Whale calf nudges stranded mother in effort to free her from sandbank – video
Aerial footage shows a humpback whale calf desperately nudging its mother in an apparent attempt to free her from a sandbank off North Stradbroke Island, Queensland. The mother is eventually able to free herself and the pair are seen swimming away from the shallow water Continue reading… Source: Guardian Environment
It seems like a good time to ask: is privatisation of electricity networks ever a good idea? | Van Badham
South Australia’s energy wars really began with the privatisation of the electricity network in the 1990s. It’s worth looking at what we’ve learnt since then Blackouts, when I was a kid, were fun. The emergency candles would be collected from under the sink, Mum would crack open a packet of cards, or the Trivial Pursuit […]
Let's leave it to the experts to work out what caused South Australia's blackout | Tristan Edis
Politicians and amateur power system sleuths have decided wind power was to blame for power failures but shouldn’t we let the engineers decide? As someone who has spent much of my career engaged in energy market issues, it has been faintly amusing to read the media and political commentary that has swarmed over South Australia’s […]
ABC viewers go dark on Chris Uhlmann after South Australian blackout 'heresy' | Amanda Meade
ABC journalist stands by wind claim, Sonia Kruger praised by Cosmopolitan and Chris Mitchell’s print ads dry up The ABC’s political editor, Chris Uhlmann, has doubled down on his controversial claim last week that South Australia’s heavy reliance on wind generation is linked to the blackout. The former AM and 7.30 host also openly taunted […]
Steve Bell on fracking in Lancashire – cartoon
Continue reading… Source: Guardian Environment
Irish police raid fishing boats in search for illegal workers
Migrant support groups say clampdown focuses on immigration breaches rather than labour exploitation The Irish authorities have conducted a series of raids on fishing vessels in ports around the country as part of an investigation into the use of undocumented migrant workers. The Irish police, the Gardai, declined to comment on the operation, saying it […]
Heathrow launches PR drive for third runway pegged to Brexit
Airport also presents plans to support UK’s steel industry ahead of imminent decision on new runway capacity for London Heathrow is hoping an 11th-hour push pegged to Brexit will secure approval to build a third runway, with a final verdict from the government expected within a fortnight. A government committee chaired by the prime minister, […]
First deal to curb aviation emissions agreed in landmark UN accord
Global scheme, agreed to by 191 nations, applies to passenger and cargo flights that generate more than 1,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases annually The world’s first agreement to curb aviation’s greenhouse gas pollution has been struck by 191 nations in a landmark United Nations accord, although environmental groups have warned the deal doesn’t go far […]
Intensive farming v the environment | Letters
If we were to redesign the farm financial support system so that, instead of encouraging agro-industrial approaches, it required recipients to practise the sort of agro-ecological methods advocated by Felicity Lawrence (Hyperintensive farming will never feed the world, 3 October), we would be able to re-conceptualise it as not a “subsidy” or “welfare payment” (Letters, […]
Scotland bans controversial gas extraction technique
Ministers heed expert advice warning that underground coal gasification poses ‘numerous and serious’ risks to the environment and climate Scottish ministers have banned the use of a technique to extract methane by burning underground coal beds, after expert advice said it posed too many risks to the climate and environment. Paul Wheelhouse, the Scottish environment […]