Nuclear Industry on trial?

March 1, 2015

“If the Royal Commission brings a genuine spirit of independence and rigour, and is willing to take evidence on the nuclear sector’s performance in Australia and overseas, the report will provide a valuable contribution to domestic energy and industry policy.

It will paint a picture of an industry in terminal decline; a uranium market in a state of chronic oversupply; 60 years of high-level nuclear waste still awaiting a coherent management solution; ongoing contamination hazards at destroyed reactor sites; unresolved weapons proliferation risks from ‘civilian’ enrichment facilities in Iran; a stalled disarmament agenda and a handful of countries persevering with new plants plagued by cost overruns and safety fears.”

— Scott Ludlum, providing a nice example of the nuclear industry on trial in New Matilda, a piece well worth reading.

Old_Notes

Don’t trade away the right to keep our food safe

February 27, 2015

Chinese imported frozen berries linked to a number of cases of hepatitis A in Victoria and NSW has led to a national call for stronger food safety regulation and country of origin labelling.

Screen Shot 2015-02-27 at 12.59.01 pmHowever under the new China Free Trade Agreement and pending Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), this could be unfeasible. Friends of the Earth’s Fair Trade spokesperson, Sam Castro said “like other similar trade agreements the TPP could make it impossible to set higher standards on imported foods or labelling, because labelling regulation can be deemed a ‘barrier to trade’.”

“The Investor State Dispute Settlement process included in the China Free Trade Agreement enables foreign corporations with the ability to sue the government for legislation that may harm future profits. We know Philip Morris is currently suing the Australian government for our cigarette plain packaging legislation, the same could happen if the government decides to enact stronger food safety and labelling laws,” explained  Ms Castro.

“These trade agreements are a Trojan Horse that threaten our food safety and environment. Trade officials, whose primary objective is to increase trade and boost corporate profits, will have first say over future food safety rules. A trade agreement is not the place to decide about our food safety.”

“The TPP trade agreement is currently being negotiated in secret with 12 other countries, including the US, Chile and Malaysia.  We call on the federal government to release the text of the agreement so the public and health professionals can properly assess the impact it will have on health and safety standards. We have a right to know” said Ms Castro.

The European Union has recently committed to publicly releasing the text of a similar trade agreement called the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).Read Friends of the Earth’s analysis of the TTIP’s impact on Food Safety. Unfortunately as the Australian government is keeping the text of the TPP trade agreement a secret, Friends of the Earth is not able to conduct a similar analysis here in Australia. We call on the Australian government to stop the secrecy and not to trade away our food safety.

Food, Old_Notes

US force feeds GM crops to African nations, says new report

February 23, 2015

OHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, 23 February, 2015 – US agencies, funders such as the Gates Foundation, and agribusiness giant Monsanto are trying to force unwilling African nations to accept expensive and insufficiently tested Genetically Modified (GM) foods and crops, according to a new report released today. [1]

“The US, the world’s top producer of GM crops, is seeking new markets for American GM crops in Africa. The US administration’s strategy consists of assisting African nations to produce biosafety laws that promote agribusiness interests instead of protecting Africans from the potential threats of GM crops,” said Haidee Swanby from the African Centre for Biosafety, which authored the report commissioned by Friends of the Earth International.

The new report also exposes how agribusiness giant Monsanto influences biosafety legislation in African countries, gains regulatory approval for its product, and clears the path for products such as GM maize (corn).

(more…)

Food, Old_Notes

Frackman – anti-gas fracking film Feb 24

February 20, 2015

FRACKMAN – Mercury Cinema

Tuesday February 24, 8:30pm

“If you care about our country, see it!” – Alan Jones

“No Australian voter should miss this film” – Bob Brown

This is a film about the ordinary people caught up in a modern day multinational “gas rush” to secure and exploit coal seam gas. Accidental activist Dayne ‘Frackman’ Pratzky was building a simple home on his property, until the Gas company arrived, demanding to install wells on his property. So began his transformation from knockabout pig-shooter to passionate activist, and a David and Goliath battle against a $200 billion industry. Along the way he finds love, tragedy and triumph.

This special DocWeek preview session includes a post screening meet the filmmakers event with director Richard Todd and producer Trish Lake.

http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=98701cfdba04568f6486c9de1&id=50b279ac7d&e=59697da8ec

See you there!

FoE

Movie: Climate change skeptics exposed 28 Feb

February 18, 2015

Climate change will impact the whole food growing industry with more droughts and floods. Merchants of Doubt is a new movie investigating the shadowy world of professional skeptics, whose services are paid for by corporations and other special interests to cast doubt and delay action on climate change. Profiles key climate skeptics, uncovering their credentials and motivations and shows how they navigate media and government to disseminate disinformation. $15/$10

hosted by Transition Films and Doctors for the Environment

Saturday 28 Feb 4pm Mercury Cinema Morphett St Adelaide

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/merchants-of-doubt-tickets-15366414359

Climate, Sustainability

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