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Another day, another whinge from big coal
Another day, another rent-seeking whinge from the richest companies in the country. Yesterday the Australian Coal Association (ACA) released more ‘independent economic analysis’ that said just how hard done by they would be under a carbon tax. It was a pre-emptive strike before the much awaited Productivity Commission report, due today, that analyses the effective…
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Arctic Pod removed from Leiv Eiriksson oil rig
Last night our two activists were removed from the survival pod that had been suspended from the Leiv Eiriksson oil rig for four days. They were arrested just before midnight last night, local time, and taken to the Greenland capital of Nuuk. The Greenpeace ship Esperanza remains just outside the 500m exclusion zone, imposed by…
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Greenpeace stops deep water drilling in Arctic
The Australian captain of the Greenpeace ship Esperanza – Madeleine Habib – sent us this blog from the freezing waters of the Arctic where activists are taking action right now, preventing deep water drilling from the world’s most controversial oil rig – the 53,000 tonne Leiv Eiriksson – operated by the Cairn Energy. We’ve got…
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Pip on P.O.P (price on pollution)
My name’s Patricia Penn (or Pip, if you like) and I’ve been a Greenpeace volunteer for about 5 years. Perhaps you’ve seen the current “Australia Says Yes” TV commercials calling for urgent support of a carbon tax. I’m the ‘grannie’ retiree in that! I’m in my eighties now and an ex-freelance radio journalist. Now I…
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New coal power plant approved in Victoria
Friday afternoon syndrome* has been at full strength at Greenpeace over recent weeks. It has become the time of the week where all planned work should be just set aside so we can react to whatever appalling or bizarre decision is announced, usually by a government body. Last Friday it was the Victorian EPA keeping…
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Friday the 13th a horror day for solar
It’s Friday the 13th and the New South Wales Government has just managed to come out with an announcement that perfectly captures the date’s reputation for doom and misfortune. Today, the newly elected O’Farrell Government announced that it was immediately ending the main policy that had supported the solar panel industry for the past two…
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Nuclear Banks: No Thanks!
Exactly two months ago an earthquake and tsunami hit Japan. Together, they not only resulted in a huge natural disaster, but also triggered an unprecedented man made tragedy. The Fukushima nuclear power plant is still out of control, threatening thousands of people’s health and livelihoods. If making mistakes with nuclear energy is bad enough –…
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We must embrace a clean energy future
Between 2000 and 2002, I was part of a Greenpeace team that mounted a global campaign to stop the transport of mixed oxide (MOX) plutonium based nuclear fuel and radioactive waste across the world, and through the Pacific. Protests against various transports happened in the UK, France, South America, South Africa, in the Tasman Sea…
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3 billion reasons to be hopeful
We’re getting into the meaty end of Professor Ross Garnaut’s papers and presentations on carbon pricing. Today he released the seventh of eight papers, after which he will report to Prime Minister Gillard with recommendations about how to structure a carbon price policy. Today’s presentation was all about low-carbon technology innovation: basically, how we should…
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Shining a light on the ladies leading change
It’s International Women’s Day today and so from all of us at Greenpeace, a big shout out of acknowledgement goes to the millions of women who are working to make this world a better place for current and future generations. By Claire Parfitt and Julien Vincent Disparities in economic, social and cultural equality are still…