Thursday, July 28, 2005

Greenpeace Closes World's Largest Coal Port: "Greenpeace's flagship, the Rainbow Warrior, closed down the world's largest coal export port in Newcastle today and called on Australia to quit coal and tackle climate change by moving to a clean energy economy. The Rainbow Warrior dropped anchor in the channel leading to the Kooragang and Carrington terminals in Newcastle harbour. In addition, teams of activists occupied a 2.5 million tonne coal stockpile and one of four huge coal loaders.

"Greenpeace Australia climate and energy campaigner Ben Pearson said: 'We are here today to expose Australia's dangerous addiction to coal export dollars and its significant contribution towards global climate change. Newcastle sends 80 million tonnes of coal to the world each year, and every tonne causes worse droughts, bushfires, storms and floods. Every hour that we are here, we stop coal that could emit thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gases from leaving.'

"Australia is a major exporter of pollution and a climate destroyer. It exports coal to thirty-five countries. In 2002-03, 80 % (165 million tonnes) went to Asia. The main customers are Japan and South Korea. Taiwan, India, China, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines buy Australian coal.... Australia has the potential to be a world leader in renewable energy exports, sharing its vast solar and wind resources to its neighbouring countries in the region. It could play a more constructive role in addressing poverty and environmental issues in these already vulnerable economies by supporting their shift to safe, clean energy sources. "Coal burns our common future but renewable energy unites us. By embracing renewable energy, Australia will embrace a future common to Asia as well - a clean, sustainable future," Ronquillo concluded."

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Flu Wiki: Bird flu: Genuine risk of global pandemic

British poll: Bomb blasts 'linked to Iraq war': "The overwhelming majority of the public believe that the London bombings were, at least in part, due to Britain's involvement in the Iraq war, according to a new opinion poll. The YouGov survey for the Daily Mirror and GMTV found that 23% thought the war was the main cause of the attacks, while another 62% thought it was a contributory factor. Only 12% said they thought that it was not a significant cause.

"The Government has consistently rejected the argument that the bombings were the result of the conflict, insisting that extremist Islamic terror attacks began long before the invasion."

85% of the British people do not believe Blair. The position of Blair and his government is ridiculous wriggling. Bush, Blair and Howard are trapped under a lie of their own making - the big lie that Iraq had WMDs, links to terror and was a threat to Western countries. The truth is 9/11 was cynically exploited by Bush to get up a war he wanted anyway, and that the real reason for invading Iraq was to control the region's energy reserves. The world's supply of oil is steadily depleting, expected to last only another 30-40 years, and the war criminals' plan is to seize what is left by force.

Melting Greenland Glacier May Hasten Rise in Sea Level: "If the entire Greenland ice sheet were to melt into the ocean it would raise sea levels by up to seven meters (23ft), inundating vast areas of low-lying land, including London and much of eastern England.

"Computer models suggest that this would take at least 1,000 years but even a sea-level rise of a meter would have a catastrophic impact on coastal plains where more than two-thirds of the world's population live."