World | Erland's Ranting

Coal protest stops work at Eraring Power Station – ABC News
27 people have been arrested – more coverage here.

All you need to know about Garnaut from The Age – Adam Morton
No emissions targets recommendations, global emissions peak by 2010, only models 450ppm carbon dioxide, no free permits for power generators, aluminium/cement/steel may receive compensation, start with a low price for the first 2 years (bad).

Climate Code Red: David Spratt Writes on ABC Opinion – ABC News

Renewable Energy Target Paper Released – Chris Hammer, The Age
Unfortunately it includes solar hot water and burning native forest wood waste.

Most people haven’t heard of the Emissions Trading Scheme – ABC News
And only 7% understand what it involves.

Cycling Cities: UK Leading the Way – ABC News
London has seen a 90% increase in bike traffic since 2000.

Monbiot’s plan for global emissions cuts – George Monbiot, Canberra Times

Japan announces 60-80% emissions cuts by 2050 – Richard Black, BBC

German Govt passes phase 2 of climate plan – Reuters
Designed to cut greenhouse emissions by 40% of 1990 levels by 2020.

UK £100bn plan to produce 15% renewable energy by 2020 – Guardian (UK)

India Unveils New National Action Plan on Climate Change – The Times of India

China releases it’s first national plan on climate change – Deutsche Welle
It rejects binding limits on emissions but commits to 2% cuts/year for some gases.

Penguin populations plummeting due to climate change – Will Dunham, Herald Sun

Thank god he’s gone – Alexander Downer retires – Emma Rodgers, ABC News

How high will be price of cutting emissions? – Shane Wright, The West Australian
Great editorial on the Emissions Trading Scheme, the Garnaut Review and oil prices. “This is probably too important to be left to the politicians.”

Voters happy with sex … and Bob Brown – Mark Schliebs, News.com.au
Report: big business “has too much power”; people less concerned about raunch in media; support for more money in social services; Greens leader Bob Brown a better choice for PM than Peter Costello.

Coal union push for renewable energy target – Lenore Taylor, The Australian
CFMEU support the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target, while state governments deride it.

James Hansen’s new climate change warning – Andrew Revkin, The Age

Arctic sea ice melt ‘even faster’ – Richard Black, BBC

Revealed: UK blueprint for a green energy revolution – John Vidal, Guardian (UK)
20% emissions cuts; reduce oil dependence by 7%; 1 in 4 homes to be fitted with solar heating; 3,500 wind turbines; and an area the size of Essex to be planted with crops for biomass energy within 12 years. And here’s George Monbiot’s comment.

NT Intervention, 1 year on – Sue Dunlevy, Daily Telegraph

Put oil firm chiefs on trial, says leading climate scientist – Ed Pilkington, Guardian (UK)
James Hansen proposes that deliberate corporate climate denialism should be considered a crime, and the new 350.org campaign is mentioned at the end.

Energy fears unfounded: Climate Institute report – AAP

Pressure continues on solar panel rebate – ABC News

Sudan: World blind to growing horror – Dvir Abramovich, Herald Sun
what hurts the victim is not only the cruelty of the oppressor, but the silence of the bystander.

Let’s stop trying to turn girls into probationary sexpots – Tracie Winch, The Age
Tracie Winch is a journalist and lecturer at the University of Melbourne.

Chilean waters declared whale sanctuary – Sarah Clarke, ABC

Tony Windsor says emissions trading scheme needs ‘bipartisan support’ – ABC News

Big Car Sales Down – Lauren Williams, Daily Telegraph

New tax break for planting trees – Philip Hopkins, The Age

NSW schools dump Outlook for Gmail – Renai LeMay, Financial Review

Dying Australian Democrats ‘to form new party’ – AAP

US candidates are not coming clean on climate – Anne Davies, SMH

Obama Opts Out of Public Financing – Shailagh Murray, Washington Post