All articles
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The Locavore Journey: A Guide to Sustainable Living
Today, most people have one thing on their mind: where can I get what I’m looking for in the quickest way possible? From instant messaging to same day shipping, it would seem as though we’ve acquired a need for speed. So would slowing down in this fast paced world seem counter intuitive? Pumpkins, squash flowers,…
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WA ban the bag and leave NSW and Victoria looking foolish
Press release – 11 September, 2017September 12, 2017: Today’s move by the WA Premier to ban single-use bags highlights how out-of-touch the governments of NSW and Victoria are in being last to act despite overwhelming public support for action to reduce plastic waste.In announcing his state’s ban on single-use plastic bags today Mark McGowan told…
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The trash vortex
You could save a turtle’s life by using less plastic and making sure your garbage is properly managed. In the North Pacific is an area the size of Turkey of floating plastic rubbish. It is rubbish from the land that is polluting our oceans, choking and trapping millions of fish and animals. We can keep…
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Left behind on plastic: stalling states an embarrassment to voters
Press release – 5 September, 2017September 6, 2017: Queensland’s Parliament has shamed the Premiers of NSW and Victoria by taking decisive action to limit plastic waste by passing a ban on single-use bags and a drinks container refund scheme into law.The Waste Reduction and Recycling Amendment Bill was passed with bipartisan support last night. “With…
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Five planet-friendly alternatives to single-use plastic bags
A few weeks ago, Australia took a huge step forward in the fight to protect our oceans from plastic pollution. After enormous public pressure, community organising and hard-hitting campaigning, Australian supermarket giants, Coles and Woolworths both announced – on the same day – that they would ban single-use plastic bags in 2018. An amazing testament…
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It’s time for collective responsibility
A few weeks ago, mum called to tell me how horrified she had been to find out that plastic toothbrushes end up in landfill; and that she had bought bamboo brushes for the whole family. I promised to remember to take my new toothbrush on my next visit; and of course reassured her that, yes,…
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Greenpeace urges Minister Upton to ban the bag at Keep NSW Beautiful Congress
Press release – 1 August, 2017Ahead of Minister Upton’s speech at the Keep NSW Beautiful Congress today, Greenpeace sent a colourful message to the NSW Environment Minister to clean up the state’s act and finally ban the bag.Greenpeace parked a 5 metre high mobile billboard out the front of the Congress at the Kirribilli Club…
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Billions of bags: The cost of inaction on plastics in NSW and Victoria
Last Friday 28/07, state and territory environment ministers met in Melbourne. Plastic pollution was on the agenda – and there was a great deal of hope that NSW and Victoria would finally join the movement to ban single-use plastic bags. Greenpeace activists demonstrate outside the venue of a meeting which News South Wales State Premier,…
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The cost of NSW and Victoria’s lag on banning the bag – up to two billion more plastic bags a year
Press release – 30 July, 2017July 28, 2017: New analysis by Greenpeace released today shows that if NSW and Vic continue to fail to ‘ban the bag’, an estimated 1.6 – 2 billion more bags per year will be used in Australia, even with voluntary phase outs by supermarkets.The analysis comes as Environment Ministers from…
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Politicians left on the wrong side of history as Woolworths and Coles ban single-use plastic bags
Press release – 13 July, 2017July 14, 2017: Greenpeace Australia Pacific welcomes today’s decision by Woolworths and Coles to completely phase out single-use plastic bags over the next 12 months.The supermarket giants today announced they would no longer offer the lightweight plastic shopping bags across their chains of stores network in Australia. “This announcement by…