Climate & Energy Justice
61 prominent Australians back no new coal mines
<
61 prominent Australians have signed an open letter backing the President of Kiribati’s call for a moratorium on new coal mines.
Climate & Energy Justice
Bonn climate talks point to a weak Paris deal
BONN, GERMANY, October 23, 2015 – The final preparation session for December’s global climate summit in Paris is ending in disappointment and disarray today in Bonn.
The weak negotiation text, which is largely favorable to developed countries, points to a shockingly inadequate deal at the Paris talks. Developing countries opposed a non-transparent process, after an attempt to remove observers from some negotiation rooms.
Land & water
This National Water Week, help keep the Murray flowing
This week is National Water Week, and a perfect political storm is brewing that could threaten the hard-won gains for Australia’s greatest river system. Friends of the Earth needs your help to secure a sustainable future for the Murray Darling Basin.
Send your message to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull now.
Economics for Earth
Trans Pacific Partnership - Release the Text
Melbourne community groups and unions have joined the International week of action against the TPP, staging a rally outside the office of Veolia in Melbourne.Under the ISDS Clauses in “Free” Trade Agreements foreign corporations can sue sovereign governments where they claim domestic laws and regulations may diminish their profits. Workers’ wages and conditions, health and safety are not exempt.
Food & Technology
Help us stop the Government from deregulating GMOs by stealth
Friends of the Earth is concerned that the Government’s moves to delete the definitions of gene technology, GMO (genetically modified organism) and GM product from the Food Standards Act are an attempt to deregulate risky new genetic engineering techniques by stealth. Furthermore, it appears that the Government has not discussed these proposed changes with either the state governments or the New Zealand Government. The Food Standards Australia New Zealand Amendment Bill 2015 is scheduled for debate in the House today and Senate tomorrow.
Economics for Earth
Trans Pacific Partnership agreed
Friends of the Earth International 5 October 2015 ATLANTA, USA, October 5, 2015 – Today trade ministers from 12 countries negotiating the giant 'Trans Pacific Partnership' reached an agreement on a trade deal which sets the economic rules for 40 percent of the world economy.
Food & Technology
New study raises further questions about the safety of nano-ingredients in food
Friends of the Earth has renewed its calls for a recall of food products containing nanomaterials following the release of a new studyi which found that titanium dioxide (TiO2) in food is absorbed into the human bloodstream. The calls follow the release of independent testing results last week which found potentially harmful nanoparticles of titanium TiO2 and silica (SiO2) in a range of food products including M&Ms, Nestlé Coffee Mate Creamer, Old El Paso Taco Mix and Woolworths Homebrand White Sauce.
Climate & Energy Justice
Several UN Sustainable Development Goals are irreconcilable with Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal
The Australian government has recently released a booklet designed for use in schools called the Radicalisation Awareness Kit.
This booklet is aimed at helping teachers identify students who are becoming radicalised and potentially linked to terrorism. Not only have there been concerns about the further marginalisation of young Muslims as a result of this resource, but also suggests that political activism can automatically lead to involvement in violent extremism. A recent example of this in the UK saw a young muslim being inappropriately targeted.
Anti-nuclear
Friends of the Earth Adelaide Campaign Against Nuclear Expansion
The SA Government has launched A Royal Commission into the Nuclear Fuel is the hope of garnering support for an expansion of the nuclear industry. The reference and the makeup of the commission and its experts are clearly biased towards expanding the industry. We believe this is an attempt to soften the public for the creation of a nuclear waste dump for high-level waste from overseas.
Land & water
The Murray needs water, not politics
Opposition to the Murray Basin Plan is mounting, and the stakes are very high. Rogue Senators and angry irrigators from the South Basin have managed to mount a Senate Select Committee Inquiry into the Basin Plan.