These companies lobby for major greenhouse gas polluters in Australia

The Sydney Morning Herald has published a list of major greenhouse gas emitters operating in Australia and the lobbyists these companies use.

The list contains some background information on lobbyists, many of whom were formerly state or federal ministers, members of parliament, political advisers/staffers or public servants.

One hundred page Australian list PDF download here.

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists November 2009 The Global Climate Change Lobby: Inside the Battle to Influence the Most Important Environmental Treaty of Our Time takes a global look at this lobbying on behalf of polluting industries, with an interactive search function for the U.S. available**

Updates on the ICIJ investigation can be followed on Twitter at Climate Lobby

** A search of this ICIJ data base reveals that biotech giant Monsanto has spent over U.S.$4 million in 2009 alone on lobbying activities.

When local government descends into politically correct insanity

Sometimes the email inbox holds the strange but true and last week was no exception as it spat out a little local government weirdness.
Now I'm not a cigarette/cigar/pipe smoker and generally agree that passive smoke concentrated in enclosed spaces isn't a good thing for people to breathe.
But even I think Clarence Valley Council has descended into madness by seeking to stop people smoking in quite a few council controlled public spaces that are often beside busy town roads and main roads which in the course of a normal day give off a steady flow of fine heavy metal particles which are known to be injurious to health when inevitably inhaled by pedestrians.
With barely a legal leg to stand on that isn't highly contestable as far as I can tell, it has adopted a Smoke Free Public Areas Policy which will:

restricting smoking in the following public outdoor areas on Council owned or managed land:

􀂃 Within fifteen (15) metres of all children's playgrounds;

􀂃 Within fifteen (15) metres of all covered bus stops and taxi ranks;

􀂃 At Council playing fields, sporting fields, sports centres and at outdoor sporting facilities where active sport is being played;

􀂃 At all events run or sponsored by Council;

􀂃 At all patrolled beaches and public jetties; and

􀂃 Within fifteen (15) metres of Council owned building entrances, including, but not limited to, sports stadiums and centres, swimming pools, tennis courts, squash courts and community buildings.

For this purpose, a public area can be defined as an area set aside for public recreationon Council owned and/or managed land, including: children's playgrounds; covered bus stops and taxi ranks; public jetties; patrolled beaches; sporting fields; sports stadiumsand centres; public swimming pools; squash courts; tennis courts; croquet lawns; and community buildings.

This Policy does not apply to the following public areas:

􀂃 Public footpaths;

􀂃 Al fresco dining areas; and

􀂃 General parks, gardens and open spaces, including grassed areas behind and/oradjacent to patrolled beaches.

What happens if you're on a public footpath just outside a council-owned building entrance which fronts the path?? Good luck with trying to police this one, councillors! The cost of pursuing recalcitrant smokers through the court will far outweigh the possible $110 penalty council has been strangely silent about.

Environmental Defender's Office holding workshops on reconnecting the community to the NSW EP&A Act, 14-28 November 2009

Click on flyer to enlarge

From mid to late November the Environmental Defender's Office (EDO) and Total Environment Centre (TEC) will be holding FREE workshops in Sydney and regional centres to collate community views regarding the NSW Planning System and how it can be improved.

These will be particularly relevant to anybody who has ever submitted to a major project, the Regional Strategies, Housing Codes, engaged with the 2008 Planning Reforms or been involved in a community consultation process with a developer.

Each workshop will include a brief overview of the Planning System and case studies specific to each region. Community feedback and views will be compiled into a report to be presented to the Minister for Planning and the Department early in 2010.

There will be capacity to interview groups and individuals who cannot attend or wish to give in depth feedback on particular experiences after each workshop.

EDO is also seeking feedback and views on indigenous engagement with the planning system.

* These workshops are funded by the Department of Planning NSW and will be jointly facilitated by the EDO and Total Environment Centre.

The Yamba Rod Run is on again 13-15 November and The Bridge to Breakers sail on 15 November 2009

Every year the small coastal town of Yamba at the mouth of the Clarence River plays host to hot rod enthusiasts from up and down the Australian east coast for the Yamba Rod Run.

Some splendidly restored modern and vintage rods can be seen tootling around Yamba streets adding an extra layer of colour to the sun and surf.

So if you want good clean fun and a chance to have a close up look at sparkling, well-loved cars presented by the Borderline Street Rodders this is the place to be next weekend.

Contact for information: falzonsofus at bigpond dot com or phone (02) 6685 0107.

On the Sunday the Harwood to Yamba Bridge to Breakers sail also takes place.

Photographs from Hot Rod Features