Author Archive: roman

Friends of the Earth Adelaide > Articles by: roman

Please tell our governments to regulate all new GM CRISPR

January 30, 2019

from the SAGFIN/Gene Ethics mailout…

Please spend just a minute to email your state Minister at this link now.

It’s quick, simple and important to have your say!!

State and Territory Ministers will decide this month whether to retain GM CRISPR** regulation, or to declare open season on the makeup of all animals, plants, microbes and humans.

Last year, the world was shocked when a Chinese scientist used the new genetic modification (GM) technique CRISPR to produce the world’s first GM babies. Scientists globally condemned the research, saying it was too risky to use this technique in human embryos.

But now the Australian Government proposes to deregulate the use of CRISPR and other GM techniques in animals, plants and microbes.

Actions, Gene Technology, Old_Notes

COP 24: Time is running out. We must build an alternative energy future for the people

December 14, 2018

Dipti Bhatnagar, Climate Justice and Energy Program Coordinator for Friends of the Earth International, said:

“This year was supposed to be a major year for the climate – pledges made in Paris three years ago were to be ratcheted up to meet the need for early and steep emission cuts. Thanks to a weakened Talanoa Dialogue, climate ambitions are severely threatened, in addition to the dismantling of equity and the egregious fact that fossil fuel companies are sponsoring the Conference. We need a just transition away from fossil fuels and dirty energy to a just, clean, peoples’ energy system. We need to push for gender justice and for a world free from oppression and inequality.”

Dec 3rd: Friends of the Earth International is in Katowice bringing solutions to the climate crisis. We are launching People Power Now: An Energy Manifesto – 10 demands for a just energy transformation. If implemented these demands provide a pathway to a new, clean energy future for all, that contributes to keeping global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees.

But time is not on our side – inaction by successive governments at the UN and among national governments has left a narrow and shrinking window for action. Friends of the Earth International has, for decades, warned of the consequences of delay. There is deep frustration with this endless talking shop where polluters freely influence the debate, rich countries block the radical action needed for fossil fuel phase out in the North and finance for the South, while the planet warms and people live with the consequences.

Read more from the FoE International article

Clean Futures, Climate, Old_Notes

Coalition’s obsession with coal and gas will go down like lead balloon when renewable energy is the best option

December 14, 2018

Dec 13, 2018 by Pat Simons, Friends of the Earth’s renewable energy spokesperson

Environment group Friends of the Earth Australia reject indications that the Morrison government will seek to use public funds to underwrite new coal and gas projects, and say they should be 100% focused on landmark renewable energy projects like the proposed Star of the South offshore wind farm instead.

“Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the federal Coalition have learned nothing from the Liberal party’s drubbing in the recent Victorian state election,” said Friends of the Earth climate spokesperson Leigh Ewbank.

The Liberal party’s support for coal and gas was resoundingly rejected by voters in the Wentworth by-election and at the November state election in Victoria.

“When community support for action on climate change is on the rise, the Coalition government’s support for polluting fossil fuels will go down like a lead balloon” added Ewbank.

While time is running out to act on climate change, the Coalition’s obsession with coal and gas only imperils Australia’s future.

Instead of wasting more public money on polluting fossil fuels, Friends of the Earth Australia says the federal Coalition should be taking landmark renewable energy projects like the proposed Star of the South offshore wind farm to the next stage to create jobs and cut emissions.

“New renewable energy is cheaper and cleaner than fossil fuels, so it’s bizarre that the supposedly free-market Liberal party wants to intervene in the market to back in polluting, old technology like coal and gas,” said Pat Simons, Friends of the Earth’s renewable energy spokesperson.

Read more at FoE Australia about the coalition’s coal obsession.

FoE, Old_Notes

Show Labor you want a fossil-free future! Rally this Sunday (16th)

December 14, 2018

This weekend Labor is holding their National Conference in Adelaide.

While Labor have been making the right noises over renewables, the Leader of the Opposition has been relatively quiet about Adani coal and fossil fuels in general.

Groups concerned about the proposed nuclear dump in SA, the continued government support for fossil fuels and oil exploration in the Bight want to show the ALP that they need to adopt sensible policies if they want our support.

South Australians are putting climate change on the agenda.

Join the rally outside the ALP National Conference at the Adelaide Convention Centre from 1-2pm on Sunday 16 December.

Labor’s climate plan must include moving Australia beyond fossil fuels to clean renewable energy.

That means:

  • Stop Adani
  • Stop oil exploration in the Great Australian Bight
  • Stop fracking for gas
  • Phase out the export of oil, gas and coal

This Conference is where the ALP will commit to the policies they’ll take to the Federal Election next year.

Join Friends (of the Earth) for a fossil fuel free future! Come along this Sunday to the Convention Centre on North Tce

Schedule of activities:

 8.30-10am Anti-Poverty Network’s Rally to Raise Newstart, No Dump Alliance & AYCC Stop Adani – Adelaide Convention Centre top of escalators

12:30 – 2pm No More Fossil Fuels Rally (say you’re coming and share with your friends on Facebook)

12:30pm – Uluru Statement from the Heart, led by former Uluru Working Group Co-chair Thomas Mayor.

2pm – Carols Against Coal (more info and livestream on Facebook)

The No Dump Alliance will have a table at the event

Adelaide FoE Notes, Clean Futures, Climate, Nuclear