It's hard to believe, but the vast majority of people around the world don't understand that the growing number of extinctions of plant and animal species is a cause for concern. They seem to think that human beings are somehow separate from the world around us.
Here's what most people don't know:
Up to 30,000 species per year are going extinct: three per hour.
50 percent of all primates and 100 percent of all great apes are threatened with extinction.
Three of the world's eight tiger subspecies became extinct in the past 60 years; the remaining five are all endangered.
Humans have already driven 20 percent of all birds extinct.
12 percent of mammals, 12 percent of birds, 31 percent of reptiles, 30 percent of amphibians, and 37 percent of fish are threatened with extinction.
The consequences of thoughtless consumption and weak environmental policies here and overseas are bound to bite us on the backside!.
Tags:
speciesextinctions
Posted at: 05:01 AM | 0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink
Town water in eight local communities supplied by Westerport Water was found to breach Australian Water Quality standards for Trihalomethanes in 07/08. These compounds are apparently formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter which is typically found in Candowie Reservoir.
Trihalomethanes have been linked to bladder cancer. Trihalomethanes readings above the Australian Water Quality Standard of 0.250mg/l were recorded in a number of locations in 07/08. Local Figures are here and full details are at:
Trihalomethanes 2007/8
Community Readings Above Water Quality Standard 0.250mg/l
Town/Suburb | Water Authority | Maximum Reading | Minimum Reading |
Cowes | Westernport Water | 0.350mg/l (mean 0.249mg/l) | 0.170mg/l |
Grantville | Westernport Water | 0.350mg/l (mean 0.207mg/l) | 0.012mg/l |
Ventor | Westernport Water | 0.340mg/l (mean 0.179mg/l) | 0.029mg/l |
Cape Woolamai | Westernport Water | 0.300mg/l (mean 0.211mg/l) | 0.160mg/l |
Rhyll | Westernport Water | 0.280mg/l (mean 0.219mg/l) | 0.140mg/l |
Kilcunda | Westernport Water | 0.270mg/l (mean 0.183mg/l) | 0.097mg/l |
San Remo | Westernport Water | 0.260mg/l (mean 0.190mg/l) | 0.100mg/l |
Corinella | Westernport Water | 0.250mg/l (mean 0.171mg/l) | 0.130mg/l |
Cape Paterson | South Gippsland Water | 0.260mg/l | <0.089mg/l |
Wonthaggi | South Gippsland Water | 0.270mg/l | <0.071mg/l |
Meeniyan | South Gippsland Water | 0.250mg/l | <0.096mg/l |
Tags:
candowie, water quality, westernport water
Posted at: 12:26 PM | 0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink
The Wilderness Society (or more particularly Gavan McFadzean, one of its senior campaigners) needs a foot up the backside for its latest nonsense.
In an earlier edition of the Friends of the Earth publication Chain Reaction, FoE camaigner Anthony Amis presented a reasoned explanation for the community's disappointment with the actions of TWS in endorsing the flawed deal between the State Government and Hancock Victorian Plantations over the Strzeleckis Cores and Links.
Gavan McFadzean replied with an implausible defence of his actions. Here is the response to his tirade by Friends of Bass Valley Bush:
I can't let Gavan McFadzean's letter about the Strzeleckis in the last issue of Chain Reaction go unanswered. In a joint Wilderness Society (TWS) / Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA) press release welcoming the secret deal negotiated by Minister Jennings and Hancock Victorian Plantations, Mr McFadzean said "We are pleased to see the Victorian Government moving to protect native forests in the Strzelecki Ranges."
In his latest response to comments by Anthony Amis from Friends of the Earth, Mr McFadzean made the statement that "the precious College Creek is under immediate threat from the chainsaws". But the destruction of College Creek is a direct result...
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Tags:
friends of the earth, strzeleckis, the wilderness society
Posted at: 07:46 AM | 0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink