ROSSLYN BEEBY

February 5, 2010

The global carbon market has been crippled by a cyberscam allowing fraudsters to steal and sell more than 250,000 carbon permits valued at about $5 million.

The cyber-criminals launched a ''phishing attack'', sending thousands of emails to companies around the world including Australia and New Zealand involved in the European Union's carbon trading network.

The emails claimed online security needed to be upgraded urgently.

They asked companies to re-register their trading details with the German Emissions Trading Authority, which records all carbon credits and transactions for the EU market.

Those who fell for the ploy were directed to a fake emissions registry website with the authority's logo. The scam allowed the cyber-criminals to capture security codes and passwords needed to gain access to company accounts, enabling them to steal carbon permits and resell them through trading accounts registered in Denmark and Britain.

See, nothing good comes from Carbon trading!

When online criminal groups begin targeting a web service, then you know for sure its about money. This just goes to show once again that money is the root of the 'so-called-solution'.

Sylvestor

Victory in closure of ozone hole over Australia, NZ

It was the biggest environmental issue of the 1980s, but today there is positive news about the hole in the earth's ozone layer. Australian scientists say the ozone hole is shrinking, and that it could close completely by the end of the century.

That's good news for Australians and New Zealanders who have had the scorching sun bearing down on them for decades.

Isn't it funny how such a hot-top of the 1980's and 90's - the Ozone hole and our contribution to creating it is suddenly off the agenda for the environment debate here in Australia!

Did you know that it had shrunk and is likely to complete close up?

I didn't.

The radical environmental nutters of course would not want you to know. They have moved on, they don't care about ozone, cfc's and the like. The only care about Carbon emissions now.

Sad really.

I am glad the Ozone layer is repairing itself, of course, I am sure it would have anyway ;)

Sylvestor
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PHOTO

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has been a key participant at the United Nations summit on climate change. [AAP]

Sabra Lane

Last Updated: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:47:00 +1000

Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has issued an ultimatum to the country's opposition after playing a leading role at a forum on climate change at the United Nations.

Mr Rudd co-hosted a round-table discussion with 20 counties on the obstacles to a deal on climate change in December.

The talks ran for two hours and included China, South Korea and the Maldives.

Mr Rudd says there needs to be a deal between developed and developing countries.

"What the world needs is a grand bargain between the developed world and the developing world in order to reach an outcome for the planet as a whole," he said.

After the talks, Mr Rudd and climate change minister, Penny Wong, issued a October 19 deadline for the Federal Opposition to put forward its amendments on the Emissions Trading Scheme.

This story disappoints me.

And no, its not about my issues with emmissions trading or climate change.

This is our country's leader. Our Prime Minister. He has been in one of the spotlight's of the world, through the G20 and United Nations visit in New York this week.

It is unfortunate, in my opinio, that Rudd has used this as an opportunity for political grand-standing. Its not enough to just represent the interests of our nation to the world, but in his usual whim, point the finger back to local political issues my issuing this "ultimatum" to the Coalition.

What a crock! Grow up KRudd!

Sylvestor
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• By Scott Thill

September 18, 2009  | 

Blurring the boundary between sci-fi and documentary, Franny Armstrong’s The Age of Stupid peers back in time from a climate crisis-wracked 2055 to lament our current inaction on the mother of all conflicts: The war on terra. The film premieres globally on Monday.

“We’re not at war at the moment,” explains Piers Guy, a British wind-farm developer who serves as one of The Age of Stupid’s compelling subjects. “But if people actually recognized the full implications of what’s happening to us, they would be treating it like a war.”

Armstrong’s docu-film isn’t shy about examining those implications. Beginning with the Big Bang, The Age of Stupid’s evocative CGI hurls toward 2055 at light-speed, only to find Earth’s once-mighty metropoles annihilated. From a drowned London to a buried Las Vegas and a burning Sydney, its dystopian imagery conjures up disturbing visions of humanity and hyperconsumption gone seriously awry.

 

London drowns and Sydney burns in The Age of Stupid's destabilizing dystopia. All images courtesy Spanner Films

Well, it might be a bit of hogwash - do we really think London will be flooded and Sydney burning in 2055? Seriously?? This movie - come - docudrama (errk!) really is just about putting fear into the voters so that their Governments react according to our Enviro-Economists in Copenhagen.

But since the special effects and CGI are meant to be awesome - why the hell not! Read more at wired.com's reviews section.

Sylvestor
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By Cathy Alexander

AAP

July 15, 2009 08:03am

AUSTRALIA is to get a new uranium mine - courtesy of former anti-nuclear campaigner Peter Garrett.

The environment minister has approved the country's fourth uranium mine, to be built in South Australia's northeast.

Mr Garrett sang against the nuclear industry in his days as Midnight Oil frontman.

Now he's sure the new Four Mile mine "poses no credible risk to the environment".

Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt, who supports uranium mining, attacked Mr Garrett for his backflip on the issue.

"The promises Peter Garrett chose to make on uranium mining stand for nothing - and nor does he, any longer," Mr Hunt said.

...its seems the values Mr Garrett held dear before entering politics are now a distant memory as he succumbs to the party-politic-forces that essentially gave him his new job. And lets not get confused here, Mr Garrett, YOU ARE the Government, when it comes to these matters. Don't be trying to shift this decision away from yourself.

If you don't support this notion, of another Uranium Mine in Australia, where then is your letter of resignation? Why haven't you stood down from your portfolio? Is you pay-cheque more important now than those values you hold dear? Where will you draw the line?

I accept the notion of mining uranium. Our country is rich in this resource, and it does go a long way to providing efficient power supply. This, however, appears to go against every pro-environment-notion you have espoused over your career both as musician and politician.

What next? Will you succumb to more coal-fired-power stations? Will you support more logging of old-growth timbers? Oh I guess thats the "government's" decision too isn't it Mr Garrett?

Transparent? I don't think so! You sir are a hypocrite! And that is my opinion.

Sylvestor
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