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rticles ontents egular egular ustralian a The the day Franklin was saved News & views Guest Green Book reviews back pageBob’s Carbon offsets are not sustainable Green alternatives to Pulp Fiction Grass roots communities as the heart of green r Why Buy?The - case for energy services Sustainable development and the Palm Island Aboriginal community Adapting to climate change at the local level This aspirational life c GPO Box 1108 CanberraGPO Box 1108 ACT 2601 Cover Story Cover Living Sustainably

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, West End, Brisbane April 2007 Drew Hutton and Brian Hoepper [email protected]

(made from post-consumer SOSDESIGN : to provide a quality magazine presenting Jen Anderson, Greg Buckman, Fletcher, Tully Brian Hoepper, Drew Hutton, Lori Puster, Juanita Wheeler : [email protected] Sam Sosnowski Drew Hutton and Brian Hoepper © Copyright Green

tor: : Goanna Print, Canberra. Cover: Monza Hi-Gloss Recycled Art 150gsm Direc if possible. Send article in body of email or as an ‘rtf’ file to Co-editors at [email protected]. Deadline for copy for Issue June 23 - 15th 2007 Subscriptionchangeaddress of should notifiedbe [email protected] theappropriatetoand thecaseNSW inWA and of state/territory Greens office in other cases. Contributions welcome. Articles can range from 300-1200 words. Brief items and letters to the editors also welcome. Please provide a graphic the source. Contact Green Editorial: Advertising: Subscription and mailing inquiries: Body: 80gsm Prologue Editorial Board No articles shall be taken to represent the views of Greenviews of the authors MPs and do not unlessnecessarily specificallyrepresent the views attributedof the Australian Greens. to Reprinting them. is permitted. Unless otherwisePlease ask first and stated,acknowledge all articles are the Co-editors: Art Desktop publishing Printing Published by the Australian Greens. ISSN:1443-6701 Mission statement: action-oriented information vital to Autumn 2007 ISSUE 22 PAGE 2 emissions takes quantumemissions leaps. of theneed for everyone to do bit their to reduce greenhouse gas integratedare being into people’s the lifestylesconsciousness as industries. Likewise, energy efficient practices and technologies water one of rain ofand installation thebusiest tanks local drought levels dam and rapidly declining thebuilding by making ourIn home residents of city Brisbane are responding to aserious region.their They therefore adjust consumption their patterns. resource the environmental underpins a finite that also health of water homes their they connected in use is to and dependent on prolonged drought and water that the shortages to realize begin resources effectively can combat facing Citizens global warming. that onlynew and and life realize ways social of organising people everywhere respond to current environmental challenges likelythenext is in to few change dramatically This years as last decade atestimony is to this. over conditioning and air practices. of cars the popularity The widespread examples of popularadoption of unsustainable development. and community of living forms There are also actionnature rather grassroots resulting for in than sustainable opposition been usually to these piecemeal has or NIMBY in and unsustainabledevelopment projects but thecommunity of challenges of to people’s thequality lives by ill-considered more been no sustainable shortage lines.There certainly has patterns and communities along our living of organizing terms seenenergy. also wasted same has in period opportunities This energy like areas efficiency in and renewableopportunities governmentsAustralian which have presided over many wasted and climate change. were These of thefailure critical of theprevious with twoeditions edition on energy links This e ditorial However, edition of this Island. asustainable Sharon Beder that us living reminds evenliving such in embattled an Palm as community Indigenous thegoal of sustainable culture inform can relevant as remains ever. as John Tracey that explains whichof he living and others pioneered theseventies in intentional communities, alternative that argues an mode Petermore meaningful. Cock, aveteran of Australian that help solidarity bonds of make community life unjust on aglobal scale but those undermines also notis onlyenvironmentally and socially irresponsible Hoepper whoand Brian that argue modern consumerism edition by John articulated viewHillcoat this is in This last half-century. thedevelopedcharacterised in capitalism world over the that therampant has consumerism human needs than communities that accords in betterto living meeting with introduce more collectivist, human-centered approaches imperative to actually provides theopportunity with us responding to environmental threats. ecological The many sustainably more has living simply benefits than Drew Hutton and Brian Hoepper HuttonDrew Brian and reviews.book We thosemembers would towho thank like send also in Green #21 here to Cooper by Mark Ralph Diesendorf’s article in natured debate through our letters page theresponse like We would remind readers also that we encourage good- moredramatically sustainable paper production. ‘energyexplains services’ and David Wyatt unveils management Melbourne, Puster in Lori advocates and water local describe and Andrea Sharam Maltzahn moreinto everyday living sustainably in -Kathleen life articles provide important three And practical insights not somelifestyle credits. is simple carbon as buying as .Please feel to send free your us contributions. Green takes the view that PAGE 3 Autumn 2007 ISSUE 22 Member Tasmanian GreensMember Tasmanian Conservation Officer Australian Studies Wader Group (Birds Australia) *Letters to the Editors be may edited for length. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Greens. has a turbinehas on it, higher than the hill itself. hills Both overlook a large lagoon where the State’s highest vulnerable ever of count HoodedPloversmade. Perhaps was the presence turbines of is a good sanitising of way nearby wetlands birds collisionof so that mortalities are so not worrisome. beIt may time for the Greens at level considera national to how wind farms fit in with the values which the Greens represent. Wind farms are environmentally not neutral. If theGreens are prepared goto through such a long – and worthy – fight save to the forests with all the financial and emotional costs involved, it would be consistent regard to wind farm development with the same scepticism with which regard they the woodchip industry. are Both adversariespotent the values to which I hope we share. Ralph Cooper development in NE Tasmania development in NE Tasmania (Musselroe) turbines, 42 of 11 will be placed the lead in what consultants agreed is a bird sensitive area, and a further 8 within 500m the coast of in the eastern section. The same press release announces AUSWEA that areand ‘working Trust National significant so that together, landscapes be identified’ and that arethey ‘together working on a joint Landscape Project Values developto mutually agreed methodologies for landscape assessment’. should that Well, Dr Diesendorf’smake NIMBYS relax and celebrate. A pity though, done before wasn’t wind this that farm development got underway. MusselroeAt there are two landscape prominences in an otherwise flat landscape. One is a named hill with a trig point. Each ews & views & ews n simply because it is windy is ludicrous’ (Media Release 1/05). a relief!What But wait a minute, in is it the forthcomingwhy that (Financial And what Review 11/04). Conventional up the slack? takes thermal power stations on call, inefficiently ticking cover to over base load. The Australian solution ramp to up efficiency develop is to in high wind energy coastal areas – not but overwhelmingly.exclusively, A press release the wind by energy lobby AUSWEA states ‘To that suggest wind turbines that will be installed in a given location wouldbe needed produce to this 20% and where would be they sited? In his calculation how of achieveto a 20% wind power contribution I hope Dr Diesendorf remembers nowhere that in the world does output from turbines ever reach installed capacity. The average output from Germany’s of largest operator is around 11% installed capacity. This operator owns 40% over Germany’s of wind energy production.It is never 100% and 80% is a rare best these kills? In a Government the USA Report Congressto (Sept 2005) stated hawks 1000 arethat killed in Northern California wind by power In the facilities each year. Westmountains Virginia of over 2000 bats were killed one by Relevant? development inyear. a because inYes, his article Dr Diesendorf 2040 states by that windpower could supply massivea energy!20% Australia’s How of modernmany giant wind turbines At WoolnorthAt almost bats many as (Goulds Wattled Bat) are being killed birds. as There is increasing evidence the pressure that gradient near the 300kmph, 45m spinning blades is enough burst to bloodvessels small animals, of leavingno external sign of injury. So bats, and perhaps birds, don’t actually to have collide be to killed. in a wind is farm that However, presently doubling in size - though small world by standards - how significant a population at level are proclaim the Wedge-tailed Eagle as a vehicle for conservation policy. etters to editor etters l of old-growthof forests elsewhere the Greens alwaysin Tasmania, in almost every confrontation Government, with the Tasmanian whether logging the Wielangta blue gum forest or the logging independent ornithologists are already predicting local extirpation eagle. this of How ironic it is that, wind farm is proving lethal, even have don’t in its You infancy. kill predatorsto top many to upset the balance. In Tasmania Wedge-tailed Eagle not regularly, The numbersrarely. are huge not but new this (and expanding) Let me present Dr Diesendorf with some inconvenient facts. The Woolnorth wind farm in NE kills the endangeredTasmania for power companies make to challenges local by interest groups so daunting. of the affectedof little people are seldom heard. It difficult, is not using expensive senior counsel, is derived from shepherding developments through the convoluted appeals process, it surprisingis not the voices that When powerful energycompanies weigh in with their consultants, whose reputation and income desecration alone – an outcry that be dismissedcan’t just as NIMBY interests? rare merit to not as a mention. Is Dr Diesendorf aware the of international outcry against wind farms on the grounds landscape of Mark Diesendorf alleged that kills (p.9).‘bird are rare’ Bat kills are presumably so extremely strident objections whiff any at misinformation aimedof them. at As Green, a I am no exception. In the last Green magazine, wind farms? When environmental vandalism is an issue the Greens always raise Should the Greens support Autumn 2007 ISSUE 22 PAGE 4 banktrack.or www.equator-principles.com Principles. Equator Earth-friendly the adopting despite projects polluting other and plants power fund still they that complain who investors some and groups environmental from fire under are Citigroup and Lynch Merrill as such giants financial so, Even 2006. late in revised were they guidelines of the criticism Following finance. they projects to related issues environmental and social managing for of guidelines set avoluntary Principles, Equator of the adoption their announced Australia) from Westpac (including countries seven from banks ten 2003, June In Ethical banking? www.worldwatch.org/taxonomy/term/5 respectively. (US$.025), cents 20 and (US$0.05) cents 40 less—only even pay will transportation, for card debit electronic an card,’ ‘smart the using students and Passengers ride. per (US$0.13) 1yuan only to fares reduce companies bus Beijing’s 2007help to in (US$167 million) yuan of 1.3total billion a provide will government Chinese The faresBus subsidized www.slowfood.co foods.” fast eat to us forces which life, of fast virus “the against arebellion is symbol, its as asnail has which movement, the says Petrini agriculture. sustainable and fair and biodiversity protecting and promoting traditions, local and environment the respecting produced is Food’, ‘Slow Australia. – including 130 in countries members 000 85 with movement international an today is what launched Petrini Carlo ago, years twenty Rome in Steps Spanish the to next opened outlet aMcDonald’s when Upset growing Slow Food snippets g m / and and www. 3 html?newsstoryid=150 http://www.usyd.edu.au/news/84. Prevention. Injury journal, research international the in 2006 December in published was report of Sydney. The University the at Health of Public School the from byacademics study anew to according firearms, owned privately 700,000 destroyed Australia since halved has bygunshot of dying risk The Gun deaths decline D=5499&l=e Default.asp?DocumentID=498&ArticleI www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/ contamination. supply water including hazards, health public long-term major face will Lebanon quickly, removed not is debris the if that, states report The Lebanon. to risks environmental serious pose Hezbollah and Israel between conflict year’s last after chemicals toxic with contaminated factories and bombs cluster unexploded that warned has report (UNEP) Program Environment Nations A United Lebanon conflict ofEnvironmental the legacy Bachao Andolan, or Save the Narmada Narmada the Save or Andolan, Bachao Narmada The country. of the west the in regions parched vast, the in millions of needs power and irrigation thirst, the meet will development the say Authorities campaigns. environmental and social longest world’s of the of one focus 1987, the in became soon it but began dam of the Construction canals. and reservoirs of dams, aseries through river, India’s fifth-largest Narmada, the taps scheme The project. development Valley Narmada dollar multibillion- of the centerpiece the is dam The completed. was state India’s Gujarat in Dam Sarovar Sardar the January, In Narmada Valley update n ews &views n 2 calling for the withdrawal of Samsung’s of Samsung’s withdrawal the for calling also are Australia and Germany in Earth of the Friends concern. of community because Sweden in sale from machine washing the withdrawn already has Samsung conditioner. air and cleaner vacuum refrigerator, machine, washing Silver’ ‘Nano Samsung’s including silver nano contain that products regulating means This regulations. nanotechnology-specific first world’s the introduce to moving is Authority Protection Environmental US The health. human and systems environmental to poses silver nano that risks toxicity the about concerns growing are There Nano silver risks www.narmada.org land. fertile on resettled properly been not have who farmers tribal poor of them -many people 320,000 displaced has dam the says movement, ?action=newswire&parentview=4633 http://perth.indymedia.org/ space! Watch this certificates. import issue to yet is government federal the WA– for hitch possible One commuters. urban economical and capable themselves proved have they charging, between of 100km a range with and 70kmh, of around Capable years. recent in London in status ‘chic’ gained have vehicles electric These so. do to Australia in government first –the vehicles) emission (zero cars ZEV-lite of 50 atrial announced has Government Australian West The trial car Electric http://www.foe.org.au/nc/nc_nanotech.ht Science’. Small a about Questions Big Nanotechnology: - Matter Does ‘Size 97 entitled: is Issue Reaction Chain Note: safety. its demonstrate can studies peer-reviewed until sale from range Silver Nano / 2 m

PAGE 5 Autumn 2007 ISSUE 22 u www.foe.org.a & & o Cronyism in Iraq in Iraq Cronyism Rajiv Chandrasekaran’s new book ‘Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq’s Green reveals Zone’ an extraordinary tale cronyism of and incompetence in post-invasion Iraq. The author describes how the intended reconstruction Iraq of fell into the hands theof ‘loyal and the willing’ instead theof ‘best and the brightest’. The US administration awarded jobs key to loyal Republican staffers from Capitol Hill, including an incompetent 24-year-old appointed to establish the Baghdad stock exchange – with disastrous results. Incredibly, job applicants were quizzed on their voting records and their stance on abortion while vital qualities – such as fluency in Arabic or experience in post-conflictsituations - were ignored. Chandrasekaran describes the sorry story how of the bungled process eroded any goodwill initially established when the US-led coalition overthrew Saddam Hussein. Google the book’s title to locate online reviews and interviews with the author. Climate change update update change Climate Friends the of Earth(FOE) Australia released a new report in January that examines recent climate science and warns catastrophic of climate change unless more dramatic steps are taken to reduce emissions. ‘Avoiding Catastrophe: Recent Science and New Data on Global Warming’, was prepared by the Carbon Equity Project. It surveys climate data released by scientists in the last The year. report paints a starker picture the of threat climate of change than the United Nations Inter- Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. ‘Even current proposals for significantly reducing emissions, such as those in the Stern Report, may not be enough to prevent catastrophe,’ said David Spratt, author the of report. www.carbonequity.inf

y l http://www. . d m and l ews & views & ews n support from government to set up. http://www.urbanecology.org.au/ topics/carsharing.htm Car sharing sharing Car Car sharing now exists in 600 cities on four continents with about 350,000 people vehicles. using So 11,000 says Susan Shaheen, a UC Berkeley research scientist who tracks car sharing projects worldwide. In Australia car sharing is growing with three commercial car share groups currently operating successfully - GoGet and Flexicar (Melbourne and Sydney) and Charterdrive (Sydney). Each these of businesses has received financial with our time and money. www.adbusters.org/bn Buy Nothing Day Day Buy Nothing On ‘Buy Nothing Day’ last November, a group known as the ‘Space Hijackers’ causedchaos in and London’s Nike Town HMV by wandering around the stores wearing t-shirts emblazoned ‘Everything is half price!’ and looking helpful. The aim ‘Buy of Nothing Day’ is to get people to think about their consumerist habits and the social and environmental consequences our of globally exploitative, throwaway lifestyles, and to suggest alternative things we can do farming, including organic farming, can help eliminate poverty for farmers living in the world’s poorest countries. The research, carried out by international scientists over four years, found an average 79% increase in crop yields for farmers who use sustainable methods. The study, published in 2006 in Environmental Science and Technolog (Vol. 40 No.4), examined over 280 projects developing in 57 nations. http://www.organicconsumers.org/ articles/article_4036.cf Sustainable farming farming Sustainable A new study indicates that sustainable travelsmart.gov.au/links/index.htm / m snippets http://www.wendoureewest.com was built (using imported European kit homes) Olympics at the 1956 rowing venue. A centerpiece the of renewalis a community-operated supermarket. successful example. It’s based in the Wendouree West athletes’ village that to tackle disadvantage in areas with concentrations public of housing. The Wendouree West Community Renewal, on Ballarat’s outskirts, is just one are bringing together the resources and ideas residents, of governments, businesses and community groups Neighbourhood Renewal Neighbourhood renewal programs

food economy’. www.earthpolicy.org/Updates/2007/ Update63.ht [and] need tomake sure that in trying to solve one problem - our dependence on imported oil - we do not create a far more serious one: chaos in the world an article published in January. He says we ‘desperately need a strategy to deal with the emerging food-fuel battle …. Earth PolicyInstitute. ‘Farmers, feeders, food processors, ethanol investors, and grain-importing countries are basing decisions on incomplete he data’, said in since the late-2005 oil price hikes. But the quantity grain of that will be needed has been vastly understated, according to Lester R. Brown, President the of Iinvestment in fuel ethanol distilleries in the USA has increased dramatically Biofuel problems Biofuel Autumn 2007 ISSUE 22 PAGE 6 This aspirational life ‘Have before your other flash life people’s eyes’. exploited the same its ad ‘force with cleverly field’ captioned (p.xi).socially’ Targetting adults, car-maker luxury Maserati feelingare seen –teasing, in, bad, to not high be failing fitting competitive consumption’ and that ‘the behind of costs falling teenagersthat Australian live apowerful force ‘within field of Clarke (Can’t Buy Me Love, Institute Australia revealed 2004) study Pocock others.with by Barbara Astartling and Jane material criteriaare often appliedSimilar when people engage unusual example. watch that tells most about who you are’ but atelling is not ‘It’s not your car. It’s not your It’s friends. not your job. It’s your and encourages -theSeiko reflects both ad that proclaims this identityown material Popular terms. and worth in advertising For example, many people seem to and measure describe their material measures. never reduced are being commodified be to inappropriate world. Increasingly, aspects of human existence that should consumption sense ofAspirational the rests on acommodified A commodified sense ofworld the deeperThe causes and untreated. undiagnosed remain Mostly, are given thesymptoms band-aid treatments. widespread stress, depression, and pandemic-scale obesity. are increasinglytoms of acknowledged. dis-ease They include environmentalAlong with damage, themost obvious symp increasing levels of ‘dis-ease’. producedhas aparadox. Instead well, of living many live with or even about modestly living and comfortably. Australia’s outstripped about validconcerns has - survival current obsession material acquisition with societies in like anddignity. personal central But to human survival is the clear poverty. –there no in nobility is Material sufficiency let’s And notions of happiness, and fulfillment. security be Advertisers equate theconsumer cherished lifestyle with Looking behind glitter the Could people live then ‘live and sustainability. ‘the sustainably’? life’ good environmental compromising could met be without dreams But material let’s of fancy. aspirational ourselves that allow Let’s flight abrief imagine sustainably. living incompatible seems with aspirationally living terms, environmental In planet. the across leave stamped lifestyles oversized footprints Aspirational forecological critique. green targets easy involve goals of aspirational fairly relentless production,Because the consumption, theyare acquisition and growth promote. they of vision the at values heart lie the For slogans. up the take aspirational will of major the parties politicians looming, over,With Christmas seductive the election federal the messagesnot did about life disappear.with good the And ‘aspirationals’. of all heart ‘bigger’, inscribed ‘more and ‘faster’ tags with luxurious’.gift-wrapped asack the Nick Lovableto gladden Saint carried came of festive the Christmas delivered spirit The again season adeluge Christmas, to Australians. Last of advertising

In sodoing, In it - t he challenge to make meaning possessions is a tragically flawed way of making sense of way the flawed of making atragically possessions is However, worth and identity measuring through material A crisis of meaning making decisions.’ take power, and make tough, unpleasant and often unkind of theapes then you have how to learn to beat your breast, you want to leave of drone monkeys theranks and join planet aboutexpressing qualms sacking –‘Grow junior up. staff …If Ruth Ostrow‘humanist’ gave thefollowing advice to aworker recent ‘Modern Dilemma’ column in ‘competitive force of field’ consumption mentioned above. a In and competitivenessindividualism the prevail can -mirroring Workplacesgoods. sites be also can where unhealthy levels of guilt-ridden parents children their material compensating with resentment and time-poor relationships. They described related –parental exhaustion, of dimensions this children’s ways Pocock of life. Again, and Clarke’s study explored some of overwork that many people embrace to pay for aspirational related of our fast paced influences lifestyles and the culture threatened is by theclosely sustainability further Social threatened. is sustainability communitiesRelationships and societies within suffer. Social widespread –another prescient observation by Fromm. loneliness, depression, and destructiveness anxiety become lack commonplaceIf is aculture of in meaning then Social sustainability what they consume don’t basically know who they are’. ‘peoplenoted Affluenza, who in construct identity their from Clive As Denniss Hamiltonand Richard unfulfilled. remains cyclefurther of acquisition. thus And adeep human yearning to plunge –is the remedy into a –paradoxically unsatisfying satisfaction’ produced ‘retail by so-called therapy’. For many, sense of the‘fleeting after that returns sense of unfulfilment and othersCushman have –the described the ‘empty self’ To his to in thefolly of this Have or To More Be. recently, a central human need. Decades ago, Erich Fromm alerted us world, the out urge particularly as to make meaning ofis life JOHN

HILLCOAT

AND The Weekend The Australian,

BRIAN

HOEPPER PAGE 7 Autumn 2007 ISSUE 22 consumption’ field of competitive competitive of field ustralian teenagers live live teenagers ustralian ‘within a powerful force force a powerful ‘within A - - - just just ), he he ),

Affluenza

Weekend Australian Magazine Weekend magazine. of ‘aspirational’ thinking ‘aspirational’ of Green What might emerge is a different kind kind a different is emerge might What building at Mt Glorious near Brisbane. Brian Hoepper is co-editor of John Hillcoat explored meaning making and ecological practice in his doctoral thesis. He is active in community deep sense of spirit. The challenges are personal, cultural and and cultural personal, are spirit. of The sense challenges deep in articles this In the following institutional. Green, of edition challenges. those of some up takes authors a range of in the excesses of commodified of individualistic and in lifestyles the excesses dimensions of neglected some And resuscitating practices. a and contemplation quiet – meaningful lives our recreation, kind of ‘aspirational’ thinkingkind ‘aspirational’ of – aspiring meaningful to work, sustainable and relationships convivial security, material will it reining the way Along mean practices. environmental involve questioning their extreme roles in current aspirational in current roles their extreme questioning involve to Australians prompted can practice. and be gently thought dissatis of wells the deep probe to their own lives, reflect on is a different What emerge might in research. reported faction debate and popular discourse. This does not involve a blanket a blanket popular discourse. and This involve not does debate Leftist old critique of those popular targets of condemnation does it materialism. and But – individualism, competitiveness The Greens can, however, promote and work for more at more for work and promote The Greens can, however, in countries liketainable Particularly Australia, there goals. making’ raise ‘meaning to is of the issue a need in public making. But it’s certainly not a feasible model for all seven all seven for model certainly a feasible not it’s making. But earth. on billion people tionally satisfying a bountiful by and garden, craft production And these in a vibrant civil and local community. engagement meaning for desire can certainly the deep-seated answer So where to where …? So in lies a Greens - the solution some – including some For emo and materially sustained acreage, on cottage strawbale terms of human health and well-being, social relationships, social relationships, well-being, and terms health human of damage. environmental and injustice global lamented two centuries ago that ‘The world is too much with is too much ‘The world that ago two centuries lamented our waste lay soon/ and we Gettingus; late spending, and spending’ and is the ‘getting What of is the scale new powers’. the unsustainabilityof the intensity and in has spawned it None of the above is particularly new. There were, indeed, indeed, were, There is new. particularly the above of None And Wordsworth money. of against love injunctions biblical Asia Latin and with As described Callick America. Rowan timingexquisite in the in Toyland’. Christmas, is ‘Trouble before there And there are wider consequences. Many imported products imported products Many consequences. wider are And there from living’ of emerge ‘standard define Australians’ that in China, South-East workplaces unhealthy and exploitative found middle-class, aspirational Sydney the ‘most vacuous of of vacuous the ‘most aspirational Sydney middle-class, found obsessively workaholics’ with career-obsessed … packed cities status. and possessions pursuing money, According to British author Oliver James, there are parallel parallel are there James, Oliver British to According author Australian extreme the most withSydney effects, cultural Researching his book (also titled example. Sustainable th and development Autumn 2007 ISSUE 22 PAGE 8 and family’s their diet suffers to fuel the addiction. No domestic violence health, programs, education, employment Island are receiving Centrelink benefits afford and cannot much fresh good food. Othersaddiction struggle with to prices cover costs. Most people inflated transport with on Palm themainland on from Palm imported Island is are over crowded. With theexception of some vegetables through awork grown for thedole project, thefood all houses,300 some up with to 27 them. people in Most of living thehouses are designed for nuclear and families There asevere is on Palm Island apopulation with housing crisis of over approximately in thousand three living workers’ cottages. water, electricity, sewerage, and roads. Houses were built veryto urban inner close to each similar other grids in development (includingmission infrastructure surveillance of thecommunity) well as to minimise as such as on Palm Island developedHousing and town planning ad an hoc to manner accommodate in theneeds of the the oppressive times. mission including largely and was fertile soil self sufficient food and even in exported some produce to Townsville during award wages, much of which withheld was by the government. abundant island has The resources natural residents thePalm Island times themission in dormitory. of During Palm Island were forced to work for under were taken. It where also was many children of thestolen generation were taken to grow up without families their repressive reserves it as colony apenal was most than Aboriginal where ‘trouble makers’ theother from reserves brutal and more is Its Australia. history in community the largest is Aboriginal community Palm IslandThe Aboriginal violence, at aimed welfare family in programs cially mental and healing health and addiction. basic pre-requisites for successful participation any in education, work, health, business, culture sport, and espe Appropriate secure housing, nutrition good and healthy lifestyle options, are not themselves ends in but they are down theexcesses thesolution also communities. society is of affluent to theimmediateneeds of Aboriginal decentralised electricity generation communities. agenda Australian The intended that mainstream is in to tone movement sustainability Australian The focused has on sustainable housing, food organic production local and or no systems presently exist. energy, water, sewage, transport and food production where inadequate sustainability about is developing essential systems such housing, as However, for the global poor, including Aboriginal Australia, appropriate systems. replacing and upgrading dysfunctional systems with new ecologically Sustainable development the in affluent world about primarily is Palm Island Aboriginal commun

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society is surely an immense and intolerable paradox.’ and intolerable immense an is surely society ‘That there should be a massive housing problem in an affluent an in problem housing a massive be should there ‘That com). He is a writer, researcher and music manager and presently co-ordinator of “Gunya 21 Link with working Tank” manager and co-ordinator music and 21 researcher presently is “Gunya He a writer, of com). the Palmmembers of Island community options. housing improve to among people in the community and a strong desire to see it happen. it see in to the community desire people a strong and among “Paradigm is of the a blogazine editor Australian OZ” about Tracey John culture and politics (paradigmoz.wordpress. leadership potential, dynamic social networks, a reviving cultural awareness and, being in a beautiful part of the world close to to close being and, in a beautiful part the world of awareness a reviving dynamic cultural potential, social networks, leadership sustain of with concepts green culture indigenous of The blending development. economic for has potential the urban centres, issues these of is an There awareness community. planning and a model Island Palm technology make could architecture, able Palm Island has been sensationally described in the media as a ‘dysfunctional’ community and even as ‘the most violent place in place violent most in described as as the media has sensationally a ‘dysfunctional’ ‘the Island been Palm community even and completely of the result mostly are these certainly but Island Palm has problems its a war zone’. of outside the world The community also a history and has colonial oppression. much of government the state by service delivery inadequate ecosystems. For a start, the reduction of toxicity in sustainable housing will protect the environment but more importantly it more but the environment will housing in sustainable toxicity protect of a start, reduction the For ecosystems. visit and it. than protect to rather inenvironment the live – to with the ecosystems interact humans directly to allows mains water sewer and power systems, reducing overheads considerably. overheads reducing systems, power and sewer mains water infrastructure and housing sustainable of and in benefit Aboriginal essential the positive But for allows is communities it and surrounding the and environment developments) housing (including society human between connections productive built on Palm Island, (or any remote community) for considerably less than what the state government is currently paying for paying is for currently government state the than less what considerably for community) remote any (or Island, Palm on built Decentralised water housing.) is Island public Palm on stock housing (All present Island. Palm on housing public conventional extend to is need no as there developments housing cheaper for allow disposal generation electricity and sewage collection, nutrition. Yet this is the present circumstance of most Palm Islanders. Palm most of this circumstance ispresent the Yet nutrition. can options be housing built home or kit as present shortage housing Island the Palm to is relevant housing very Sustainable or any other kind of programs will work on Palm Island if the program’s participants cannot enjoy a secure home and proper proper and home a secure participants cannot enjoy kind programs if of Island other program’s the Palm on willany or work

Palm Islanders dancingPalm 2007 on Day Survival ity

Aboriginal communAboriginal Palm Island Palm Autumn 2007 ISSUE 22 PAGE 10 now learning to livenow tropical In regions, with. learning thesheer vol that Melbourne,torrential rain of courtesy climate change, is Places Queensland like have always had to the deal with volume and speed of waterflows. have been severely damaged by the erosive effects of unnatural into the sea. well, As many of metropolitan Melbourne’s creeks out of therivers into the bay, dumping and sediment toxins past were on oases hot Stormwater days –unswimmable. flows seweragethe formal network, our rivers the –that making in connections theemergencyillegal and from overflows out of about. Stormwaterto think picks up untreated from effluent the environment, why stormwater something people is need There are lots of reasons, including thehealth of people and itinto thegrounddoes today. than paved fewer areas today. than meant That more soaked rain Back the1950s in affluenza. houses also wereis smaller and aproblem is this of climate change, ofWhile theproblem part whereareas it did. ously increasing thefrequency occur and is and severity in wherepermeable it did not gardens causing flooding previ is bursts. combination The of climate change and loss of short in but falling extremely is Rain heavy of rainstorms. Melbourne already experiencing is increasetheintensity an in It’s one of where theareas we see climate change at play. governmentslocal have can alot of control over. homes, but, importantly, it’s and their something individuals your materials. It might not glamorous as be designer as green issueenergy or an as crucial use where as is youthis source we’reWhat less likely but discussionsabout to see is drains, Gardens. and Homes and more likely thepages to see in of and recycled timber. It’s of the sort picture that we’re more are eco-chic homesto mind state-of-the-art with solar panels and often thecity about in what comes sustainability Think adapting to climate change Home Beautiful Home or Better Better - - would go, ‘overland naturally via flows’. is means this What Instead, to it permitted pipes go and drains. where is via it ume of water makes it impossible to send water underground water –do the same temporarily thing. big dump it comes down as. Swales –shallow ditches that hold theydam release water over gradually the rather in time, than into the storm water system. of small-scale Byakind as acting another function. important They delay therelease of water way of collecting water for consumption, but have they also At of drought, times water tend a as to discussed be tanks of land. their the permeability water and increasing arain tank people take -installing can At individual level, an there are twovery concrete actions investment.require significant results for theenvironment). that it is will Another difficulty decisions, including planning local those that ensure better Victoria(In thestate government –and does –over-ride can least Victoria, in thestate to not over-ride decisions. local whatregulating happens on private requires, land and also at that muchthose issues. is means of One thedifficulties of this ers and potentially its capacity to laws make local to address governmenttions. Local would pow need to its use planning would of publicchange. mean This amixture and private ac intended specifically is to mitigate theimpacts of climate solutionThe acatchment having is management plan that for sustainability, it.planning rather building than our old systems just aren’t working. It’s about to think time increasing, summerwater is down storms during hammering to address stormwater.gineering But now, the volume as of concreted We’ve into up drains. and turned looked to en MelbourneIn creeks have been traditionally covered over, back.to distance stay acertain have been allowed water to as remain courses and housing has creeks and ephemeral creeks (creeks that do not always run) - - - adapting to climate change at the local level ANDREA SHARAM AND KATHLEEN MALTZAHN

Increasing permeability is essentially about increasing the There are two other areas (at least) councils can play a role in. opportunity for water to soak into the ground rather than run- ning off. You can do this through getting rid of the concrete One is, like individuals, to increase the permeability of cities and building up rather than out (so land is not covered by and to better process storm water. Yarra Council, for exam- buildings). ple, is currently looking at creating a wetland in Edinburgh Gardens, one of the city’s heritage parks. As well as provid- Planning for adapting storm water systems for climate change ing irrigation to the gardens, this will stop run-off and treat means neighbours are going to have to address the impacts stormwater before it runs into the river. that they make on their downstream neighbours. The problem is, people at the top of catchments don’t directly experience The second area is in purchasing land. Some land can never the negative impacts of what they do, so they don’t have be protected from flooding. People here are stuck – they can’t The solution is having a catchment sell out because property values have been pushed down by the fact that they can be flooded, and because houses that can or management plan that is specifically have been damaged by flood become uninsurable. One option intended to mitigate the impacts of is for councils to buy this land. To market-oriented govern- climate change. ments, the idea of bailing out people is anathema, but with climate change, lack of attention to transitioning is a recipe for economic (and environmental) disaster. Acting early will be the same incentive to change their behaviour as the people important. downstream who are being flooded: which is where govern- ment comes in. Local communities are already responding. In Moreland, residents in some local streets subject to flooding are getting There are two obvious mechanisms that councils have avail- together with council and the water authority to explore the able. One is to encourage – or require – individuals to increase mixture of public and personal actions that can be taken to act permeability and install water tanks. Manningham Council, locally to adapt to climate change. for example, last year looked at how it could use local laws to make tanks mandatory, and Yarra council is currently explor- These communities are our pioneers. They are in the frontline ing this. The Manningham law (which was not adopted) of the negative impacts of climate change and they are set to recommended a staged process that initially required tanks in new homes, later in renovations or alterations over a specific become the strongest advocates for recognising the inconven- amount, and finally in all buildings. ient truths about climate change.

The second mechanism is for councils to introduce a local Andrea Sharam and Kathleen Maltzahn are Greens coun- special charge scheme that can pay for the most efficacious cillors at Moreland and Yarra Councils (respectively) in measures in the right places (for example along an old creek Melbourne’s inner Northern suburbs. bed). This would turn it into a collective responsibility. Autumn 2007 ISSUE 22 PAGE 12 refrigerators and similar appliances.refrigerators But and similar what about now, and what about and beyond’? therest the‘burbs of in us and cluster them mostthat around of eliminate services travel,local the kind car and the need for individual clothes washers and independent ever than before. Energy efficient new housing developments and redevelopments draw can people back inwards aresultAs we’ve of our our especially transportation, personal goods, personal become spread and more apart further rampantly by government businesses, policies. such course, Of within duplication and wasteful and continually weeded unnecessary is out. everyand tools in household. Ever increasing consumption economic an was winner, at least for some, and expressly encouraged for each and every one of to one us own (or more) of (or nearly -acar two, or everything three) and awhole host of appliances for of economy our stuff. An all dependent aproduction on continual in expansion and mired model manufactured also theneed to thelaundromat when there’s your very clothes own washer room? thelaundry Houses in themselves expanded to make room less, and you get to keep thecool tools? Why go to everyday thegrocer keep your when food in will kitchen? thefridge Why go moregoods cheaply someone Why services. hire to than do odd-jobs around thehouse when thetools to do-it-yourself cost will For long, too far acombination of cheap energy (and cheap foreign labour) enabled has people thewestern in world to purchase that before you even put alitre of petrol thetank! in destination. Notits final to mention processed of petroleum theplastic from all parts worked and similarly All and transported. the ore, smelts the metals, and stamps, casts every and machines, and assembles, bit of and transports it every step of theway to convert it into themselves. fossil fuel, that offrom digs acar, thecase the machinery In which runs theenergy comes primarily embedded contains energy. thing thesun and from they rial plants simple fairly In theprocess is energy -their comes primarily mostThe energy efficient automobile represents still huge amounts of energy expended process. its manufacturing Every in mate The case ofcar the reduce our individual and collective consumption of ‘matter.’ significantly reduce our individual and collective consumption of energy, we have to and when formed by human hands, usually awhopping great amount of it. And so, to from matter. But it equally is truethe in opposite direction: matter =‘leashed’ energy, normally useequation this to calculate the potential energy which can be unleashed Einstein gave us anequation describing how matter equals energy. course, Of we LORI The case for energy services Why Buy?

PUSTER No matter how efficient we make cars, the greatest reduction in energy use will come from making fewer of them in the first place. - PAGE 13 Autumn 2007 ISSUE 22 - -

For less money than we collectively spend on a hundred drills, drills, hundred a on spend collectively we than money less For a hundred households can purchase a whole workshop worth of tools. of worth workshop whole a purchase can households hundred a

individual ownership. ‘You are what you access, not what you own’ – now that’s the kind the sexy sells. that of that’s – now own’ you what not access, you what are ‘You ownership. individual Lori junkie tool is and Puster the is in self-confessed family, glad them out. her lend to It’s easy to feel trapped by the systems, infrastructure and paradigms that resulted from the ‘age of oil’, but we’re not. And we And we not. we’re but oil’, of infrastructure trapped the systems, from by the ‘age paradigms and easy feel to resulted that It’s That’s ‘more’. against the positive-sounding ‘less’ be pitting to the negative-sounding seem if we people many win over won’t even certainly appealing it’s … and more shift from to having things need the focus less gaining It’s we to access. why more us can than of through afford want and most need we what to access with more people more true. services Energy can provide importantly, once we’ve picked the ‘low hanging fruit’ of limited high-grade ores, other methods of uranium extraction, such as such uranium of extraction, methods hanging the ‘low other fruit’ ores, picked limited of high-grade we’ve once importantly, three one. of to a scale balance - on energy a negative create would extraction, water sea manufacturing and transporting of materials in the ten plus years it takes to build a nuclear reactor and containment facilities facilities containment and reactor manufacturing a nuclear build to transporting and takes it years materials plus in of the ten mining in of the cost add then and disposing and by) the come of to will that costly that hard more and (fuels be increasingly more than in. takes energy But it returns more hardly any nuclear decommissioning the reactor, of uranium, eventual the and Embedded energy is also a good guide at the other end of the scale. One item not worth sharing is a nuclear power plant - de plant power sharing worth not is a nuclear One item the scale. of end is energy the other also a good at Embedded guide in all the mining, of embedded fuels fossil of the amount up add If you discovered. Einstein that the atom of the potential spite right tool (or even a completely outfitted work-shop) than to have to make do with the one you’ve got, or purchase another for for another purchase or got, you’ve with do the one make to than have to work-shop) outfitted a completely even (or right tool dealing of with irrespon way one busting things, keeps but like sharing the guy who limited Sure equally use? hasproblems, its etc. rates reduced in and gets returns good nick clean tools who The person good individuals behavior. is rewarding by sible savings. monetary actual earns into translate points that group prestige Doing whole the right by the just to access ready have rather wouldn’t who but out, be worked to have etc. maintenance, the logistics housing, of Yes,

need a hole made or a screw driven in. If your neighbor had a drill you could borrow - and if power drills were not so ridiculously so ridiculously drills not if - and a drill had borrow power could were neighbor in. If you your driven a screw or made a hole need - you’d guys) for (especially culture consumption own in conspicuous embarrassing our own your not to if wasn’t and it cheap, libraries answer. an are obvious Tool use his, to be hers. happy or Let’s turn to less weighty and more immediately shareable items. The power drill is a good example. .The average household household average drill .The The power is a good example. items. shareable immediately more and turn weighty less to Let’s a drill, need really you don’t in You lifetime. than its less and minutes twenty a year minutes drill only a few used power gets The power drill power The products people buy. But, in order to reduce greenhouse gases, we have to get ahead of the economic curve. Or better yet, get get yet, Or better curve. the economic of ahead get to have we gases, greenhouse reduce to in order But, buy. people products have would in world a sane which than far less cost value, their real items make that eliminate to the subsidies governments our to had If we materials. disposal of the proper recycling and and remediation, damage and environmental of the cost include to attractive. more a lot become would sharing items of the cost buy, we true the what pricepay of bed-sits buy food daily from a local store or restaurant. These are existing models for meeting needs and desires without undue undue without desires and needs meeting for These existing are models restaurant. or daily food buy from a local store bed-sits The long. for still and not financially less out, but viable, work to the logistics harder areas, are populous In less duplication. of in the number This manufacturingof willcost will fuel. climb fossil to with of alone the cost a reduction continue determine ‘shipping and handling’. handling’. and ‘shipping living in Urbanites laundry facilities. shared have complexes Apartment cities. in programmes exist Car some share already this currently, approximately 8 million Australian households own roughly 8 million refrigerators. Even using the specifications Even 8 million own roughly refrigerators. 8 million Australian households approximately this currently, 600,000 to up – consisting material adds of - that tonnes thanaverage is fridge newer and litre smaller - which 350 from my plus 6,000 and copper etc. aluminum, of of 12,000 tonnes plastic, of tonnes 240,000 300,000of iron iron and alloys, of tonnes don’t really want a car (and who would given purchase price, and the cost of insurance and maintenance?), you want to get from get to want you insurance of cost maintenance?), the and and price, purchase given would who a car (and want really don’t clothes. clean want you washer, a clothes want don’t You another. to place one accomplish To cold. beer your frozen or cream ice spoil to your - and not food your want a fridge. You want really you do Nor Energy services You goods material that facilitate. desires and the needs on services, as focus to energy also referred systems, Product-service AutumnAutumn 2002007 ISSUEISSUE 22 PAGEPAGE 1414

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magazine.

Green

Greg Buckman was assistant national finance manager of the Society Tasmanian Wilderness the in of stages the later Franklin campaign. was He variously treasurer and deputy treasurer the Australian of and 2006 Greens 1999 between theand founding of was of editors one attract a few hundred. But in the end nearly 3000 part. nearly took in the end But hundred. a few attract be- (it camp’ river in the ‘up morning the blockaders Every the Gordon of the forests amongst came a regular bush-town and after breakfast suits swimmers donned wet and River) equip- dam-building more that message the radio for waited a chain in formed their The was coming blockaders up. ment them tried break to rafts Police rubber the barges. thwart to blockaders and up tensed everyone near As got barges the up. there through broke the barges When squeal. and shout would In the end melee. din amidstwas an a fast-moving incredible was made it But a bit. dam the work only slowed the blockade in making was and pivotal media allfor Australians of aware plight. the Franklin’s The thing from learnt the Franklin I most campaign is that a campaign is know to where heading know to need don’t you pro-dam Robin Gray the ardently fighting. In worth 1982 it’s Labor the federal and Tasmania of premier elected been had to up were like they look didn’t BillParty Hayden under we there knocking But Prime off. Fraser Minister Malcolm I victories. of this sweetest celebrating later a year just were warming from global the world save fight to today’s feel often already). to started have might (and way the same go might oblivious falling Wellington, Mt kept on the snow Meanwhile, it. the humans of living the madness to below there had been rallies, door knock campaigns, by-election campaigns, rallies, knock door been had by-election there worries, money of end no campaigns, meetings, countless had it on Early the blockade. course, lobbying of and, of heaps might dam work of construction blockade the expected been BUCKMAN

GREG saved

- the day the Franklin River was saved. was River Franklin the day - the Franklin was was Franklin THE DAY THE DAY THE

I’ve never lived a day since quite like the first of July 1983 1983 July of first the like quite since a day lived never I’ve proposal for the river. Between October 1979 and July 1983 1983 July and 1979 October Between the river. for proposal The campaign to save the Franklin stretched back to October October to back Franklin the The campaign stretched save to its Commission tabled had the Hydro-Electric when 1979 soaked and the building filled with a thick atmosphere of of the building and soaked filled with atmosphere a thick what know didn’t was unreal. We It release. and joy intense it. fully understand I still don’t happened. had TWS building became a scrum of hugs, kisses, spilt drinks, kisses, spilt TWS building a scrum became hugs, of lines. telephone jammed and food scattered crews, camera was handed the decision in from BrisbaneBob phoned (where The carpet was soon love. with non-stop be greeted to down) knew we had clinched it. The Franklin it. flow clinched had could The free. we knew went swung (and had Deane it 3. us 4 to High Court backed The governor-generals). best Australia’s of one become to on for the mid-morning news. On came Queensland premier Joh Joh premier On came Queensland news. the mid-morning for flood right to Tasmania’s backed had who Bjelke-Petersen, we and Australia’ for day isthe Franklin. a black ‘It said He Nervously we crowded around the radio at the Hobart head- at the radio around crowded we Nervously (TWS) Society waiting Wilderness the Tasmanian of quarters precipice. Bob Brown summed up the feeling of many when he he when many of the feeling Bob up summed Brown precipice. after the the world of in top jail on or be back either he’d said decision. the Koowarta decision and was and a wildcard. was The angst decision the Koowarta government from indications Hawke the quiet by heightened from if the issue the High Court walk away would they that an of enormous the edge on were against We us. decided Court’s earlier Koowarta decision on Aboriginal on decision Koowarta earlier affairs. But Court’s fall the Franklin on the court would case. how knew no-one in involved been hadn’t William Deane, the judges, One of fairly certain the constitution gave the federal government government federal the fairly certain gave the constitution the on government the Tasmanian over-rule to the power in the High upheld been similar had – the use of issue powers night before snow had fallen on Mount Wellington behind Wellington Mount on fallen had snow before night with the contrasted innocence and gentleness its Hobart; in the campaign. seemed It everyone by felt angst extreme On that day the High Court handed down its decision on the on High the decision its On Court down day that handed The river. the save might that legislation validity federal of

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Franklin was was Franklin F T Autumn 2007 ISSUE 22 PAGE 16 CARBON OFFSETS ARE ment doubtful. is backits emissions home. However thebenefit to theenviron reductions, thecompany increase ‘imagined’ can with gained have reduced CO2 more. far emissions Using thecredits credits.the carbon Nor does it would matter farm that awind nor that thegas-fired plant would not have been built without on thecompany to prove plant thecoal would have been built coal-fired power plant would have been built. There no onus is investing reducing is a because in emissions carbon otherwise A company that argue agas-fired power can plant it is government applied for 3.5 Mt of CDM credits for it. complete whichPanama more was half than when theDutch would have anyway. occurred example in Dam An the Esti is rather be offsets can the carbon means debatable and often wouldtions not have without occurred investment. their This are reducing greenhouse and why emissions gas these reduc credits carbon It how to upexplain to is thoseclaiming they bon offset schemes reduce thelong-term. greenhouse gasesin However there are many questions about how effectively car and generated Chile. mainly India, Brazil China, in systems. reductions emissions The trading emissions in were and $7 per tonne of CO2 equivalent, much theprice less than buyers opposed to as governments. They sell for between $3 by Japanese buyers. 70 Almost percent were bought by private these were bought by European buyers and just over 20 percent traded, up 38 per cent on theyear before. percent Sixty of 107 2004 In metric tonnes of offsets were million carbon being effort to make some of activities their ‘carbon neutral’. schemesare also where pay can individuals for an offsets in thatcorporations need them to meet Kyoto obligations. There that have sell offsets to not carbon nations or still signedcan offset andnations businessesAustralia emissions their like in scheme.sions trading invest also Businesses can projects in to up to theKyoto Protocol. any used with be emis They can to nations offsetsCarbon are not that have confined signed would have otherwise occurred. reductionsemissions are supposed to additional be to what extractiongas andplants. the closing down The of old, dirty tree plantations, renewable energy generation projects, landfill dioxide or reduce greenhouse emissions. include gas These nations. created be They can by projects that absorb carbon forpaying reductions emissions developing in or sinks carbon (CDM) allows to countries offset excess their by emissions agreed to theProtocol. Clean The Development Mechanism sions reductions other in which countries have or sinks carbon tocountries offset excess their for by emissions paying emis JointThe Implementation of theKyoto (JI) Protocol allows sustainability. them buting it doubtful that they is contribute to long-term reduce acost greenhouse on thosegenerat gasesand impose ideaThe to provide of offsets is carbon for funds projects that SHARON ------

BEDER CDM projects favour cheap methods of reducing carbon would have not otherwise been enforced. ronmental laws thehost in nation that onthelaws thebasis where credits have been claimed for envi with complying attractedfor be credits to will pay for it. There are even cases methane thehope capture that in foreign investors looking dumpsexample, may designed be without land future fill present attractive an emission reduction opportunity. For toties designed be without pollution controls sothat they CDMprovidesThe also incentive an facili for industrial reductions nations sothere no affluent global is in benefit. for by project that avoids financing emission corresponding have reduced global greenhouse are substituted emissions gas that means governmentpened. This policies that would seenbe additional as to what would have normally hap policies and projects CDM case projects in might no longer governments to countries poor introduce in environmental provides CDMThe also mechanism adisincentive for ketStudy2005.pdf, p. 3. MayDC, 2005, http://carbonfinance.org/docs/CarbonMar International Trading Emissions Association, Washington Source: ‘State and Trends of Market theCarbon 2005’, arefrigerant and agreenhouse is HFC gas ofSource Reduction Emission Credits, 2004-5 CO2 below).than (see figure reductions by reducing are earned greenhouse gasesother the ‘Cheapto as Development Mechanism’. Most emission caused has theCDMand thenation. to referred be This even though it offers more benefits to community thelocal becauseis renewable more energy is expensive for investors, tion credits to pump is methane out of awaste dump. This countries. of One ing theeasiest reduc ways carbon to earn ratheremissions renewable than energy projects develop in

-

- - - - -

NOT

SUSTAINABLE PAGE 17 Autumn 2007 ISSUE 22 - - . , Environmental Principles and Policies

She has held a number of appointments at Australian appointments at a number of hasShe held the recently two past decades most -- over universities Social in of the Mediaas School professor Sciences, Wollongong of and Communication the University at of fire. In addition they may lead to a loss of biodiversity biodiversity of a loss to lead may they fire.of In addition non-na of monocultures are they in nations many because uniform packed their densely because and species tive the variations structure and form of provide not do rows in a forest. found carbon that offsets is fact the however concern, Of most dirty or polluting to very continue to industries enable temporary often and dubious carbon inemit return for Instead occurred anyway. have may that gains elsewhere proc their own production to changes makingof effective and the cheap of can industries these advantage esses take sinks and available are that reductions unsustainable often take to pay to is individuals a way it in For poor nations. mindless and consumerism. A excessive of the guilt out so easily attained. is lifestyle not sustainable detailed a more that discussion the considers For equity dimensions and other carbon of offsets see Sharon Beder, 2006. Press, UNSW Sharon is a qualified professional in thisengineer and until worked field a career shift researchinginto and teaching environmental politics.

- - - - SUSTAINABLE

NOT require heavy use of agri-chemicals, including fertilisers, including agri-chemicals, use of heavy require remaining pollute that herbicides and weeding, chemical increase soil fertility, reduce plantations Such waterways. the risk increase and the soil, of compaction and erosion water in an area leaving wells dry, and the land around around land the and dry, in wells an leaving area water The are trees crops. support to unable and desiccated that species and age the same of trees of in rows planted sive. Generally plantations are made up of single species, species, single of up made are plantations Generally sive. high have quickly, grow that pine, as or eucalyptus such all up the suck They can and be easilyfibre logged. yield They sustainable. not are plantations situations In many inten so water are they because deserts’ ‘green can create calculating how much carbon is by temporarily up taken much how calculating as their carbon early release may trees growing Such trees. fires, of disease the necessary illegal logging or a result but carried not is monitoring out. often long-term The use of tree plantations as carbon is offsets The tree plantations also use of for method is accepted no there Firstly problematic. ing nuclear plants and storing nuclear waste. It is esti It waste. storing and nuclear plants ing nuclear the construction reduce could carbon that credits mated 10-40%. by plants such costs of ple, the CDM provides an incentive for the construction the construction for an incentive provides the CDM ple, particularly nations, in plants developing power nuclear of the known hazards with operat China, associated despite Various technologies of contested environmental benefit benefit environmental contested of technologies Various as exam offering For carbon offsets. beingare promoted

CARBON OFFSETS ARE OFFSETS CARBON

Autumn 2007 ISSUE 22 PAGE 18

Pulp and paper industries have cut a destructive and polluting and Pulphave destructive a cut paper and industries swathe through many pristine

vast areas vast of related reeds within National Park. Kakadu the paper making process When was

thatrequired large produced and of quantities large water energy and

areasof the planet over many years. Papyrus Paper proc in craft a Egypt ancient originated as

ess in which paper was hand made from the papyrus reeds of the papyrus the Nile essin which from Valley. made paper hand was Australia has also

industrializedin Europe trees North and were America reeds the substituted and for the papyrus manual craft process craft manual scaled was pulping up by woodchips with chemical physical and processes volumes of toxic effluent. volumeseffluent. of toxic

Pulp Fiction

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YATT - In th e e ar l y da y s o f in d us trial p a pe r mak- ing f o r e s ts an d fr e s h w a t e r w e r e r e g ar d e d as limi tl e ss r e so ur ce s . As th e d e man d f o r p a pe r an d p a c ka ging p r od u c ts in c r e as e d o l d gr o wth f o r e s ts w e r e co ns um e d a t an alarming p a ce . Re cy c ling ( o r m o r e a cc u- ra t e l y d o wn cy c ling ) an d p lan ta ti o n f o r e s ts ha v e ma d e so m e im p a c t b u t th e d e man d co n tin u e s t o gr o w . T ra gi call y , uni q u e o l d gr o wth rainf o r e s ts ar e s till be ing d e s tr o y e d in A us tralia an d e ls e w h e r e t o p r od u ce w ood c hi ps tha t ar e p ul pe d t o p r od u ce o ft e n l o w v al u e p a pe r p r od u c ts . Pul p mills , wi th all th e assoc ia t e d e n vir o nm e n tal p r o b l e ms , ar e be ing f o r ce d t o c l os e in d e v e l o pe d co un tri e s s u c h as C ana da an d ar e be ing m o v e d t o co un tri e s wi th l o w e r e n vir o nm e n tal Pulp Fiction s tan dar ds . Pulp Fiction Th e o ng o ing co nfli c t in T as mania co mb in e s n e e dl e ss d e s tru c- a bo u t $ 2 0 M o f ti o n o f o l d gr o wth f o r e s ts an d a tt e m p ts t o a d d so m e e co n o mi c ra w p r od u c t pe r y e ar . U s ing e xis t- v al u e t o w ood c hi p p ing b y b uil ding a p ul p mill . Th e r e ar e also ing p lan ta ti o ns th e s e co ul d e v e n tu all y s u p p l y a s ignifi can t c urr e n t p r o pos als t o b uil d p ul p mills in V i c t o ria an d So u th p r o po rti o n o f th e g l o b al p a pe r an d p a c ka ging n e e ds . A us tralia . All o f th e s e ar e s e e king a cce ss t o lar g e v o l um e s o f fr e s h w a t e r , lar g e am o un ts o f c h e a p e n e r gy , li ce n ce s t o Banana p l y can be us e d t o mak e a h u g e v ari e ty o f e co fri e n dl y dis c har g e lar g e v o l um e s o f e ffl u e n t an d lar g e dir e c t o r in dir e c t p r od u c ts f o r th e p a pe r , p a c ka ging an d b uil ding in d us tri e s . I t Go v e rnm e n t s u bs i di e s . also has a uni q u e na tural a p pe aran ce o r can be co a t e d wi th o th e r ma t e rials lik e n o rmal p a pe r an d p a c ka ging .

Meanwhile, a quiet revolution Th e na tural fib r e , w hi c h is in ta c t aft e r th e n o n p ul p ing p r oc- e ss , is e x ce p ti o nall y l o ng an d has hig h t e ns il e s tr e ngth . I t can has been brewing in Adelaide. also be r e cy c l e d thr o u g h man y m o r e cy c l e s than p ul pe d p a pe r . Th e s e ar e fun dam e n tal m e as ur e s o f p a pe r q u ali ty an d v al u e . It has the potential to make the B y l e a ving th e na tural lignin in ta c t, th e ma t e rial has a v ari e ty current paper and pulp industries o f us e ful p r o pe rti e s in c l u ding w a t e r r e pe ll e n t w e t s tr e ngth . I t is also flam e r e tar dan t an d UV r e s is tan t w hi c h gi v e s i t s imilar as extinct as the dinosaurs. s ta b ili ty t o th e an c i e n t P a p yrus d oc um e n ts s u c h as th e E gyp- tian Boo k o f the D ead an d th e D ead S ea S cr o lls .

Aft e r m o r e than e ig h t y e ars o f R &D , A d e lai d e co m p an y P a p y- P a p yrus A us tralia L imi t e d lis t e d as a p u b li c co m p an y o n th e rus A us tralia has d e v e l o pe d a r e v o l u ti o nary n e w e ngin e e ring AS X in 2 00 5 (Cod e : P P Y) w h e n i t rais e d ca p i tal t o b uil d i ts p r oce ss tha t can p r od u ce p a pe r fr o m w as t e b anana trunks firs t co mm e r c ial p r od u c ti o n f a c ili ty . This p r o j e c t is o n tra c k wi th o u t p ul p ing . Banana tr e e s ( a c tu all y gian t h e r bs ) gr o w an d th e co m p an y e xpe c ts t o co mmiss i o n this p r od u c ti o n lin e ra p i dl y in l e ss than a y e ar t o p r od u ce frui t. On ce th e b un c h is in A p ril 2 00 7 . Th e r e is alr e a d y s ignifi can t in t e r e s t fr o m th e harv e s t e d th e trunk is c u t d o wn t o r o t an d th e w h o l e p r oce ss p a pe r in d us try an d b anana in t e r e s ts g l o b all y . is r e pe a t e d e a c h y e ar wi th b illi o ns an d b illi o ns o f b anana tr e e s ar o un d th e w o r l d . Th e ra ce will th e n co mm e n ce in e arn e s t be tw e e n th e s us tain- a b l e P a p yrus Banana p l y t e c hn o l o gy an d th e din os a urs o f th e Th e p a t e n t e d P a p yrus p r oce ss is a n e ar pe rf e c t e n vir o nm e n- e xis ting p ul p/ p a pe r in d us tri e s . F o r th e s ak e o f th e p lan e t l e t tal/ in d us trial c l os e d l oo p w hi c h us e s a ra p i dl y r e n e w a b l e w as t e us h o pe tha t this ra ce is s wift an d tha t this A us tralian Gr e e n fib r e r e so ur ce , n o a d d e d w a t e r , l e ss than 1 % o f th e e n e r gy o f T e c hn o l o gy mak e s his t o ry as th e b igg e s t b r e ak thr o u g h in th e c urr e n t p ul p an d p a pe r in d us try an d n o c h e mi cals . s us taina b l e p a pe rmaking s in ce i ts P a p yrus nam e s ak e .

W as t e b anana s a p can be r e turn e d t o th e p lan ta ti o n f o r Dr . Da vi d W y a tt is C hairman o f P a pyrus A us tralia L td irrig a ti o n an d h e n ce th e r e is n o t o xi c e ffl u e n t dis c har g e . Th e an d th e firs t C hairman o f an A S X - lis te d c o mpan y t o s tan d s cal e o f th e p r oce ss is s mall , m o b il e an d d e ce n tralize d an d as an e n do rs e d can di da te f o r th e Gree ns ( in th e 2 006 s ui ta b l e f o r l oca ti o n in villa g e s al o ng s i d e e xis ting b anana p a c king s h e ds . I t also p r o mis e s t o gi v e a s ignifi can t boos t t o Qu ee ns lan d S ta te e l e c ti o n ) . H e is als o A d j un c t Pro f es s o r l ocal villa g e e co n o mi e s . Th e ca p i tal an d o pe ra ting cos ts r e s ul t in Co rpo ra te S us tainab ili ty a t th e U ni v e rs i ty o f Qu ee ns- in a cos t b as e o nl y a fra c ti o n o f th e e xis ting in d us tri e s . I t is lan d B us in es s Sc h oo l . www . pa pyrus a us tralia. c o m .a u ” c urr e n tl y e s tima t e d tha t e a c h s mall f a c t o ry co ul d p r od u ce Autumn 2007 ISSUE 22 PAGE 20 of authority. People may choose to join or to leave, but there clear and agreed areas their tasks,with of responsibility lines pressureby social out for to individuals participate and carry sustained be through structures organisational can backed up collective of shared strength This comes clarity purpose. from 35 years’ experience that is of intentional living community the 1970s many with others. Ihave What learned from sofar search communitiesIjoined in attional of this crisis. times There have been numerous waves of inten experiments with one insufficient. other also is onlysubstitutecan somuch and deepening relations just with and tofootprint healconnections Virtual thehuman spirit. heritage of to human, help being vital reduce radically our of thegod of economic We growth. need it’s community; our patterns resistant years 200 after to transformation ingrained thecontext be can restructuring. Community for challenging essential strategy for human empowerment to tackle societies’ over-used, largely losingits meaning. Its regeneration an is cities clusters as word The of villages. ‘community’ been has ofOne thecore pathways regeneration is for sustainability of individually.ances rather owning than example, five machinery, people sharing vehicles and appli its efficiencies -for root communities toof maximize grass technology laudable is but thestructures needing insufficient, one of thecore politicaland cultural pathways forward. Green challenge to our ways development of community living, is of our history. and villages of radical times In of thetribes ism asociety weAs have over-reacted to theoppressive individual Retribalisation explore. our psycheswithin and which set of therange options to acultureflow: where environmental are embedded norms which environmental within that sets the frame decisions dependentActing sustainably is of upon aculture part being whether of feelings, friends, flesh or possessio familybeyond sharing intimate experienceof the devoidlargelyof worlds.areWe impersonal within lives others to challenge the gaps between awareness and action. We have been socialised to live essentiallyindividual private to hold in isolation the energy to act radically and sustainably for the earth. We givenneed responsibilitythe support disproportionate of to orhis her capacity to act constructively. It is too much to expect each A is is dragged down into inaction by isolation, cynicism and depression. This can occur when an individuals citizens is we are finally waking to the perils of our damage to the earth. However, our new consciousness communities Grass roots as the heart ns.

- - of green citizenship green of - need to be real community boundaries that limit the scope of thescope need that limit boundaries to real be community is necessary for necessary sustainability.is At thevery least communities mitment environmental of aspiritual, nature political and/or another is ties matter. com Atranscendental community for organisationand communal are necessary other communi munities. Whether extremes their of collective accountability Much thelongevity learned from be of also religious can com living. village other from learn cultures that have along experience of tribal and we means therefore tribalisation century have somuch to go and reaching out. our In culture we don’t know what 21st our present involve cultural will base letting struggle, pain, grouplar of place. people aparticular from Retribalisation in aparticu shared with At means bonding its community heart development of cultural features. step first towardsstructures anecessary and functionsas the corporate bureaucracy -communities must put place in clear rejecting –while And crisis. it and sustain during community and to evolve of theshared thesacred realms that nourish the often sacred.and rituals, It takes along to rediscover time needs to established be and sustained through cultural symbols ‘the simple life’ and ‘self-sufficiency’. identity Community involvesRetribalisation complex interdependencies, not just rituals and symbols Cultural eating. and by respecting people’s decisions to vegetarian be or meat- abroadly agreed framework, theland within ways of farming processes at meetings,making for by allowing adiversity of agreed framework illustrated is at Moora Moora by decision- structures need to allow for diversity. an Diversity within However, core while values need to shared, be thecommunity diversity order in to ensurecohesion. community ER T E P

OCK C CO - - - - PAGE 21 Autumn 2007 ISSUE 22 - - - - - of intentional communities in the 1970s and co-created intentionalof communities in the 1970s where Moora Moora community Cooperative in the 1970s for was University He a lecturer Monash at lives. he thanmore as three units taught he such decades where and and Action Environmental Policy Society, Conserver StudiesWilderness in Social is He and Sacred Ecology. theon the council Sustainable of Living and Foundation Graduate School has the joined staff just the OASIS of in Community Learning Borderlands and Research at in Melbourne. The explosion of experiments in intentional communities communities in experiments intentional of The explosion finding is now world the western throughout in 1970s the by driven is as much It century. in the 21st expression new communi dreaming. Intentional as utopian by necessity as familial inherited asties, well village tribal or can bonds, individualism, the of the extremes resist that relations foster corporations institutionalised and of profes power monopoly can in communities be places all their diversity Such sionals. individuals powerful breeds that democracy participatory of citizenship. green deep of in the practice educated food organic and technology green saw some In the 1970s, dismissed most them but as the way, leading cooperatives mainstream. increasingly are they But as marginal. Today Being remains in change cultural community the challenge. for through, this likely, is where more context the provides Further, meaning. for focus a non-material providing example, in engaged Community are we Cooperative Moora Moora at polices developed have we because change intergenerational gap the generational before join to people young encourage to bring to Hopefully they ideas and energy too great. becomes change. cultural of the challenge meet the first (PhD) H Cock conducted national study Peter Such balances are dynamic but in our culture are skewed skewed are dynamicin are balances culture our but Such time is privatize to over The tendency individual. the towards com the lowest to it in is reducing common, shared what history of the recent over example, For denominator. mon purpose of strength and of a lack communities, intentional in becom land common hasorganizational resulted capacity be to not agreements for being for, cared not or ing private, honoured. dynamic of between a number balances for is a need There dissent, life, consensus and innerouter and the community’s personal community and interdependence, self-sufficiency community and desires interests. sacrifice in some a community of requires Participation connectedness. of benefits the achieve to autonomy individual interdependence, mutual and obligations bonds, This involves with individualism. incompatible fundamentally are which individual of the ‘freedom’ for Australian has society opted Finding a community. itself has denied ism as and, a result, community and personal autonomy dynamic balance between the present of is an to understanding essential commitment also and withinstruggle communities within intentional our culture. The future The and private the shared threat. real is a more commons’ the of tragedy ‘the However, - - www.urbanecology.org.au/christiewalk in part because it cannot be managed by an individual, is an cannot bein by managed individual, it part because chaos of times disorganized. at and elements Its unpredictable least the organizing at to may a threat are they mind yet and be sustainability. part our of sometimes If the community is so organised that it lacks room for change change If the community for room is lacks so organised it that is inevitable uncertainty the of boredom then the stimulus or survives Cooperative Moora Moora example, For result. and knowledge to make decisions about when and how to to how and when about decisions make to knowledge and conflict. of the energy use of the creative facilitate A community needs to believe in the social of necessity believe A community to needs to conflict while recognising has be creatively used to it that will is the shared What is possibilities. needed new generate apart or explode, this interpersonal to attributed is explode, apart or often community mecha appropriate conflict. is vital develop It to nisms distinguish to from issue. person from symptom cause, social trauma, with membership turnover and community and turnover social with trauma, membership failure. fall communities When is hard enough. Getting established Even with careful the establish that planning is inevitable it Even especially an innovative social group, any phase of ment uncertainty a period by of is characterised psycho/ and group, The conflict of place Moora Moora’s accountability to local government for its its for local government to accountability Moora’s Moora point performance is an external reference environmental community. self-contained an is isolated not it that attesting need to be accountable to a larger body politic. For example, example, For body politic. a larger to be accountable to need Rooftop Christie and solargarden at Eco-village, collectors Walk Adelaide. of green citizenship as the heart heart the as G rass roots roots Grass communities Autumn 2007 ISSUE 22 PAGE 22 Guest GreenGuest LOUISE the Future. agreat was project This by the Hawke begun laterSome time she began work for theCommission with of theeffects Basin. of on salination theMurray Darling towas research on ‘salt’, programs including avery early study work on theABC’s Science Show. of One her biggest projects when she theearly returned in eighties, to Australia she began her interest environmental in and development issues and, placesin theSolomonsof like the start was and PNG. This involvedbecoming appropriate various in technology projects and she and Clive around spent the Pacific somesailing time However, not was altogether Louise at home academic in life studies at theUniversity of Wollongong. Charles Birch apioneer and being thearea of in women’s 1965 in Australia working such with intellectual as giants her wide, generalist intellectual pursuits she after to came and philosophy thehistory ofin science. She continued where her academic interests widened to her life-long interest science. She then went to theUSA her with husband Clive 1956in went and Louise on to Cambridge where she studied school. boarding in returned Her to England parents finally back to Malaya aged leaving Louise, four, and her elder sister re-united England in1945 in but her father and mother went Singaporeprisoner of in war for four years. was Her family when theJapanese invaded 1941. in leaving her father a her after Malaya mother South in She Africa, fled born was ‘Guest Green’.a fascinating be would still Louise even history without her Green Party seat aSenate for 1998. Tasmania in Butclose to winning some ofedge most our policies. went She cutting also very L diversity of cultures on planet...” this values and appreciation an of the rich passionate commitment to progressive who combines akeen, mind, inquiring “Louise Crossley is one of those people Greens convenorGreens for and developing late nineties the in Crossley ouise for best known her is role Australian as

CROSSLEY North America in her ‘Re-thinking Globalisation’ course. Globalisation’ her ‘Re-thinking in America North honours students world to the American outsideNorth or, introducing doing, she villages as currently is Asian planet –whether South pacific, the on in this of cultures progressive appreciation diversity of rich the an values and passionate to commitment mind, a keen, inquiring CrossleyLouise one is ofpeople who those combines population and exploding causing was ecological devastation. rabbitsglobal were warming, more having litters ayear, the on a2003 to visit theisland she appalled was to see that, with Island and promoted theidea of ‘restorative ecology.’ However, 100 in years. time Sheofthe first Macquarie wrote thehistory scheme that allowed the blue petrels to breed on theisland for she participated2000 theMacquarie Island in cat eradication lead Senate candidate 1998. to Antarctica in in Returning She stood for thefederal 1993 in seat of and was Franklin she joined convener. the Tasmanian its first Greens, becoming to theenvironment and so, when she returned to Tasmania, experience consolidateddog teams. This Louise’s commitment exciting field work at when atime researchers were using still appointedand was station leader at Mawson 1991, in doing change of government, she decided to go to theAntarctic Antarctic Centre. When theproject shut was down a after wentLouise to Tasmania 1988 in to set up theInternational spent themid-80s in backpacking aperiod After around Asia it wouldn’texisted; him with work’). it said was wouldn’t ‘Without the Commission Barry have government’s Science Jones Minister, (about Barry whom PAGE 23 Autumn 2007 ISSUE 22 ), ), The 2006 AWKINS The Blind Watchmaker D and ICHARD This brilliantly lucid, argued is polemic set becometo the religion-opposing classic of millennium.the new This clarion call for truth find policy should every on a place in desk, and voter’s politician’s maker’s, secondaryevery and tertiary classroom! Heeding justify its many lessons would Richard nomination Dawkins’ the for peace prize.Nobel Dierk von Behrens communities. While Dawkins fields, he old ploughs various recently follows meticulously mapped The intellectual contours. ‘Why certainly there chapter is God’ no if Godcharacterises his ‘… says He style. really did communicate with humans that emphatically lie outside not would fact a God who continues ‘… he Later science’. sendingis of capable intelligible signals and millionsto simultaneously, people of receivingof from messages all them of he else cannot be, whatever simultaneously, bandwidth!’might (p Such be, 154) simple. a Among gives he many examples spinechilling Israeli psychologist of account in- and out-group George Tamarin’s experiment with Israeli children (pp Dawkins which the of results -257), 255 summarises was religion thus: that ‘It themade difference children between condemning condoning or it.’ genocide The God Delusion The R $35. 406pp, Bantam Press, This book leading by latest intellectual, andbiologist philosopher Richard Dawkins challenging, humorous, is incisive, fearless, scrupulously hard-hitting, yet passionate, logical and refreshingly Though persuasive. in belief of God the - on rejection grounds irrationalityof and the harm enormous religions inflict Dawkins’ - permeates (including works renowned previous Selfish Gene hishere highly analytical honed skills focus fully dissecting on systems these belief and illuminating memeplexes, or the crippling pervasive, complex, and often damagedeadly individuals to do they and - - - 2006 views HESTER

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You can readYou the complete reviews on the copy for an enthralling, yet practical and worthwhile, vision of the future. I promise. Dierk von Behrens Hester proposes Ecological Democracy as the solution. This he describes as ‘government by the people emphasising direct, hands-on involvement. Actions are guided by understanding natural processes and social relationships within our locality and the larger environmental context.’ I want every Green councillor and parlia mentarian to ask their reference-library to get this book. Having seen it you will wish to be able to draw on a personal Randolph Hester has written a new clas sic, one that will enable people to live in maximum harmony with nature in their particular environment. Advocating resilient and ecologically sensitive design, the work foams with inspiration. It furnishes a framework of principles to be adopted by every person able to affect how and where we live, whatever be their beef - teacher, planner, architect, lawyer,developer, banker, resource manager, bureaucrat, city councillor or politician. RANDOLPH USA Ma, Cambridge, MIT Press, pp, 510 Hardback, 0-262-0851-5 ISBN-13: This passionate and beautifully illustrat ed volume builds on a deep commitment to grassroots democracy and a profound understanding of ecology. It is imbued with an abiding spirit of optimism. Summarising a life’s work of farming, landscape design, teaching, political activism and over 500 sources Professor Design for Ecological Ecological for Design Democracy Here’s a tasteHere’s of what our reviewers have said. Australian Greens website: www.greens.org.au book re book - - - . 2006

ONBIOT will recognise and applaud, M EORGE only one solution’; STOP FLYING STOP only solution’; one Louise Crossley at the height they fly, the the warming height at impact theseof emissions is so enhanced that to is a 90% TIOOS – ‘there reduction achieve For he concludes TINA - in Thatcher’s TINA - in Thatcher’s concludes he For - to famous is phrase alternative’ no ‘there engines, andaviation jet gasoline power to But there is one issue on which even Mon is there even issue which on one But ingenuity and finding to dedication biot’s - air stop a dead travel. comes to solutions thinking activities day many every about embrace. to need that we if we really set our minds to it now. Even Even ourif minds really set we now. it to importantmore than the technologies – many already be implemented that must of ways – are the new existing near-term or major politicalmajor party is considering, and the Greens. for But even a stretch quite is that it demonstrates achievable Monbiot by 90%by that by date. This anything is target beyond way any is likely to be reached by 2030. To avoid it, it, avoid To 2030. by is be likely to reached countries, including Australia,developed will greenhouse gas cut to emissions need as the critical which beyond threshold warm feedback positive uncontrollable a ing Under loops occur. are to expected business-as-usual scenario, this threshold the planet burning,the planet rise global temperature be limited pre-indus must 2o C above to trial recognised levels, climate by scientists falls. realist proposition is that, stop to Monbiot’s a ‘climate realist’ reallya ‘climate means – and in so of short lamentably how just doing, shows earning this John Howard label self-chosen gusto those familiar with his columns in The Guardian being what demonstrates George Monbiot Allen Lane $32.95 In this timely book, written with all the G Heat: to the stop how burning planet Court ruling that logging in Tasmania’s Wielangta Forest is illegal. The logging wrecks the habitat of three nationally endangered species – Tasmania’s giant Wedge-tailed eagle (bigger than its mainland cousin), Swift Parrot (which can cross Bass Strait in three hours) and the Wielangta broad- toothed stag-beetle. Minister Turnbull must think that the environment, or else his political career, is best served by cutting down native forests. Maybe he thinks that is a safe bet because the Labor shadow minister, Peter Garrett, is silent on the issue. The appeal, before the full bench of the Federal Court, is likely to take about a week in mid-year. See www.on-trial.info for more details. Coal comfort My Radio National interview with Fran Kelly, in which I called for a plan to be developed, within three years, to phase out coal emissions and exports, led to front page headlines in Murdoch’s Sydney Daily Telegraph and Brisbane’s Courier Mail claiming I had demanded Australia’s coal mines be closed down within three years. It was a Greens bash and will keep going. Neither of the papers’ hacks spoke with me because they knew it would ruin the lie they had agreed to pursue. Both Rudd and Howard ridiculed the idea of any three-year plan. Instead, Malcolm Turnbull grabbed the Greens’ idea of phasing out old light bulbs – a worthy way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to four shiploads of coal a year. Hundreds of coal-laden ships leave Australia, the world’s largest coal exporter, each year. The cost of exported Australian coal emissions to the heated world a century from now would, according to the former World Bank Chief Economist, Sir Nicholas Stern, approach $186 billion per annum. Silent on Surveillance I’ve asked the Attorney-General if any members of Parlia- ment or judges are under surveillance and, if so, by whom. He replied that he was “prohibited from providing the informa- tion sought”. Sounds like the answer is ‘yes’ and ‘me’. I’ve asked the US ambassador to have me taken off the ‘watch’ list at US airports – it causes delays. Apparently, someone in the US administration took umbrage at me speaking to President Bush in our Parliament in 2003. Harry’s stand Harry McDermott OAM, 86, the former Warden (Mayor) 2007, the Greens, the Senate of Strahan on Tasmania’s West Coast died last Sunday. His In a nutshell, Labor, which has 28 seats now, cannot win a funeral was held in People’s Park, with Mrs McCutcheon play- Senate majority of 39 seats at this year’s election. The likeliest ing ‘Let the Rest of the World Go By’ on a melodic upright outcome is Mr Howard’s coalition retaining a Senate majority, piano next to his flower-decked coffin. Harry’s wife Eileen and with Family First as its backup. The alternative is the Greens family of four generations were joined by hundreds of relatives winning the balance of power. If Rudd Labor wins govern- and friends. Harry had been Warden for 28 years when, at the ment, it will face a hostile Howard Senate blocking major height of the furore over the Franklin Dam in 1982, a surge of bills such as industrial relations reforms. Or it will have the absentee voters was brought in to vote him out of office. He Greens in the balance and the Senate as a House of Review. never wavered from his ‘No Dams’ stand and now, 25 years

Given this reality, does anyone believe Labor will repeat its later, many who voted him out say ‘Harry was right’. Soldier, 24 allocation of preferences to Family First or the DLP ahead wharfie, taxi-driver (when we first met in 1976), historian and of the Greens? To date, the Democrats have refused to swap PAGE multi-skilled handyman, Harry’s stand for Strahan gives him preferences with us.

2 an honoured place in Tasmania’s history. 2 Chainsaw Turnbull PS We do like to be beside the seaside. Christine and I were

ISSUE chucked out of our Hobart offices to feed the Lennon government’s

7 At 5pm on Friday 9th of February (after Saturday’s press had need for ever more office space. But we’re now dockside near 200 gone to bed) the nation’s new Minister for the Environment,

Malcolm Turnbull, issued a press release announcing that he Salamanca Place with our happy band of office staff and looking would back Forestry Tasmania’s appeal against the Federal forward to a great 2007. Autumn