The Victorian Climate Action Calendar

Picture from here

relates to Bullet No. 2

From Monique de Cortis, the Victorian Climate Action Calendar

Dear all,

Attached is The Victorian Climate Action Calendar covering events between 19 Oct and 28 Nov 2012, and below:

·       WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY AND WHY DOES IT MATTER? CSIRO Blog

·        400 NEW SPECIES ADDED TO THE IUCN RED LIST OF SPECIES AT RISK OF EXTINCTION

·        BIOSECURITY BILL 2012 - Protecting Australia from invasive species - Submissions closing 24 October 

·       INTERACTIVE MAP OF GLOBAL CLIMATE ACTION

Regards, Monique

THE IUCN RED LIST OF SPECIES AT RISK OF EXTINCTION   http://www.iucnredlist.org/  is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species. At the recent global conference at which 70 environment ministers met, more than 400 plants and animals were added to the list.

EXPLAINER: WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY AND WHY DOES IT MATTER? - CSIRO Blog

All of us need to breathe, drink and eat. These are all benefits that are fundamentally provided by biodiversity. Biodiversity collectively describes the vast array of approximately 9 million unique living organisms (including Homo sapiens) that inhabit the earth, together with the interactions amongst them. The concept includes every species of bacteria, virus, plant, fungi, and animal, as well as the diversity of genetic material within each species. It also encompasses the diverse ecosystems the species make up and the ongoing evolutionary processes that keep them functioning and adapting. Find out why we can’t get by without it, why biodiversity is in decline, and what we can do about it. http://csironewsblog.com/tag/climate-change/

 

BIOSECURITY BILL 2012 - protecting Australia from invasive species - Submissions closing 24 October 

Soon one of Australia's most important environmental laws, Biosecurity Bill 2012, will be introduced into Parliament, but important changes are needed to ensure it protects our natural world from invasive species.  Submissions are due by Wednesday, October 24, so make sure you have your say, much is at stake. A website for submissions on the ISC website -http://www.invasives.org.au/page.php?nameIdentifier=biosecuritybill2012 and on that page you will also find a print friendly submission guide - http://www.invasives.org.au/documents/file/subguide_Biosecurity_Bill_2012.pdf

INTERACTIVE MAP OF GLOBAL CLIMATE ACTION – a little less conversation, a little more action

The Climate Institute has developed the Climate Action Map to provide an overview of action taking place around the world. http://globalclimateactionmap.climateinstitute.com.au/#/criteria

The VCAC 20 Oct - 28 Nov 2012.doc 468K   View   Download

Climate change, your questions and answers from experts - with Groundswell Bass Coast

Groundswell Bass Coast

has some experienced and environmentally aware people within the organisation.

This underwrites what I expect to be two successful Climate Change forums

on 9 May and 23 May at the Wonthaggi Town Hall.

Speakers include:

Rob Gell, Damien Irving, CSIRO and AMOS, 

Dr Neville Smith, and Matthew Wright.

Burke Ministerial release: Murray Darling Basin - Interpretation of Water Act 2007

Truth or Propaganda: MDBA backgrounders on net already & has the science already been done?

Further to my previous post, in which I thanked Anonymous for the tip-off to the site where one could access background documents used by the Murray Darling Basin Authority, I want to have a rant, a real rant about what could be (please prove me wrong, Networkers) propaganda - in short, false information - being reported and shouted out by all and sundry.

The Australian Government seems to have fallen for the three card trick of this propaganda to announce the appointment of the Windsor Inquiry and the MDBA appears to have been brow-beaten into pursuing yet another socio-economic study of the Murray-Darling Basin. The paranoia of a hung parliament or more like the story of the boy, the man, and the donkey demonstrating that you can't please all of the people all of the time.

I have a feeling of foreboding; a feeling that people that should be listening are not listening, not paying attention.  I have a feeling of foreboding that people who should know better are giving in to the baying crowds of the Coliseum.

I wonder, considering a Labor Govt is making decisions, how many seats are really at stake because of last week's hysteria.  The uproar came from New South Wales (OK an election there next year - but if they lose, as predicted, the pain is likely to be dished out by seats outside the Murray-Darling Basin) and, from my vantage point, appears to be stirred up by the NSW Irrigators.  I was at Shepparton and while the response was strong, it was not like the voices from New South Wales. The remaining Victorian community engagements are yet to come.  However, if they are like Shepparton, strong but courteous will be the order of the day.

Last night, the NSW Irrigators told the Twitterverse this:

This morning, the same folk are telling the same Twitterverse this:

And this from an organisation whose constituency tends to prefer the National Party, hate Trade Unions and their members, and pour scorn on people fighting to preserve the land and waterscapes of this country in good order for ensuing generations - including those who bring us food and fibre from the land.  

If this is the public voice, I wonder what they are saying sotto voce to their members, their local organisers, their rabble-rousers.  

This is why I think that there are times 

when agri-politics needs to be spelt aggro-politics!

So, Networkers, if you want to view or access all the information that the MDBA has on the internet at this time, please go here and scroll down.  What's available will probably satisfy, more than satisfy, the needs of most Networkers.  And then there is the variety of research that CSIRO claims to have carried out for the Murray-Darling Plan.  See the fact sheet embedded below:

So, Networkers, what is all that buzz we are hearing - Truth or Propaganda?

Related articles

• No action no option on Murray: Gillard (news.theage.com.au)
• Murray irrigators meet with minister (news.theage.com.au)
• Burke says water plan not near finality (news.theage.com.au)
• Labor commit to Murray-Darling plan (heraldsun.com.au)
• Murray plan ignored water cut warnings (theage.com.au)
• Don't wreck Murray plan: PM to Abbott (news.theage.com.au)
• Windsor admits Murray plan may fail (news.theage.com.au)
• Burke slammed for not meeting farmers (news.theage.com.au)
• Who crippled the Murray Darling Basin? (bravenewclimate.com)
• Basin bid to calm fury (theage.com.au)