Jennifer Marohasy

a forum for the discussion of issues concerning the natural environment

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Reject ‘Steve Irwin’: Whalers Plea to Australian Government

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The Japan Whaling Association (JWA) today called on the Australian and New Zealand governments to close their ports to a Dutch vessel committing criminal acts in the Antarctic.

The President of the JWA, Mr Keiichi Nakajima, said the Dutch vessel committing terror on the Antarctic high seas is running low on fuel and is apparently heading to either New Zealand or Australia to refuel.

“The request for port entry from the Sea Shepherd-Animal Planet crew on board the Dutch vessel must be rejected,” he said, “otherwise these countries will be complicit in any further attacks.”

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Measuring the Financial Crisis in Terms of Reduced Carbon Emissions

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THERE is a lot less “stuff” being produced in the US and China as a consequence of the financial crisis. 

According to Joe Kishore writing at The World Socialist Website:

“Manufacturing in the US is collapsing, with a key index falling to its lowest level in 20 years on Friday. Other figures released yesterday show a downturn in production throughout the world.

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Environmentalism Needs to be Tolerant of Scepticism: Freeman Dyson

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“THERE is a worldwide secular religion which we may call environmentalism, holding that we are stewards of the earth, that despoiling the planet with waste products of our luxurious living is a sin, and that the path of righteousness is to live as frugally as possible. The ethics of environmentalism are being taught to children in kindergartens, schools, and colleges all over the world.

“Environmentalism has replaced socialism as the leading secular religion. And the ethics of environmentalism are fundamentally sound. Scientists and economists can agree with Buddhist monks and Christian activists that ruthless destruction of natural habitats is evil and careful preservation of birds and butterflies is good. The worldwide community of environmentalists—most of whom are not scientists—holds the moral high ground, and is guiding human societies toward a hopeful future. Environmentalism, as a religion of hope and respect for nature, is here to stay. This is a religion that we can all share, whether or not we believe that global warming is harmful.

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Coal Ash Disaster in Tennessee

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A dam wall burst releasing more than a billion gallons of coal ash in East Tennessee just before Christmas on December 22.    The gray sludge apparently now covers over 300 acres and has destroyed three homes.   Interestingly the spill has been blamed on cold weather and above-normal rains (see MSNBC news report).    

In the US and Australia coal ash, also known as fly ash, is captured at power stations and generally stored as a sludge while in many parts of the developing world it escapes through the chimney and contributes significantly to air pollution.   [Read more…] about Coal Ash Disaster in Tennessee