Land & water
Reflections on gender (in)justice
In compiling this edition, Chain Reaction asked activists to share their experiences of gender (in)justice and dismantling the patriarchy within the broader environment and social justice movement. Sarah Day shares her experiences in this Chain Reaction #140 article. Trigger Warnings: Sexual harassment, sexual abuse, systemic misogyny.
Land & water
Court injunction stops illegal logging on Gunnai Country
Illegal logging has been halted in an important area of forest home to critically endangered Masked Owl, and Yellow-bellied Gliders. Conservation groups sounded the alarm over illegal logging in the Colquhoun State Forest on Gunnai Kurnai Country in December last year when citizen scientists found a high density of Yellow-bellied Gliders.
Land & water
Roundup and glyphosate given tick of approval for use in World Heritage area
A weedkiller banned overseas has been given the tick of approval by a state authority to be used across the World Heritage-listed wet tropics area in Far North Queensland.
Land & water
Rinehart's Roadblock in Ecuador
Gina Rinehart's Ecuadorian subsidiary, Hanrine, continues to face ongoing problems in Ecuador. Reports from that country have revealed that a local judge has recently ruled that a 40 day blockade of the main road into the northern Ecuadorian town of Buenos Aires, by Hanrine workers, is violating the rights of local residents.
The Buenos Aires blockade site in early June 2021
Land & water
Uranium in Australian Drinking Water Snapshot
Thousands of remote residents exposed to levels of uranium above guideline levels
The recently published WA Auditor Report “Delivering Essential Services to Remote Aboriginal Communities” has raised more concerns regarding water quality in remote Aboriginal communities in three regions of Western Australia: The Goldfields, the Pilbara and Kimberleys.
Land & water
Make a submisssion: Victorian inquiry into the health impacts of air pollution
The Victorian Parliament is currently conducting an Inquiry into the Health Impacts of Air Pollution, and they're taking public submissions now. The more submissions they receive, the more likely the Victorian Government will take action to reduce pollution and protect health!
Land & water
Many Problems for the Burrunan Dolphin
The Gippsland Lakes are Australia's largest inland lakes system, which have provided habitat for a myriad of species for eons. They are possibly now facing their worst ever threats.
Photo: Damien Cook February 2021 at McLennan Strait
Land & water
Environment Department handballs wildlife protections to government logging agency
East Gippsland conservation groups were outraged to learn this week that environmental protections for threatened species detected in state forests are being designed by state owned logging company VicForests.
Land & water
Forest refuges under threat from logging by the VIC Government
A new report showing analysis of maps and data from the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires has revealed the significant areas of unburnt forests critical for bushfire affected wildlife are set to be logged by the Victorian Government.
Land & water
Alcoa Portland Aluminium Smelter Response to FoE's Koala Concerns
Alcoa Portland Aluminium Smelter, in Victoria's south west, has responded to Friends of the Earth's (FoE) concerns, aired last week concerning horrific injuries sustained by a koala found at a local golf course in late January. The issue gained national news coverage. A follow up story by the ABC also revealed that koalas near the smelter have been suffering from excessive fluoride levels.