Economics for Earth
FOEA News & Events: Dec 2019
What a huge and amazing year it's been for Friends of the Earth Australia!
As we pass through our 45th year it has felt especially important to reflect on all the ways our network has expanded and evolved - we are thriving more than ever!
Land & water
Strzelecki Koala May Hold Key for Species Survival
The recent fire disasters in New South Wales and Queensland has played havoc with koala populations in those regions. Thousands of animals have been reported to have been killed and recent media reports have controversially suggested that the species is effectively functionally extinct.
Economics for Earth
Uranium bulls 'as rare as white unicorns'
Uranium bulls are "as rare as white unicorns" according to a commentary in FNArena in September 2019, and the market is "sick and dying" with uranium "quickly becoming a dinosaur of a commodity".
Land & water
Why the government mustn't fast track approvals
Instead of reducing environmental assessment of major projects, Scott Morrison needs to implement a new set of federal environmental laws, which will actually do their job: protect the natural environment from major threats.
Climate & Energy Justice
Beyond Coal
Coal power generation is the single largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Australia, being responsible for over one quarter of total emissions. Given that burning coal is our leading contributor to climate change, moving our electricity supply away from coal is one of the quickest, most efficient ways of doing our part to act.
Food & Technology
GMO? Soon you won't know
The Australian Government has removed regulations designed to keep us and our food safe. This means that from now, many genetically modified (GM) animals, plants and microbes will enter our environment and food chain with no requirement for safety testing or traceability.
Land & water
Breaking down the gov’s announcement; What does this actually mean for Victoria’s forests?
It’s been an emotional few days following the Victorian government announcement that logging native forests will end in 2030. The government has also committed to state-wide protections for 90,000ha of old growth forests, and 96,000ha of new protected areas, 48,500 of which are in East Gippsland. An action statement for the threatened Greater Glider was also finally released, after two years of inaction following it’s up-listing to threatened in 2017.
Land & water
Victorian government takes positive and welcome first step to protect native forests, more details needed environment groups say
Friends of the Earth have today welcomed the Victorian government announcement of protection of 96,000 hectares of forests in eastern Victoria and complete and immediate protection of 90,000 hectares of all remaining old growth forest, but say more details and maps are needed to ensure the announcement results in lasting and effective protection.
Land & water
The Murray-Darling Basin scandal: economists have seen it coming for decades
Nations behave wisely, Israeli foreign minister Abba Eban observed five decades ago, "once they have exhausted all other alternatives".
Climate & Energy Justice
BHP Olympic Dam tailings an "extreme risk" to workers and the environment
David Noonan, a long time anti-nuclear activist, writes in Chain Reaction magazine about BHP's plans for its controversial Olympic Dam Mine in South Australia.