Moreton Energy Coal Project revisited

Core sample drilling was undertaken late last year by Lodestone Energy.  The drilling outcome results have been posted on their website and can be found on page 3 of the linked report. Quarterly Activities Report .

The objective of the program was to explore for coal resources suitable for opencut mining.  In summary it would appear that in the Veresdale Scrub, Albert River and Rathdowney deposits no obvious economic seam thicknesses were encountered.  That still leaves the Bromelton deposit as an area of interest.  Seems quite a coincidence that it is very close to the Bromelton off-stream water storage, rail-line and the new Wyaralong Dam. ??  EPC1299 is the area in question.

World's Largest Coal Mine another nail into the coffin of Climate Change

Friends of the Earth in Brisbane, Australia have described the proposed Waratah Coal Galilee mine, set to become the world's largest coal mine, as another nail into the coffin of our climate. Waratah Coal's Clive Palmer and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh jointly announced on February 7, 2010 a multi-billion dollar deal which would see a twenty year supply of coal to Chinese power-stations, and a substantial expansion of coal exports.
"This deal drives another nail into the coffin of our climate. If the project goes ahead, then emissions from the exported coal would equal 20% of Australia's total domestic emissions," said Friends of the Earth spokesperson Bradley Smith on the Galilee mine being declared a 'significant project' .  "This makes a mockery of claims made by Premier Bligh that the Queensland Government is serious about tackling climate change," Mr Smith said.  "The 8000 Ha Bimblebox Nature Refuge near Alpha would be cleared and mined by this project. How ironic that in the International Year of Biodiversity, Queensland still lacks legislation to protect areas of high conservation significance from mining," commented Mr Smith, echoing similar calls from the Mackay Conservation Group.

Bimblebox was purchased in 2000 with the savings of a number of concerned individuals, as well as funding from the Australian National Reserve System program. In 2003, the Bimblebox Nature Refuge Agreement (category VI IUCN protected area) was signed with the Queensland state government to permanently protect the conservation values of the property. Nature Refuges and the protected areas that make up the National Reserve System are not automatically protected from mineral exploration and mining, which in Australia are granted right of way over almost all other land uses.

The Bimblebox Nature Refuge website describes "We are faced with the absurd irony, that in 2009 with all that we know about Australia's biodiversity crisis and the threat of climate change, that a protected area rich in biodiversity and with carbon stores intact could be sacrificed for the sake of producing more climate changing coal."   "This case reveals a stunning contradiction in Australian government priorities and policies, which aim to conserve biodiversity on protected areas, but yet which affords no protection for these areas if minerals are found beneath the soil." says the Bimblebox Nature Refuge website.

"We want to know why the Queensland Government continues to put coal mining first when it is destroying our biodiversity and our climate," Mr Smith said.

The open cut coal mine, projected to be the world's largest, is on the traditional land of the Darumbal indigenous people.  The project involves construction of a railway line 490km to the Port of Abbot Point, where a new coal terminal will be built, and construction of a dam within the Belyando River catchment and a water pipeline from the Burdekin Dam. Waratah Coal website advises the project's estimated total development cost is AU$7.5 Billion.

Queensland is the largest coal exporting state in the largest coal exporting country in the world, accounting for as much as 20% of the global trade, with mining and infrastructure projects set to double coal exports.

Story by " Takver - Australia Indymedia "

Walk Against Warming 2009 December 12

Walk Against Warming 2009 took place on the Global Day of Action on Climate Change - Saturday 12 December.

Climate change is happening much faster than predicted. In December 2009, Governments of the world were to meet in Copenhagen to decide a new global climate treaty. This Climate Summit was the world’s best chance to avoid catastrophic climate change. It required global and national leaders to take strong and urgent action.
On 12 December 2009, mid-way through the Copenhagen meeting, there was a global day of climate action where people all over the world take to the streets to urge world leaders to cut greenhouse pollution.
In Australia, Walk against Warming was the national event held on this date in capital cities and many regional towns. Thousands of Australians took to the streets asking for a stronger government response on climate change. Now more than ever, it is important to show our political leaders that people from all walks of life are demanding action for a safe climate future.

Carbon Equity- Ration the Future

Why ration the future?
We all face a global warming emergency. Climate change science tells us that feedback mechanisms are driving us towards catastrophic climate change, requiring rapid cuts in carbon emissions. The idea of carbon rationing is a better response than carbon taxes, and here's how it will work .  Very interesting, tell us what you think....

Sun goes down on solar schools

October 16, 2009 - Article from: The Australian

THE Rudd government's $480 million "national solar schools" program was quietly suspended yesterday afternoon via a notice posted on the popular scheme's website.
"The National Solar Schools Program has been suspended to any new claims in 2009-10. This suspension takes effect as of 3:00pm 15 October 2009," the notice said.
A spokesman for Environment Minister Peter Garrett, who did not formally announce the program's closure, said 1300 schools had been approved under the program last year and 500 had already been approved this financial year, with another 700 "still in the pipeline for assessment".
Those 700 would be funded if eligible, and additional money made available if required.
But no more applications will now be considered until next financial year.
Announcing the program in July 2008, Mr Garrett said "the Rudd Labor government wants every Australian school -- primary, secondary, public and private -- to have the opportunity to become a 'solar school' and the commencement of this half-a-billion dollar program delivers on our election commitment."
"... Industry too will benefit from the program from the $480 million federal funding injection, creating increased demand for large solar power systems for school roofs," Mr Garrett said at the time.
The suspension is the latest in a series of changes and cuts to government solar programs, including the introduction of a means test on the household solar panel rebate and the ending of the remote solar program.
Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt said it was "amazing that this government can waste $16billion on unwanted school halls but suspend a key solar program that every school appears to want".
The program has already hit implementation hurdles with NSW's centralised tendering process meaning no school had installed panels more than a year after the program started, and many schools running into problems hooking their panels into the power grid.
Mr Garrett's spokesman said the Department of the Environment would contact every school registered under the program as well as those with applications on hand to advise of the suspension until next year.
Under the program schools were eligible for up to $50,000 to install solar power systems, or energy efficiency spending on items such as lighting, fans or awnings. Rainwater tanks, small wind turbines, small hydro power generators and skylights were also eligible.

We wonder just how serious is this Labor government about fostering and developing an energy-descent mindset in our children ?

Newsflash: Ireland bans GM

Ireland will ban growing of GM crops, and a voluntary GM-free label can be placed on all animal products (such as meat, poultry, eggs, fish, crustaceans, and dairy) that are raised with GM-free feed, according to a GM-Free Ireland press release. Ireland joins Japan and Egypt as one of the few but growing number of countries that have banned the cultivation of GM crops.

GM-Free Ireland Co-ordinator, Michael O'Callaghan:
"The WTO's economic globalization agenda has forced most Irish farmers to enter an unwinnable race to the bottom for low quality GM-fed meat and dairy produce, in competition with countries like the USA, Argentina and Brazil which can easily out-compete us with their highly subsidized GM crop monocultures, cheap fossil fuel, extensive use of toxic agrochemicals that are not up to EU standards, and underpaid migrant farm labor.
The Irish Government plan to ban GM crops and to provide a voluntary GM-free label for qualifying animal produce makes obvious business sense for our agri-food and eco-tourism sectors. Everyone knows that US and EU consumers, food brands and retailers want safe GM-free food, and Ireland is ideally positioned to deliver the safest, most credible GM-free food brand in Europe, if not the world."
This is good news for Irish farmers, and also good news for the expanded market outside Ireland - the U.S.A. imports large amounts of Irish dairy products. Now if only we could see the same kind of bipartisan strong action here in Australia...
Story via  Treehugger

Moreton Energy Coal Project

An earlier blog posting identified the company Lodestone as having  bought farm-in agreements on three EPCs.  The company's Annual Report shows that they have purchased an additional EPC and are in the process of approval for another one.

WATCH THIS SPACE ...

Australia's CPRS Breaching International Obligations

The low levels of ambition demonstrated by the proposed CPRS legislation have been
widely condemned. The target range of between 5 and 15% reduction below 2000 levels
by 2020, (rising to 25% in the event of international agreement) falls unacceptably
below world standards, with the current international negotiating range for developed
countries falling between at least 25% and at least 45% below 1990 (a lower base year
than the Australian commitment) levels by 2020 according to the revised negotiating
text prepared for Copenhagen in June 2009.3 This represents an increase of 5% in the
upper end of the range of 25-40% that was agreed upon by the Ad Hoc Working Group
on Further Commitments for Annex 1 Parties under the Kyoto Protocol in 20084,informed by
IPPC 4th Assessment Report of 2007. It is noted that this range does not take into account lifestyle
changes which have the potential to considerably increase this range.

On an analysis of the legal texts, combined with the critical mass of scientific evidence
and international momentum, ClientEarth advises that the current target range
proposed in the CPRS Bill leaves Australia open to allegations of breach of its
international legal obligations under articles 4, 5 and possibly 6 of the World
Heritage Convention (WHC) and article 4 of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Targets also have a significant bearing on
Australia’s ability to discharge its obligations under other instruments of international law
such as the Convention on Biological Diversity 1992.

(extracted from "Australian Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Legislation – International Comparative Analysis"). To read the full document click here .

Face Up To Climate Change at the Beaudesert Markets

The branch had a stall at the Beaudesert Markets last Saturday and while we didn't get as many people sign up for photos as we'd have liked it was still an enjoyable morning and we had interesting conversations with some local residents.

Coal Or Food

Greens senator Scott Ludlam has just posted a very poignant entry on his blogspot.  It's to do with the preservation of this nation's food bowl which encompasses the whole of the Murray-Darling basin and the fight to stop the impending coal mines being approved by the Queensland and New South Wales  state governments.   This post is well worth a read and there are several supporters groups websites listed at the bottom of his post.

International Day of Climate Action, October 24th

Saturday October 24th is the International Day of Climate Action.  350ppm (parts per million) is the acceptable level for carbon in the atmosphere to mitigate uncontrollable climate change.  We are already at 385.92 ppm.  There are numerous events and actions being organised for this day across the world.  Click here to join an event or start an event in your area.

The Boonah-Beaudesert Greens had a stall at the Lead On Sustainability Expo on Sunday 25th which was held in Jubilee Park at Beaudesert. Our 350 photo is below.

Senate Preselection Candidates attend AGM

Wednesday night 30th September had some pretty lively discussions going on in the RSL rooms at Boonah. The three QLD Greens senate pre-selection candidates were in attendance at the Boonah-Beaudesert Branch monthly meeting.  It's always good to put faces to names and we were very appreciative of the effort undertaken by them to be there on the night.  We thank the ladies for their stimulating and engaging discussions.  Front Row (candidates) : Libby Connors, Jenny Stirling and Larissa Waters.  Back Row : Mark Manning and Andy Grodecki

Solar power FeedIn Tarriff petition and supporters forum launched

The FeedInTarfiff.com.au petition was originally instigated and developed by Energy Matters on behalf of the many people in Australia who firmly believe a better deal is needed to increase solar power uptake.

On June 24, 2009 Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, tabled the petition to Parliament. We are continuing to collect signatures until such time a gross FiT is finally rolled out. Click here to access the petition. Petition .
A forum has been developed by Energy Matters where information relating to all aspects solar is available and can be discussed. Energy Matters  .

Genetically Modified Rice - Sign the petition

Rice is daily food for half of the world's population. Genetically modified (GM) rice, on the other hand, is a threat to our agriculture, our biodiversity and a possible risk to our health.
At present, GM rice is not grown commercially anywhere in the world. But Bayer, the German chemical giant, has genetically manipulated rice to withstand higher doses of a toxic pesticide called glufosinate, which is considered to be so dangerous to humans and the environment that it will soon be banned from Europe.

In just a few weeks, the European Union will decide whether or not this GM rice can enter EU countries, appear on supermarket shelves and end up on our dinner plates. If the EU approves the import of Bayer GM rice, farmers in the US and elsewhere may soon start planting it.  Click here to sign the global petition. Hands Off Our Rice

New resident at Barney View

Speaking of koalas, two Greens members have finally seen a result - after 23 years of planting koala trees on our nine-acre block at Barney View, we finally have sighted a koala, at eight o'clock yesterday morning, moving across the ground to climb a gum-topped box!

He (or she) says thank you to Mary for all the years of nurturing the trees!