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POPSBroadband paves way to greener Australia Currently, Labor and the Coalition continue to push the roll out of a national high-speed broadband in the lead-up to the federal election. Such a scheme is the ideal opportunity to implement such technology. Note, Telstra put the money up front to commission the report and it was not a government initiative. No doubt the proposal is one from which Telstra can profit, so expect all the communication companies to jump on the bandwagon.
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POPSKilowatts for cash , push for alternate energy The hip pocket as always is the most effective in changing people's habits and implementing change. With the recent privatisation of the energy supply, there is now the potential to profit from alternative sources such as wind or solar. That is if the price of a wind power system is better than the cost of running your own turbines, but the technology is improving all the time. A wind power system test site using "GridAgents software is currently being built at the CSIRO Energy Centre in Newcastle north of Sydney.
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POPSClean energy targets a farce This is a mirror image of what is occurring in the States. Mr Bush endorses the UN for tackling global warming but in contradiction the United States, hugely dependent on oil, refuses to place an immediate legally-binding cap on its own massive carbon emissions. Both government leaders are directing attention to the developing nations by attacking deforestation and "securing, cost-effective and proliferation-resistant nuclear power" through contributions. Smokescreens to hide their own inaction?
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POPSGovernment wasting money with "clean coal" power Australia continues to keep its local and export economy based on coal instead of investing in a new energy future. Instead of a mass loss of jobs, the miners could be retrained to take up jobs in renewable energy industries, such as solar thermal power, wind, biomass and geothermal. It's time to get on with creating more jobs and wealth from building these industries. At least a national scheme should encourage more investment from the private sector.
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POPSClimate change discussed at APEC meeting APEC is is the most important international meeting to date for achieving a commitment from the developed and developing countries to take steps toward reducing CO2 emissions. Meanwhile Greenpeace claims the aspirational targets for reducing emissions as "code for a political stunt". Australia lacks the credentials to deal with the issue because it still refuses to sign the Kyoto Protocol. The Government has no real concern for the environment, and has been advised that energy efficiency and clean coal are crucial to fighting climate change. The main agenda -- to sell more coal.
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POPSWorld leaders meet at APEC After months of campaigning on domestic issues with the upcoming federal election, the focus is now on Australia's place on the world stage. Prime Minister John Howard believes the involvement of the United States is critical to the stability of the Asia-Pacific region and supports the deployment of Australian troops to Iraq. In contrast Opposition leader Kevin Rudd, while a supporter of the of the US alliance, is at odds with Mr Bush over keeping troops in Iraq. Could this stance be a vote wiinner?
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POPSAussies losing backyard lifestyle It has taken an overseas professor to state the obvious. Even if the average Australian opted for a return to the traditional backyard it would not be achievable due to planning regulations, the cost factor and simply because there is no longer any room along the Eastern sea board. 30% of the population living in the capital cities are not born in Australia.
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POPSChildren risk an early death from diabetes Quote "42% of sufferers were born overseas". It appears that the Asian (Korean) influx into the capital cities are enjoying their new found Australian lifestyle to excess while taking the national health crises to a new level.
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POPSDestruction of old growth forests a global shame While in Tasmania, Australia there is mooted further expansion of the wood chip industry . A proposed pulp mill using chlorine bleaching in the Tamar Valley to the NE of the state will see the destruction of world-renowned pristine forest and 1000 year old ecosystems. The forestry industry in Tasmania currently relies on plantation logging. Why not maintain the existing jobs and generate new jobs through eco-tourism?
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POPSLogging, politics and climate change Clearly, conservation groups have criticised Labour's policy and in the upcoming election Greens preferences are likely to move to the Liberals. The policy may be a vote winner for many Tasmanians whose jobs are dependent on the timber interest but Labour may be accused of "selling out" on the Greens. Rudd has not stood up to the unions which effectively dictate policy. Will John Howard continue to attract the Green vote with his strong stand against unions and new policy addressing global warming? And what can be done to stop these illegal imports? Surely existing forestry practices within Australia can fill the void!
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POPSPR exercise The debate on global warming and "green economics" has thankfully come under the spotlight with the upcoming Federal Election. The Labour opposition, specifically leader Kevin Rudd, continues to "bag" the current Prime Minister (John Howard) for his lack of action in this area. But for all the grandstanding Rudd fails to deliver any firm policy in support of this debate. If the voting public took global warming and it's effects on future generations as a serious issue - and so they should be - the policies presented by the major parties should determine the result of this election. Meanwhile, the only action at the State level (in Queensland) is increased competition in the private sector for reducing the cost of coal generated electricity. Is this really the answer? Time for action.....
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POPSLand Down Under - quarantine risks and exotic disease More and more exotic diseases continue to enter Australia despite stringent quarantine measures. This new threat remains very real as it is conceivable that an infected animal could swim between the islands of the Torres Strait and reach the northern tip of Australia,
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