The Sustainable Hour on 94.7 The Pulse on 27 August 2014 is inspired by the two-minute trailer for the new documentary ‘Disruption’, which is premiering in the United States on 7 September, exactly two weeks before the Global Climate Action Day and the largest climate action march ever in New York City.
Research by the Climate Institute shows that a majority of Australians don’t see climate change as a problem of the future. But in The Sustainable Hour, we do. And the collective silence around it is currently maybe the most serious problem of them all.
We have invited Geelong’s ‘Climate Warrior’ Malcolm Ayles to come to The Pulse to explain to us how he has managed to get his over 200 young martial arts students interested in climate change.
We play an audio clip with the author of a new book coming out soon with the title: ‘Don’t Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change’, an excerpt of a short and poetic TED-presentation by Clint Smith about silence, “the residue of fear”, an excerpt of a sharp senate speech by The Green’s leader Christine Milne about the greed and self-interest of the fossil fools, and we talk with Vicki Perrett from Geelong Sustainability about two interesting events that are coming up in Geelong.
Listen to The Sustainable Hour no. 40:
» To open or download this programme in mp3-format, right-click here (Mac: CTRL + click)
» Subscribe to ‘The Sustainable Hour’ podcast — via iTunes or via your own podcast/RSS software
Guest in the studio:
• Malcolm Ayles, Climate Warrior
Live phone interview:
• Vicki Perrett, Geelong Sustainability
Music:
• Xavier Rudd: ‘Follow The Sun’
“Not saying anything is complicit denial.”
Statement on Save the Planet’s Facebook page
How do we break the code of silence?
► Clint Smith’s inspiring TED talk
“Silence, its Katrina”
“Silence is the residue of fear.”
“All you ever needed is your voice”
“At the end of it all, it’s not the words of our enemy we remember, but the silence of our friends.”
Clint Smith quoting Martin Luther King Jr
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Silence is not golden
“Recently, I delivered the names of more than 60,000 Floridians to Governor Scott asking him to lead the state of Florida to address climate change, but at the moment, his only answer is silence. Silence is not golden is when you have a request from more than 60,000 constituents asking you to take action on climate change.”
Rev. Hescox praying in the Capitol chapel after delivering 60,000 signatures to Gov. Scott asking him to take action on climate change.
EcoWatch – 19 August 2014:
Silence Is Not Golden in the Face of Greatest Moral Challenge of Our Time
Opinion-piece by The Rev. Mitchell C. Hescox
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“We have left a safe climate. We have left the point where we can be sure that we can keep the climate safe. Now it is really a matter of managing that risk and reducing the damage. I spent some time with professor Leslie Hughes, one of the lead authors of the latest IPCC report, and she is scared. She is a climate scientist, and she is scared for the future.”
Malcolm Ayles
“We have less than five years to act on climate change or severely increase risk of human extinction – five percent of us left 2150 if we do nothing!”
Sally Newell
The biggest mistake in human history
We are witnessing the biggest governance failure of all times: Instead of mobilising us all to a fast transition to non-polluting energy and a safer climate, numerous desicion makers at all levels keep delaying the action with their silence, indecision and… ignorance? or ‘vested interests’?
Commentary – by Mik Aidt
“Global warming is here, human-caused and probably already dangerous — and it’s increasingly likely that the heating trend could be irreversible, a draft of a new international science report says,” reads a draft of an upcoming report from United Nation’s Climate Panel. It presents a stark view of the future as climate change rages on.
It is unbelievable that journalists, politicians and community leaders keep pretending this isn’t happening. It is unbelievable that we, the people, are silently ignoring it as well. We are not only passively witnessing a global catastrophe in the making, we are actually all an accessary in this crime against humanity and against our own children.
While citizens worldwide increasingly want renewable energy sources to provide their electricity, many governments are ignoring them by continuing to exploit fossil fuels, and even subsidise the fossil industry with billions of dollars at a time when transitioning to clean renewable energy sources has become urgent.
In Australia, 80 percent of the population supports renewable energy, while the federal and Victorian governments are only thinking about how to please their friends in the fossil fuel industry, while the renewables industry is dying.
Councillors, mayors, MPs, ministers… What do you have to say to defend your silence and inaction on this matter?
If you glance through just a few headlines and quotes from the last couple of days, you must ask yourself: is it time you start recognising there is a need for change?
Climate Change Is Here, Human-Caused And Could Be Irreversible, UN Says
» www.huffingtonpost.com
‘Incredible’ rate of polar ice loss alarms scientists
» www.theguardian.com
The U.N.’s latest report on climate change is terrifying
» www.grist.org
Study: How Doubling Renewable Energy Worldwide Could Save $740 Billion per Year
» www.ecowatch.com
Study: The health benefits of policies that aim to reduce carbon emissions can more than pay for the costs associated with implementing these policies
» www.nature.com
Politicians ignore people’s power pleas
» www.climatenewsnetwork.net
70% of the public in Australia support renewable energies
» www.climatenewsnetwork.net
The Canadian scientist and media personality David Suzuki writes about the ignorance:
“It’s absurd for a politician or government representative to speak about any aspect of the economy without acknowledging the threat of human-induced climate change. Many oppose doing anything on ideological grounds, but the science is overwhelming and compelling, and the need for action is clear. What can you say about ‘leaders’ who choose to ignore the best available evidence to the detriment of the people they are elected to represent?
Surely those who act only for short-term economic gain, imposing destructive consequences on generations to come, must be held responsible. We must also consider the consequences of rapid and excessive exploitation of fossil fuels on the world’s poorest people, who have done little to create climate change but are most affected by it.”
David Suzuki, scientist and climate campaigner
The International Monetary Fund – a sober and conservative organisation – says a 60 percent tax on coal would reflect the environmental damage caused by burning the resource. But that kind of regulation would mean the end of the Australian coal industry, and since the coal industry more or less rules Australia at the moment, the opposite is happening: the mining tax is being removed by the federal government. To the benefit of who?
So how do the Australians feel about all this?
“A 2014 CSIRO survey of Australian attitudes to climate change shows that the most common emotions associated with climate change are anger, powerlessness, irritation, confusion and fear, in that order. Hope is up there too, but it is dropping, just as despair, shame and guilt creep up. However – and this is the really important bit – people’s hope and despair are tied to solutions and action. They want action on climate but aren’t seeing it.”
www.hothouse.org.au
At the same time, some 39 percent of Australians still think that climate change is ‘exaggerated’, according to a Climate Institute survey.
What all this mess boils down to is that leaders must begin to show some real leadership and lead the way by creating a sense of sanity, security and safety in our society, implementing the kind of regulations and structures that support the Great Transition towards renewable energy and a world free of air pollution.
And yes, Darryn Lyons. That includes you.
Yep, Denis Napthine. It includes you too.
You are responsible.
Sarah Henderson. Andrew Katos… our local representatives in federal parliament: so are you!
Your government’s climate silence and denial is absurd and dangerous, and you really should know better.
Not just for the sake of ‘the climate’ – but for the sake of the Australian economy just as well.
Jobs and opportunities
“There is an abundance of profitable business opportunity to be found in addressing sustainability issues. These stand out against the difficulties we face implementing effective change. Globally, the World Bank recently found that tackling climate change would help to grow the world’s economy by US$1.8 to 2.6 trillion a year.
Private sector investors argue for action as well. One prominent example is the Carbon Disclosure Project which represents 767 institutional investors holding US$92 trillion in assets worldwide. Its programs reward and promote companies acting on climate change.”
» The Conversation – 1 September 2014:
It’s personal: why leaders don’t turn climate knowledge into action
“There is strong awareness of the threats that climate change poses. It is important to remember that this is not an argument about politics. It is an argument about something that is happening to our planet. About the climate system itself. So we are responding to something really significant, really serious.”
Michael Raupach, professor
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Study: How doubling renewable energy worldwide could save $740 billion per year
When combining all of the world’s countries, 18 percent of the world’s electricity consumption comes from renewable sources. A global agency estimates that amount could be doubled in a little more than 15 years while saving a combined $740 billion per year in the process.
The latest study, REmap 2030, from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that amping up renewables to constitute 36 percent of the international energy mix would more than offset the costs associated with fossil fuel pollution. It would also reduce the global demand for oil and gas by about 15 percent, and for coal by 26 percent.
» Continue reading on: www.ecowatch.com
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Cutting carbon pollution saves more money than it costs – because it makes people healthier
Study published in the journal Nature Climate Change: The health benefits of policies that aim to reduce carbon emissions can more than pay for the costs associated with implementing these policies.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlJIymycYTA
► People’s Climate Mobilisation – 21 September 2014
The People’s Climate March on 21 September has got to be a response to this. We need to speak up in public and change things. There will be marches on this day around the world, including in Melbourne and Geelong.
» Read more and spread the word: Breaking point: Enter the conversation about solutions
Under the unifying message “To change everything we need everyone”, the People’s Climate March will kick off a critical 15-month period of global efforts pushing governments to craft a global agreement that can combat climate change.
In Australia, GetUp is will make a special effort as they explain in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG0JI3mSsgU
“Scientists are screaming from the rooftops that climate change isn’t just a bit of warming and some more storms. No exaggeration, our actual survival is at risk – this is a fight to save the world.
Our biosphere is in a fragile balance. Warm it a bit, and feedback loops start to kick in. Warming melts the arctic ice that reflects sunlight, which means more sunlight absorbed, which means more warming, which melts more ice etc etc. These feedback loops have begun, and they’re approaching ‘tipping points’ where they spin out of our control, threatening everything we love.
The UN understands this, and they’ve called an emergency summit of world leaders in New York to discuss action, even inviting our movement into the meeting! The problem is, our heads of state are politicians, not scientists, and they respond to public pressure. They see the polls, but they ask, ‘where are the protests?’ September 21st is our answer.”
Avaaz
» The People’s Climate March resource pack: Everything you need to know to change everything
www.treealerts.org
» Carole King tweeted:
@Carole_King: Help Make History! Share this #climate march video. http://bit.ly/1vm0Gyb And march on Sept 21 if you can! #peoplesclimate
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Sustainable House Day and Smarter Living Expo in Geelong
Geelong Sustainability is organising two major events over the weekend Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September.
Smarter Living Expo on Saturday 13 September:
The expo is combined with a seminar program:
10.30am – 10.55am: Smarter renovations: Top do’s and don’ts by Amy O’Brien, Sustainability Victoria
11.00am – 11.25am: Designing an off-grid, high performance house on a budget by Tim Adams, F2 Design
11.30am – 11.55am: Creating edible landscapes by Andrew Lucas, Backyard Harvest
12.00pm – 12.55pm: Key regional issues affecting the environment & jobs with Cr Eve Fisher, Surf Coast Shire and Cr Richards, City of Greater Geelong Council plus general discussion facilitated by Mik Aidt, Centre for Climate Safety
1.00pm – 1.55pm: Climate Reality session by Al Gore trained leaders– Sam Smith, Emma Sutcliffe and Michael Thomas followed by panel discussion facilitated by Suzette Jackson, Innate Ecology
- Smarter Living Expo on Saturday 13 Sept, 10am-2pm at GPAC, 50 Lt Malop St
Free exhibits, demonstrations, seminars, & workshops
Expo webpage
Detailed What’s on & Who’s exhibiting/presenting summary
Expo Poster
A highlight of the Expo is the special children’s woodwork & gardening activity where helped by guys from the Mens’ Shed and gardening experts children will build and plant their own vegie box. The activity is targetted at 5-12 year olds and costs just $10. To secure a spot book in early at Eventbrite.
For more information download the kids event flyer (PDF).
Sustainable House Day on 14 September is a major national event showcasing some of Australia’s most sustainable homes to the public. Sustainable House Day gives people the chance to get a real-life look inside houses that have been designed, built or retro-fitted with sustainability in mind. In 2013, there were an estimated 3,100 visits to 13 houses.
- Sustainable House Day on Sunday 14th Sept, 10am – 4pm
Gold coin entry to 14 houses open across Geelong, Bellarine & Surf Coast
Sustainable House Day Open Houses webpage
Sustainable House Day 2014 Poster (PDF)
» Sustainable House Day 2014 & Expo flyer (PDF)
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Climate Reality + Pizza
Sunday 14 September 2014 at 4:00pm at 353 Surf Coast Hwy, Grovedale, Geelong
Climate Warrior Sensei Malcolm Ayles recently did three days of training as a Climate Reality presenter, including a full day with Al Gore. He says: “This was an inspiring experience and also quite enlightening. I hope I can share some of this inspiration and enlightenment with you.”
Who should come?
• Anyone who wants to understand what is happening with ClimateChange and how it will impact their future.
• Anyone who has children and want’s to understand how they will be impacted.
• Anyone who doesn’t think this is an issue for them.
• Anyone who would like to know how they can make a difference.
• Also for anyone interested in Solar Power. Malcolm will be giving you more details about the discounts available to you through City to Surf Solar.
Young children will be able to play on the mats during presentation and we will be ordering pizza after for those who want to stay for this. Pizza: $5 per person
» See more and RVSP on: www.facebook.com/events
» Home page: www.climatewarrior.org
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Crowdfunding jute bags
Ocean Grove Coastcare have launched a Pozible fundraising campaign to promote reduction in the use of plastic bags throughout the Ocean Grove community.
They are trying to raise $4,500 to assist with purchasing jute bags, primarily, which they have printed with the plastic bag free logo designed by Barwon Heads Primary School. Unfortunately donations have been extremely slow to say the least!
They are currently trying to get as much promotion as possible – via Facebook, mostly, and flyers in the local community.
So far, seven people have supported with $350. Deadline for the crowdfunding campaign is on 22 September 2014.
» Donate on: www.pozible.com
» Share on: Facebook
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► ‘Climate change is boring’
Watch what the Sydney public really think about climate change.
Fiona MacDonald wrote:
“Everyone knows the story about climate change, right? Apparently not, according to the latest episode of Veritasium. In the latest episode of Veritasium, Derek hits the streets to see if Sydneysiders are as tired of hearing the statistics as he is, and the results were a little surprising. Not only do most of the people he polled not know the facts, many don’t actually believe climate change is happening (despite the fact that 97 to 98 percent of the scientific community now agree that it is).
So how do we get people to take planet-saving action if they’re not convinced there’s a problem in the first place? Watch the latest episode for Derek’s ideas on what it’ll take to make changes, and find out how to win a spot at the next UN Climate Summit in New York and ask your own questions.”
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Don’t even think about it
“We all have a finite ‘pool of worry’ – it’s the amount of brain space and emotional energy we have to be concerned about things, and for most people, climate change doesn’t get in beyond the shallows. This was one part of George Marshall’s new book ‘Don’t Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change’ that really resonated with me as I could think of the times I had avoided difficult issues or people raising money for causes because I already had other things to worry about.
Climate communicators are striving each day to try and reach people through the issues that are in their ‘pool of worry’, because otherwise many people quite literally have more important things to worry about. Being able to make that connection with people is what is required in order to create the broad climate movement we need to succeed in acting on climate change.”
Amy Huva
‘Don’t Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change’ was released in North America on 19 August 19th and will be released in the United Kingdom on 9 October 2014.
» More information about the book can be found at www.climateconviction.org and @dontignore_cc.
Audio interview with George Marshall
George Marshall is the co-founder of the Climate Outreach Information Network and works for its TalkingClimate programme which shares the latest international research (including its own), and runs trainings and high level programmes on climate change communications. It also produces regular reports on topical themes such as the opportunities for communicating around the IPCC reports, extreme weather events and communicating with conservative audiences.
Amy Huva had the opportunity to interview George Marshall about his book and talk about how to communicate climate change effectively.
» Listen to the Interview with George Marshall (mp3-file)
» George Marshall tweets from @climategeorge.
» Read more on: www.climateaccess.org
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Intergenerational theft
► Christine Milne’s speech on the carbon tax repeal in Senate on 15 July 2014
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Scientists: How climate change makes me feel
The personal feelings from those at the front line.
“I see a group of people sitting in a boat, happily waving, taking pictures on the way, not knowing that this boat is floating right into a powerful and deadly waterfall.”
» www.isthishowyoufeel.weebly.com
“Climate Science underestimated the pace of climate change, it was too conservative. We’re now having far more rapid change than originally projected. Change that if not slowed, will undoubtedly affect my children and my grandchildren…”
Tim Flannery
» The Huffington Post – 25 August 2014:
Photographer Captures Scientists’ Frightened Responses To Climate Change Discussions
Article by Priscilla Frank
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» The Australian – 20 August 2014:
Newspoll finds 95% think renewables ‘a good idea’
A Newspoll published in The Australian finds 95 per cent of Australians believe that renewable energy is ‘a good idea’ with only two per cent believing it is not. However, according to the newspaper, the survey found that 62 per cent of people thought it was a good idea as long as they didn’t have to pay any more for their electricity, while 31 per cent were prepared to pay more to support renewables development.
The Australian is running an online poll on energy choices. Head over there and make sure you views are recorded.
Take the online poll and share it around:
» www.theaustralian.com.au/business/powering-australia/poll
» A screendump of the results so far:
www.pinterest.com/pin/82824080622709003
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» Sydney Morning Herald – 27 August 2014:
Climate change may disrupt global food system within a decade, World Bank says
The world is headed “down a dangerous path” with disruption of the food system possible within a decade as climate change undermines nations’ ability to feed themselves, according to a senior World Bank official.
By Peter Hannam, Environment Editor
» World Health Organization – 27 August 2014:
WHO calls for stronger action on climate-related health risks
Previously unrecognized health benefits could be realized from fast action to reduce climate change and its consequences. For example, changes in energy and transport policies could save millions of lives annually from diseases caused by high levels of air pollution. The right energy and transport policies could also reduce the burden of disease associated with physical inactivity and traffic injury. Measures to adapt to climate change could also save lives around the world by ensuring that communities are better prepared to deal with the impact of heat, extreme weather, infectious disease and food insecurity.
» Deutsche Welle – 28 August 2014:
Climate action can save millions, WHO says
While the effects of climate change on the environment are gaining wide attention, there’s a lack of awareness about the impact on human health. The WHO’s Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum says both can be adressed.
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“Challenging news for those climate campaigners who believe that renewable sources of energy are on the increase: they may be, but so are carbon dioxide emissions.
Steven Davis of the University of California, Irvine and Robert Socolow of Princeton University in the US report in the journal Environmental Research Letters that existing power plants will emit 300 billion tons of additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere during their lifetimes. In this century alone, emissions have grown by 4% per year.
The two scientists have already reported on the increasing costs of delay in phasing out fossil fuel sources of energy. This time they have looked at the steady future accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from power stations.
“We show that, despite international efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, total remaining commitments in the global power sector have not declined in a single year since 1950 and are in fact growing rapidly,” their paper says.”
» Climate News Network – 28 August 2014:
Committed carbon emissions are rising fast
By Tim Radford
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“Climate change is an emotional subject for anyone who understands, at his or her core, what it really means. Anyone who has engaged with the issue in a meaningful way will know what I am referring to – a sense of something so enormous, so unfathomable, so… terrifying, that one can hardly look the issue square in the face. No wonder so many people shy away entirely and stick their heads back in the ground rather than call into question the very foundations of society. And for those of us who have internalised this new reality and come to understand how every single aspect of modern human society pivots around it, the weight is great indeed. Guilt, powerlessness and despair are common emotions in that private space close to our hearts, though they are rarely taken out and acknowledged. Guilt about our carbon-intensive lifestyles, powerlessness against the momentum of a vast global system, and despair about the dire predictions for a climate impacted future.
» Hothouse.org.au – 10 August 2014:
Climate change, hope and the future of Australia
Article by Andrew Tovey
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A revolution in human dignity is emerging
“What an extraordinary time to be alive. We’re the first people on our planet to have real choice: we can continue killing each other, wiping out other species, spoiling our nest. Yet on every continent a revolution in human dignity is emerging. It is re-knitting community and our ties to the earth. So we do have a choice. We can choose death; or we can choose life.”
Frances Moore Lappe, writer, activist
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Novel: ‘The Collapse of Western Civilization’
Here is a podcast about the new thought-provoking fiction novel ‘The Collapse of Western Civilization’ – with a 25-minute interview with one of the two authors, Naomi Oreskes. It’s a fiction book, but all based on science.
Naomi Oreskes draws on scientific reports to describe the world four hundred years from now. She offers analysis as to why denialism still exists, and why some are prepared to fund their campaigns of disinformation.
In the story, the Earth’s climate is changing at the highest of predicted rates.
Naomi Oreskes says scientists have given up on the much talked about two degree ceiling; we need to consider an average increase more like four or five degrees. Yet despite what is being recorded and what everyone can see, some people still say it isn’t happening and there’s nothing to worry about.
In the interview, she explains why the two biggest obstacles standing in our way for the transition to clean energy are 1) Denial. 2) The power of the fossil fuel industry.
» ABC RN The Science Show presented by Robyn Williams on 16 August 2014:
www.abc.net.au
» Direct link to the podcast audio file / download:
mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/2014/08/ssw_20140816.mp3
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Dangerous climate change: Myths and reality
16-page report by David Spratt, Melbourne
» Read more about the report on: www.climatecodered.org
» Read the report: docs.google.com/file
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Study: Climate talks on path to fall far short of goals
Under countries’ current climate pledges, greenhouse gas concentrations would exceed 530 or 580 parts per million by the end of the century. Experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology using a sophisticated computer model examined what they think is the most likely outcome of UN climate treaty negotiations and found that the talks are likely to come up short.
Facing a deadline to reach a new treaty by the end of next year in Paris, the world’s nations seem unwilling to make the kind of pledges that would rein in global warming to safe levels by century’s end, the researchers concluded.
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“Architects and engineers should be helping”
“What I’m proposing, and what the Climate Reality Project is proposing, is that we need to be both optimists and realists. We need to be realists because climate change is happening right now. We’re seeing these intense weather events, and we need to prepare clients for it.
“But we do have the solutions at hand. They’re available, and we just need to use them,” she added, suggesting that architects and designers honestly confront the climate scepticism of some clients, especially since those “solutions” directly address the source a lot of carbon emissions – commercial buildings.
Laxo asserts that building professionals have a moral and ethical – and in the future, maybe even legal – responsibility to prepare clients for the effects of climate change, including intense storms, future water shortages, rising sea levels, more frequent wildfires and power interruptions.
Among the ways architects and engineers should be helping. (…)
“Big power stations in Europe could be redundant within 10-20 years as electric cars, cheaper batteries and new solar technologies transform the way electricity is generated, stored and distributed, say analysts at the world’s largest private bank, UBS.”
The Guardian – 27 August 2014:
Big power out, solar in: UBS urges investors to join renewables revolution
World’s largest private bank predicts large-scale power stations will soon make way for electric cars and new solar technologies
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Greenland And West Antarctic ice sheet loss more than doubled in last five years
A new study finds that both the Greenland ice sheet and West Antarctic Ice Sheet have seen an astonishing increase in ice loss in just the past five years.
This first-ever extensive mapping of the two great ice sheets using the CryoSat-2 satellite confirms the findings of several recent studies that “suggest that the globe’s ice sheets will contribute far more to sea level rise than current projections show,” as NASA glaciologist Eric Rignot said recently.
» www.thinkprogress.org/climate
The Observer – 24 August 2014:
‘Incredible’ rate of polar ice loss alarms scientists
A European satellite has shown ice sheets shrinking at 120 cubic miles a year in Antarctica and Greenland
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Solar giant leaves Australia because of government’s anti-renewables policy
A giant Chinese solar energy firm, originally based on Australian technology, plans to close its local research arm amid concerns about the future of renewable energy in the country. Suntech, founded by Australian-trained former “Sun King” billionaire Shi Zhengrong, will next month close its Suntech R&D Australia unit with the loss of about a dozen jobs.
» Sydney Morning Herald – 22 August 2014:
Solar giant to close Australian R&D unit
Article by Peter Hannam, Environment Editor
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Oil industry on borrowed time
“There may be little point battling icebergs to drill in the Arctic, or in trying to extract oil from the ultra-deepwater fields in the mid-Atlantic, beneath layers of salt, three kilometres into the Earth
The “oil intensity” of global GDP has already halved since 1980s. Gasoline demand in the OECD rich states has been sliding in absolute terms since 2007, dropping from 15.5m barrels a day of crude to 14m.”
The Telegraph – 20 August 2014:
Oil industry on borrowed time as switch to gas and solar accelerates
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Photosynthesis breakthrough could pave way to limitless fuel
Talk about green energy! The photosynthesis of plants has been replicated in the lab – and this is hoped to open up possibilities for manufacturing hydrogen as a cheap and clean source of fuel – a new breed of solar energy.
Hydrogen offers potential as a replacement for petrol, but until now, the way in which plants produced hydrogen was poorly understood. Scientists have now successfully replicated one of the crucial steps in photosynthesis, paving the way for a new breed of solar energy.
The process recreated in the lab could lead to the development of an efficient supply of hydrogen-based fuel. Hydrogen offers potential as a carbon-neutral replacement for petrol, but until now, the way in which plants produced hydrogen by splitting water molecules was poorly understood.
“Water is abundant and so is sunlight. It is an exciting prospect to use them to create hydrogen, and do it cheaply and safely,” said Dr Kastoori Hingorani, from the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis at the Australian National University.
» Daily Mail – 25 August 2014:
Photosynthesis replicated in lab
Article by Rachel Reilly For MailOnline
» ABC RN, Future Tense – 31 August 2014:
Artificial photosynthesis – the future of solar? (audio)
Around the world researchers are hard at work perfecting the science of Artificial Photosynthesis. At Harvard and other institutions they’ve already had considerable success. Radio report presented by Antony Funnell
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Carbon farming
“Returning just 11% of the world’s cropland to no-till farming could offset all of our current carbon dioxide emissions,” claims Kristin Ohlson in the book ‘The Soil Will Save Us – How Scientists, Farmers, and Foodies Are Healing the Soil to Save the Planet’
What if there were a simple solution to fighting climate change right under our feet? In her new book, The Soil Will Save Us, journalist and writer Kristin Ohlson says there is.
» Old-school farming methods could save the planet
» www.kristinohlson.com/books/soil-will-save-us
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Help for zero emissions homes
In Victoria, Beyond Zero Emissions has launched a project to help householders achieve a zero emissions home. In BZE’s Energy Freedom initiative, householders take an online pledge to achieve ‘energy freedom’ and in turn are assisted by various expert organisations within the Energy Freedom alliance.
The Alliance, a network of sustainability business such as solar installers and LED lighting retailers, provides homeowners with easy to follow information to reduce energy use at home, as well as access to discounted energy saving products.
The project engages householders to turn their homes into ‘renewable energy powerhouses’ while driving change in government policies on residential energy efficiency and renewable energy. The project puts the recommendations of BZE’s Zero Carbon Australia Buildings Plan released earlier this year into action.
“With readily available technology, some know-how and some ambition, homeowners can move to higher energy efficiency, generate electricity from their own solar energy, and achieve energy freedom.”
» For more information go to: www.energyfreedom.com.au
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Families Energy Saving Project
Free help with power bills for families
The price of electricity has gone up crazily in the last ten years and lots of families are struggling to keep up. But there are lots of simple things people can do which can make a real difference to bills. Environment Victoria, with the support of Future Proofing Geelong, is running free workshops for parents of toddlers and babies on how to save energy and to save on bills. They are also training parents in how to do simple sustainability assessments of other people’s homes, and then paying them to visit friends and family to suggest easy things they can do to save on bills.
If you work with young families, contact Domenica at Environment Victoria about hosting a workshop. Or forward the attached flyer on to parents who might be interested in having someone give them free advice in their home, or in being paid to do this for others.
» For more info, contact Domenica on domenica.settle AT environmentvictoria.org.au or phone 9341 8165.
Want to learn how to save lots of money on your power bills?
Future Powered Families is a government‐funded project to help parents save energy and so save money. If you’re a new parent you could take part by:
• Having another parent visit your home to give some FREE well‐informed advice on easy ways you can save energy.
• Getting some FREE training in how to visit other parents homes — we’ll pay you $50 for every home you visit!
Who can take part?
Unfortunately, funding requirements mean only some people are eligible. To have a home visit you need to be a parent whose oldest kid is three or younger. To learn how to do your own home visits your oldest kid needs to be 15 or younger. You also need a household income of $78,000 or less, or to be on a Health Care Card or a Pensioner Concession Card. Unfortunately, people who live in public housing aren’t able to take part.
How long does the training or visit take?
Training to do home visits is usually one all day session or two half day sessions. Home visits usually take about 45 minutes. We ask people we train to do eight home visits each.
How do you take part or find out more?
You can find more information and the training form here: www.environmentvictoria.org.au/fpf/join
and the form to have a home visit here: www.environmentvictoria.org.au/fpf/homevisit
Who’s behind this project?
Future Powered Families is being run by Environment Victoria, a nongovernment, not‐for‐profit environment organisation committed to safeguarding our environment. The project is funded by the federal Department of Industry, to help people on low incomes save energy.
This activity received funding from the Department of Industry as part of the Low Income Energy Efficiency Program.
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#REALclimateaction
People-powered funding for Australia’s first citizen-owned solar thermal plant
Citizens Own Renewable Energy Network Australia Inc – CORENA – is crowdfunding $5 million to get started on a solar thermal ‘Big Win’ project. $11,000 has been donated so far.
» Download a template and send CORENA your photo message: corenafund.org.au
Then, recycle it into a placard to take to a rally on 20-21 September so people around you in the crowd can use the QR code to chip in via smart phone.
Tell your truth. Don’t let the silence wrap around our indecision any longer. Help make 21 September a day of REAL climate action… because you can!
» To chip in go to www.corenafund.org.au
Solving climate change by moving your money
» See: www.gofossilfree.org
» Australians, go to: www.gofossilfree.org.au
» The National Divestment Day in Australia is on 18 October 2014: www.marketforces.org.au/divestmentday
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Geelong’s Climate Action
Getup members have started a local clean energy campaign in Geelong which has opened a Getup Office at 4 Gheringhap Street. Tel: 0428 944 929.
Upcoming events
Brainstorm to Action Meeting
When: Thursday 28th August, 7pm
Where: Getup Geelong Office, 4 Gheringhap Street, Geelong
What: Continuation of last Saturdays brainstorming event, with a focus of putting our ideas into action.
RSVP: via email to Dan – daniel@getup.org.au
Volunteer Phone Bank
When: Friday 29th August, 1pm
Where: Getup Geelong Office, 4 Gheringhap Street, Geelong
What: Its time to get in touch with other Getup members and let them know about our campaign and future events. Please bring your mobile phone and laptop if you have one.
RSVP: via email to Dan – daniel@getup.org.au
March in Geelong
When: Saturday 30th August, 10.30am
Where: Meet at Getup Geelong Office for briefing and training, 4 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, before walking to Johnston Park at 12pm.
What: We will be canvasing the crowd at the March in Geelong speaking about our campaign and asking for people to vote clean.
RSVP: via email to Dan – daniel@getup.org.au
Politics in the Pub
When: Thursday 4rd September, 6pm – 8pm
Where: The Max Hotel, 2 Gheringhap Street, Geelong
What: Social gathering with like minded Getup members. Have a meal or beverage and enjoy a fun night with some political speed dating!
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Onshore gas extraction in Geelong region
Meeting on Thursday 18 September at 7pm
Manifold Heights Baptist Church
Corner Shannon Ave and Volum St. Manifold Heights
The purpose of the meeting is to allow people to express their concerns and ask questions to a panel of independent authorities in the field of onshore gas mining’s impact on health, economics and ethics.
We will be watching a short film which focuses on why communities in Gippsland are opposing onshore gas mining – also known as CSG or ‘fracking’.
» Sign the petition to Geelong’s councillors: www.frackfreegeelong.org/petition
Submissions to Council can be emailed, mailed or dropped in to customer service centres by Friday 26 September. A report of the submissions will subsequently be presented to Council.
» See how to provide your feedback on: www.geelongaustralia.com.au/yoursay
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Monster Climate Petition
Inspired by what Victorian colonial women did in 1891 to press their claim for voting rights (in what became known as ‘The Monster Petition’), members of VWT asked themselves: “Could we provide a mechanism for a huge numbers of Australian women, men and children to give voice to their concern about the almost total lack of national leadership on securing a safe climate?”
They can and they have! It is called the Monster Climate Petition and you can download and view everything to do with the petition right here: www.monsterclimatepetition.com.au
Every one of us can sign our names, including our children. Climate change affects us all. Start with your own signature, and then gather signatures from your household, family and friends.
Women all over the country have a huge collective power to ensure that hundreds of thousands of women, men and children put their names and signatures to this Petition to our House of Representatives.
After you’ve gathered as many signatures as possible, mail all the signed petition forms back to the VWT office (details at vwt.org.au) by 8 November 2014, before the G20 Summit in Brisbane to show the world how many Australians care about climate change.
» Share on Facebook: www.facebook.com
» Share on Pinterest: www.pinterest.com
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Summit about climate solutions
10-minute podcast interview with Professor David Hood about the 2014 Australian Climate Action Summit
The 2014 Australian Climate Action Summit is being held in Brisbane on the weekend of 20-21 September 2014. It brings together climate activists, climate communicators, scientists, and others concerned about climate change. The summit is taking a new orientation this year, with a focus on nurturing the climate movement and showcasing solutions.
Des Lawrence spoke to Professor David Hood of the Queensland University of Technology, to find out more about this year’s summit activities and sought his opinion on the current community mood to climate change. For details of the summit go to www.climatesummit.org.au
» Listen to the 10-minute podcast interview on: www.radio.adelaide.edu.au
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Podcast from Melbourne: Beyond Zero Emissions Community Show
Beyond Zero Emissions Community Show is a one hour podcast focusing on activism and campaigning is recorded live every Monday at 5pm. The show aims to provide up-to-date news about community campaigns, actions and events from around Australia, including interviews with members of the climate action group community.
» Listen to the show and read more: www.bze.org.au
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Hours and hours of sustainable podcasts
You can listen to all of the radio shows in full length as well as in selected excerpts. Use the links below. You will also find links to more information about the topics and sites that have been mentioned during the hour.
| Social stream | Hour no 40 | No 39 | No 38 | No 37 | No 36 | No 35 | No 34 | No 33 | No 32 | No 31 | No 30 | No 29 | No 28 | No 27 | No 26 | No 25 | No 24 | No 23 | No 22 | No 21 | No 20 | No 19 | No 18 | No 17 | No 16 | No 15 | No 14 | No 13 | No 12 | No 11 | No 10 | No 9 | No 8 | No 7 | No 6 | No 5 | No 4 | No 3 | No 2 | No 1 |
» Facebook: Overview of all podcasts
» Podcasts and posts about climate change
» Catch up on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SustainableHour
» Tweet: @SustainableHour
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94.7 The Pulse
» 947thepulse.com – Geelong’s Premier Community Radio Station
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Pete Seeger, American singer
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