Ep 95. Alcoa and brown coal, River Red gums + Beyond Zero Emissions

Click to download: Alcoa and brown coal, River Red gums + Beyond Zero Emissions

Aired on 2ser 107.3 FM 11 March 2010

Alcoa

Aluminium smelting company Alcoa has signed an agreement with Loy Yang power stations to continue powering its aluminium smelters with brown coal until 2036.
They have shifted the company that they will source the energy from Hazlewood power station to Loy Yang. They will continue to consume the same level of energy that they do at the moment, 20% of the energy produced in the state, and they have locked themselves in to 26 more years of brown coal energy, rather than more sustainable sources.

Libby spoke with campaigns co-ordinator for Friends of the Earth, Cam Walker, and Victorian Greens MP Greg Barber.


Red Gum forest open to logging under NSW ‘protection plan’

Last week the NSW Government announced a plan to protect the River Red gum forests and wetlands along the Murray River. While the Government is saying that 107 000 hectares of larger forest area will be protected, as recommended by the Natural Resources Commission assessment – this figure is made up of some for now and some for
later.

Jess spoke with Jonathan La Nauze, Red Gum Campaign Coordinator with Friends of the Earth to understand the implications of allowing sections of forest marked for preservation to be logged for 5 years before receiving National Park preservation status in 2015.

For more information head to the cross-border campaign website of the NSW National parks association, and the Victorian National parks association.

Zero Carbon Australia 2020 plan

Last Month saw the release of a report called Zero Carbon Australia 2020. The report will form part of a broader plan produced by the ‘beyond zero emissions’ group, to map out how Australia could transition its current economy to a potentially zero carbon emissions one within ten years. James spoke Mathew Wright from Beyond Zero Emissions.

Events:

To Shoot and Elephant
The Sri Lanka Human Rights Project, together with The Coalition for
Justice and Peace in Palestine will be screening the groundbreaking
documentary - To Shoot an Elephant - filmed in Gaza during Israel's
'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008/2009.
This Tuesday 16th March, 6.30 pm – at the Auditorium, NSW Teachers
Federation, 27 Reservoir St, Surry Hills
Cost: Entry by donation
More Info: Brami - brami.jegan@usyd.edu.au
Proceeds will go towards CJPP’s advocacy projects and El-Wafa
Rehabilitation Hospital in Gaza. Donations to the hospital will go
through Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA.

Concert for Juarez
Sydney Action for Juarez has joined an initiative by Mexican group
Artivism, which has issued an international call for culture-based
activities in March to remember the victims of anti-woman violence and
brutality in Juarez.
Concert for Juarez is this Saturday night, the 13th March Eastside
Arts, Uniting Church, Paddington, at 7.30pm.
Tickets: $20/$15 concession

Australia’s Climate Action Summit
This weekend Australia’s Climate Action Summit will be held in Canberra.
Our governments are not providing real climate solutions. Whether it
is Rudd or Abbott's plan or Copenhagen we deserve better. This
three-day conference will look at strategy, policy and actions for the
grassroots climate movement.
There is a growing community movement in Australia that is building
people power for immediate action on climate change. Our vision is to
work together at emergency speed to restore in a just way a safe
climate in time for all people, all species and all generations.
Start Time: Saturday, 13 March 2010 at 09:00
End Time: Monday, 15 March 2010 at 18:00
Location: Australian National University, Canberra
For more information head to climatesummit.org.au

Presenters: Libby King, James Hitchcock and Jessica Minshall