Habitat Australia articles from June 2004

Habitat Australia archives from June 2004

Clear thoughts on clearfelling.(green views)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... My husband and I recently returned from a trip to Tasmania. It had been some years since we were last there and the thing we noticed most was the lack of birds. In one stretch we drove from Wynard to Yolla and the amount of clearfelling in...

Western desert.(green views)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... It was great to read Peter Garrett's article [Habitat, December 2003] describing his observations in the western desert region and of the national Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) program. Recognition of the role and responsibility...

Stamps of approval for renewable energy.(green views)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Renewable energy production has been honoured in a stamp issue recently released by Australia Post. The special issue of stamps celebrates Australia's renewable energy production including energy sources such as sun (solar), wind and water...

Lowe in salt.(green views)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... Who is the phoney? Ian Lowe in his comments on Lomborg's scepticism does little to help his own arguments when he claims that "No amount of wealth will... restore salinity-affected land within a human lifetime". There are plenty of examples...

Occupying thoughts.(green views)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... On reading the article on plastic bags in October's Habitat I bought the reusable green bags at Coles without thinking about it. On returning home I looked at them more closely and they are made in China. China is currently practising genocide...

To Hon. Peter Costello.(green views)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... I have just read an article highlighting the recent effects of our collective trashing of the environment we live in and in particular the environmental, social and financial costs of climate change. The article quotes Professor David...

The way things are going, the future of the Murray Cod looks stuffed.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: ACF is launching a major, pro bono advertising campaign, develped with the generous support of Clemenger Harvie Edge, to promote awareness of the state of the Murray River. The striking series of...

'Woodlands or wastelands' poster.(green views)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Australia has an extraordinary variety of life forms, however thousands of plant and animal species are threatened with extinction as their habitats shrink and become degraded. ACF has produced a full colour poster explaining the threats to...

Casual council vacancies.(green views)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Nominations are invited from members to fill a number of vacancies on ACF Council. There is one vacancy in each of Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory. Candidates, proposers and seconders must all be ACF members and...

Sydney branch meeting.(green views)(Australian Conservation Foundation)
June 1, 2004... The Sydney Branch meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 6pm. On 8 June, ACF Vice President Penny Figgis will speak to the branch about her experiences at World Parks Congress and the major policy directions in conservation in...

Council report.(green views)(Australian Conservation Foundation)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The 100th meeting of the ACF Council in Melbourne saw recently elected Councillors determine a new Executive comprising Elaine Harding (Qld) Andrew Higham (WA), Warren Nicholls (ACT) and Katherine Wells (SA). Penny Figgis AM and Peter Christoff...

A word from the president.(green views)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... Nelson Mandela once said that our greatest fear is not about the possibility of failure but the prospect of what we could actually achieve if we dreamed and acted big. This observation has struck me with force as I've watched the debate around...

Renewable energy target too low.(Climate Change Campaign)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The federal government is soon expected to announce a new Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET), following a recent review of the current MRET. It is possible that this will be based on the very weak recommendations of the MRET Review, which...

Easter protest at Lake Cowal.(campaign Trails)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Traditional owners were joined at their camp by more than 150 supporters from around the world on Easter Sunday, to protest against a Canadian-owned gold mine being developed on the edge of their lands at Lake Cowal, an area listed on the...

ACF convenes a global warming round table.(Climate Change Campaign)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... ACF has gathered together a group of prominent and progressive business and science leaders to research the impacts of climate change on Australian industry. The research will address issues such as which industries will be winners and...

Green buildings overshadowed.(Building Green Campaign)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Building a greenhouse energy efficient building like the 60L Green Building is one thing but protecting it from the planning system is entirely another! Local councils in our major cities want to encourage greenhouse friendly office...

Jabiluka move wins agreement.(Anti Nuclear Campaign)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... In an important step in the campaign to end the threat of uranium mining in Kakadu, ACF has welcomed a landmark agreement between the Mirrar traditional owners, the Northern Land Council and the uranium mining company Energy Resources of...

Somerville.(Anti Nuclear Campaign)
June 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: "Congratulations. You receive this bonus gift for purchasing the last of the species."

Reactor veteran changes course.(Anti Nuclear Campaign)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... A local government's loss is academia's gain. This was the verdict when Genevieve Rankin, a veteran campaigner against a new nuclear reactor in Sydney, announced her retirement from the Sutherland Shire Council. Genevieve, a former Sutherland...

Uranium tide recedes in WA.(Anti Nuclear Campaign)(Western Australia )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... In good news from Western Australia, it was confirmed in early April that plans by WMC Resources to mine for uranium at Yeelirrie near Leonora have been shelved. WMC discovered uranium at Yeelirrie in 1972 and in 1978 Sir Charles Court's...

Parliamentary committee up the creek without a paddle.(Rivers Campaign)(report from the House of Representatives Agriculture Committee on the health of the Murray River)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... ACF was shocked by a recent report from the House of Representatives Agriculture Committee on the health of the Murray River. The report, which was rushed out by the Committee without any consultation, questioned the science behind the...

Marine campaign.(campaign trials)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The South-east Regional Marine Plan was launched in May, an event the conservation sector has awaited with great interest. At the time of writing, though, the Plan had not been sighted. The Plan is a major step in the regional...

Federal election form guide: part 3.
June 1, 2004... Our next prime minister will have to face an urgent environmental agenda, including an escalating extinction crisis. As we edge closer to a federal election, the environment is becoming an increasingly important political issue. In...

Ranger danger.(Ranger uranium minein Kakadu National Park)
June 1, 2004... The embattled Ranger uranium mine in Kakadu National Park is under the spotlight again after a series of recent contamination scares generated significant community concern and media attention. RANGER URANIUM MINE, majority owned by the...

Greenhouse cops a grilling.
June 1, 2004... THE SCENE: A family barbecue on a sunny in suburbia. THE CAST: Dad, a generously-proportioned self-employed plasterer. Homemaker Mum. Uncle Baz who sells above ground pools. Aunt Deborah, dietitian who drives a Peugeot. ...

Capturing Cape York: through these pages, celebrated photographer Kerry Trapnell conveys us to the very marrow of remote Cape York in Northern Queensland, the characters, their essence and the country.
June 1, 2004... Remote Waterfall, Cape York Peninsula, 1991 When you look at Cape York Peninsula and notice that this huge region on tropical Australia is bounded by the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics to the south and Great Barrier Reef to the east you...

Appropriate economies roundtable.(Cape York Peninsula)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Indigenous leaders teamed up with ACF to discuss suitable business development models for the Cape York region. "We all love the country and want to see it cared for. Together we can achieve that in Cape York," said Mr Richard Aken,...

Companies rated on green credentials.
June 1, 2004... For the fourth year running, Australia's top 50 publicly listed companies have been ranked on their environmental, social and corporate governance policies. Take a look at some of the standout performances, and the offenders. "THE SOCIAL...

Emission statement.
June 1, 2004... Low emission hybrid cars are now on the market hut they're competing with the popular but highly polluting 4WD market. LOOKING AT THE AUTOMOBILE industry is like viewing the front end of an ocean wave. To the wider community there is a...

Murray Stalling tactics slammed by scientists.(Murray River)
June 1, 2004... A highly controversial report claims there is no conclusive evidence that the Murray River is in poor health. ACF RECENTLY JOINED land and water scientists and politicians from all parties in condemning the Federal Parliament Agriculture...

Wine producer to woo wild things.(Southcorp)
June 1, 2004... Southcorp hopes to give native species a fairer go on its vineyards. If you were a platypus living in rural Australia, how would the world look to you? For starters, you need to find food and shelter, dodge predators and weather storms,...

Will a leader emerge from the forests?
June 1, 2004... Tasmania's forests and the jobs connected to them are in need of intervention at the federal level. IF YOU GO DOWN to the woods today... there is a high probability that you'll come across a politician. And if you happen to be visiting...

New reserves and financial assistance proposed.(Australian Conservation Foundation, The Wilderness Society)
June 1, 2004... ACF, The Wilderness Society (TWS) and other conservation groups have joined forces to call on Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition Leader Mark Latham to commit their parties to a generous assistance package to enable Tasmania to end...

Economia--New economic systems to empower people and support the living world.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
June 1, 2004... Economia--New economic systems to empower people and support the living world Geoff Davies ABC Books RRP: $39.95 Economia is a persuasive book designed to shake the foundations of accepted economic thought. In essence, Davies believes...

Killing Juanita.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
June 1, 2004... Killing Juanita Peter Rees Allen & Unwin RRP: $29.95 Campaigning can be dangerous work, especially if you are young, female and fighting the vested interests of NSW in the mid 1970s. Even being an heiress to one of NSW's retail fortunes...

How the Cassowary Got his Helmet.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
June 1, 2004... How the Cassowary Got his Helmet By Trevor Fourmile, illustrations by Lillian Fourmile Black Ink Press RRP: $16 through Black Ink press 07 4773 5307 Based on a story passed down to Trevor by his grandfather, this heartwarming children's...

Goods & gizmos: reptile on the roof.(Sun Lizard solar thermal heater/cooler)
June 1, 2004... With winter now wrapping us in its chilly embrace, Habitat has gone in search of heating methods for the home that don't cost a fortune, cause the ongoing destruction and removal of precious habitats for our native animals, or send our...

Waste watcher.(ACF Member Profile)(Australian Conservation Foundation)
June 1, 2004... Boots and a hard hat set the blokes at ease so Jo Drummond can get on with her mission to improve waste management on building sites. WORKING AS AN OCCUPATIONAL health nurse on huge building sites turned out to be just the right background...

The good poo guide: we've got the soggy dilemma of 'which nappy?' all wrapped up.(consuming choices)
June 1, 2004... Your healthy newborn child could live to his nineties--but did you know that his first disposable nappy may well still be around in 500 years? When it comes to babies, it seems everyone who has one is an expert--and an expert more than...

ACF environment report 2004: with your help, we've come a long way: an end to land clearing in Queensland, the rehabilitation of the Jabiluka uranium mine, and 500 gigalitres of extra water for the Murray--there was plenty to celebrate this year amongst the environment challenges we face.
June 1, 2004... The bulldozers that are now ripping apart Queensland's remnant bushland will grind to a halt by 2006. And when they stop, thousands of native mammals, reptiles and birds will be saved from their deaths. Why? Because of the hard lobbying of...