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.
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.
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.
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.
Anti-nuclear
Media Response to Labor Senators voting against the repeal of the CRWMA
The Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (ANFA) is appalled by the Senate vote (Thursday 19 March) not to repeal the Commonwealth radioactive Waste Management Act -2005 (CRWMA). Labor Senators voted not to repeal this act, despite it being one of their firm election promises. Only the Greens voted to repeal it, on a day in the senate where such things as Alcopops Tax and Workchoices were more prominent and nuke waste dumps almost slipped totally under the radar.