Cool or be killed....

October 5th 2007 05:28

: Is Climate Change the biggest emerging threat to National Security?

This is my first post on Climate Forum www.climateforum.com.au, come check it out or read on here, I have been procrastinating all week about what to write as the previous contributor to this site has so many techniclly perfect articles on here and I def don't have the attention to detail a Lawyer posesses..So i am going to try something a little different.

I would like this to be an open Climate Change Forum from now on where anyone can post their ideas and Views on Climate change, I will try to introduce "hot" topics, or "cool" Topics just to get into the Spirit of it.

Today I would like to discuss the Topic of Climate Change supposedly being our biggest emerging threat to National Security.

Is it COOL or BE KILLED or is this just hysteria and a case of some people blowing the whole Climate Change thing out of proportion for their own gain?

From what I can glean the logic behind the headlines is that Climate Change will lead to drought which will lead to food shortages and possibly people flocking to our shores. Below is a quote from the Clmate Change Scientist who introduced the concept which has been embraced and brought to the headlines by none other than our Police Chief Mick Keelty who said

"It's a challenge not just for the [federal police] and our state and territory colleagues, but for law enforcement the world over," he said.

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Climate change will affect security, scientist warns
Posted Wed Oct 3, 2007 1:32pm AEST

Map: Canberra 2600
A former CSIRO scientist and academic is warning that climate change will create serious issues for national security.

Dr Graham Pearman has raised concerns about water shortages, energy use and rising sea levels at the annual homeland security summit in Canberra.

Dr Pearman says now that the science allows us to anticipate what will happen, action is needed to prevent a human disaster.

"Maybe hundreds-of-millions of people being exposed to drought and this can have an impact both on their political stability, on their propensity to actually migrate and move, their capacity to feed themselves," he said.

"The quality of their economy and all of those things affect the way we trade with them and the way we interact with them."

Dr Pearman says that Australia needs to examine how to handle the difference in resources and stability of other nations.

"What do we do if for example many people in our neighbouring countries of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea on the coastlines are subjected to major losses of life and livelihood as a result of rising sea level?" he said.

"We need to think about these things before they happen."

I might add this had been rebutted very swiftly by the PM and other such Political heavyweights which because I am a cynic has really got me thinking on this issue. Originally I thought these headlines were for media sensationalism to sell papers then the PM rebutted a little too swiftly for my liking........Of course the PM isn't going to admit it is a threat to National security because that would be political suicide coming into a Federal Election given he was against Climate Change for so long AND the surveys show 86% of us care about Climate Change......

I am interested to see what everyone out there thinks. Is it Hysteria or COOL OR BE KILLED Feel free to post, rebutt, disagree, agree, swear and get nasty.

Cheers and Happy Friday

Louie

Next Forum Topic....Using the Climate Change name in Vain, is Climate Change the new scapegoat for every little thing that goes wrong...I stubbed my toe because of Global Warming, i couldn't do my homework because of Global Warming....who shot JFK..Global Warming

HUGE Investment needed to combat Climate change

Take a look at this report by the UN. Huge investment is needed to combat Climate Change by 2030.......scary numbers

here's the link story below http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070828/sc_afp/austriaunclimate_070828180700;_ylt=Aj0kO.xJU1kYAC41JaBQgaFrAlMA

Massive investment needed to combat climate change: UN
by Sim Sim Wissgott Tue Aug 28, 2:07 PM ET
VIENNA (AFP) - Investment of more than 200 billion dollars will be needed by 2030 just to keep greenhouse gas emissions at today's levels, according to a UN climate change report presented Tuesday in Vienna.
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"Global additional investment and financial flows of 200-210 billion dollars (146.3-153.7 billion euros) will be necessary in 2030 to return global greenhouse gas emission to current levels," according to the report by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Presenting the report, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer told reporters that finding "an economic answer" was key to dealing with the peril of climate change.
The UNFCCC is holding talks in Vienna this week with government, industry and research representatives ahead of a conference in Bali, Indonesia, in December to discuss climate commitments after 2012, when the UN's Kyoto Protocol expires.
Between 0.3 and 0.5 percent of global gross domestic product and between 1.1 and 1.7 percent of global investment will have to be spent on addressing climate change, the report estimated.
Although additional funding is necessary, "a substantial part of the additional investment and financial flows needed could be covered by the currently available sources," the report also suggested.
The aim will be to "direct the financial and investment flows into new facilities that are more climate-friendly and resilient."
This will include investing in technology research, renewable energy and energy efficiency for transport, industry and construction, as well as supporting agroforestry and implementing sustainable forest management.
"Energy efficiency is in fact the most promising means to reduce emissions in the short term," De Boer told journalists.
Funding should also be provided to certain sectors in developing countries to encourage them to reduce activities that can lead to further climate change.
One way to generate additional funding is the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), the report said.
Under this device, industrialised countries can invest in projects that reduce emissions in developing countries in order to offset emissions at home, where making reductions would be more costly.
An international air traffic levy -- an idea that is running into fierce opposition from the aviation industry -- could also raise between 10 and 15 billion dollars, De Boer pointed out.
The report was drawn up in cooperation with UN agencies, international financial institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private-sector representatives.
It called on all countries to adopt common policies on technology research and development and set global efficiency standards for electrical appliances.
De Boer said the report sends "signals ... to the people out there, the governments that are going to be designing the architecture of the future climate change regime, in terms of the areas that they need to address."
More than a thousand representatives are gathering in Vienna this week as part of the UNFCCC talks.
Atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), the principal greenhouse gas, have so far risen by around a third since the start of the Industrial Revolution in the mid-18th century.
Over the past hundred years, the global mean air temperature has risen by around 0.75 degrees Celsius (1.33 degrees Fahrenheit), causing glacial retreat, shrinkage of the Arctic ice cap and loss of permafrost, the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said earlier this year.
Its experts forecast further warming this century of between 1.1 and 6.4 C (2.0-11.5 F) depending on how much more CO2 is emitted. Water stress and drought, impacting on agriculture, and a greater risk of more powerful storms, affecting coastal dwellers, are among the feared outcomes.
The big source of CO2 is pollution from the burning of oil, gas and coal, the mainstay energy in today's society. Reducing this pollution entails efficiency or a switch to cleaner fuels, which carries a cost.

Freezing your Butt off for Global Warming

reezing your butt off for Global Warming

August 20th 2007 04:30

Freezing their Butts and other bits off 600 swedish troopers climbed up a melting Glacier for Photographer Spencer Tunick and Greenpeace on the Weekend to raise awareness for Global Warming.
I'll have to say this makes some other attempts at raising Global warming awareness look rather feeble. When I first saw this article I was afraid for how cold their feet would have been, then I discovered in other shots they lay FACE DOWN in groups....OUCH OUCH OUCH....

Here's hoping there is some Photographers trick and they are holding at least one item of clothing away from the camera's, otherwise these people are HEROES......its not like they even get their faces in the Pap like celebrities, they are baring all for the cause anonymously.

Given the rivalry between Climate Change Believers and Climate Change Hoaxers you have to wonder what the Hoaxers will come up with next to raise awareness for their argument....no close ups PLEASE...this is about about all we can take and I think we are all stoked Al Gore isn't in these photo's he's stacked on a few Kg's lately and it may not be a pretty sight.

Here are some more images of those brave Ice Warriors from the Greenpeace Galcier Photo shoot on the weekend.

As they say a picture is worth a thousand words, I only have one OUCH

also here is the link to Greenpeace just in case you fell like supporting their Global Warming efforts.


LINK TO GREENPEACE
Cheers Louie

Photo's from greenpeace Website

Really Long Link

This is fighting talk people: Gore speaks out

This is fighting talk people: Gore speaks out

August 12th 2007 02:13

Well it has been a pretty rough week for Climate Change believers with people even doubting the very weather data that Al gore's entire argument is based on. It is very hard to know from the sidelines whether this is the classic Tall Poppy syndome taking effect on a Global scale or if we really have been lied to. It escaped my attention due to a busy week that Al gore actually spoke out against the Climate change Hoaxers on Tuesday in Singapore, he didn't mince his words either. This little battle could get quite nasty if the gloves come off that is for sure.

Al Gore is saying that the Climate change Hoaxers are running an anti-climate change campaign financed by Polluters!!!! He compared it to the campaigns run by the Tobacco companies........

Here is a little exert but the full story is worth a read if you want to follow the link

"There has been an organized campaign, financed to the tune of about $10 million a year from some of the largest carbon polluters, to create the impression that there is disagreement in the scientific community," Gore said at a forum in Singapore. "In actuality, there is very little disagreement."

He even goes on to use the P and M word's........- puts a chill in the hearts of many a conspiracy theorist- ...yes you got it Propaganda.....and Maniuplation

"They're trying to manipulate opinion and they are taking us for fools," he said.

and wait there is more, our fearless Climate Change leader even names the culprits and has directly pointed the finger at Exxon , whatever you think about Climate change picking a fight with an Oil company is pretty dam courageous thats for sure. I get the feeling there is going to be some blood on the streets before we hear the last of this.

The question will be who can we trust?

WHOONEARTHCARES: Cate Blanchett joins the Climate change campaign

Cate Blanchett was in qld yesterday to capmpaign for Climate Change and launch the new Australian Conservation Faoundation's campaign CLICK HERE to tell them you CARECLICK HERE You go online and register and answer a few questions and if you can be bothered send a pre-typed letter to your MP. I usually don't do this kind of stuff but have made an exception for a good cause this time, especially because they didn't ask for money........

I can be a bit cynical about the agenda of B grade celebrities jumping on the Climate Change bandwagon and the money to be made BUT I think in this case we can safely say Cate genuinely cares, she is Definitiely A list and ...........good on her for getting out there and not campaigning from some cushy studio somewhere. Here is the snippet. I am going to visit the link and give them some support.

Blanchett campaigns for climate change awareness

Posted Mon Aug 6, 2007 2:18pm AEST
Updated 4 hours 0 minutes ago


Hollywood star Cate Blanchett was in Brisbane today - not to promote a movie, but to encourage Queenslanders to become aware of the issues around climate change.

Blanchett visited the drought-ravaged Lake Samsonvale, north of Brisbane.

There she launched the Australian Conservation Foundation's new online campaign, whoonearthcares.com.

She says the campaign is about bringing people from all over the country together to work on climate change solutions.

"I think that the majority of Australians are beginning to realise that we can't hope to address the very real issues of water shortages and drought unless we significantly reduce Australia's spiralling greenhouse emissions," she said.

"Climate change is an issue that affects each and every one of us, and therefore it's up to each and every one of us to act responsibly and do something about it."

Bush Fire or spark in the right direction?

Bush Fire or spark in the right direction?

August 5th 2007 02:02

I guess its no surprise that Bush's recent invitation to the World's largest polluters has been greeted with audible eye rolling from the Greenies and Silent Groans from heads of State. Let's hope this is a spark in the right direction and not the beginning of the end for Global agreement on Climate Change.

The Greenies are frustrated as are the Heads of state that of course the moment Mr Bush wants to get on board the Green boat it has to be his boat, forget perfectly good upcoming global forums for discussion; APEC in September and the UN Conference in November; it has to be George W's idea and has to be in his sand pit.

All of a sudden going green is a good idea. Now this blog is groaning. This band wagon is getting mighty crowded with recent converts. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it should be a good thing except for the small detail of Politics and the fact that of course the Geroge W wants to reinvent this wheel. Forget that Eurpoe and the rest of the World- except for the U.S and Australia has been running with a perfectly good and successful system for quite some time now- we need a new one.

Maybe this is all a ploy for Bush to successfully avoid the issue at the APEC conference, maybe he isn't equiped to talk about this with the world leaders; he is merely giving a speech at the September 27/28 conference in Washington, Condoleze Rice is running the show; Does this totally scream of a man who doesn't know the subject and needs to be on familiar ground to deal with it, with a speech written by someone else?Tthis doesn't bother me except he is the leader of the Free world and this is the most important issue of our generation- still. You would like to think he would want to debate the topic every waking hour; and be able to.

Anyhow who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth, the end game here is that we need a solution for the sake of the Planet and future generations (love melodrama on a sunday mornming) let's hope the Greenies are wrong and the U.S. provides solutions not a whole heap of spanners in the very delecate works of the Treaty that is Kyoto and the system that is still taking baby steps towards a solution.

Green Stocks: New Series: Part 4: 9 more Clean Energy Stocks

Green Stocks: New Series: Part 4: 9 more Clean Energy Stocks

July 18th 2007 08:43

Here are 9 more Clean energy stocks to put on the radar, this takes us up to 23 names in our investable universe. I read an article today stating there are 50 names or so in total in OZ. A lot more than i thought that is for sure.......

today we will focus on Geothermal Stocks: GHT, TEY, GDY, GRK, PTR
A Hybrid Clean Energy Stock: EDE
Some Solar Names: EVM and SOO
an Ethanol company: AAE

I also forgot to mention a stock called GRD simply because it is currently under takeover: HOWEVER this mean the price is underpinned and the game may not be over so it is probably a good stock to include as a low risk play in our portfolio.

I know this process is boring but finding the Aussie names is a lot harder than in the US because the broker coverage at the small end of the market where we are playing is scattered, but that has its rewards we will be buying stocks befor ethey go on the radar screens of big brokers hence if we get the mix right we will get an element of a free ride when they are re-rated as and when the market wakes up to them...the hard work will pay off......

Agri Energy AAE http://www.indcor.com.au/
Agri Energy Limited is the only investment group developing a global ethanol and biodiesel business.
Agri Energy Limited is focused on identifying and developing cost competitive opportunities in global agriculture for the production of green energy.
Agri Energy Limited is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (code AAE) in the Energy and Mining sector.
Agri Energy Limited, through wholly owned subsidiary companies, is developing fuel ethanol and biodiesel operations in the major international transport fuel markets.
United States
Constructing the world’s first integrated agri-energy complex in South Eastern Nebraska consisting of a Biodiesel Production Plant incorporating an oil seed crusher using a feedstock of soy and an Ethanol Facility using a feedstock of corn.
Australia
Constructing Australia’s first grain Ethanol Production Plant incorporating a feedstock of corn, cereal grains and other fruit pulp waste. Ethanol and biodiesel facilities are planned at a number of other regional locations. The Group plans to manage and operate grain production in regional Australia to support a major component of feedstock demand and is strongly focused on agricultural research to identify future world competitive biofuels feedstock to align with Australia’s agricultural capabilities. Agri Energy Limited is involved in the distribution and retailing of ethanol and biodiesel through an independent operator

Geothermal Energy - Really Long Link
The principal objective of Geothermal Resources is to explore its tenement areas for hot rock geothermal energy resources that can be exploited for electricity generation purposes.
The company's current projects in the Curnamona Craton and the South East of South Australia are well located with respect to existing infrastructure and power grids - a major strategic advantage over other more remotely located projects.

Torrens Energy http://www.torrensenergy.com/
orrens Energy Limited (TEY) listed on the ASX in March 2007, raising $6M. Due to overwhelming investor interest, the offer – which comprised 30 million shares at 20c each, with one free attaching listing option for every two shares – was heavily oversubscribed.
Torrens has created an exceptional opportunity to generate sustainable, renewable, emissions-free geothermal energy and become a dominant player in efficient, reliable electricity generation.
The Company has been granted a large geothermal tenement holding in areas close to Adelaide in South Australia. The selected areas are known for high heat flow and coincide with the overlying insulating sedimentary cover required for high temperatures to accumulate. In addition, and unique to Torrens, these highly prospective areas are located on the National Power Grid, close to large energy markets and infrastructure.

Geodynamics: Really Long Link
GDY
Geodynamics Limited is the only listed public company in Australia whose sole focus is on developing hot fractured rock (HFR) geothermal energy.
HFR geothermal energy is produced using heat extracted from buried hot granites by circulating waters through an engineered, artificial reservoir or underground heat exchanger. These hot granites represent a massive source of renewable energy, free from CO2 emissions.
The development of HFR geothermal energy relies on existing technologies. HFR geothermal projects are currently underway in France, Switzerland, Germany, California, and Japan. Australia has a recognised potential for the development of HFR geothermal energy.
Geodynamics Limited has secured significant geothermal exploration rights in South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland and is investigating the potential in other states. The Company has a strong Board of Directors and successfully listed on the Australian Stock Exchange on 12 September 2002. Stage One of the Company's Business Plan is now nearing completion.

Green Rock Energy Really Long Link
GRK
Green Rock Energy Limited is an Australian based geothermal energy explorer and developer with projects in South Australia and Hungary.
Incorporated in 2002 and listed as Mokuti Mining Limited initially, Green Rock Energy has been trading on the Australian Stock Exchange since December 2003.
It will be the first mini-fracture stimulation program for geothermal energy carried out anywhere in Australia. This innovative approach to geothermal exploration in Australia has the potential to significantly lower costs and risks for Green Rock by providing key input information which will be used for the optimal design and conduct of the subsequent deeper drilling and fracture stimulation program. This will enable more accurate design and costing of the deep wells and fracture stimulation program than has been possible for others who have had to drill to much greater depths before intersecting the top of their targeted hot reservoir rocks.
PETRATHERM - http://www.petratherm.com.au/
Petratherm - PTR
Petratherm Limited has made significant progress towards achieving its stated mission which is to;
"Explore and develop, emission free, commercially sustainable geothermal energy projects"
Approximately ninety percent of Australia’s electricity is generated from fossil fuels, the use of which contributes to one third of Australia’s total carbon dioxide emissions.

Eden Energy: http://www.edenenergy.com.au/
EDE
Eden Energy Ltd is a diversified clean energy company that listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in May 2006. Eden has interests in hydrogen production, storage & transport fuel systems, including the low emission Hythane hydrogen-methane blend, coal seam & abandoned mine methane in the UK, conventional gas in SA, low temperature pyrolysis research into hydrogen production & geothermal energy production.
All these aspects of Eden's business are part of an integrated strategy to become a major global participant in the alternate energy market, particularly focussing on the clean energy transport market, producing hydrogen without any carbon emissions, transporting the hydrogen to markets & providing the engines to power hydrogen-based transport & energy solutions.

SOLAR POWER
Enviromission – EVM Really Long Link

Within five years EnviroMission aims to be one of Australia’s leading producers of clean, green renewable energy.
A company committed to establishing profitable,
large-scale renewable energy generation power stations for the Australian electricity market.
aim to lead the renewable energy market with new energy technologies that do not consume fuel resources or produce greenhouse gas emissions.
EnviroMission owns the exclusive licence to German designed Solar Tower technology in Australia. Their first project will focus on developing this revolutionary technology into the world’s first large-scale solar thermal power station capable of generating enough electricity to supply 200,000 typical Australian homes.

SOLCO – SOO Really Long Link
Solar Energy Systems was established in 1998 as a solar company providing decentralised sustainable water solutions to Australia. The primary product was the award-winning Sun Mill solar water pump. Solar Energy Systems and the Sun Mill soon had global interest, with installations in Canada, East Timor, Bali, Fiji, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Tanzania, as well as throughout Australia. Following the successful listing on the ASX, Solar Energy Systems improved its ability to provide decentralised power solutions with the creation of a Projects team. This team focused on providing custom off- and on-grid sustainable power solutions to cater for projects both nationally and internationally.
Relationships were developed with many charities including Rotary, Communicade Edmund Rice (Christian Brothers), CARE International, Action Contre La Faim, Bia Hula and Aus-Aid with water and power solutions being implemented in developing countries.
Solco has diversified its product base in the past two years by including a wider range of sustainable products and has strengthened its global distribution network, enabling the company to better realise its mission of becoming a global leader in the distribution of decentralised sustainable water and power solutions.

GRD