A coalition of Newcastle business groups has launched a new campaign called “fix our city”.
Zane Alcorn
Sydney hip hop act the Herd, famous for politically conscious songs like “77%” and “Burn Down the Parliament”, has gone on strike, refusing to play at a festival sponsored by the coal industry.Sydney hip hop act the Herd, famous for politically conscious songs like "77%" and "Burn Down the Parliament", has gone on strike, refusing to play at a festival sponsored by the coal industry.
Fifty people marched from Newcastle Trades Hall to state MP Jodi McKay’s office on August 28, protesting against the proposed privatisation of the Wallsend aged care facility. The rally was organised by the NSW Nurses Association. NNA members were joined by members of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and Maritime Union of Australia Veterans Association.
With climate emergency rallies on June 13 demanding 100% renewables by 2020, its important to dispel some myths about alternative energy sources such as wind power.
On May 17, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced a new solar flagships initiative. The government will invest $1.4 billion in four solar electric generating systems, which will have a combined output of 1000 megawatts. Rudd claims it will be the worlds biggest solar energy project.
We all know about the government and big businesss so-called solutions to the climate change crisis: clean coal, carbon trading schemes, etc. But what are some real world solutions to the climate crisis and what real action is being taken?
NEWCASTLE The NSW ALP and property developers are yet again pushing to cut the Newcastle train line, this time proposing rail services end at Wickham and be replaced by buses.
On May 21 University of Newcastle cleaners staged a protest at the twin entrances to the campus. They demanded that big budget cuts be reversed and the prior cleaning regime and working hours be restored.
On June 13, rallies around Australia will launch a new grassroots climate campaign for 100% renewable energy by 2020.
Climate Wars
By Gwynne Dyer
Scribe Publications, 2008
272 pages, $32.95
By Gwynne Dyer
Scribe Publications, 2008
272 pages, $32.95
More than 500 people protested coal mining and exports currently underway. Newcastle Harbour is already the world’s biggest coal port.
Green Left Weeklys Zane Alcorn spoke to Sally Corbett, chairperson of the No Tillegra Dam group, which is seeking to have Hunter Water reverse their 2006 decision to build a dam comparable in size to Sydney Harbour near Dungog, about 90km out of Newcastle.
The Australian Coal Association (ACA) has launched a new website () and advertising campaign aimed at convincing us that coal producers are not filthy carbon merchants profiting from the most emissions-intensive fossil fuel available, but can be modernised and cleaned up using low-emissions coal technology.
After walking in to Bayswater power station near Singleton, I was one of about 25 people who took part in a protest at one of Australias biggest CO2 emitters on November 1.
The Newcastle ALP branch effectively delivered Newcastle Council to the right in the September 13 elections, by preferencing Aaron Buman’s team of “razor gang” independents instead of the Greens.
The export of coal is an important issue for climate campaigners to consider. Australia exports more carbon dioxide in the form of coal than its entire domestic emissions of the gas.
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