Genetic extinction technology challenged at UN Convention on Biological Diversity

November 23, 2018

FoE International Press release,  18 November, 2018

SHARM EL SHEIKH, EGYPT — Today, the African Centre for Biodiversity and Friends of the Earth International held a press conference at the 2018 UN Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) 14th Conference of the Parties to call for a global moratorium on the environmental release of gene drives, a new genetic extinction technology, and to caution for stronger regulation of synthetic biology.

From November 17-29th, international conservation and environmental leaders will meet to call on governments to protect biodiversity and Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ rights from controversial new biotechnologies. Gene drives have the capacity to wipe out or alter species forever, and to significantly disrupt or modify the ecosystems on which humanity strongly depends for its survival. Gene drives pose serious and potentially irreversible threats to biodiversity and ecosystems, human health, as well as national sovereignty, peace and food sovereignty.

The first proposed application for gene drive is being led in Burkina Faso by the Target Malaria Project, funded by the Gates Foundation, designed to eradicate mosquito populations and thus malaria transmission. This Trojan horse project is exploiting a public health crisis in Africa, despite the lack of underlying science to support its efficacy as a sound medical intervention.

“We should not be used as lab rats in an experiment that could devastate African ecosystems. We ask delegates at COP14 to put the brakes on any release of gene drives.”

Mariann Bassey, Friends of the Earth International and chair of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa

“Burkina Faso is about to face a health and ecological catastrophe. This project risks creating a social and environmental crisis in these local communities. Burkinabe civil society groups are denouncing the project: we refuse to be the guinea pigs of the science of the unknown.

… Read more >>

FoE, Gene Technology, Old_Notes

2018 Envt Awards December 6th — book now!

November 23, 2018

Don’t miss the 2018 SA Environment Awards!

Registrations close this Sunday (25 Nov), so RSVP now — if you haven’t already done so —  to secure your
place at this very special celebration of SA’s nature champions.

Commemorating 20 years of the Jill Hudson Awards for Environmental Protection,
the 2018 SA Environment Awards also honour our state’s Young Achievers and Unsung Heroes.

This year they continue the Lifetime Achiever Awards for significant and lasting
contributions to protecting SA’s precious natural environment.

Drinks and nibbles provided

Book via eventbrite

FoE, Old_Notes

Anti Dump rally Sat Nov 3rd

October 31, 2018

Please come to the Don’t Dump on SA Rally on Kaurna Land at Parliament House, North Terrace, Adelaide
at 11.30am on Saturday 3rd November.

Last week we found out that the Barngarla Injunction hearing will go back to court on 30 January 2019.
Here is a link to a statement from DIIS (the Department of Industry Innovation and Science). Yesterday there was an article in The Advertiser saying that the Minister’s decision may be delayed until next year.

With the ballot on hold, this rally is more important than ever.

We need to come together and say NO to a radioactive waste dump in SA and ensure that the government ends this terrible site selection process.
We want the government to take all three sites in SA off the table and to hold a full independent inquiry into the best way to manage our most dangerous waste. They must stop targeting remote and regional areas and give Aboriginal people a right of veto for proposals that threaten their country and culture.
We want a huge presence at the rally to show Minister Canavan that he does NOT have broad community support for a waste dump in SA and that he can’t impose one on this unwilling community.

Nuclear, Old_Notes

SA Household battery scheme announced

October 31, 2018

… Read more >>

FoE, Old_Notes, Renewables

IPCC Report a stark wake-up call on climate change

October 31, 2018

MEDIA RELEASE – 8 October 2018 – Friends of the Earth

The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released its highly-anticipated Special Report into the impacts of 1.5 degrees global warming.

The report finds climate change is already impacting communities around the world through increased severity of flooding, storms, drought and heatwaves, and that radical action is required to limit warming to well-below 1.5C.

Friends of the Earth Australia says the report is a stark wake-up call on climate change and reaffirms that all governments must undertake immediate, transformative action on climate or risk catastrophic impacts.

The Federal Coalition’s failure to address climate change leaves communities exposed to impacts.

“The Coalition’s head-in-the-sand approach to climate change exposes communities to intensifying impacts such as heatwaves, droughts, bushfires, and extreme weather,” said Leigh Ewbank, Friends of the Earth’s climate change spokesperson.

“Now’s the time for governments to double their efforts and get serious about delivering emissions cuts. We have no time to waste on climate action.”

Friends of the Earth say it is time for all levels of government to build on the efforts of communities when it comes to tackling climate change:

“Communities around Australia are taking action on climate change. Millions of households have installed solar power, communities are building their own renewable energy projects and planning for climate impacts,” said Pat Simons, Friends of the Earth’s renewable energy spokesperson.

“All levels of government must do a heavier lift than the community when it comes to tackling climate change” added Simons.

The Federal Coalition’s failure to tackle climate change requires greater political leadership from Bill Shorten and the Labor opposition.

“With the Federal Coalition failing to tackle climate change, it’s time for Bill Shorten and the Labor opposition to show political leadership and make climate change a priority,” said Leigh Ewbank

More info at foe.org.au

Climate, FoE, Old_Notes, Sustainability