So I just read this …
… and now I feel like some kind of hapless fool scurrying around the world looking for renewable energy solutions when I live in a country with a government that clearly, unashamedly doesn’t look for clean solutions at all.
In approving a coal terminal on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef – and dredging and dumping soil in the reef – as well as a coal seam gas project on a nearby island, Environment Minister Greg Hunt has clearly shown that the federal government will stop at nothing to secure big business.
Despite the obvious environmental benefits of renewable energy, my government (I say my loosely because I sure as hell didn’t vote for Tony Abbott) fails to see that environmental protectionism, particularly in the area of renewable energy, is the answer when it comes to saving AND making money. Not only does clean energy make good environmental sense, the industry creates three times as many jobs as the fossil fuel industry.
Right now I am in Germany where for years this right-wing government has made the country into a world leader for environmental policy and clean energy. And the country is nestled among other countries who are working towards stringent targets and carbon neutrality, namely Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Even across the world Columbia, and even Cuba, are making waves in being green. What are we doing? Removing old growth forests from the world heritage list, failing to attend the UN Climate Convention and repealing our carbon tax. All while aiming for a reduction of 5 per cent by 2020. 5 per cent. FIVE per cent?????? All the money in the pockets of Abbott, Rinehart and Murdoch won’t save them from the cataclysmic events that are scheduled once we hit a one-degree rise, let alone, two, three or four.
I feel like I am in some kind of a state of shock. I have never felt more powerless or ashamed. How does one solve such a problem when these cowboys are involved? I am at a loss. Research feels fruitless when the powers that be are so intent of destroying everything we are trying to protect.
Please sign this petition …
https://www.greenpeace.org.au/action/?cid=58&src=FB1
Have just rejigged my trip and am now heading to Germany a week earlier than planned. Someone put me on to Josef Pesch and then I found this video completely by accident. He’s the subject of what is a simple yet informative 5 min video. He’s a straight shooter and I can’t wait to meet him.
I’ve got interviews lined up with industry professionals, media folk, council energy experts, citizens’ groups and residents. I’m so excited. I fly out of New York on Monday afternoon – first interview is Tuesday night!
The climate crisis of the 21st century has been caused largely by just 90 companies, which between them produced nearly two-thirds of the greenhouse gas emissions generated since the dawning of the industrial age, new research suggests.
It’s time to write my first proper post and already I’m feeling the weight of so much information. After just a week on the road I’ve come to realise that Colorado, Washington and Oregon are US states that are absolute hot-beds when it comes to community renewable energy projects, idea generation and policy making. Last Friday I was fortunate to attend a clean energy conference in Seattle and make contact with organisations and individuals who really are helping turn the tide when it comes to implementation and legislative change. There were several panels throughout the day and each panel featured national leaders in innovation. It really was something to behold.
I was lucky to be sitting at the same table as the day’s keynote speaker Ron Binz who was nominated by President Barrack Obama to be chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission but was forced to withdraw after being white-anted by oil companies who declared he was biased toward clean energy. He lost a senate committee vote by one and withdrew his nomination. Mr Binz and I chatted candidly over lunch and he said he was still reeling from the disappointment in October. “It’s still very raw,” he said. I’ll have a full story with Mr Binz soon.
The most notable thing about the conference was being exposed to a range of organisations all working toward a clean energy future. Regulation is one of the biggest hurdles for policy makers and community co-operatives. Next week I will be interviewing regulators, policy writers and community organisers in Portland and Seattle. The following week I’m heading to New York state and interviewing one of the founders of Solarize – a community group buying project that is turning up in states all over the country. I’m rounding out the US component of my trip by interviewing Erin Schrode in NYC, one of the most inspiring young environmentalists I’ve come across.
Oh and one last thing. I interviewed a community solar company in Boulder, Colorado, and the day I landed there was a citizen ballot when residents voted for the City of Boulder to start buying back the grid for an electricity utility. Citizens also voted to ban fracking in three of the four major cities in Colorado – Boulder included. I sat down with one of the founders of Frack Free Colorado to get some insight into community activism to help the anti-fracking movement at home.
Here is some news …
http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/boulder-votes-to-buy-back-the-grid-to-accelerate-renewables-16411
Stay tuned – I’ll get some stories up today hopefully.
Geelong Advertiser
October 28, 2013. Page 15.
