Habitat Australia articles from June 2005

Habitat Australia archives from June 2005

The immigration issue.(POPULATION EXPLOSION)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... Rather than advocating a more sustainable society, we should be advocating both limiting population growth and pushing for more sustainable living of the existing population. There is a distinct difference between migrants and refugees. We...

So what's the policy?(POPULATION EXPLOSION)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... In Ian Lowe's 'A word from the President', (April 2005) Professor Lowe says that the ACF "should be campaigning for a policy of stabilising the population and limiting consumption per person." I think that is a sensible approach. In...

A global perspective.(POPULATION EXPLOSION)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... How can people sit in their climate controlled rooms and type on their own personal computer, in their own house with electricity and running clean water and say that Australia is over populated and that we should limit the amount of people who...

All a bit confusing.(POPULATION EXPLOSION)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... I object to the headline 'Population? No problem' in the April edition of Habitat. At best it is ambiguous, at worst it is environmentally irresponsible and politically naive as it appears to give the green light to governments and business...

ACF responds.(POPULATION EXPLOSION)(Correction Notice)
June 1, 2005... I would like to clarify that an editorial mistake resulted in the title of Michael Krockenberger's article not being an accurate reflection of his article or ACF's population policy and I apologise for this mistake. Increasing population...

ACF Council news.(green VIEWS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... 1. New Council Members Welcome to new ACF Councillors Adele Pedder in the Northern Territory (replacing Mark Wakeham and Nikki Parker in Queensland (replacing Jonathan Grassby). ACF also has a new Vice President Councillor from South...

A word from the executive director.(Australian Conservation Foundation)(achievements of the past 12 months)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... With World Environment Day just passed it is a good time to reflect--on the challenges and achievements of the past 12 months. The many challenges we face were highlighted in a recent ABS Report. The Measures of Australia's Progress report...

Sommerville.(Cartoon)
June 1, 2005... STUART, 23, Gympie "I was conceived in a Camry stationwagon. The birth was premature and I was delivered on the way to hospital on the fold-down seats. I reckon the rocketing petrol prices today are part of a government conspiracy to bring...

1.3 million ha for indigenous communities on Cape York.(campaign TRAILS)(hectares)(Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation)(Cape York Land Council)(meeting of Traditional Owners and conservation groups)
June 1, 2005... In March ACF's Northern Australia Program team travelled to the Cape York community of Hopevale, about 60 km north of Cooktown, to discuss plans for tenure and management resolution on of 1.3 million ha of land on Cape York previously acquired...

New vision for Cape York.(campaign TRAILS)(Cape York Peninsula, Northern Queensland)(Culturally and Environmentally Appropriate Economies for Cape York Peninsula Report)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... ACF President Professor Ian Lowe publicly launched the Culturally and Environmentally Appropriate Economies for Cape York Peninsula Report, a joint project between ACF and the Rainforest CRC with support from Balkanu Cape York Development...

Busted! Kakadu uranium miner pleads guilty to contamination.(campaign TRAILS)(ERA)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... ERA, majority owned by the British based mining giant Rio Tinto, has pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching the NT Mining Management Act following a series of severe radiation safety failures last year that saw workers and the community...

ANZ donations program.(campaign TRAILS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... A new ANZ bank initiative launched in February will see the bank match internet banking customer donations up to $1000 made through its matched charity customer donations program. Internet banking customers at ANZ bank have access to the...

Putting a price on pollution.(campaign TRAILS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... In April, state leaders agreed to cap greenhouse pollution from industry and establish a state-based emissions trading scheme. ACF Executive Director Don Henry congratulated state Premiers on their leadership on this vital issue and welcomed...

Walking with possums!(campaign TRAILS)(Oxfam Trailwalker Melbourne 2005)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... With a glint in their eyes and a deranged sense of the possible, four greenies set off on April Fool's Day morning to enter the history books as the Sabre-Toothed Possums--ACF's official team for Oxfam Trailwalker Melbourne 2005. ...

From the ACF/ Rehame newsroom.(campaign TRAILS)(Australian Conservation Foundation)(debate on nuclear energy as part of the solution to greenhouse gas emissions)
June 1, 2005... Last Habitat ACF nuclear campaigner David Noonan told of the uranium industry's public relations push to convince Australians that nuclear power is the answer to climate change. As Rehame's media monitoring service shows the debate has...

Introducing Matt Ruchel.(campaign TRAILS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... ACF warmly welcomes Matt Ruchel, who has joined the organisation as Manager, Land & Water. Matt comes to ACF with a wealth of campaign experience as both a community activist and almost a decade as a campaigner for Greenpeace Australia-Pacific...

Tasmanian forests package: some progress, more needed.(campaign TRAILS)(Protecting Forests Growing Jobs plan fall short)
June 1, 2005... ACF has welcomed the protection of important forests in the Tarkine and Styx valleys through a package announced by the Commonwealth and Tasmanian governments, but has joined with other environmental groups in saying the package misses the...

Global warming batters Tasmania.(climate CORNER)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Around 90[km.sup.2] of Tasmania's coastline could be in danger of increased floods and storms courtesy of climate change, according to a new report. The Indicative Mapping of Tasmanian Coastal Vulnerability to Climate Change and Sea Level Rise...

Birds on the move!(climate CORNER)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Something odd is happening in the bird world. In Melbourne, the presence of Crested Pigeons, known for making a distinctive squeaking sound as they take off, is increasing in the streets and parks. In the Snowy Mountains, Flame Robins have...

China passes renewable energy law.(climate CORNER)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... When the Chinese government recently passed their Renewable Energy Law one of the world's largest economies made one of the largest statesponsored commitments toward renewable energy. China has now set renewable energy targets that are expected...

Myth-busting and moving on in the bush: the Australian bush has always been home to myths and yarns. There are those that make you laugh till you cry, others that make you sit up and think. Some even make you groan. In the land clearing debate, moving forwards means busting some myths and recognising the real problems.(climate CORNER)(Combined Environment Groups' Statement on the Way Forward for Native Vegetation Management on Private Land)
June 1, 2005... HAVE YOU HEARD THE ONE ABOUT a bunch of greenies from the city out to chuck farmers off their land for the sake of some cute 'n' fuzzy critters and a few trees? Land clearing laws are apparently breaking the sheep's back and environmentalists...

ACF's campaign highlights for 2004/05: in the past year, ACF was once again at the forefront of environmental advocacy, linking action at home and on the ground to the development and implementation of policies needed to protect our environment. As this report shows, we did this with householders, farmers, businesses and all of the political parties.(Australian Conservation Foundation)
June 1, 2005... WATCH OUT FOR THE 2004/05 ACF Sustainability Report that will be published on the website in October. This will expand upon our research, education and advocacy achievements. It will also detail our own social and ecological footprints as we...

Nature territory or neglected territory? As the NT moves into election mode we look at the growing environmental threats facing the Top End.(Northern Territory)
June 1, 2005... The Top End--it's big, it's beautiful and it's under growing pressure. Decades of neglect of environmental problems like weeds, feral animals, fire management and overgrazing by cattle have seen a massive decline in many species and a...

Living in the Hothouse: impacts of climate change on the natural environment: in this extract from his new book, Living in the Hothouse, ACF President Ian Lowe explains how climate change affects the natural environment and why we all should be concerned.(Excerpt)
June 1, 2005... THE SORTS OF CLIMATE CHANGES now expected will not just impact on humans. There will be significant effects on the natural environment. In the complex eco-systems which we share with a bewildering diversity of other species, many have adapted...

A vision for an Australian freshwater protected areas system.
June 1, 2005... For several years, conservation organisations have proposed establishing freshwater protected areas (FPAs). More recently government and international bodies have proposed FPA networks. Despite the level of interest and commitment evident from...

Owls: Journeys Around the World.(Ideas in Print)(Book Review)
June 1, 2005... Owls: Journeys Around the World David Hollands Bloomings Books $59.95 This was always going to cause a stir: large carnivorous birds that come out at night to prey on the unwary. It's no surprise then that owls have a strong place in myth...

The New Consumers--The Influence of Affluence on the Environment.(Ideas in Print)(Book Review)
June 1, 2005... The New Consumers--The Influence of Affluence on the Environment Norman Myers and Jennifer Kent Island Press $24.00 "New consumers" are the growing number of people in developing nations who have now achieved levels of wealth to enjoy the...

Tribute to Robyn Steller: winner ACF Creative Conservation Prize 2005.(ACF MEMBER PROFILE)(Obituary)
June 1, 2005... ACF would like to pay tribute to the late Robyn Steller, killed in a tragic riding accident on May 13th, just two months after she was awarded the inaugural ACF Creative Conservation Prize 2005. Robyn's stunning book 'Monga Intacta" celebrates...

Sustainable housing rebates: as governments around Australia realise the need for sustainable development, new laws and rebates have been introduced to encourage households to take up environmentally friendly products and technologies.(consuming CHOICES)
June 1, 2005... This guide provides a summary of the rebates that are available to all Australians. Information on state-specific rebates can be found at www.homesite.com.au. Many local councils also provide rebates, especially on water-saving products. There...