Asides

CSR, Environmental Sustainability, Sustainable Development

Leonardo DiCaprio’s new movies stir up a storm

Aside 1 Comment

home_

If you haven’t already seen it, here’s a series of new films narrated by Leonardo Di Caprio. We all saw him speak at the UN Climate Summit in September this year, as a UN Messenger of Peace, however Leo has been busy doing much more to change the hearts and minds of people everywhere. His own not-for-profit, the Leonardo Di Caprio Foundation has been protecting Earth’s last wild places and implementing solutions that create a harmonious relationship between humanity and the natural world” since 1998. Continue reading Leonardo DiCaprio’s new movies stir up a storm →

Environmental Sustainability, Sustainable Development

Australian Ethical Investment buys stake in world first tidal stream energy project.

Aside 3 Comments

TidalTurbine-06-3800x2719

In the last week, Australian Ethical Investment (AEI) announced they have taken a 9% stake in the Atlantis Resources new tidal stream energy project, based out of Scotland. This is a world first ocean power project that will see the construction of our planet’s first multi-megawatt tidal stream project to create a clean energy source for domestic use in Scotland. The MeyGen project aims to supply power to 86,000 homes (once at full capacity), with the second phase potentially powering 16% (398,000 homes) of Scottish domestic demand by 2023. Continue reading Australian Ethical Investment buys stake in world first tidal stream energy project. →

Environmental Sustainability, Sustainable Development

6 green innovations that make the world a better place

Aside 1 Comment

Last week, Sustaining People looked at 6 websites to inspire and innovate, so this week we thought we would turn our eye to green technology around the world that does the same thing, but also has the potential to sustain. Some of these inventions are operational, others are dreams that are slowly being realised. Some look as though they belong in a sci-fi movie. Take this first one for instance…

1. Altareos Energies

altaeros-floating-high-altitude-wind-turbine

Altareos Energies is a really exciting wind power tech company that provides us with an alternative to current grounded wind turbines. Groups opposed to windfarms say they are an eyesore and affect birdlife, but the Altareos Buoyant Airborne Turbine (BAT) integrates ‘proven aerospace and wind turbine technology’ to create a floating power generator that can take advantage of the stronger and steadier winds that flow at altitudes over 300m (1000 feet). Continue reading 6 green innovations that make the world a better place →

Environmental Sustainability

100 new casualties of the RET

Aside Leave a comment

Whilst not the first casualty of Australia’s energy policy quagmire, the 100 jobs lost at Keppel Prince – a sustainable engineering company in Victoria – is perhaps the largest that Australia has seen so far. Due to the cost associated with scrapping the RET, Keppel Prince is no longer able to support its Wind Farm division, which has no incoming projects after November 2014. The Greens have labelled it “a tragic day for clean energy and for the workers involved”. Continue reading 100 new casualties of the RET →

Environmental Sustainability, Sustainable Development

The real cost of fossil fuel subsidies

Aside Leave a comment

GlobalSubsidies-WP2

Two weeks ago, the Perth Diocese announced it would divest its fossil fuel investments, and last week its Canberra counterparts did the same. This week the Melbourne Diocese has followed suit, resolving to take “all reasonable steps” to divest its stake in corporations whose revenues from fossil fuel extraction or production exceed 20 per cent of their total revenue.

At their annual 800 person strong General Synod (akin to an AGM), Professor Kate Rigby, Chair of Monash University’s Environmental & Humanities Department spoke about the changes to the energy paradigm in the present day. “While coal might have been cheaper [than renewable energy], this is only because its environmental impacts have not been factored into costing and because coal and other fossil fuel industries receive massive government subsidies.”

According to Environment Victoria, the Australian Federal Government spends approximately $10 billion per year on handouts (subsidies, tax breaks, infrastructure and cash) to the larger fossil fuel polluters. Continue reading The real cost of fossil fuel subsidies →

Sustainable Development

It’s World Food Day today!

Aside Leave a comment

World Food Day

Once again TED Talks are here to provide us with innovative ideas and interesting ways to approach the future.

Today is World Food Day and the talks below, discovered in this post from Collectively, show us that there is more to food than what we think about.

Listen to Jamie Oliver teach children about food, Mark Bittman tell us the bad things about our food, or perhaps learn from Louise Fresco about how we can feed the whole world.

If nothing, put your feet up, grab some nosh, and learn about how the world around us eats and lives, and how we can help them do so far into the future!

CSR, Environmental Sustainability, Sustainable Development

6 websites to inspire & innovate

Aside 1 Comment

ideas2innovate-slider6-new

It’s hard to stay positive in this day and age. With all the ills of the world slapping us in the face from the comfort of our armchairs we can get disillusioned that we can make a difference, and build a brighter and more sustainable future for our children.

Below are six websites/blogs that provide inspiration, and evidence that there are people out there that are questioning the status quo, and making small improvements to their lives – and the lives of those around them. Have a read of these fountains of inspiration, and see how you can develop your world for the better. Continue reading 6 websites to inspire & innovate →

Environmental Sustainability, Sustainable Development

TEDXPerth 2014 in review

Aside Leave a comment

Biomimicry

Saturday 4th October at the Perth Concert Hall played host to the TEDXPerth 2014 event, which Sustaining People discussed a short while ago. Hamish Jolly (pictured above) was a crowd favourite for the day, with a particularly relevant talk about biomimicry and his shark-repellant wetsuit. The clear stand out for us, however, was Ernesto Sirolli, although Peter Newman and Adam Johnson presented some thought provoking ideas. Continue reading TEDXPerth 2014 in review →

Environmental Sustainability, Sustainable Development

Why Joe Hockey should think before he speaks

Aside 2 Comments

Twice in two days, Joe Hockey has made some weird and wonderful comments. First, his comments to Bill Shorten about the Opposition’s ‘questionable’ support of the ISIL defence efforts:

‘…if Bill Shorten truly is honest about his commitment to deliver bipartisan support in relation to our defence efforts in the Middle East, he will provide bipartisan support to pay for it…’

And now this, regarding ANU’s decision to diminish resources industry investment from their portfolio:

‘…I would suggest they’re removed from the reality of what is helping to drive the Australian economy and create more employment…Sometimes the view looks different from the lofty rooms of a university…’

 

Oooh look at those nails…Kitty can SCRATCH!!!

Continue reading Why Joe Hockey should think before he speaks →

CSR, Sustainable Development

The Forrest Report: Closing The Gap?

Aside 1 Comment

rebuild-our-nations

In August this year, The Federal government released the Forrest Report, a policy doctrine of sorts delivered by Andrew Forrest to inform Prime Minister Tony Abbot’s approach to indigenous affairs in Australia. The response to the content of this report has been mixed; some hailing it as a comprehensive work that will evolve the place of indigenous Australians in our society, whilst others have called it an ignorant and idealistic document that ignores evidence-based research. Two months on, Sustaining People looks at the impact of Australian business on the indigenous community, and what is being done, and what could be done better. Continue reading The Forrest Report: Closing The Gap? →