Jennifer Marohasy

a forum for the discussion of issues concerning the natural environment

Archives for March 2007

Mars and Pluto Also Warming, But What About Venus?

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“Earth is heating up lately, but so are Mars, Pluto and other worlds in our solar system, leading some scientists to speculate that a change in the sun’s activity is the common thread linking all these baking events,” writes Ker Than in LiveScience.com.

In the same article entitled ‘Sun Blamed for Warming of Earth and Other Worlds’ Benny Peiser, Liverpool John Moores University, is quoted commenting that, “I think it is an intriguing coincidence that warming trends have been observed on a number of very diverse planetary bodies in our solar system. Perhaps this is just a fluke.”

Read the complete article, including the various different phenomena thought to be driving warming on the different planets, here:http://www.livescience.com/environment/070312_solarsys_warming.html

Ethanol Pushes Up Price of Tortillas?

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The price of tortillas in Mexico has tripled in recent months and Ruth Gidley in a piece entitled ‘As biofuels boom, will more go hungry’ is blaming ethanol.

With US government greenhouse policy and the price of oil favoring a shift to ethanol, the price of corn is climbing. The US produced 24percent more ethanol in 2006 than in 2005.

Corn is a main ingredient of tortillas as well as ethanol.

The Mexican government responded to rioting in January by capping the price of corn.

Is concern over global warming or the price of oil, or both, driving the demand for ethanol which is making food more expensive in places like Mexico?

The Defining Moral and Political Cause of Our Age (Global Warming) Dominates British Politics

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“A frantic race to play the winning ‘green card’ will take place in Westminster this week, as Britain’s three main political parties focus on the environment and global warming as the main battleground of the next general election,” according to Nigel Morris in an article ‘Politicians step up the battle to secure the green vote’ published yesterday in The Independent Online.

“Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Miliband and David Cameron are all placing unprecedented emphasis on the environment as they set out their plans to combat global warming.

“The manoeuvring over green issues suggests the political elite believes success or failure in the ballot box depends on their ability to convince a sceptical electorate they can tackle the biggest issue of the day.

Read the complete article here: http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2350048.ece

Romanian Farmers Get Premium for GM Canola?

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The campaign to lift the current ban on GM food crops, in place in most Australian states, appears to be gathering momentum with various pro-GM articles in the rural press over recent weeks.

One reason for the ban was a claim that Australian farmers woud get a premium for GM-free product, in particular GM-free canola.

I was interested to read University of Melbourne’s Dean of Land and Food Resources, Professor Rick Roush, quoted in the Border Mail (Aussie Farmers Need GM Crop Advantage, 24 February 2007) disputing the claim that Australian farmers get a premium for GM-free canola and stating:

“Ironically, there are some places where GM-crops are getting premiums, for example, in Romania farmers are being paid extra because their canola is weed-free.”

The article also included the following information under the heading ‘Fast Facts’:

“Since 1996, the global use of pesticides In GM crops was reduced by 224 million kilograms. In 2005 the C02 savings from reduced fuel use in GM crops was close to one billion kilograms. The increase in the amount of carbon stored in the soil due to reduction in tillage was more than eight billion kilograms. This combined reduction of C02 emissions in 2005 equates to removing almost four million cars from the road. Farmers earn higher incomes in every country where GM crops are grown.
Source: Global Impact of Biotech Crops which can be found at www.agbioforum.org”

And Professor Roush was reported saying he didn’t believe the bans would be lifted any time soon.

Good People Have Short Showers in Brisbane

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How many times a day do you shower? How long do you shower for?

I live in southeast Queensland, in beautiful Brisbane. The region is famous for its balmy weather, surf beaches, theme parks (including Sea World at the Gold Coast) and general great outdoor lifestyle which often revolves around water and water sports.

Indeed, most people would consider southeast Queensland water rich.

But from the 11th April, when level 5 water restrictions are likely to be introduced, Brisbanites will be expected to comply with a raft of new water saving measures including 4 minute showers.

I don’t have a problem with short showers, but I’m concerned that the government will soon be asking me to have just one shower a day.

Is there any other part of the world where government recommends how long and how often people should shower?

It is extraordinary that the situation has deteriorated to the extent that it has in southeast Queensland.

The Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie, keeps blaming the “water crisis” on climate change and the drought. But the real issue is population. Indeed the population of south east Queensland has doubled since the last dam was build in 1985. There has been a chronic under investment in water infrastructure at least in part because of environmental campaigning. Indeed the planned Wolfdene Dam was scrapped about 18 years ago because of concern over environmental impacts. Now government is trying to fast track dams, desalination and waste water recycling.