Habitat Australia articles from February 2004

Habitat Australia archives from February 2004

Wind chafed.(green Views)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... As a member I am concerned that the ACF may be blindly supporting the wind industry by taking their claims on face value. The information I have suggests that the industry promises lots but delivers very little. Wind turbines obviously rely on...

From the desk of the leader of the opposition, Mark Latham.(green Views)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... Dear Editor I would like to congratulate the ACF for developing its five point test on environmental action. The test acknowledges that it takes more to protect, our unique environment than a few tokenistic announcements. It recognises...

Guilt free seafood.(green Views)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... Steve Costi Seafoods is the nation's largest chain of independent seafood retail outlets. In November 2002 we commenced franchising outlets. with a budget of 40 stores by the end of 2005. Our profile is obviously growing daily and we are...

Fund out the truth.(green Views)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... I refer to Yvonne van der Merwe's letter to Habitat [October 2004]. As a result of the RepuTex Ratings Survey on big business and the environment I learned that the fund manager I use is involved in investment in a company that is logging old...

Don Henry in Canberra.(green Views)
February 1, 2004... Come and meet Don Henry at the As You Like It Cafe at the Street Theatre, Childers St (cnr University Ave), Canberra City, Wednesday 3rd March, 5-6.30pm. It will be a chance to meet Don, ACF staff, ACT councillors and fellow ACF members. ...

Member milestones.(green Views)(Australian Consservation Foundation)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... ACF wishes to sincerely congratulate the following people who, in the months of December 2003 and January 2004, reached the milestones of 25 and 30 years of continuous ACF membership. 30 years Mr T Grant, Cronulla, NSW Mr S...

A word from the president.(green Views)(Australian Conservation Foundation)
February 1, 2004... In June last year I spoke at the National Press Club and laid out ACF's "National Agenda for a Sustainable Australia"; a clearly delineated plan, which made clear to all political parties, media and the public the areas of our hurting...

Educational poster.(Biodiversity Campaign)(Australian Conservation Foundation)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Australia has an extraordinary variety of life forms but thousands of plant and animal species are threatened with extinction as their habitats shrink and become degraded. ACF is producing a full-colour poster, which explains the threats to our...

The good news and the bad....(Climate Change Campaign)(Hunter Valley Redbank power plant cancelled but Victoria considering expanding Hazelwood power station)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... In October last year the NSW Government rejected the proposed $230 million Hunter Valley Redbank power plant based on evidence that it would produce massive greenhouse pollution. This decision was a significant moment in history as it marks the...

Landclearing and Cape York.(Queensland State Election)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The Queensland election provides a major opportunity for all political parties to commit to history-making action by laying the foundation of a sustainable future for people and country on Cape York Peninsula, as well as ending Queensland's...

Sydney's growing nuclear threat.(Anti-Nuclear Campaign)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Following the recent arrest of French national Willie Brigette, the new nuclear reactor being built at Lucas Heights in southern Sydney has been described in the national media as a serious security risk and potential terrorist target. ASIO...

NSW mayors unite against radioactive waste.(Anti-Nuclear Campaign)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... A federal government plan to truck large volumes of radioactive waste from the troubled nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights has come under sharp attack at the recent NSW Local Government and Shires Association conference. Mayors from across...

ACF takes 'party' line on kakadu uranium clean-up.(Anti-Nuclear Campaign)(Australian conservation Foundation)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... ACF President Peter Garrett travelled to Kakadu in November to join the Mirrar traditional owners, Yothu Yindi and hundreds of others in celebrating the surface rehabilitation of the stalled Jabiluka uranium mine. The Jabiluka success...

Farming as if nature mattered--is EMS the answer?(Sustainable Agriculture Campaign)(environmental management systems)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Despite the efforts of Australian farmers to leave their land in a better state than they inherited it--often off their own bat--our rural environments aren't faring too well. Federal and state governments have launched a national framework...

Costly hydro-power scheme proposed for Timor.(Asia Pacific Campaign)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The feasibility of hydro-electric power for Timor is being considered by Norwegian Water Resources and Energy. The $US400,000 study has been funded by the Asian Development Bank. A site being studied is the Ira Lalaro wetland area in Los Palos...

Somerville.
February 1, 2004... DADDY, WHERE DOES AIR COME FROM? FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER, HONEY ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THANKS FOR TALKING TO NME ABOUT THIS STUFF. IF YOU DON'T ASK QUESTIONS, HOW ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO LEARN ABOUT NATURE? ILLUSTRATION...

Reef tabled for improved protection.
February 1, 2004... Parliament is now set to consider the very promising GBR Representative Areas Zoning Plan. THE DECEMBER TABLING in Federal Parliament of the Great Barrier Reef Representative Areas Program Zoning Plan was an important step forward for the...

Eyes on the parties: the federal parties' ponies are on the track and, in the run-up to this year's big decider, Habitat has put together a simple guide as to their environmental policy credentials to date.(Federal Election Form Guide 2004)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... ACF'S FiVE KEY TESTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE AUSTRALIA 1. Show national leadership. Develop a national sustainability policy, and reform the economy through a National Sustainability Council. 2. Cut greenhouse pollution. Ratify the Kyoto...

ACF's appraisal of the parties.(Australian Conservation Foundation)
February 1, 2004... Health and education are bullseye targets on the political dartboard. But the environment's worth big points too. Together with economic management and national security, these five issues will decide the next federal election. In the...

From the horses' mouths: having contacted each of the parties we gave them an opportunity to rank themselves against our Five Key Tests for a sustainable Australia. Here are their (edited) responses.
February 1, 2004... ACF will continue to keep its members and supporters informed on how each party's policies perform against our Five Tests for a Sustainable Australia. David Kemp Mr, Environment Minister (Liberal Party) * The Government has provided...

Atwood's apocalypse.(Margaret Atwood)
February 1, 2004... Spurred on by media reports of increasingly audacious forays into genetic engineering, Booker-prize winning author Margaret Atwood has woven a disquieting tale of the last man alive--that cannot easily be dismantled by science. **********...

Tassie's Shady logging industry.(Insider Exposes)(Tasmania)
February 1, 2004... A reluctant whistleblower has described to a Senate committee how a blind eye is routinely turned to the destruction of the Tasmanian forests. ********** AS A GREYING TASMANIAN FORESTER called Bill Manning wound up his evidence to a...

Grandfathers of the river.(river red gums)
February 1, 2004... The red river gum is the life support system of the Murray. ********** THE 4WD DRIVER gave a dismissive toss of the hand "Garn, it's just a few bloody trees." Author Murray Ball sees them differently: "... the massive squatness of...

Historic first step for the Murray.(Murray River)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... A handful of sites on the river are to get 500 gigalitres in extra annual flows over five years--but ACF is calling for a whole of river approach. ********** ACF has been campaigning to improve the health of the River Murray for...

Climate friendly products from the finance sector.
February 1, 2004... Habitat looks at some interesting new services designed to encourage us to act more sustainably, and save money. ********** IN THE APRil 2003 EDITION of Habitat we reported on the rising concern in the insurance and banking community...

Update on land clearing.
February 1, 2004... Queensland has become bogged down in its to stop the destruction of native vegetation but the Northern Territory and New South Wales are making good gains in moves to protect their remnant bushland. ********** IN MAY THIS YEAR, the QLD...

Ideas in print.(Landscape and Building Design for Bushfire Areas)(Book Review)
February 1, 2004... Landscape and Building Design for Bushfire Areas Caird Ramsay & Lisle Rudolph CSIRO Publishing RRP: $39.95 It's hard to control a bushfire but you can take steps to improve the chances of your home surviving. Written in clear simple...

Goods & gizmos truly fantastic plastic.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Welcome to Habitat's new column covering products and services for a greener world. This issue we take a look at a remarkable new Australian innovation--biodegradable plastic. ********** IMAGINE WALKING OUTSIDE and throwing your...

Zizi's tops.(ACF Member Profile)(Zizi Vieira)
February 1, 2004... Starting from scratch, Timorese environmentalist Zizi Vieira is transplanting the skills he is learning from ACF in an effort to restore his country's land and pride. ********** SOMETIMES IT IS DIFFICULT to convince people that...

A consumption manifesto.(consuming Choices)
February 1, 2004... When did we stop being "citizens" and instead become "consumers'? Streamline your buying habits--and still enjoy the beck out of life. ********** Consumption is one of life's great pleasures. Buying things we crave, travelling to...