, and their ability to increase production is becoming more limited. Globally, oil production from the non OPEC countries has already started to decline, and no new "giant oil fields" were found in 2003. Previously a dozen or so were discovered each year. The American Petroleum Institute recently said that refiners were operating on 92.5% capacity to produce a record 8.69 million barrels of gasoline a day.* In other words, production can only be ratcheted up by 7.5%. The instability in Iraq is being used to hide the real problem facing the oil industry and the global economy: we are fast approaching the global oil production peak. G8 to press for higher oil production Insiders transcript The Age article More on oil peak Top May May 11, 2004 Budget 2004 - Futureenergy.org comments The Howard government allocated an additional $248 million, on top of an existing $215 million, to implement the its Climate Change Strategy over four years. These figures can only be considered a joke. The additional funding is less than four times the $75 million damage bill for a single storm that hit Melbourne last December. It would not even pay for the installation of Pacific Hydro's 120 turbine wind farm at Portland, just one of fifteen wind farms proposed for development in Victoria. In Australia, climate change has already resulted in billions of dollars in damage and lost production, with increasingly severe droughts, severe fires fueled by drought and warmer temperatures, coral bleaching of our Great Barrier Reef, and numerous major storms. Climate change is no longer a problem we can push on to future generations. It is happening now to our generation. We need to spend billions not millions of dollars. The government can start doing this by removing the $5 billion plus in subsidies to the fossil fuel industry, redirecting it to renewable energy, energy efficiency and public transport. Top May May 11, 2004 Oil Crisis Acknowledged? "The Federal Government will launch a major push to find another Bass Strait-type oil reserve to combat concerns over Australia's looming oil supply crisis as part of a wide range of giveaways in today's federal budget. Oil exploration companies will receive $1.50 for every dollar spent on "new frontier" exploration in Australia's offshore seabeds." The Age Is the Government acknowledging the approaching oil peak. or is it just adding more money to the over $5 billion of subsidies the fossil fuel industry already receives. Latest estimates predict the oil peak will arrive in 2007. When it hits, the price of oil will go up and keep going up. Significantly, Saudi Arabia, which in the past has been able to ratchet up production from its super oil fields, is starting to draw more and more water, and is losing the capacity to dramatically increase production on demand. The effect on our economy will be dramatic. All products and services have significant components of cost associated with oil. As oil goes up in price, all prices rise in concert. Meanwhile the Government pats itself on the back for selling our gas, a possible buffer for the oil peak, to China on long-term contracts for a price that in a few years will be a pittance. More on oil peak Top April Futureenergy.org lobbies Liberals at state conference Futureenergy.org's energy and climate change campaigners held a successful demonstration outside the Liberal Party's State Council meeting in Hawthorn. Campaigners from Futureenergy.org gave out free "Yes 2 Wind energy" stickers, along with a flyer on climate change and renewable energy, to delegates, observers and parliamentarians, including Ministers of the Federal Cabinet. Other campaigners proudly held up two "No future being a coal Junkie" banners, drawing attention to the noxious sources of our electricity. Victorian coal power plants give off Furans, dioxins, arsenic, mercury, fluoride, sulphuric acid, uranium, thorium, radon, cadmium and chromium, just to name a few carcinogenic and deadly nasties. Cancer rates in the Latrobe Valley are seven times the national average. This is a very serious social and environmental issue. The demo, which lasted all day, made contact with the grass roots through to the echelons of the Liberal Party. Ministers who walked past the protest included the Prime Minister, Mr Howard, Federal Environment Minister, Dr David Kemp, Victorian Shadow Environment Minister Phil Honeywood, Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews, Mr Ruddock, and leader of the State opposition Robert Doyle. The Liberal Party at both Federal and State levels is very weak on renewable energy. Howard introduced a 2% MRET (Mandatory Renewable Energy Target) in 1998, and this has kick-started a solar, wind and bioenergy industry. However, to be world class in this area and have any hope of setting the right example to developing countries, we need MRET to be increased to 10x10, 10% new renewable by 2010. This is the call from all major environment groups and the Australian Greens (see the national 10x10 campaign). The ALP has committed to 5% new renewable by 2010, a step in the right direction. Futureenergy.org campaigner Matthew Wright asked the Prime Minister whether he would increase MRET to 10% by 2010. Howard was moving so quickly that all he could manage was a big smile and a firm handshake. We take this as a positive affirmation that he will affirm 10% MRET soon. We would like to thank Mr Howard and look forward to the official announcement. If you'd like to encourage Mr Howard to make a positive announcement on MRET, please email him via his web page http://www.pm.gov.au/email.cfm. Also contact Environment Minister Dr David Kemp D.Kemp.MP@aph.gov.au and Energy and Resources Minister Ian McFarlane Ian.Macfarlane.MP@aph.gov.au Matthew shaking John Howard's hand, watched over by media and a diligent AFP member John Howard taking a look at the coal junkie banner Top March March 29, 2004 Denmark to invest extra A$1 billion in wind farms by 2007 Climate campaigners were celebrating today as Denmark's centre right government cut a deal with all political players, including greens and social democrats, to see two 200 MW offshore wind farms built by 2007. 900 older 1980s turbines will be replaced and upgraded with 190 new turbines, capable of producing twice as much power in total. Careful analysis by the cost-benefit conscious, conservative government concluded that wind power is cost competitive with other alternatives. Full article Top March March 27, 2004 Clean Energy protest held on steps of Parliament House A protest calling on the Federal Government to commit to the continued development and installation of wind, solar and other renewable energy sources, in preference to greenhouse gas producing non-renewable energy sources, was held at midday. The protest called for the Howard Liberal government to raise the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) from its current 2% of energy use to a minimum of 10% by 2010. The ALP have stated they would lift the target to 5% by 2010, and the Greens to 10% by 2010. Introduced in 1998, MRET has largely been responsible for the growth in the renewable energy industry over the past few years. However, if this growth is to continue, and if Australia is to gain new manufacturing facilities and associated jobs, MRET must be raised or another supporting mechanism found. Alternatives could include making the fossil fuel industry incorporate the damage it does to the environment and people (cancer, etc.) into its pricing or the government could create a new carbon tax. 60 people attended the rally. Speakers included Pamela Curr from the Greens, Cam Walker from Friends of the Earth, and Mathew Wright and Adrian Whitehead from Futureenergy.org. The rally concluded with a tour of some of the global climate change nasties, including Rio Tinto and Shell. National 10x10 campaign Top March March 27, 2004 WWF says emissions crisis can be solved Australia's greenhouse gas pollution can be halved by 2040, using existing technology and without affecting economic growth, according to a groundbreaking study released today by the Clean Energy Future Group. The Clean Energy Future for Australia study, commissioned by an unprecedented alliance of industry associations, energy organisations and WWF Australia, found that a 50% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from stationary energy is now achievable within 36 years. There are sufficient resources of clean energy like natural gas, solar, wind and bioenergy to make up the bulk of energy supply in 2040, the study found. Full article (report also available) Top February February 22, 2004 Pentagon - climate change report warns of global social breakdown "A secret report, suppressed by US defence chiefs and obtained by The Observer, warns that major European cities will be sunk beneath rising seas as Britain is plunged into a 'Siberian' climate by 2020. Nuclear conflict, mega-droughts, famine and widespread rioting will erupt across the world. The document predicts that abrupt climate change could bring the planet to the edge of anarchy as countries develop a nuclear threat to defend and secure dwindling food, water and energy supplies. The threat to global stability vastly eclipses that of terrorism, say the few experts privy to its contents." Guardian/Observer Full article Leaked Pentagon report Top February February 11, 2004 Suzuki stunned by Bellamy's tirade against wind "I was stunned to read David Bellamy's tirade against wind power. I don't know of a wind power supporter (and I am one) who would claim all our energy needs could be fulfilled by wind alone. Just as solar energy only works when it's a sunny day, wind is gusty. We advocate efficiency to reduce demand and a diversity of renewable alternatives of which wind is one. Bellamy suggests wind power can only compete with subsidies but what of the perverse subsidies in the billions for the fossil fuel industry that has been having windfall profits for years since the first oil embargoes? Not only does the fossil fuel sector receive massive perverse subsidies, they don't pay for the full share of their costs for air pollution, smog created deaths, asthma and climate change. If the economics were adjusted to internalize such costs, fossil fuel would be outrageously expensive." World renowned Canadian environmentalist Dr David Suzuki Top January Shell cuts its proven reserve estimates by 20% Shell cut its proven oil and gas reserve estimates by 20%, resulting in a 7% slide in share price. This reduction is equivalent to 3.9 billion barrels of oil. Full BBC article Top January January 16, 2004 Tambling Report flags Federal Government commitment to 98% non-renewable energy The Tambling report released today recommends no change in the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) above the existing 2% level. If the Howard Government adopts these recommendations, it will endanger Australia's move to a sustainable energy future and add significantly to the greenhouse effect. This backwards move will mean that Australia misses out on the opportunity to be at the forefront of sustainable energy technology. The report has been condemned by Australia's environment groups and renewable industry. Top January January 13, 2004 Victorian Wind Atlas released The Victorian government releases a map showing Victoria's wind patterns and how they relate to existing power infrastructure. The map can be used to plan Victoria's wind farm development. See the wind atlas on the web Top January January 8, 2004 Climate change: 1/4 of Earth's species threatened with extinction A study published in Nature predicts that a quarter of Earth's species could become extinct through climate change by 2050. Telegraph (UK) article Nature magazine Top January Futureenergy.org at the Big Day Out and Rainbow Serpent Festivals The Futureenergy.org campaign started the Australia Day long weekend with a display at the Rainbow Serpent Festival on a rural property north of Beaufort. The team gave out 600 "Yes 2 Wind Energy" stickers before they ran out, and met with much of the 8,000-strong crowd. Many of the participants were well aware of the issues and came to give the team some words of support. Others were all too eager to find out more, and the Futureenergy.org team was ready with information leaflets and informative one-on-one presentations. From the stall at Beaufort it was off to the Big Day Out Music Festival at the Melbourne Showgrounds. With a 40,000-strong crowd, the Futureenergy.org team couldn't keep up with all the inquiries. The last of our 300 stickers were given to individuals with a strong interest in making a difference on the issues of "climate change" and "now pollution." The stalls were a joint effort between Futureenergy.org and Nuclear Free Australia A drawcard at the weekend's music festivals was a model 2.75MW NEG Micon turbine lent to us by Neg Micon. This generated not just power but strong interest in the future of wind energy. Australia's only dedicated renewable energy campaign, Futureenergy.org is engaging young people to help save their future by running market stalls at selected high profile music events. Top January 20,000 leaflets hit the streets of Hawthorn Futureenergy.org leafleted the suburbs of Hawthorn, Hawthorn East, Camberwell, Glen Iris and parts of Burwood and Canterbury, with a hard-hitting Christmas message urging people to act on climate change. The start of the flyer reads as follows: "This Christmas is this the present you want to give your kids? Melting of the Arctic icecap by 40% in thirty years. A rise in sea levels by 10-25cm. Massive coral die-off on a global scale. More storms, more drought, more intense fires, hot temperatures and less rain. Too late! These have already happened and it's going to get much worse. There is an answer. We need to support clean energy and we need to do it now!" Download (201K PDF) the whole flyer Top December December 13, 2003 ABC 7.30 Report - Greenhouse issues The ABC 7.30 Report has run two shows this week on greenhouse issues. On Monday it exposed Lyall Howard as being both John Howard's nephew and Rio Tinto's chief lobbyist. The question we must now ask is, "Will John Howard adopt Rio Tinto's line of scrapping the federal government's Mandatory Renewable Energy Targets?" I suppose it's just wait and see. Transcript #1 Transcript #2 Top December Australia-US Free Trade Agreement & Greenhouse Joint City Actions Yesterday was our fourth flipper action and we gave out our 1,000th leaflet. Hot and sweaty, wearing diving masks and flippers, members of the joint action handed out their 1,000th flyer yesterday (10/12/03). The actions have been well received and we have been getting out about 250 flyers an hour. Adrian Whitehead of futureenergy.org developed a joint action with global trade campaigner Allan Griffiths to educate the public about the negative effects of both global warming and the Australian-US Free Trade Agreement, in particular its environmental impacts. The first action occurred 4th December in the Burke St Mall. 250 flyers were distributed. Thank you to members of the Greens who supported this action. The actions are continuing until Christmas. Email adrian@futureenergy.org if you want to help. The misnamed "Free Trade Agreement" is not about trade. It is about unrestricted USA corporate investment in Australia. Corporations will be able to challenge Australia's federal, state or local governments over laws that prohibit them from entering any area of Australia's domestic economy. Any attempt by our governments to legislate to protect our environment could be challenged as barriers to trade by US corporations. Under a similar trade agreement, US oil company Harken is currently suing Costa Rica for US$57 billion after Costa Rica moved to protect its coastline from oil exploitation. Support for clean energy or energy efficiency could similarly be challenged. The AUSFTA is predicted to increase total emissions by 25% due to greater land clearing and burning of more fossil fuels. It will be a disaster for the environment. www.tradewatchoz.org Top December December 3, 2003 $75 million dollar storm hits Melbourne Today a massive storm hit Melbourne. The damage caused by the storm brought greenhouse and climate change issues back onto the public agenda. How many more $75 million storms must we have before governments and people start taking climate change seriously? Top November November 15, 2003 Wind Power Rally No. 1 100 people gathered on the steps of Victoria's Parliament House and called on the Bracks Government to continue to support renewable energy sources such as wind, as an alternative to fossil fuels such as coal. Left - one of the reasons we campaign for sustainable energy Right - Democrat Senator Lyn Allison at the rally Supported by: Friends of the Earth, Moreland United Students Environment Collective, Environment Victoria, WWF Australia, Nuclear Free Australia, Greenpeace, The Wilderness Society, Australian Conservation Foundation, The Australian Democrats, The Australian Greens Read a selection of speeches Pictures from the wind rally Top
Last Updated: 21/10/04 by @1