Blogs & Ecology

Image source: Flickr (with their never late carpool award)

Image: Mars Society Image

It was Stephen Hawking who once said:

I don’t think the human race will survive the next thousand years, unless we spread into space. There are too many accidents that can befall life on a single planet. But I’m an optimist. We will reach out to the stars.

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Source: Environmental Graffiti - environmental news blog

Image source

We have been repeatly told that fixing the environment wasn’t possible because it would upset the economy too much. It seems that greed did a better job of making the economy go weak at the knees, than tackling global warming might ever have done.

The ninth wind farm in South Australia just opened on the Barunga Ranges near Snowtown. Its 47 turbines, installed by Trust Power of New Zealand, (who already operate that countries largest wind farm at Tararua), are said to have a capacity to deliver over 98MW. The company reckon this renewable energy should provide sufficient power for 70,000 Australian households.

Photo by Conner395

For several years now the Hummer H2 and H3 police unit has popped up in various spots around the world including Texas, California, and most recently, Melbourne, Australia. Such campaigns have been designed to create a safe feel for citizens when they see these powerful vehicles patrolling their street, as well as promote a high profile vehicle that will connect well with todays youth.

The three Bali bombers were executed in Indonesia. Invig advises Australians: “It is not only hypocritical and racist to support the death penalty for the citizens of another culture, but also makes us appear vengeful and callous.” Majority of those who died in the 2002 Bali Bombing were Australians.

Apologies to our bicycle fans on TreeHugger. Yet again we’ve been preoccupied with other tasks and have let our bike posts wane somewhat. Though we hoped you caught our recent round-up 21 Small Wheeled Bicycles .

For all the talk of green design and eco lifestyles, it’s odd that Australia has so few events for businesses, organisations and institutions to showcase their wares in this area. Melbourne does have its very well attended Sustainable Living Festival, where last year they also managed to hold the World’s Largest Green Drinks party. But Sydney, while having a few smaller community level green days is not quite so blessed in events that promote the bigger picture.

We’ve given kudos to the Bicycle Film Festival for years, for spreading the word about this most miraculous of vehicles, so why should we stop now. Although, admittedly, we have arrived less than early to the party. But the annual festival still has four gigs before it slams on the brakes for yet another year.

At least that is what the media releases are saying. Late last month, the Australian Solar Sailor company announced they’d signed a deal with China's biggest shipping line, COSCO, to fit some of their jumbo jet sized solar-powered sails to a tanker and bulk carrier.

The 30 metre long sails, festooned in photovoltaic panels are expected to catch enough wind to reduce fuel costs by between 20% and 40%, whilst those PV cells will provide the ships with 5% of their electricity. A computer automatically angles the sails for maximum wind and solar efficiency, and if all goes to plan the sails will have recovered their initial cost within four years.
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My fave of all of Glenn Murcutt's projects.

Rabid Regionalism

Wikipedia

Chenchow Little Architects

Vagabondeuse writes of a German family denied entry into Australia because their son has Down's Syndrome.

Future Shack, designed by Sean Godsell.