FoE – Page 11 – Friends of the Earth Adelaide

Aboriginal inhabitants in Kakadu at least 70,000 years ago

roman July 21, 2017

A groundbreaking archaeological discovery in Australia’s north has extended the known length of time Aboriginal people have inhabited the continent to at least 65,000 years.
The findings on about 11,000 artefacts from Kakadu national park, published on Thursday in the journal Nature, prove Indigenous people have been in Australia for far longer than the much-contested estimates of between 47,000 and 60,000 years, the researchers said.

Some of the artefacts were potentially as old as 80,000 years.
The new research upends decades-old estimates about the human colonisation of the continent, their interaction with megafauna, and the dispersal of modern humans from Africa and across south Asia.

more details in the Guardian

FoE

Illegal and potentially toxic nanoparticles found in baby formula

roman July 21, 2017

JUL 02, 2017 Media Release

Independent testing commissioned by Friends of the Earth has found nanoparticles in popular Australian infant formula products that are both illegal in Australia and potentially dangerous. Three of the seven samples tested contained nano-hydroxyapatite particles. Nano-hydroxyapatite has been found to cause cell death in the liver and kidneys of rats and is prohibited from use in infant formula in Australia in any form.

Friends of the Earth are calling for an immediate recall of all affected brands – and for our food regulator – Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) – to immediately commission testing of all infant formula to ascertain what other brands contain hydroxyapatite or other unapproved and potentially harmful nanoparticles.

Two of these samples, Nestlé NAN H.A. Gold 1 and Nature’s Way Kids Smart 1, were found to contain a needle like form of hydroxyapatite. The European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has concluded that this form of nano-hydroxyapatite should not be permitted in oral products such as toothpaste and mouthwash because of its potential toxicity.

If it’s dangerous in toothpaste, it should certainly not be in infant formula.

Babies are particularly vulnerable to food safety risks since their immune systems are still developing. Often infant formula is the only food an infant receives. FSANZ needs to immediately recall these products.

TAKE ACTION: DEMAND AN URGENT RECALL!

Altogether 5 of the 7 samples were found to contain nanoparticles that are not approved for use in infant formula, and breach the Food Regulation Ministerial Council’s policy for ensuring the safety of infant formula. Furthermore, the test results confirm that the nano-hydroxyapatite was added to the formula intentionally.

Friends of the Earth is not only concerned about the presence of nano-hydroxyapatite and nano-calcite in baby formula, but also about the performance of our food regulator FSANZ.

FoE

Feds Going After Our Tax Status: Act Now!

roman July 7, 2017

You have probably heard that the federal gov is having another go at the tax status of green groups, including FoE Australia. This time through a discussion paper from Treasury. A number of the nasty recommendations from the House of Reps inquiry are included in this.

It would be great if individual people could send a submission (template here: http://www.foe.org.au/here_we_go_again_dgr_dot_points )

If you have allies in ANY other organisations please ask them to write a submission – unions, churches, aid groups, welfare orgs, footy clubs, etc etc. We really need maximum numbers of submissions on this one. And if you have any prominent allies please tell them about this risk.

This is probably the Coalition’s last chance to damage green groups before the next election so we have to expect they will pursue it vigorously. We need a major mobilisation to defeat it.

There is background info available here: http://www.foe.org.au/here_we_go_againSubmissions need to be in by July 14.

FoE, Old_Notes

Adelaide FoE AGM June 22nd, 6pm at Box Factory

roman June 5, 2017

Please add the AGM details to your diary. We failed to get a quorum a month ago, so we’re having another try.

If you’re a current member, please come along. (If you want to join Adelaide FoE, you can do so using the membership form.)

If you’re a member of Friends of the Earth Adelaide, and can’t make the meeting, please consider sending a proxy to vote for you (they count towards the quorum!).
You can always ask Roman or Richard to take your proxy. Note that nominations and proxy forms should be received (either via email or at the Joinery, 111 Franklin St) at least 48 hours before the AGM, else their acceptance is at the whim of the AGM

Nomination forms on the website: Nominations2017 Proxy Forms on the website: AGM Proxy 2017

FoE, Old_Notes

New Chain reaction out! #129, April 2017

roman May 2, 2017

The new CR is out! And full of interesting articles…

Why the National Electricity Market is a disaster, and how to fix it
The government is right to fund energy storage: a 100% renewable grid is within reach
Will the Victorian Liberal’s anti-renewables stance cost it an election?
Australia’s snubs nuclear weapons talks
With Donald Trump in power, Australia urgently needs to re-evaluate its US bases
Undemocratic, racist nuclear waste legislation should be dumped
Fukushima nuclear disaster and the violation of women’s and children’s human rights
Half of the world’s nuclear power industry is in crisis
Militarism and environmentalism
Victoria’s koala population needs protection
Evidence mounts that nano-titanium dioxide in food may be harmful
Food supply and the next generation of GM breeding
Fracking’s frontier politics: The Northern Territory at an energy crossroads
Why won’t Australia ratify an international deal to cut mercury pollution?
Deep sea mining plans for Papua New Guinea raise alarm
The troubling evolution of corporate greenwashing
Famine doesn’t just ‘happen’ – and those who cause it must be held to account
A new deal with capitalism requires a revolution in politics and markets
Melbourne’s air warfare convention: ‘The ultimate family adventure’?
Why ‘green-black’ alliances are less simple than they seem

View the issue here (PDF)

FoE, Old_Notes