Eco online: environmental news, features and opinion from the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
Environmental news from Eco online, Sunshine Coast and Queensland environmental news, with indepth sections including interviews, sustainable business, eco adventures, green living and wildlife
Penelope Ward, reporting from Copenhagen Excitement and nervous energy turned to frustration and angst as thousands waited outside the Bella Centre, with NGOs, IGOs, media and official party delegates all swarming around the centre to get to work. With the heads of state of 192 countries arriving this week, security has been tightened and any … [Read more...]
When faced with tragedy, atrocities or grief we humans, it appears, have a wonderful way of dealing with it. Denial. In his book States of Denial, Knowing About Atrocities and Suffering, sociologist Stanley Cohen writes: “One common thread runs through many different stories of denial: people, organisations, governments or whole societies are … [Read more...]
The climate was on everybody's mind as low clouds created hot and humid conditions on the Sunshine Coast today. But it wasn't only local weather patterns being discussed. As the Copenhagen climate conference enters its second week, thousands of Australians took to the streets around the country for the 5th annual walk against warming. On the … [Read more...]
By Valerie Lewis In a recent Washington Post article we learn that governments all across Africa are putting their farmlands up for lease. In particular Ethiopia, currently quite green, is being leased to Indians, Chinese, Arabs, and whichever Big Agribiz can afford it. As a consequence there is a big rush to acquire African farmlands in order … [Read more...]
“The world is sleepwalking its way to the edge of catastrophe.… The Doomsday Clock of climate change is ticking ever faster towards midnight.” Prince Charles Is it good enough to hope that everything will turn out fine? Would you take the people you love on a trip if you knew that you might run out of fuel, water, food and shelter? Would … [Read more...]
Despite reports surfacing yesterday afternoon, Copenhagen time, of a "furious reaction" from developing nations over a leaked 'secret draft agreement', there was hope on day 1 of the Copenhagen conference. Update: for a deeper and more thorough analysis of the leaked document - Bunkering down at Copenhagen. Penelope Ward reports from … [Read more...]
By Ken Hickson There’s a new emissions plan in the wind for Kevin Rudd and Penny Wong to take to Copenhagen. A water-tight commitment to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent by 2020 - much better than the pitiful 5 per cent - which will appeal to the Tony Abbott-led conservative (and sceptical) Coalition, as well … [Read more...]
Water shortages, along with climate change, are perhaps the best and most topical examples for describing the complex affects of population and consumption. Our solutions to water shortages and climate change have, to date, focused upon consuming less. Reduce water consumption during long dry periods and use less carbon-based energy … [Read more...]
The structure of the world-wide economy has been criticised for many years as being responsible for environmental degradation. The moral and ethical values of investors and lenders have come under the spotlight in recent months as the major cause of the so-called economic crisis. As governments around the world inject tax-payer money into failing … [Read more...]
I wish that we could blame the decline of our Australian native species on one major influence such as climate change, but unfortunately that is not the only problem facing our wildlife. Human impact, in many forms, have been the direct culprit from the moment humans stepped onto this beautiful country. As the population has increased over the … [Read more...]
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