A radically new Australian design called the Eco Whisper Turbine has been developed with increased efficiency and reduced noise in mind. Rated at a 20kW capacity, the turbine is 23 metres high with 30 blades extending out from a 6.5 metre radius from the hub.
The IPA’s Tim Wilson was allowed to dominate on a Q&A panel including the Green’s Adam Bandt, shaming the Humanities & Social Sciences department of Melbourne relative to the intellectual standards properly required of the Tertiary sector.
The debate over water reform has received less scrutiny of late with the drought broken in much of the country and national attention turning to matters such as the carbon tax debate, the bankrupted Malaysian refugee solution and of course the coverage of the footy finals.
US hegemony, hypocrisy, and capitalist imperialism in the Middle East finally came under fire last night on the ABC's Q&A.
A key report released yesterday by the Australian Government’s Climate Commission has served a grim warning to coastal regions of Western Australia about the effects of climate change.
The current famine in southern Somalia should have come as no surprise. Aid agencies have been warning of the consequences of the worst drought to hit East Africa in thirty years. Republished from The Conversation.
Last Friday the Australian Government ratified three International Labour Organisation Conventions. This is a significant and welcome development as all three conventions provide important safeguards for workers’ rights.
Despite being two years away from an official federal election, the government’s knife edge majority has seen us move to an apparent permanent election footing. However while hard hat-wearing, baby kissing politicians are becoming more visible on our news screens, quality policy discussions on vital infrastructure issues appear to have taken a permanent back...
The following essay (first published in Tristan's blog Left Focus) is a response to Australian Treasurer, Wayne Swan - who has recently written a Fabian Essay - whose obvious significance concerns the coming Australian Federal Budget for 2011-12.
The recently appointed panel to determine how grassroots aid funding will be spent in New Zealand is being criticised as poorly qualified and politically driven.
There is, however, another feasible nuclear fuel that has been studied in prototype reactors but never used commercially: uranium-233 (U233), which is derived from naturally occurring thorium.
In a cynical yet unsurprising move, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has decided that the time is right to play the ‘crackdown on welfare recipients’ card.
A report from Roy Morgan Research recently pointed out that Australian society has become more individualistic and “less available”.
Despite having ironed out some significant flaws of late, it seems that the PM's leadership is in terminal decline.
As part of theangle.org's "Independent Voices" series for the NSW election, we bring you a question and answer session with Janet Mays, Independent Candidate for the Blue Mountains. Passionate about the community, preserving the environment and healthcare, Janet is well-known as the founder of Blue Mountains HEAL (Hospital Equity & Access Lobby).
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally has called Pauline Hanson "a racist" after the announcement of the controversial former One Nation leader's decision to contest a seat in the NSW Upper House.
Victoria’s alcohol and drugs treatment services are failing to keep pace with the growing substance abuse epidemic after a decade of neglect, a report released by the auditor-general has revealed.
The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) has said uneven indexation increases to pensions aimed at meeting increases in the cost of living will see more than 300,000 unemployed slip further into poverty.
By Alex Schlotzer: Social media is the new political battle ground. We saw it during the federal election and the recent Victorian state election. Political parties around the world have quickly jumped on the band-wagon, especially after Obama’s overwhelming success using it during his election campaign. However with its meteoric growth in use and...
A month since the Victorian election,the dust has settled and the victorious Liberal/National Coalition led by Ted Baillieu has won control of both houses. Time enough to consider in more depth the outcomes and the rhetoric spun by the parties and players to-date.
The NSW Government's decision to end its support for the Hunter's unpopular Tillegra dam has been described as a major victory for the community by the NSW Greens.
The second part of a series on the Victorian election. This article originally appeared in Tristran's blog Left Focus.
A major study has found the Asian region, along with that of the Middle East and North Africa, as being most at risk from water stress. The study found key Asian economies of China, India as also being vulnerable to water shortages.
In this the first of a two-part series, theangle.org publishes a summary of Greens policies in the upcoming Victorian state election. This article was originally published at Left Focus.
By Rich Bowden: The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has announced VicSuper as the winner of its annual Sustainability Reporting Awards, held in Sydney yesterday. The event recognises “…excellence in environmental, social and sustainability financial reporting,” according to a ACCA statement released to coincide with the awards. It said that nominated companies are judged, “…on...
Theangle.org's Rich Bowden spoke to Bruce Robinson, Convenor for ASPO-Australia (Australian Association for the Study of Peak Oil) about the threat of oil shortages to the country, the measures that need to be taken to offset such a crisis and the hopes for renewable energy.
An OECD report has said Indonesia must reform its government spending to better achieve important Millennium Development Goals such as improvements in sanitation and water supply.
Proposed LNG development and dredging around Gladstone, in Queensland, would be disastrous for the region's marine life, including putting at risk of extinction Australia’s only native dolphin – the rare snubfin dolphin.
The Australian Human Rights Commission today released its 2010 Christmas Island immigration detention report which recommends an end to mandatory detention and offshore processing on the islands.
The NSW Greens and the Labor state government have announced the result of negotiations to reform election funding and donations reform package in NSW.
The Philippines-based Manila Water Corp's purchase of Australian water company United Utilities Australia (UUA) will result in closer co-operation in water management and more sharing of knowledge between the two nations, according to Australian Ambassador Rod Smith.
By Rich Bowden: The Australian government-owned science organisation CSIRO has described the future of solar technology in the country as having a “global impact” after announcing the installation of 450 solar mirrors, or heliostats. CSIRO will begin the rollout for Australia’s largest solar-thermal tower system at the CSIRO National Solar Energy Centre in Newcastle,...
A study has found population increase to be four times more important than the effects of climate change on water availability.
By Rich Bowden: The Pacific nation of Fiji’s water crisis continues this week with the water supply of a small island reaching critical levels, according to local reports. The Fiji Times has reported that over 100 families on Druadrua Island, off Vanua Levu, the second largest island of the country, have been identified by...
The banning of the toxic chemical endosulfan has been welcomed by the Greens though action on the pesticide should have occurred much earlier, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
Scientists in California have reported a significant increase in freshwater flow into the world’s oceans per year claiming it to be a result of more extreme and frequent storms caused by the shift in the world’s weather patterns.
Fijian authorities are blaming the El Nino weather pattern for the water crisis that has emerged in the country's Western Division.
Aid agency Oxfam Australia yesterday welcomed Australian foreign minister Kevin Rudd's proposal to give 0.15 per cent of Australia’s gross national income to least developed countries, saying the move would benefit "the poorest of the poor."
Kevin Rennie, writing in Global Voices, finds the distraction of the footy finals season and the negotiations over the first federal hung parliament in Australia in seventy years as the reason the mainstream media in the country has delivered scant attention to the real reasons behind the UN Millennium Development Goals Summit in New...
NSW Greens MP John Kaye has claimed Premier Kristina Keneally has failed in her attempt to implement meaningful campaign funding reform, describing the premier's announcement yesterday as a "lost opportunity."
World Water Week attendees in Stockholm, Sweden have heard that increased urbanisation is hampering global attempts to reach overall UN goals on increasing the number of people with access to safe drinking water.
BHP Billiton chief Marius Kloppers has called on the Gillard Government to introduce a tax on carbon ahead of international agreements to protect Australia's economic interests.
Indonesian companies tend to avoid directing their corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to water and sanitation projects, preferring instead to provide finance for more short term programs, a recent Indonesian conference has heard.
In the short time that the formal agreement for the Labor Party to form a minority government has been in existence, the Liberal-led Coalition has acted more like a pack of shrill sore losers than a 'stable' alternative government.
Newly installed Minister for Climate Change, Greg Combet, has said one of his main priorities will be to work towards a price on carbon.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon addressed a UN health conference in Melbourne by videolink which concluded yesterday saying countries were falling short of some of their health goals with women's and children's health the main focus.
A UN human rights committee has said discrimination against Aborigines is "embedded" in Australian society, criticising what it describes as the unacceptable level of social disadvantage experienced by Indigenous people in the country.
While water recycling and desalination have both been touted as showing the way forward on water reuse, and helping to offset a “peak water” scenario, experts have noted significant drawbacks to both, including the amount of energy needed to power wastewater recycling and desalination plants.
NSW Greens MP Dr John Kaye has warned that probable domination of the state's Upper House by conservatives at the next election will do nothing to fix the state's problems.
Left Focus's Tristan Ewins gives us his perspective of the ongoing drama of Election 2010 and what went wrong for Labor.
While the concept of peak water as an overarching term for the increased shortage of water supplies in Asia remains contentious, it has served to focus attention on the increasing water crisis facing many countries
By Viscount Doyle of Rabbit Flat: (August 22 2010, on the election of a hung parliament) In this din and bitter bilge Dustily, dankly Fine spots of smoke dust coldly strolling through sunlight beam The Government is fallen No replacement has risen to take its place The cartoon narrative of race and victor is...
Melbourne youth workers are calling on the Brumby government to release a long-overdue policy framework that would bolster supports for vulnerable young people
By “On the Ground in Melbourne” As expected in one of the closest races in the country, the last week has been a tornado of activity. Although there have been reports of tense moments reported at pre-polling stations, these haven’t been overly serious but reflect the intensity with which the Greens and the ALP...
Greens' candidate for the seat of Macquarie Carmel McCallum talks to theangle's Rich Bowden about her chances of victory in the western Sydney/Blue Mountains seat, the issues that most concern voters and her opinion of the strength of the asylum seeker issue.
As we approach polling day on Saturday 21st August, one of the most watched seats will be the bellwether seat of Eden-Monaro. However with 48 hours of campaigning still to go, have the Liberals conceded the iconic seat?
One of the key battles in the country as we approach the finish line in Election 2010 is Lindsay Tanner's old seat of Melbourne where the Greens and Labor are battling it out.
An integrated water management system, though essential to protect developing nations facing climate change, is but one part of a wider “climate proofing” system, a report released by the UK-based sustainable development NGO Forum for the Future has said.
In this article Tristan Ewins of Left Focus examines some issues from a progressive perspective that could be crucial for Australians still to decide their vote for the August 21 2010 Australian Federal Election.
The last week of campaigning for the knife-edge seat of Melbourne has been a fairly uneventful affair as campaigns go, especially given how much is riding on this seat for the ALP and the Greens.
Greens' communications spokesperson, Senator Scott Ludlam, has launched a more comprehensive approach to cyber safety, as an alternative to the Government's contentious internet filter.
An Australian study has found family financial pressures increase the likelihood of physical abuse on women.
John Passant makes the case for the nationalisation of the Commonwealth Bank in his blog En Passant
Lee Rhiannon, former NSW Upper House member, and now Federal Senate candidate for NSW speaks with theangle.org's Rich Bowden on accountability for corporate donations to political parties, how the Greens' policies look to take advantage of a green economy and outlines what she sees as voter frustration over the Government's inability to stand up...
While water activists and environmentalists have hailed the recent decision by the UN General Assembly to grant access to safe water and adequate sanitation as a human right, Australia and New Zealand followed the United States, Canada and the UK in abstaining from the vote.
By Rich Bowden: Rich Bowden talks to Major-General Michael Keating, chair of the Australian Republican Movement (ARM), about the growing support amongst Australians for a republic, how the ARM is raising the profile of the debate and the Major-General’s personal reasons for supporting an Australian Head of State. Rich Bowden: The republic debate appears to...
As polls continue to show Opposition Leader Tony Abbott in with a real chance of becoming prime minister later this month, ACTU Media Co-ordinator comments on the lack of scrutiny of the volatile leader from the media and lists the questions the media should be asking.
By “On The Ground in Melbourne” There has been a marked difference in the pace of the campaigns being waged by the Greens’ Adam Bandt and Labor’s Cath Bowtell here in the marginal seat of Melbourne. While both have increased their activity in the lead up to polling day, the Greens’ campaign is moving...
An opinion poll carried out by Auspoll on behalf of the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and WWF-Australia has found overwhelming support for more government spending on the environment, according to a WWF media release.
As part of a continuing series on the issues facing voters in selected marginal seats, theangle's Rich Bowden talks to Amy Bell, Independent candidate for the NSW seat of Macquarie.
By Rich Bowden: As part of our Election 2010 coverage of the country’s marginal seats, we talk to Suzie Wright, Greens candidate for the seat of Lindsay in outer western Sydney. Suzie tells us of the issues facing voters, the importance of Greens’ preferences and her take on the alleged “dog whistle” tactics employed...
One of the key marginals in the federal election 2010 is the Victorian seat of Melbourne. Our political correspondent reviews the candidates' performances in the battle between the Greens and Labor and finds the situation on the ground is not being clearly reflected in the mainstream media.
Peak hour commuters arriving at Melbourne’s Flinders Street, Sydney’s Martin Place and Brisbane’s Roma Street railway stations last week could not avoid the WorkChoices: whatever the name, never again campaign.
NSW Senate candidate Cheryl Kernot has revealed she and her running mate have lodged a split preference ticket similar to that which used to be practiced by the Australian Democrats.
One of the more intriguing aspects of the 2010 election has been the rise of SenatorOnline, a direct representation model which aims to give Australians the opportunity to directly influence Parliamentary votes through the Internet.
The announcement yesterday by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott that a Coalition Government would end the current protection policy of Australia's waters highlights a lack of leadership over marine parks, according to environment group WWF-Australia.
As part of our coverage of the key seats that will decide the 2010 federal election, our reporter gives us an overview of the events and outcome in the famous bellwether seat of Eden-Monaro on the NSW South Coast.
The federal election 2010 is now well and truly underway and early observations suggest the mainstream media are taking rather a scattergun approach to the campaign.
Key environmental groups have greeted Prime Minister Julia Gillard announcement of a "citizen's assembly" on climate change a cool response.
An American water distributor company believes it can resolve many of the world's water shortages by shipping water from where it is plentiful, to destinations in Asia and the Middle East via an Indian distribution point.
Political commentator John Passant muses on the efforts to bury WorkChoices and concludes it is very much alive in Labor's Fair Work Act.
A Galaxy poll conducted for WWF-Australia has shown support for an emissions trading scheme continue to grow in the Queensland marginal seats of Brisbane, Bowman, Petrie and Ryan.
The release of a list containing more than 80 of Australia's most dangerous pesticides, many of which are banned overseas, has raised questions of the effectiveness of Australia's regulatory system.
The treatment of deposed Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is set to play a major role in the federal election campaign as early polls continue to echo voter disquiet over the manner of his ousting.
The Philippines-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) $US100 million loan to China’s Wuhan Province to help finance the Wuhan Urban Environmental Improvement Project is expected to act as a template for the country and the region, bank officials have said.
Melbourne-based writer, blogger and activist Kevin Rennie originally wrote this article on an East Timor solution for refugees for an international audience as part of the European Journalism Centre's Th!nk3 blogging project. We reprint it here with his kind permission.
ADB Assistant Chief Economist Juzhong Zhuang, editor of a new book on inequality and inclusive growth in Asia, says rising growth rates in Asia have masked rising inequality, leading to two faces of Asia - one shining and the other suffering.
MP3 and transcript of Julia Gillard's controversial 'Moving Forward' speech at the Lowy Institute yesterday is available from the institute's website here. Stay tuned at theangle.org for more discussion of the asylum seeker policies proposed by all parties in the lead up to the next federal election.
A study conducted by the University of Melbourne has found professional women with young families are leaving the workforce at an alarming rate.
Refugee advocates have expressed concern over Prime Minister Julia Gillard's tough new approach to asylum seekers as the country prepares for a federal election as early as August.
Can't say that Prime Minister Gillard's almost immediate accommodation with the mining executives wasn't expected. But spare a thought for former PM Kevin Rudd as he contemplates the reasons for his removal by the Labor party,
A conference focusing on countries' adaptability to climate change has been described as a "turning point" for climate change science.
The Australian Government has signalled its intention to assist the development of its near neighbours' water infrastructure funding a multi-million dollar program to improve people's access to an adequate water supply and sanitation facilities.
He hadn't contested the leadership spill called by former deputy Julia Gillard, allegedly because the numbers were so embarrasingly against the former PM that to contest would have been foolhardy
In a conference with ramifications in the Asia Pacific region, USAID administrator Rajiv Shah has called on the UN's World Food Program to show leadership in the global battle against hunger.
With the mainstream news headlines predicting the beginning of the end for Kevin Rudd, theangle's Kevin Rennie details why reports of the prime minister's political death are greatly exaggerated.
WWF Australia has called on the country's pesticide regulator to follow the lead of the United States and ban the controversial toxic pesticide endosulfan.
