January 2015 newsletter

Welcome to 2015. It’s going to be a busy year!

Cash for containers scheme
The Baird Government has announced it will introduce a cash for containers scheme similar to the one in SA. Great news for the environment. However, the beverage industry will do everything to block this scheme. If you would like to donate money to help make sure the scheme happens, go to the www.boomerangalliance.org.au

Marine Sanctuary Review
The Abbott government has suspended the national network of marine sanctuaries and begun its costly and unnecessary review, completely ignoring the more than 10 years of science and 750,000 submissions showing support for the sanctuaries. You can make a submission (it’s really easy) by going to http://www.saveourmarinelife.org.au/review/

Fracking the Future
The Australia Institute has published a booklet that busts all the myths the CSG industry has created about CSG. It costs $10 (plus postage). Available through Stop CSG Sydney info@stopcsgsydney.org.au

Commonwealth Bank and Adani
The Commonwealth Bank has announced it will support the Adani Coal mine. If you a customer of the bank and feel this is the wrong thing to do, you can close your account or you can join us at the rally on February 13. (see What’s on section)

We need your help
We are in the process of creating an environmental scorecard that we want to letterbox from the middle of February in the lead up to the state election. We will be concentrating in the Gladesville/Ryde/Hunters Hill area. If you would like to help, send us an email and we’ll organise getting the flyers to you. With your help in the last Federal Election we delivered 10,000 flyers. info@climatechangerg.org

Hydrogen fuelled car
Hyundai, which is based in Macquarie Park, has just announced it will be selling its hydrogen fuelled, zero emissions car from this year in Australia. To find out more go to http://www.hyundai.com.au/about-hyundai/news/articles/1st-h2-ix35-fuel-cell-2-au

Taking on the government
EDO (Environmental Defenders Office) NSW, as part of a network of Australian EDO’s, has launched court proceedings on behalf of Mackay Conservation Group, against the Commonwealth of Australia, Environment Minister Greg Hunt and mining company Adani over the federal approval of the Carmichael mine. Read more about it here 

2014: Hottest year on record
NASA’s research has been confirmed to show that the world is heating up and that the 10 hottest years on record have been since 1997. Have a look at http://www.9news.com.au/world/2015/01/17/12/21/global-record-warmth-makes-2014-our-hottest-year-on-record

Renewables at parity with fossil fuels!
Renewable energy projects across the globe are now matching or outperforming fossil fuels, particularly when accounting for things like local pollution, environmental damage and ill health. See the article http://econews.com.au/news-to-sustain-our-world/study-renewables-as-cheap-as-fossil-fuels/

Real cost of Carbon
Two Stanford University researchers contend that current USA government estimates of the “social cost of carbon”, a key metric of the economic damage caused by climate change used in cost-benefit of regulations, could be woefully short of reality. http://econews.com.au/news-to-sustain-our-world/report-real-social-cost-of-carbon-us220-a-tonne/

Who is the greenest country in the world?
Scandanavia countries, of course, are in the top 10. Find out where Australia is by going to http://www.greenpeace.org.au/blog/eco-friendly-countries/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenpeaceAustraliaPacific+%28Greenpeace+Australia+Pacific+Blog%29

Large solar project in Dubai
A Saudi company has won a tender to build, with help from Spanish and US companies, a 260MWp photovoltaic plant in Dubai. http://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/record-low-solar-prices-heralds-power-shift-from-fossil-fuels-30731

A different news source
Looking for a news source for all sorts of “green” issues? Check out Greenbuzz at   http://www.greenbiz.com/

Farming land being grabbed for mining
Lock the Gate has produced a map of the Hunter Valley and Gunnedah Basin showing for the first time the full scale of the massive land grab that is underway by big coal corporations which means less farms. Have a look at http://www.lockthegate.org.au/flogging_the_farm?utm_campaign=flogging_farm&utm_medium=email&utm_source=lockthegate

Building typhoon resistant buildings in Philippines
Have a look at a building constructed by volunteers in the Philippines that is both typhoon resistant and a multifunctional use community building. http://earthship.com/philippines

Now the Fin Review gets it
The Financial Review recently published an article saying that renewables have gone from fad tofact of life. If you are a subscriber to Fin Review you can see the article on http://www.afr.com/p/business/resources/energy/power_generation/renewable_energy_from_fad_to_fact_JqKygUkF60ySg5YrUHh4LM

Breaking points of the natural world
A recent study has shown that humans are making the planet unsafe for habitation. See the article at http://m.smh.com.au/environment/human-activity-has-pushed-earth-beyond-four-of-nine-planetary-boundaries-scientists-warn-20150115-12rjh9.html

What’s on
Global Divestment Day
On February 13 there will be a mass protest outside the Commonwealth Bank complex at Darling Harbour to show opposition to the bank’s plans to invest in the Adani Coal mine. For details go to http://gofossilfree.org/australia-gdd/ . Make sure you click on “Sydney” from the dropdown.

Walk for Water
From 21-28 February there will be a walk starting from Avon Dam on 21 February and finishing at State Parliamentt on 28 February to highlight concerns about CSG and coal mining in our drinking water catcments. On Friday 27 February the walk will go along Victoria Road through Gladesville. For more information, contact Marina on 0413 949 141 or go to www.walk4water.net

Planning for People Charter
On Thursday 15 March at 7pm in the St Andrews Uniting Church, 47A Kenneth St, there will be an evening of discussions about planning and development in the Lane Cove electorate. Candidates for the Lane Cove seat will be there. For more info go to http://thecommunitycharter.org/

Life after fossil fuels
350.org is hosting in February a national speaking tour with renowned US economist Bob Massie, one of the world’s foremost experts in a transition to a low carbon economy. He will in Sydney on February 20. Book your free ticket by going to http://justtransitions.com.au/#locationTimes