Land & water
South Australia’s number one drinking water quality concern?
Recent Freedom of Information data obtained by Friends of the Earth (FoE) reveals that the substance most regularly breaching Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG's) in South Australia continue to be Trihalomethanes (THM’s). Almost 75% of breaches to the ADWG’s in South Australia in 2019/20 were THM’s.
Image: Looking east over Goolwa and across to Hindmarsh Island. Ongoing THM "hotspots".
Land & water
Taungerong Elder calls for logging to halt to protect water and native fish
Taungerong, Nira-Balluck Elder, Uncle Larry Walsh has spoken out against the Victorian Government’s plans to clearfell thousands of hectares of native forest in the Snobs Creek catchment.
Uncle Larry is concerned that clearfelling operations in the Snobs Creek catchment will impact on stream flows of the creek and ultimately play havoc with Victoria’s most important fish hatchery.
Uncle Larry Walsh standing in front of Mountain Ash forest and emerging Cool Temperate Rainforest, about to be wiped out in the Snobs Creek catchment
Climate & Energy Justice
Job opportunity: Healthy Futures Digital Organiser
Friends of the Earth member group, Healthy Futures, is looking for a Digital Organiser to join their team of healthcare workers and community members taking action to address climate change and related threats to health in Australia. Applications close 11:59PM, 24th January 2021.
Land & water
Myponga Reservoir in South Australia. A National Pesticide Hotspot?
Myponga Reservoir on South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula is the latest water body to be identified by Friends of the Earth as a pesticide hotspot. Myponga Reservoir, located 60km south of Adelaide provides towns on the Fleurieu Peninsula and some of the southern Adelaide metropolitan region with drinking water. Myponga is also the only reservoir supplying water to Adelaide that does not source water from the Murray River. The catchment of the Myponga River upstream is dominated by farms.
Land & water
Water Industry a Major Source of PFAS Contamination
Friends of the Earth is concerned that the $23 billion water industry is a major source of PFAS contamination over potentially tens of thousands of hectares of land across Australia. With the push on to increase the availability of recycled water in the world's driest continent, the potential toxic nature of inadequately treated recycled water and biosolids raises plenty of concerns.
Melbourne Water's Eastern Treatment Plant
Food & Technology
TAKE ACTION: Why is Queensland fast tracking a blanket approval for irradiation of all fruit and vegetables?
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is recommending the irradiation of all fresh fruit and vegetables. NOW is the time to write a submission - the deadline is now 24th December 2020, at 6pm AEDT - extended after community pressure.
Economics for Earth
Earthworker Newsletter - December 2020
2020 has been a difficult year for all of us, to say the least. Although this year threw us a lot of curveballs, we are proud of what we have been able to achieve and we couldn't have done it without your support. Our members, organisers and worker-owners mobilised to support their communities throughout the pandemic and resulting recession. With the year coming to a close, we are reflecting on the past 12 months as a period of growth and resilience building.
Climate & Energy Justice
FoE takes Shell to court #ClimateCase
Shell Oil, one of the biggest climate polluters in the world, finally faces court in December
This is a potential game-changer because if successful, Friends of the Earth Netherlands historic climate case against Shell would rule that the oil corporation must reduce its CO2 emissions by 45% by 2030 and to zero by 2050. This would have global repercussions that would extend to Shell's investments in Australia.
Economics for Earth
Bushfire survivors and Friends of Earth’s response to Initial Assessment of ANZ climate complaint under OECD guidelines
Three survivors joined Friends of the Earth to accuse ANZ of misleading consumers by investing in fossil fuel projects.
Climate & Energy Justice
Introducing Climate Live 2021
Introducing Climate Live 2021, organised by School Strike 4 Climate and Green Music Australia with support from Friends of the Earth.