New website/enewsletter – One Step Off the Grid

robyn July 22, 2015

FOE members and friends who are interested in renewable energy and off grid living might be interested in this new website being set up by the excellent RenewEconomy – One Step Off the Grid. Enjoy!

Introducing our new sister site – One Step Off The Grid

“RenewEconomy is proud to announce the launch of One Step Off The Grid, our sister site that will focus on the consumer side of the energy market, and how the uptake of rooftop solar, battery storage and other technologies will usher in a dramatic transformation of our energy system”.

“Australia is at the cutting edge of this revolution. Already, it has more “pro-sumers” – consumers that produce at least some of their own electricity needs – per head of population than any other country. The advent of battery storage will offer even more choice. For some, it will mean the ability to leave the grid.

“But what are the social, economic, and business impacts of this transformation? How do consumers navigate their way through the complexity of tariffs, policy changes, and new technologies, and make the choice that suit their needs? Do we really want suburban households to quit the grid? Will the utilities evolve their business models?

“That is why we have created One Step Off The Grid. It is a free website and will have a weekly newsletter (click here to sign up for the newsletter), although it will be updated daily.

“It will provide information to consumers – in households, business and communities – on all of the latest developments, such as these new projections on commercial solar uptake, and the latest on solar, battery storage, tariff and policy changes.

“It also will focus on stories of what families, businesses, communities and townships have done, and are doing”.

Clean Futures, Climate, Divestment, Old_Notes, Renewables, Sustainability

climate change, education, Sustainability

Movie: Uranium: Twisting the Dragon’s Tail premieres SBS 9 August

robyn July 21, 2015

Uranium – Twisting the Dragon’s Tail

The untold story of the most controversial rock on earth.

Premieres in Australia on SBS 8.30pm Sunday 9th, 16th & 23rd of August

The untold story of the most wondrous and terrifying rock on Earth.

Legends say there’s a world beneath this one where a dragon lies sleeping. They say be careful how you wake the dragon. The year 2015 marks the seventieth anniversary of the most profound change in the history of human enterprise on Earth: the unleashing of the elemental force within uranium, the explosion of an atomic bomb, the unleashing of the dragon. Come on an epic journey with physicist and YouTube phenomenon Dr Derek Muller to discover the untold story of the most wondrous and terrifying rock on Earth.

Love it or loathe it, whatever your views on uranium, this series will challenge them.

Uranium – twisting the dragon’s tail is an Australian made series, an epic journey through nine countries and over a century of stories. Part science and part history, it’s an adventure brought to life by an exciting new personality in television science: Australian-born Canadian raised, Dr Derek Muller. Creator of the hit YouTube channel Veritasium, this is his first appearance as host of an international television documentary series.

In Uranium – twisting the dragon’s tail Derek unleashes a historian’s passion for detail, a physicist’s understanding of science, and a journalist’s nose for a good story. Derek takes a fresh path through the story of uranium, the most desired and the most hated rock on Earth.

Across three fascinating episodes, Derek follows uranium from its birth, forged in an exploding star six billion years ago, through the ancient dreamtime stories of Australia’s indigenous people, and into the laboratories of the first nuclear physicists. Derek takes us down medieval mines and across the arid beauty of a New Mexico desert where the power of uranium was unleashed in the first atomic bomb.

Mining

Make the switch to a renewable energy future

robyn July 20, 2015

Take advantage of this opportunity to support Conservation SA when switching your electricity provider to environmentally friendly Diamond Energy. Friends of the Earth Adelaide are a member group of Conservation SA and supportive of the good work they do.

Conservation SA is excited to partner with Diamond Energy, an electricity retailer supporting the Renewable Energy Target (RET) and new renewable generation projects. We’ve done the research and believe your best option in SA is Diamond Energy.

By making the switch to an energy company that is passionate about renewables and protecting the Renewable Energy Target, you’re helping to keep our state a world leader in renewables. And by switching to Diamond Energy now, you are also supporting Conservation SA.

For every Conservation SA supporter who signs up through this offer, Conservation SA receives a small contribution. These funds will go towards our work advocating for renewables in SA!

The switch to Diamond Energy is easy – it can be done online and only takes a couple of minutes.

Q&A’s

Why should I switch my electricity retailer?

The Renewable Energy Target (RET) has helped drive the generational shift towards rooftop solar and other forms of renewable energy in Australia. But the Dirty Three retailers AGL, Origin and Energy Australia are clinging on to the old ways of fossil fuel energy generation and are lobbying for the (RET) to be dismantled. The Renewable Energy Target is bringing down the electricity price and encouraging investment in renewable energy whilst at the same time creating thousands of clean technology jobs. In other words, it’s working.

By supporting energy retailers who are working to protect the RET, you’re helping to transform Australia into the renewable energy powerhouse it should be.

*** The Dirty Three Energy retailers – June 2014 Greenpeace

Can I switch?

Anyone who is connected to the electricity grid can switch away from the Dirty Three energy retailers (they are lobbying to dismantle the Renewable Energy Target) to an energy retailer who is working to supporting the RET and with stronger environmental credentials.… Read more >>

Clean Futures, Climate, Renewables, Sustainability

climate change, Sustainability

“FRACKMAN” coal seam gas movie 30 July

robyn July 20, 2015

For those who missed the earlier screening, there’s a special screening organised by Doctors for the Environemnt Australia this thursday. There are still over a hundred tickets left; you can book at this site.