The Greening of Gavin

Three Hundred And Fifty

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Yes readers, 350 is the magic number so the majority of climatologists say.  That’s 350 parts per million (ppm) of CO2 equivalent that is the level we need to get back to so to have a chance to limit warming to just two degrees Celsius.

Do we have much of a change seeing that in parts of the globe we are already at 400ppm?  Well I hope so, or we better start thinking of climate adaptation and not climate change mitigation which is the less expensive of the two choices we have in front of us.

Personally, I don’t think all is lost.  Things have changed, at least in a few countries, but the overwhelming majority of the top polluting countries do not have any major plans to mitigate climate change and begin any meaningful action.

Can we make a difference?  Well, once again I hope so, but sometimes I just don’t know.  I would like to think that we are not complete idiots and will begin to lower global emissions, but looking around at the crazy political policies that even our own governments are making, I still think it is business as usual.

Let me highlight two extremely short-sighted political decisions that were made in the last few weeks.  In Victoria, our state government has reduced the state’s net solar feed-in tariff to 8 cents a kWh.  As the majority of residential properties are paying between 23 and 25 cents a kWh for every one they import, essentially they are getting ripped off royally.  It lets the electricity retailers buy it at 8 cents and lets them sell it instantly to your neighbour at the higher 25 cents, pocketing a profit of 17 cents a kWh for not even lifting a finger.  It makes justifying the capital outlay of solar PV difficult for the average bloke, and it certainly does not encourage the rapid uptake of renewable energy.  No sense of a fair go in this State.  I think other states in Australia have the same issue now as well.

The other crazy decision is the federal government’s back down from the negotiating table after their promise to buy and decommission a few large, heavy polluting coal fired power stations, and ramp up large scale renewables.  It was cowardice at the upper most level as far as I am concerned.  Reports are that they didn’t even put an offer on the table, just walked away.

Both decisions designed to line the pockets of the fossil fuel industry and keep things just as they are.  This stupidity does not give me much hope, and just makes me angry that our decision makers are so short sighted.

The founder of 350.org, Bill McKibben has it right you know.  He says we have a fight on our hands, and it is against the most profitable entities in the world which are the oil, gas and coal companies and their lackeys in the political system. (acknowledgement goes to Dawn for the link)


What do you think?  I do have lots of hope and believe that people will turn it around back to 350ppm, but my confidence often gets chipped away at. time and time again.  It is discouraging to say the least.

Please Close Down Dirty Coal Power Stations

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Some of you may have heard the news that once again some of our federal politicians have reneged on a promise, this once being an important step towards a clean energy future.

Here is what I received in my inbox from GetUp!

“Yesterday, Energy Minister Martin Ferguson announced that the Government has abandoned its commitment to shut down some of Australia’s dirtiest power plants.
The scheme, called Contract for Closure (CFC), was designed to close stations like the infamous Hazelwood brown coal plant, by paying out the commercial operators. Instead, the program’s been scrapped because coal-fired generators remain so profitable that they think their assets are worth more than what the government was willing to pay.

What’s particularly hard to swallow about the breakdown in negotiations is now the most emissions-intensive generators are free to continue polluting – and be paid for it, to the tune of $5.5 billion in taxpayer compensation. Hazelwood alone has already received $266 million to continue polluting.
Now, it’s being estimated that due to that compensation some of Australia’s biggest polluters are actually expected to profit from the carbon price; the exact opposite of what should have been an incentive to either transition to cleaner technologies, or close down. [1]
It means that owners of Australia’s most polluting generators are being propped up, at our expense, while they continue business as usual.”

Not being one to stand back and whinge about this turn of events without doing something about it, I sent some of our MPs a personal email.  I sent it to our Federal MPs Combet, Ferguson, and Swann being Ministers for Climate Change, Energy, and the Treasurer.

Dear Ministers, 

Please reconsider your decision to back away from the negotiations with some of Australia’s biggest polluting energy companies.

Failing to close these coal fired power stations will send a message to the world that Australians are not serious about mitigating climate change, and that we are not willing to replace dirty coal with clean, green renewable energy. 

Instead of propping up a 19th century electricity generation technology, lets embrace the 21st century and make our energy from the sun and wind. We have the means, and the know how, we just need the political will, because Australians all over the country are asking for these solutions. 

Please do the right thing and re-enter negotiations to close the deal and some of the dirtiest power plants in our great country.  Lets think of the legacy that we are leaving behind for our children and grandchildren.

Yours Sincerely, 

Gavin Webber

I know I am only but one voice, but I believe that if we do not each take an active part in voicing our dissatisfaction then nothing will change.

You can find the tool to send these three MPs your email at the GetUp! campaign site.  Please take the time to let them know your views on the matter.

Voiceless

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My chickens have no voice, but I know that they are happy because I treat them kindly and with respect.  I love my chickens, and everything they do in return for me.  They are well kept, have space to free-range amongst the garden beds (when empty), and they provide our family with entertainment and an abundance of healthy eggs!

I have been quiet on the subject of factory farmed animals for quite a while, and learnt a few facts yesterday at the Sustainable Living Festival, so it is time to break the silence.

Voiceless Australia have launched a campaign highlighting the conditions that factory farmed pigs and chickens are kept in around the country.  I support them 100%, and believe that we are way behind European Union standards for animal cruelty laws.  As Hugo Weaving (ambassador for Voiceless) says, “If I treated a dog the way pigs and chickens are treated on these farms, I’d likely be prosecuted”.

These animals are treated like objects, and without respect and dignity.  Having watched pigs as a kid on our dairy farm, it does not surprise me that it has been found that they have the intellect of a 3 year old human child, and as for chickens, they each have their own personality and social structure.

So pleased be warned that these two following TV ads may disturb some readers, but they are factual.  I personally don’t think they are hard hitting enough, but they certainly do get the point across.

 



Now I am not asking you to stop eating pork and chicken, but just take the time to think of where that cut of meat comes from when you buy it at the supermarket.  Most of all, by being aware of where our food comes from, we can make better choices, and advocate cruelty free products.  

So lets speak up so that we end these cruel factory farming practices in Australia, and indeed the world.