Illustrating greenwash

greenwashmain

Illustrations depicting greenwash. Click on the images below. … [Read more...]

Bush Heritage helps endangered fish

Great egret in an artesian spring on Edgbaston Station, Qld  PHOTO:  WAYNE LAWLER/ECOPIX

Ancient artesian springs boasting arguably Australia’s most endangered fish species have been saved for future generations with the purchase of a Central Queensland property by conservation group Bush Heritage Australia. Edgbaston’s unique artesian spring network, fed by pure million-year-old spring water from the Great Artesian Basin, has … [Read more...]

Council avoids wasted future

Dumping to landfill should be a last resort, instead of the first option

The hillside is bare earth, strewn with litter, and dotted with towering mountains of rubbish. As a Sunshine Coast resident, you would have created 1.28 tonnes of waste over the last financial year, and 0.71 tonnes would have ended up in landfill like this. Crows swoop among the piles of refuse, while earth-moving machinery sits silently nearby. … [Read more...]

Buying Green

Illustration: Alex Mankiewicz

Green consumerism in Australia is increasing.  There is a growing list of products that are marketed under the labels environmentally friendly, eco-friendly, recyclable, biodegradable, climate neutral, organic or just simply green.   Advertisers are finding all sorts of ways to the promote the environmental credentials of products and … [Read more...]

Froggies Awards 2008

Jillian Rossiter (left) and councillor Vivien Griffin

As Americans began their Thanksgiving celebrations across the Pacific, the Sunshine Coast was giving thanks to local environmentalists, schools and businesses. No turkeys were involved though, instead, ‘froggies’ were being handed out for the hard work many Coast residents are doing to protect the local environment. One person in particular … [Read more...]

Wasting Wildlife

Majestic pelicans

As a wildlife carer I am always saddened by anything that negatively affects a country’s native animal population.  Unfortunately, it’s usually our species that is the crux of the problem. I was recently appalled when watching a television program on the Galapagos Islands.  To see the amount of waste created by the increased visitors to … [Read more...]

Protecting Bribie Island

Member of the Bribie Island Environmental Protection Association

Group Name: The Bribie Island Environmental Protection Association Inc SCEC is the umbrella organisation of more than 50 community groups. In this issue of Eco, we look at a member group from the beleaguered Bribie Island. Rampant development can be a juggernaut that crushes eco-systems in its path, but on Bribie Island a community … [Read more...]

A time for decency

Residents on the Sunshine Coast want a focus on sustainability not development. Image Greg Hardwick

What does the global economic crisis and the violent religious extremism, recently on display in Mumbai, have in common? People can so easily be led by the nose. And, become tied to one way of thinking, even if it is destructive and lacking in common human decency. Capitalism was hailed as the victor after Gorbachev brought perestroika to the … [Read more...]

Exploring the Conondales

Bundaroo Creek. Image John Burrows

Not too far inland from the coast is a lush green wonderland of mountains, forest and crystal-clear streams flowing through hidden gorges – the Conondales. It’s the largest area of sub-tropical rainforest on the Sunshine Coast and a must for exploring. Access is most convenient from Maleny, but it’s good to approach from the north … [Read more...]

Premier Delays Traveston

Dam opponents happy to see some hope. Image Arkin Mackay.

It was a surprise announcement, from left field, as they say. The Premier on the morning news stating that Traveston Dam may be delayed by “at least several years” and that water re-cycling was in doubt. The Courier Mail would call it “Gone to Water” while the Gympie times led with “Dam’s End is Bligh”. It seemed to show the first … [Read more...]