Paper or Plastic? Pledge to Say, "No Thanks!"‏

What's your answer to "paper or plastic?" How about, "No thanks!"
If every American consumer brought their own reusable bags when shopping, we'll cut more than a billion pounds of CO2 this month - that's the equivalent of taking 1.3 million cars off the road!
Pledge to "Bring Your Own Bag" this month and make a big impact with a simple action!
When you bring you own reusable bag to the store, you:
Save wildlife: Hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, birds, whales, and other marine mammals die every year from eating plastic bags mistaken for food.
Save trees: It takes 14 million trees to make all of the paper bags the U.S. uses in one year.
Reduce waste: An estimated 4 billion plastic bags end up as litter each year globally - enough to circle the earth 63 times tied end to end!
Reduce our dependence on oil: About 12 million barrels of oil are required to make the 100 billion plastic shopping bags used in the U.S. each year.
Pledge today to "Bring Your Own Bag" and pass the word along. You could win a $5000 Live, Learn, and Experience Climate Change Prize from Brighter Planet, which includes a commuter bike and a trip for two to gorgeous (but rapidly melting) Glacier National Park, or one of 27 other great prizes.
Thanks for making a difference today!

Virtual global march on Bali

We're using the internet to mount a "virtual global march" on Bali - and anyone can join in. The world's delegates are gathering there from 3-14 December to decide: will they take decisive action on climate change, or ramble and delay?It's up to us to make sure they hear a massive global outcry. This Saturday, December 8, a wave of protests and marches will sweep the globe--we can make sure it crests at the summit doorstep. Just join the virtual march below: Avaaz members in Bali will carry your flag and a sign with the number of people who've signed from your country. Add your name to the message below, and become a part of the virtual march for climate action now: http://www.avaaz.org/en/virtual_march_bali/8.php?cl=40909476&signup=1

Dramatic pictures: emergency stop for climate change‏

Just a few hours ago, Greenpeace activists climbed aboard the coal conveyor and hit the safety switches, taking action to shut down the Munmorah coal-fired power station on the NSW Central Coast, the oldest in the state. As you read this email, our activists are still there. They've already prevented hundreds of tonnes of dangerous climate pollution and are receiving national media attention.View videos and live pictures of our activists on the scene at the coal power plant, and sign our urgent petition.We realise this sounds dramatic, even radical. Yet, drastic action to reduce emissions is what the world's scientists are calling for to avoid the worst impacts of temperature rises. The fact is coal is killing our climate, and left unchecked will cause a social and economic disaster for Australia. Meanwhile, the climate policies both major parties are taking to next week's election will actually see emissions increase.
Click here to sign Greenpeace's major new petition addressed directly to our next Prime Minister - of whichever party. Tell him we're tired of in-action, we're not going to be confused by false solutions, and we're very concerned for our children's future.
There is no escaping it. Stopping climate change will mean drastic reductions in climate pollution, and that means closing down coal-fired power stations. Munmorah, one of the oldest and dirtiest in Australia, would be a great place to start.
The total annual output of Munmorah could be replaced if half the households in NSW switched to solar hot water. And a recently announced wind farm near Broken Hill would produce twice as much electricity as Mumorah - but it may never be built if our politicians do not implement policies promoting renewable energy over dirty coal.Australians are innovators and rise to a challenge - and there is no need to admit defeat.
Help us close Munmorah, and all Australia's coal plants by joining our petition - to be delivered soon. Our activists today at Munmorah are in regular contact and every person who signs their name adds strength to our joint message.
Thanks for taking action, please consider forwarding this call to your friends,
Greenpeace
PS: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports this week, and Greenpeace is in Canberra providing analysis for journalists and policy-makers. Our climate guru, scientist Melanie Fitzpatrick, explains the latest IPCC report on our blog.

Beautiful video

World to US Congress: act now on climate‏

The United States has long been the world's most powerful opponent of progress on climate change. But next week, that could begin to change. US activists are organizing a massive outcry against President Bush's position--and on Monday, thousands of youth leaders will converge in Washington to lobby their members of Congress on climate policy.The youth leaders have asked for messages from around the world about the climate crisis--and have promised to hand-deliver them to Senators and members of Congress.The timing is on the mark: in less than a month, UN negotiations begin on successor to the Kyoto Protocol. A strong worldwide message now could stiffen the nerve of US leaders to support decisive action. Send your message to the US Congress by clicking below:http://www.avaaz.org/en/congress_climate_message/5.php/?cl=35061007The United States, with just 5% of the world's population, emits 25% of all greenhouse gases. What's more, the US government has undermined the wider international community's ability to act, giving cover to those, such as Australia's John Howard, who refuse to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. But the next US president, who will be elected this coming year, is likely to be very different from Bush. And already, the US Congress is showing a willingness to change. This progress has been driven from below--by a surging movement to change the United States' role in the climate crisis.Let's show the young people at the forefront of this movement that the world stands with them. Avaaz will gather the messages this Sunday to make sure they're in the youth leaders' hands on Monday morning. The most effective messages are personal, sincere, and respectful. Click below to tell US leaders why their climate policy should change : http://www.avaaz.org/en/congress_climate_message/5.php/?cl=35061007Throughout this year, we've built momentum for a breakthrough--from the G8 in Germany to APEC in Australia, we've worked together to bring hundreds of thousands of citizen voices into the climate debate. If the United States steps up, the UN summit in Bali this December could be a turning point for our planet. We can help make it happen.

Help to save the habitat for tigers and other wildlife

Help Save Habitat for Tigers and Other Wildlife
The insatiable demand for cheap wood products and luxury hardwoods in the United States, Europe and Japan is driving illegal logging operations worldwide -- logging that destroys vital habitat for endangered tigers, jaguars, orangutans and other wildlife.
Take action now to save tigers and other wildlife threatened by illegal logging. Fill out the form below to send your Senators a message urging them to support the Combat Illegal Logging Act of 2007 (S.1930), legislation that would make it a crime in America to knowingly import, sell, buy or transport illegally-sourced wood and wood products.

Take action: https://secure2.convio.net/dow/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=817&autologin=true&s_einterest=C3C4&JServSessionIdr007=r0jmkdt9j6.app25a

Greenhouse gases

This weekend, leaders of 21 nations--responsible for half the world's greenhouse gases--will meet at the APEC summit in Australia. Climate change tops their agenda. But according to leaks, a growing number around US President Bush and Australia's John Howard want to ditch the binding global targets needed to avert catastrophic climate change, and replace them with empty rhetoric about "aspirational goals" and voluntary action. The global climate movement has built up tremendous energy this year--we mustn't let the cynics hijack our campaign and turn it into hot air. We need to make sure the Asia-Pacific leaders, and the 1100 journalists covering the summit, can't ignore the world's call for binding targets. To grab their attention, let's create a spectacular photo petition of "target" images all over the world--we already have "target ceremonies" planned at the Great Barrier Reef, Patagonia, Palau, and many more! Submitting your own target photo is easy and fun--click here to learn how: http://www.avaaz.org/en/apec/b.php
To contribute, you can just draw a target--a dot with circles around it--on the palm of your hand, and snap a photo with your cell phone,
You could print the special target logo from our website, and take a picture of yourself holding it up as a sign,
Or get creative--paint it on the side of your house, carve it into a snowbank or a beach, or get friends together and make a human target in a park.Once you have your picture, click through to our website at this link to send it to Avaaz-- it will pop up in our global photo map right away. We'll also show the first wave of photos at a big press conference in Sydney this Wednesday 5th September, so there's no time to spare! We'll also deliver the biggest global petition for binding climate targets--we can use the "targets" spectacle to amplify our efforts. Avaaz has worked with Australian allies at GetUp to plan a stunning series of target ceremonies--including a 144 square-metre target banner that swimmers will float over the Great Barrier Reef. (If climate change is not reined in, the Reef will be extinct by 2030. Its caretakers are excited to help keep it alive!) These powerful images will join the photos contributed by the rest of us around the world, to send an unmistakable, global call to action. We want to make sure the leaders gathering in Australia see targets on the news as they go to sleep, and in the newspapers when they wake up. So click here to see all the targets that have been sent in so far, and to send in your own: http://www.avaaz.org/en/apec/b.php Last week, after international campaigners revealed prime minister Howard's plans to junk real targets at APEC (the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit), Australia's main opposition party took up the rallying cry. Howard is set to call an election shortly after the summit. By focusing public attention on this issue, we can multiply the pressure on him and other leaders in the "Axis of Global Warming"--and strengthen the hands of those leaders who support the right policies, from New Zealand to Chile and the Philippines. Most of all, we can try to pin down those wavering leaders in the middle, unsure which way to decide. Every leader must answer: do they support global, binding targets? Or are they full of hot air and voluntary "aspirations"?The APEC summit is the first of a string of critical meetings this fall, leading up to a major conference in Bali, Indonesia where work will begin on the next Kyoto Protocol. What happens in Australia will shape everything that comes after. And because of the worldwide movement that hundreds of thousands of Avaaz members have driven forward--from the G8 to Live Earth--we now have a real chance to shape what happens in Sydney. The world needs binding global targets to stop climate catastrophe. Let's join together, demand action, and aim high -
Here are some links for more information on the issue of climate change at APEC, as well as the Summit's implications for the rest of the world:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/09/03/africa/apec.php
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6976617.stm
http://www.avaaz.org/blog/en/

Anvil Hill

Last night Greenpeace activists projected messages onto a grounded coal carrier to protest the continued expansion of NSW's coal industry in the face of climate change. 'THIS IS WHAT CLIMATE CHANGE LOOKS LIKE' and COAL CAUSES CLIMATE CHAOS' were beamed onto the side of the ship, which ran aground on Nobbys Beach in Newcastle during the severe weather on NSW's coastline.
The ship's misfortune occurred just days after the NSW government approved the polluting Anvil Hill coal mine. If we keep burning coal, scientists tell us extreme weather events will increase. So why is the NSW government approving new coalmines and the expansion of Newcastle’s coal industry?
READ: the full story
JOIN US: take action to stop Anvil Hill
VIEW: more images from last night's projection

I lost

I'm realistic and I admit that I lost. They have big plans for that area and I haven't been very succesful with my blog and my petition. I will be the biggest coastal develpment in Perth for 50 years, covering 2600ha along 7.5km of coast and housing about 60.000 people in the next 25 years.
I wonder, if we struggle with water now, what about when they are 60.000 people more in the area?
My petition will be now for the bush in general. I hope someone will stop this madness.

Petition for the Earth

The Live Earth concerts, less than a week from now, will reach as many as two billion people worldwide. But they're more than concerts. They're a call to action. Throughout the events, Live Earth's organizers will challenge people around the world to take the Live Earth pledge, a set of seven commitments to confront the climate crisis. (The full text of the pledge is below.)Avaaz members have burst past expectations by organizing Live Earth parties in 125 countries worldwide--with 2500 registered hosts, and nearly 1000 public events. If we use that same energy and the commitment to build momentum for the pledge before the concerts begin, we can turn Live Earth into a political earthquake. Can you sign the pledge and send it to five friends?http://www.avaaz.org/en/climate_pledge/g.php/?cl=12705228Here's the text of the pledge. It's more than a petition--it's a statement of personal and political purpose. As you read it, just imagine what's possible if millions of people sign it and take action.
I PLEDGE:
1. To demand that my country join an international treaty within the next 2 years that cuts global warming pollution by 90% in developed countries and by more than half worldwide in time for the next generation to inherit a healthy earth;
2. To take personal action to help solve the climate crisis by reducing my own CO2 pollution as much as I can and offsetting the rest to become "carbon neutral;"
3. To fight for a moratorium on the construction of any new generating facility that burns coal without the capacity to safely trap and store the CO2;
4. To work for a dramatic increase in the energy efficiency of my home, workplace, school, place of worship, and means of transportation;
5. To fight for laws and policies that expand the use of renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on oil and coal;
6. To plant new trees and to join with others in preserving and protecting forests; and,
7. To buy from businesses and support leaders who share my commitment to solving the climate crisis and building a sustainable, just, and prosperous world for the 21st century.
This pledge is what makes Live Earth matter. It's the point of the parties. It's the commitment that will lead to change. Sign the pledge now, and send it to friends--so that we can build a wave of 250,000 pledge signers before the Live Earth concerts begin on Saturday:http://www.avaaz.org/en/climate_pledge/g.php/?cl=12705228Let's turn the Live Earth moment into an unstoppable global movement. The climate crisis demands nothing less.

Human cynism

I can't help myself thinking that we are too ignorant or too cynic. Why we don't look to ourselves a bit? because we are humans we can do whatever we want?
I read this article in the local newspaper:
The department of Food and Agriculture has issued a warning on the sulphur-crested cockatoo, flocks of which have been detected at Muchea.
The warning follows the more recent capture of three of the declared pests at Mundaring.
Department biosecurity officer Glen Coupar said the cockatoo was a threat to agriculture, the environment and buildings.
The birds were normally found only in other states and northern Australia, including the Kimberley. The department allowed people to keep sulphur-crested cockatoos only under permit in a double-door aviary.

Ok now the cockies are pests. What about us? aren't we pests? Cockies don't destroy massively bushes and forests, they don't construct big concreted cities and suburbs, they don't pile thousands of rubbish, they don't use cars that goes with CO2, they don't make mass destruction weapons, etc.
If they have to control the population I imagine how: kill them massively I don't think the department will use humanitarian ways like hormonal food for instance.
Poor animals.

Pressure the G8

I got this e-mail from avaaz:
The biggest climate movement-building day in history is just days away on July 7th, when one third of our entire planet will watch the "Live Earth" concerts. Organizer and An Inconvenient Truth star Al Gore has just sent this personal message to us about what we need to do to get ready for this incredible opportunity:
Dear Avaaz,
The 385,000 Avaaz members, from every corner of the world, who mobilized to pressure the G8, amazed me. Avaaz's work is truly inspiring. Now we have the opportunity to expand on your great effort.Will you commit to organize a Live Earth party on July 7th? The parties will be fun -- and they'll make a difference. If you've got a few friends and a TV, you've got everything you need. Together, I know we can convince everyone attending these parties to get involved. This will be a unique moment when the uninterrupted and undivided attention of the world will be focused on the climate crisis. We cannot let it slip by. You can sign up to host a Live Earth party here:http://www.avaaz.org/en/live_earth/lb.phpSincerely,http://www.avaaz.org/en/live_earth/lb.php/?cl=11412058For one day, on July 7th, EVERYONE will be a climate activist. We need to capture this opportunity, and turn the biggest party in history into the biggest movement ever.
With hope, Ricken, Paul, Ben, Graziela, Galit, Iain and the Avaaz team

google map

Have a look in google map the advance of the "civilization" in the North of Perth. Very scary
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=10&t=k&om=1&ll=-31.629998,115.702515&spn=0.035152,0.05785&z=14

Earhtlings

EARTHLINGS is a feature length documentary about humanity's absolute dependence on animals (for pets, food, clothing, entertainment, and scientific research) but also illustrates our complete disrespect for these so-called "non-human providers." The film is narrated by Academy Award nominee Joaquin Phoenix (GLADIATOR) and features music by the critically acclaimed platinum artist Moby. With an in-depth study into pet stores, puppy mills and animals shelters, as well as factory farms, the leather and fur trades, sports and entertainment industries, and finally the medical and scientific profession, EARTHLINGS uses hidden cameras and never before seen footage to chronicle the day-to-day practices of some of the largest industries in the world, all of which rely entirely on animals for profit. Powerful, informative and thought-provoking, EARTHLINGS is by far the most comprehensive documentary ever produced on the correlation between nature, animals, and human economic interests. There are many worthy animal rights films available, but this one transcends the setting. EARTHLINGS cries to be seen. Highly recommended! Other languages and download at: http://veg-tv.info/Earthlings

The things we all can do to save the plantet

Extract from the West Australian:

"Our environment consist of three main sections - water, air and land. Let's see what we can do in each area;

Water:

• Reduce the amount of water you use, so precious clean supplies do not run out.


• Prevent the pollution of water by not putting harmful chemicals, oils, waste, fertilisers and rubbish down drains or into rivers and teh ocean.

Air:

• Reduce the amount of harmful gases that pollute the air.


• Limit the use of fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas, which are non-renewable which can add to the impact of global warming.

Land:

• Limit the amout of nitive plants removed or plant new ones. Plants help replenish oxygen, stregthen riverbanks, provide a habitat for native animals and reduce the effect of rising water tables wich can bring an excess of salt to the surface.


• Reduce the amount of rubbish that makes its way to the tip. Some things will last a very long time in the soil and harmful chemicals from the rubbish can seep into the soil and get into your river systems if the landfill is not preperly treated.

Reduce, reusem recycle:

If you are going to remember any rule about saving the environment, it has to be the 3Rs. If you haven't heard about them, here's a crash course in the basics:

Reduce:

This is the action should always come first because it actually means less of teh bad stuff is gettin ginto the environment, and more of the good stuff is staying where it should be.

• Don't be a drip- reduce the amount of water you use around teh home and in your garden.


• You have the power- turn lights off when you leave a room and only use your air-conditioner when you really need it.


• Limit traffic pollution by walking or cycling.


• Reduce rubbish. Think carefully about what you buy and what you throw away.


• Say NO to the plastic bags and packaging.

Reuse:

There are many things that don't need to be thrown out. They can be used as something else or be given to another person:

• Pass it on - clothes, books and toys can be passed down to siblings or donated to charity


• Storage solution- takeaway contairners can be kept and reused to store other items or taken to school as a luch box


• Choose refill- many products like liquid had soap, laundry liquid and computer ink cartidges are now deigned to be refilled.


• Paper caper- always write on both sides of the page and use leftovers as scrpt for making notes.

Recycle:

Recycling reduces the amount of new material that needs to be produced and it also saves energy in the production phase:

• In the bin- recycling bins are now available in most parts of WA.


• Make sure that you follow the guidelines on your recycling bins. Washing contairners before recycling is really helpful.


• Buy recylced products like paper, and things made form recycled plastic.plastic. Sometimes even clothes are made form recycled plastic.

Plastic bags:

Plastic bags are one of the worst types of criminals around. They are often eaten by marine animals (they bear a striking resemblance to jellyfish) but the worst part is that the animal which eats it can choke, die and decay and the plastic bag is released back into the environment to do even more damage."

"Big plans" for Jindee

According to Wanneroo Times there are "big plans" for Jindalee:

"A proposed beachside village in Jindee, near Butler, will be built closer to the coast than other devolpments because the coastline includes a rocky headland.

Planing and Infraestructure Miniester Alannah MacTiernan said the developer would retain the beach and healand for pulbic to use to secure a continuous reserve along the coast.

(...)

Wanneroo Mayor Jon Kelly said while he was yet to see the final proposal, he was keen for the project to progress. The coastal village would include cafes, shops, accommodations and some high density residential development near a swimming beach."

And what about the Kangaroos and other animals that live there? And the native planst and bush?

No answer for that.

Take action and sign the petition

Machines are ready to work, please take action:

Videos

If you want to see the videos click here (Sorry the sound is bad because it was windy):

Victims of the destruction

Not only the plants are destroyed, animals suffer as well, some are killed by the machines or cars:

The petititon site

In these pictures you can see some of the damage of the bush. Please take action and sign the petition. Let's save the bushland!!!

It is truly heartbreaking all the bush that is destroyed to make more and more houses here in Perth. I consider myself partially responsible for this because I live in Butler where it was a bush until quite recently. However I was completely unaware how tragic the situation was until I finally saw the destruction with my own eyes. It's very sad to see the big empty spaces where it was once bush, with all the uprooted trees piled up on the sides of the road. And it is not uncommon to find dead animals like snakes, lizards and even kangaroos.
Australia is indeed a blessed country. I know because I come from Europe where wild animals are virtually impossible to find anymore. But here you can see kangaroos, possums, lizards - and this is wonderful. Shouldn't we then preserve as much of these precious things as we possibly can?
I hope that the Western Australian State Government will attempt to find a solution before it's too late. Our future depend on what we do now!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/714194807?ltl=1174648136

Heartbreaking news

This is the news about the destiny of Alkimos area (North Coast Times). Very depressing:
A district structure plan for Alkimos Eglinton will be released for public comment.
Councillors accepted the plan at a council meeting last week with a condition that the proponent, who submitted the document on behalf of landowner, completes three specified tasks before and during the advertising period.
These task include the preparation of a staged plan for the 2606ha development.
It is the next major stage of development in the North-West corridor.
A council report says that councillors did not need to assess the structure plan in detail before moving forward.
A preliminary overview found that the document was ready for advertising.
The city will now forward a copy of the structure plan to the WA Planning Commission and with an accompanying invitation for the WAPC to comment.
The development will attract between 53.000 and 55.000 people and about 20.000 more dwellings to the city.
It could include regional centres, service commercial areas, coastal villages, local centres, playing fields and pedestrian and cycle paths as well as provisions for various local and regional employment opportunities.

No one mentions all the trees and animals that are going to die in the name of progress