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BP's reckless conduct caused Deepwater Horizon oil spill, judge rules
Judge’s ruling that BP bears 67% of blame for Deepwater Horizon disaster could nearly quadruple amount of civil penalties
BP bears the majority of responsibility among the companies involved in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a federal judge ruled Thursday, citing the energy giant’s reckless conduct over the disaster in a ruling that exposes it to billions of dollars in penalties.
BP plc already has agreed to pay billions of dollars in criminal fines and compensation to people and businesses affected by the disaster, the worst-ever US oil spill. But US district Judge Carl Barbier’s ruling could nearly quadruple what the London-based company has to pay in civil fines for polluting the Gulf of Mexico during the 2010 spill.
Continue reading...Reserves and parks not enough to protect nature – David Attenborough
Broadcaster calls for radical new approach to conservation, urging people to use all spaces from gardens to roadside verges to help wildlife
Nature reserves and national parks are not enough to prevent a catastrophic decline in nature, David Attenborough has told politicians, business leaders and conservationists, saying that every space in Britain from suburban gardens to road verges must be used to help wildlife.
Britain’s leading commentator on wildlife called for a radical new approach to conservation which did not bemoan the past but embraced the changes brought by climate change and a rapidly growing human population.
Continue reading...Draft Emissions Reduction Fund methods released for public consultation
Draft Emissions Reduction Fund methods released for public consultation
Draft Wildlife Conservation Plan for Migratory Shorebirds
Draft Recovery Plan for the White-bellied and Orange-bellied Frogs (Geocrinia alba and Geocrinia vitellina)
Draft Recovery Plan for the Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens ecological community
Propane made with renewable process for the first time
Scientists modify E coli genes to produce gas that can power cars and heat homes
A gas which can power cars and heat homes has been made using a renewable process for the first time.
Propane, which makes up the bulk component of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), has previously only ever been produced from fossil fuels.
Continue reading...Polar bear DNA from footprints in Arctic snow reveal bloody killing of seal
First of its kind CSI-style technique to gather genetic material from animals could help track plight of endangered species
Trace DNA samples recovered from footprints in the Arctic snow have been used to reveal the bloody killing of a seal by a polar bear, which was joined by seagulls in devouring the corpse. It is the first time that genetic material from animals has been recovered from footprints, and the CSI-style technique is expected to prove a valuable tool in tracking the plight of endangered species. The method is cheaper, easier and crucially far less invasive than existing approaches which can involve capturing and anaesthetising wild animals.
A WWF expedition on Norway’s Svalbard islands high in the Arctic circle collected the snow in 10 footprints from one set of tracks made by a female polar bear. In the laboratory, the snow was melted and then filtered to collect skin cells from the tracks. The DNA in the cells was multiplied, allowing the identification of the animals and the reconstruction of the grisly scene.
Continue reading...Two secret funders of Nigel Lawson’s climate sceptic organisation revealed
Neil Record and Nigel Vinson confirm their donations, and are both linked to thinktank that took funds from oil companies
Two secret funders of Nigel Lawson’s climate sceptic organisation have been revealed. This is the first time anyone financing the group has confirmed their contributions. Both are linked to a free-market thinktank, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), which has admitted taking funding from fossil fuel companies and has also argued against climate change mitigation.
Lord Lawson has steadfastly refused to name the funders of the Global Warming Policy Foundation since its inception in 2009, stating only that none have significant fossil fuel interests. The GWPF has become the most prominent climate sceptic group in the UK, but critics of the GWPF argue that funders’ names should be made public in the interest of transparency.
Continue reading...Ross Sea Fishery in the CCAMLR Region
Edward-Wakool receives Commonwealth water
Native fish to benefit from environmental water in Lachlan valley
Seabird Threat Abatement Plan 2014
Julian Rutt - The Eco build Experience
Show and Tell - 27 Aug 2014
Julian Rutt’s interest in sustainability in architecture sparked while at university and grew while travelling after finishing his studies. Having spent several years working in London, on returning to Adelaide Julian began getting involved in the professional body, the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) through activity in the Sustainable Built Environment committee and the National Sustainability Committee in order to help sway sustainability policy, which later contributed to him receiving the New Architects & Graduates Award (now known as the Emerging Architect Prize). After 10 years back working for high profile practices on a wide range of commercial and residential projects, Julian began Lumen (Studio), a multi-disciplinary practice with sustainability as a key design driver. His own home was used as a testing ground for numerous sustainable design techniques and theories and recently won a Commendation for Sustainable Architecture at the AIA State Chapter awards and the Adelaide Review People’s Choice Award for new housing.
Julian also provides sustainability consulting for new projects as well as existing home and building retro-fits, has consulted to local government in the area of sustainability interacting with development plans, is a Design Review Panel member with the Office of Design and Architecture SA, has been juror and jury chair for the AIA awards, an expert witness in the ERD court and is a regular tutor/lecturer at UniSA and Adelaide University schools of architecture.
Cast: AdelaideSBN
Review of the Renewable Energy Target
Terry Dolman - The Eco Building Experience
Spotlight Event - 28 August 2014
Terry Dolman is a carpenter by trade and is currently a lecturer at TAFE SA's School of Building, Design and Drafting. He lectures in both sustainability and materials as well as delivers the Certificate IV in NatHERS. He has had interest in the environment since he was 13, after reading about toxic waste dumps in the USA.
Terry is also a keen gardener which led to an interest in permaculture. After meeting a likeminded person, he purchased an acre of land in the Barossa to grow fruit and veg. He is very passionate about social justice, which led him to work in Timor Leste over 4 years, setting up a training program for young people to help get employment which is still running.
All of his life experiences has lead to his current building project of his home in Angaston, SA.
Cast: AdelaideSBN
Grey Nurse Shark (Carcharias taurus) Recovery Plan
SENG National Newsletter - August 2014
Kangaroo Island Narrow-leaved Mallee (Eucalyptus cneorifolia) Woodland
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