HONG KONG (CHINA), December 18, 2005 : Although a face-saving deal was reached on trade issues here today, the global trade system remains in crisis. Today's agreement contains proposals that will further threaten the global environment and the livelihoods of the worlds' poorest people.
Government leaders in Montreal today (Saturday 10th December 2005) reached a historic agreement on future action to tackle climate change. The Montreal Action Plan (MAP) was concluded despite a last minute intervention from Russia which almost resulted in deadlock.
CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK AUSTRALIA
FRIENDS OF THE EARTH AUSTRALIA
Montreal, 10 December 2005
For Immediate Release
In the early hours of this morning, at a historic international meeting on climate change the key steps to extend the Kyoto Protocol beyond 2012 have been agreed signaling the strength of international effort against climate change.
Community and environment groups continue their opposition at today’s hearing into the granting of an Operating Licence for a second nuclear reactor in Sydney, with a display of 8000 handprints from people around the country who want a Nuclear-free Australia.
Australian Peace and Disarmament groups today welcomed a unanimous vote by the Australian Senate, on a nuclear disarmament motion put by Democrat leader Senator Lyn Alison, in which Australias commitment to nuclear disarmament was reaffirmed.
Thousands of Sydneysiders are expected to turn out on Saturday to walk against global warming.
“Church groups, unions, child care centres, bicycle clubs, resident’s action groups, local councils and environment groups are all preparing for what should be the biggest day of protest about climate change in Australian history,” Melinda Cook, Climate coordinator for the Nature Conservation Council NSW said today.
MONTREAL (CANADA) -- Crucial talks on future action to tackle climate change begin in Montreal on Monday 28th November as the urgent need for action becomes more apparent.
Environmentalists will today hold peaceful demonstrations in Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne to protest against BHP Billiton's plan to make the Roxby Downs mine in SA the biggest uranium mine in the world. At the company's Annual General Meeting in Perth, BHPB will be challenged with questions over its contribution to global nuclear proliferation and pollution, its unsustainable water extraction plans and its extraordinary legal privileges.
THE Church must consider environmental concerns on every decision even if it means reassessing contentious issues including birth control, according to a leading theologian who will speak in Melbourne this month.
Environment groups have called on the Australian accreditation body, Standards Australia, to reject a push by Australian forestry’s worst practitioners to formalise their operations as “world’s best practice” under an Australian Forestry Standard.
The Australian Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell, has released a plan to create a Greater Alpine National Park in Victoria, NSW and the ACT. The commendable elements of this proposal are completely eclipsed, however, by his intention to allow continued grazing by cattle in selected areas. Any continuation of grazing is against scientific consensus about the destructiuve impacts cows have on alpine ecosystems and waterways.
A COALITION of environment and public health groups has branded nuclear energy dangerous, dirty and no solution to climate change in a new report.
The report Nuclear Energy: No Solution to Climate Change will be launched Thursday night at Northcote Town Hall by the president of the Medical Association for Prevention of War Dr Tilman Ruff.
Sovereign-Tea Party For The Protection Of Aboriginal Artefacts
Over twenty activists gathered outside the Department of Environment and Conservation offices in Sydney this morning calling for the protection of Aboriginal artefacts. Activists were serving sovereign-tea to the public and inviting passers by to engage in discussions over section 90 ‘Consent to Destroy’ permits of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.
Houston-based peace activist Scott Parkin, who had his visa revoked on Saturday 10 September when he was deemed a ‘threat to national security,’ will be deported at an undisclosed time today.
A coalition of environment and public heath groups today released a report challenging the argument – most recently put forward by Foreign Minister Alexander Downer – that nuclear power is 'clean' and a potential fix for climate change.
KURANDA'S RAIL NEEDS A FUTURE TOO!
Friends of the Earth Kuranda Media Release
Paul Lucas, Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads, is proud of the Cairns Kuranda Scenic Railway and it's 'elite' status as an 'engineering landmark', but Friends of the Earth Kuranda believes that the Beattie Government - and its recent predecessors - should be ashamed of the under-utilization, squandering and effective loss to the community of a major regional public asset.
WILD SPACES FILM FESTIVAL 2005 NATIONAL PROGRAM LAUNCH
8th Sept - 22nd Sept
The 9th National Wild Spaces Film Festival has unveiled an exciting program of International and local films that are sure to inspire and entertain audiences across the country. 19 short films, animations and documentaries have been selected from over a hundred entries to screen nationally in over 20 regional centres and capital cities during the month of September. From Alice Springs to Denmark, Stawell to Atherton, Wild Spaces is touring around Australia, screening a program of inspire and inform.
‘Friends of the Earth Kuranda’ are calling on Queensland Premier Peter Beattie to protect the koala across its full geographical range by rejecting a local Council decision to approve a development threatening what may be the most northerly surviving population of wild koalas.
A report on the future of Australian wind farming released at the Wind Energy Association's international conference in Sydney today shows governments across Australia are failing their obligation to both our environment and Australian citizens by refusing to adequately support this growing industry.
Climate Change, Environmental Refugees, and Solutions
In conjunction with The Byron Sustainable Ventures Network, the Rainforest Information Centre in Lismore, and Community Trading Pty Ltd at The Channon, Friends of the Earth are presenting a series of information evenings on Climate Change and its human impacts.
In late July, the Howard government released details on the 'Asia-Pacific climate plan'.
The proposed alliance between Australia, the US, China, India and South Korea does not address the immediate need to cut greenhouse pollution by at least 60 per cent by 2050. Although detail on the 'secret plan' is difficult to access, it appears to contain no binding commitments.
The old adage ?an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? is a lesson to be well applied to the current debate on climate change adaptation: yet last night?s 7:30 Report highlighted the profound illogic of the IPA?s position on climate change.
IPA spokeswoman Dr Jennifer Marohasy conceded that climate change is inevitable and we should adapt to what?s coming but not reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Friends of the Earth has today announced its intention to campaign against the federal government's attempt to impose a nuclear waste dump on the Northern Territory.
FoE's national nuclear campaigner Dr. Jim Green said: "The federal government unequivocally ruled out imposing a nuclear dump on Territorians before the 2004 federal election. Evidently it was a non- core promise."
In the wake of Thursday?s tragic events in London, Friends of the Earth (FoE) Australia has called for a non-violent response by Western nations including Australia and foreshadowed the growth of the peace movement internationally.
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - Climate change will be at the top of the agenda when leaders of the G8 nations meet at Gleneagles in Scotland later this summer (6-8 July).
Climate change is the biggest threat facing our planet. We are already seeing the effects - with devastating consequences. And with the growing evidence of human induced climate change, the dangers of its impacts becoming more widely known and the public becoming increasingly alarmed, it is clearly the time for action.
Friends of the Earth strongly encourages Environment Minister Ian Campbell to take his own advice to Japan on whaling and apply it to Australia’s disruption of international negotiations to prevent climate change. On radio national this morning Senator Campbell stated that Japan was obstructing the international protection of whales in the lead up to the International Whaling Commission meeting next week.
“Nuclear power is clearly not an option for meeting growing energy demand while combating greenhouse gas emissions” says Michaela Stubbs from Friends of the Earth (FoE). “A combination of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources is the cleanest most cost effective way to meet our needs and reducing greenhouse emissions.”
June 5, 2005 Today is World Environment Day, a day to celebrate our environment and the people around the world who care for it. Many of the great natural and cultural treasures that we enjoy today would not exist without the dedication of ordinary people who have joined together to achieve extraordinary things. Environment groups, large and small, have been central to these victories.
On Friday May 13th, 2005, the Prime Minister and the Tasmanian State premier, Paul Lennon, signed a Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement. This took place amongst the tallest flowering plants in the world, in the Styx valley in southern Tasmania.
Friends of the Earth Australia will review the impending federal budget with interest to see if Environment Minister Senator Ian Campbell’s comments on climate change have had any affect on the Treasurer’s impending budget announcement.
Conservationists and local residents representing Friends of the Earth, Otway Environment Council and Friends of Gippsland Bush today called on the State Government to immediately ban aerial spraying of pesticides in domestic water supply catchments. Conservationists are also calling on the State Government to release all information pertaining to chemical use within catchments and to eventually ban aerial spraying in catchments that are not domestic water supplies.
Friends of the Earth (FoE) Australia is extremely disappointed with Senator Ian Campbell’s recent statements on climate change activities post 2012. FoE believes that binding mandatory targets for emissions reduction are essential to adequately respond to climate change.
Environment Group Supports Thwaites’ Red Gum Call - Indigenous Interests Considered
Friends of the Earth gives hearty congratulations to Environment Minister John Thwaites, for implementing the community’s call for a wider study into river red gum
The Victorian Government is to be congratulated on a new exciting, constructive initiative at the Yenbena Centre in Barmah Township.
“Cultural Heritage Training at Yenbena is spot-on for Barmah and for Yorta Yorta – this is supporting Indigenous self-determination where it matters,” said Jonathan La Nauze, Friends of the Earth spokesperson.
Please Write to Foreign Minister Downer now urging nuclear disarmament at the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference, New York, May 2 - May 27.
Here's why we would like you to write to Foreign Minister Downer concerning the NPT Review Conference in New York May 2-27.
A Plea By Nobel Laureates, Parliamentarians, The Euro parliament, And NGOs Around The World
32 Nobel Laureates and 237 organizations and parliamentarians from around the world have signed a Statement of Endorsement that calls for removing all strategic nuclear weapons from "hair-trigger alert and "Launch on Warning" status. In addition the Statement has been endorsed by the European Parliament and by the Australian Senate.
A new report prepared by 1360 scientists from 95 countries says humans have changed the world more over the last 50 years than at any other time. This is placing huge strain on the world's natural resources.
Wolfowitz: Terrible Choice for World Bank President
Friends of the Earth International
March 16, 2005, Washington, DC -- Friends of the Earth International today condemned President Bushâ??s nomination of U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz to head the World Bank, the worldâ??s leading multilateral lending institution.
Friends of the Earth Australia welcomes the motion from Democrat leader Senator Lyn Alison passed today by the Australian Senate, on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference, scheduled to run from 2 - 27 May at the UN in New York.
Joint Statement: Friends of the Earth International, Greenpeace International, the Rainforest Action Network and the Sierra Club unreservedly condemn the decision by the Australian woodchip company, Gunns, to sue environmentalists and politicians in Australia who have opposed its role in the logging of old growth forests in Tasmania.
Tsunami aid pledges must be sustainable, affected communities should decide
A tragic disaster stuck Indian Ocean countries on the 26th of December 2004 and has resulted more than 160,000 people dead and missing. More than 1.5 million displaced people are in urgent need of basic items.
