Students at the University of Sheffield have donated four tonnes of goods to city charities. As...
Why Recent Graduates Should Join Code for America
Sympathy for the dodgy salesmen of Australian politics
Babel Rising
T.C. Boyle: Incorporating Environmentalism in Art
The Stone Roses confirm all planned shows to go ahead after Ian Brown calls Reni a 'c**t' onstage
India's young climate negotiators
India, a country that is rivaling China for the-new-centre-of-the-world tag is getting serious about Climate Change. As the Copenhagen Conference begins today have a look at how competitive this position of youth Climate Change negotiator is for the four young girls. This is a real honour in a country that sees education and learning as quasi religions.

blog comments powered by Disqus
 
Carbon Price Agreement: The Transformation to Clean Energy
27 feb  |  In recent years, the Greens in Australia have had very little to celebrate about; federally they didn't back the Emissions Trading Scheme they deemed too weak to seriously help the environment - subsequently it failed. However, in the 2010 Australian federal elections they did very well, garnering 12% of the vote, giving them a mandate to push for a strong policy fight against climate change. Here we see Christine Milne announcing what the Greens' tireless fight has brought about and its implications for Australia.  . . read more
CPRS - Why your contributions don't count
29 nov  |  On the day when the 'crucial' CPRS goes to the vote, here are the opinions of an independent organisation that models itself as an empowering tool for consumers. Not surprisingly its focus is very individualistic, but this doesn't take away from the fact that the arguments shown here have been nearly mute from the mainstream debate.  . . read more
A Sign For the Times: Slow Down
31 dec  |  It's a time for resolutions. Here's one for 2008: slow down. SARAH BARNS surveys the year climate change went mainstream; and looks at what that means for '2000-and-gr8'. For you and you and you. And me.  . . read more
6 ways mushrooms will save the world
27 sep  |  Mycologist Paul Stamets studies the mycelium, and lists 6 ways that this astonishing fungus can help save the world.

What do you think of when we say fungi? Portobello, magical or maybe Shitake? Stamets shall teach you a few things! 

There are some other vegetables that can save the world, one which has seen special attention in and around the pacific is coconuts.

What other alternative options and routes should we be examining in order to deal with our environmental problems?  . . read more

The Climate Change Gamble: An Unacceptable Risk?
17 aug  |  John Ralston Saul, President of International PEN, frames the climate change debate as a gamble, calling it an "unacceptable risk" even if the odds are less than 50-50 that human actions are triggering environmental destruction. "You're willing to take this risk, even if it means your grandchildren fry?" Saul asks.  . . read more
Will GM Declare “Environmental Bankruptcy”?- by Nick Aster
15 nov  |  One of the nice things about bankruptcy is that certain debts are forgiven and you get something of a clean slate. That may be fine in a strictly financial sense but when environmental externalities are concerned it may be playing fast and loose. General Motors, long criticized for being a laggard on many fronts, agreed some time ago to be a primary participant in a voluntary resource recovery program known as End-of-Life Vehicle Solutions (ELVS).  . . read more
Gutless, yes. But the planet's future is no priority of ours
20 dec  |  Despair is not acceptable, but it may be inevitable. Social democrats are the world's optimists, knowing human destiny is in our own hands if we have the will to change. Leave pessimism to the world's conservatives, ever fearful of the future and yearning for a better yesterday. But today optimism feels impossible. The chance of world leaders preventing a more than 2C increase in temperature looks vanishingly small- by Polly Toynbee . . read more
Towards A Sustainable Future - From 2020 Summit Climate Change Group
20 apr  |  Our aspiration is that by 2020 Australia is the world’s leading green and sustainable economy. That we will set time bound targets and be on track to dramatically decrease our ecological footprint while continuing to grow our economy and improve our quality of life. Through our creativity and skills, we will have harnessed the full potential of our natural assets and human resources to turn the challenge of climate change to our advantage.

By 2020 Australia will be making a major contribution to a comprehensive global response to climate change, including working with our partners on clean energy. Australia will have dramatically reduced our emissions, and communities, regions and business will be actively assisted to adopt the unavoidable consequences of climate change.

Environmental considerations will be fully integrated into economic decision making in Australia, at the household, business and government levels. We will have resilient and innovative water systems that reduce our dependency on climate-sensitive water resources in our towns and cities.

A robust emissions trading system and a suite of complementary measures will be driving a low carbon revolution with Government taking the lead working in partnership with business and the community. Climate and sustainability policy will also incorporate the needs of disadvantaged and low-income Australians. A new dialogue will have been established with our indigenous peoples on our response to climate change, water and sustainability challenges. . . read more

Coral reefs and climate change: A message for Copenhagen
14 dec  |  Coral reefs and climate change: A message for Copenhagen  . . read more
Terrifying Visions of the Future
1 nov  |  The United Nations' latest report on the state of the planet reminds us just how badly the environment is faring, and warns that governments are still failing to recognise the seriousness of major environmental issues. Perhaps this confirms that it takes more than statistics to make real the unkind future we risk handing down to our children.  . . read more
blogs   100words
 
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -- Ronald Reagan (1986)