The US emission trading scheme in sulphur dioxide (SO2) 鈥 the gas that causes acid rain 鈥 is widely held as proof that the market can cut pollution.
Pro-market commentators point to the success of this 鈥渁cid rain market鈥 as evidence that similar kinds of carbon trading schemes are the best way to tackle climate change.
New York Times columnist Paul Krugman said on April 11 the scheme showed 鈥渢hat it is generally best to rely on a market-based approach鈥.
But this poster child for emissions trading has now collapsed in a heap.
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A landmark agreement has been signed in Western Australia between the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and the Community and Public Sector Union/Civil Service Association of Western Australia (CPSU/CSA) over union representation in the state鈥檚 higher education sector.
The following abridged statement was posted on NTEU.org.au by NTEU WA division secretary Lyn Bloom.
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The CPSU/CSA in WA has announced that it is withdrawing from active involvement in the higher education sector.
Brami Jegan, a young campaigner for social justice who is standing for the Greens in the New South Wales Senate, is very critical of the ALP鈥檚 policies on asylum seekers and the war in Afghanistan.
Jegan told 91自拍论坛 Weekly she understands the challenges migrant communities face in settling in this country. She also had first-hand experience of the devastating impacts of war. 鈥淒uring my visits back to Sri Lanka between 2002-2006, I was able to spend time with Tamils affected by the war.鈥
On August 14, rallies will take place in 13 different cities around Australia for the sixth annual national day of action for equal marriage rights. Last year鈥檚 national day of action drew more than 10,000 people, making it the biggest demonstration for queer rights in Australian history. The movement has claimed 2010 as its 鈥渘ational year of action鈥.
Activists have taken some colourful initiatives to build this year鈥檚 rally. Sydney鈥檚 Community Action Against Homophobia threw eggs at cardboard cut-outs of Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard鈥檚 catch phrase for this election is "sustainable". No longer, according to Gillard, should we look to a big Australia, but a "sustainable" population.
In a speech in western Sydney on July 21, Gillard emphasised the squeeze on health services, transport, roads and infrastructure. She hinted her "sustainable population" mantra would ease the squeeze.
Apart from rhetoric largely designed to pander to irrational fears of immigrants and prejudices against asylum seekers, Labor has failed to explain what it means by "sustainable".
The Sandon Point Aboriginal Tent Embassy (SPATE) is set to appeal a July 26 Land and Environment Court dismissal challenging the proposed Stockland 181-lot residential super development at Sandon Point, in the Wollongong suburb of Bulli, New South Wales.
Aboriginal activist Michael Eckford, better known as Michael Anderson, launched his campaign for the NSW Senate on August 3. Eckford was forced to stand under his birth certificate name because of Australian Electoral Commission regulations.
Eckford is running with former ALP member Criselee Stevens, who said she quit Labor because 鈥渢hey are so out of touch with the real grassroots concerns and priorities鈥.
WYONG 鈥 Climate action activists confronted Prime Minister Julia Gillard on August 3 when she appeared at a soccer club in Wyong on the NSW Central Coast.
She was handed a statement from the local climate action group about transitioning as soon as possible from fossil fuels, to renewable energy and a copy of the Zero Carbon Australia plan by Beyond Zero Emissions.
Activists held placards that said: 鈥淔und solutions not pollution鈥 as Gillard was speaking. They then confronted Gillard as she left the soccer club.
The Parramatta Climate Action Network (ParraCAN) staged a series of rolling protests outside New South Wales state government ministers offices calling for no new coal
The NSW state government is planning to construct two new coal-fired power stations, which will increase the state鈥檚 greenhouse gas emissions by up to 15%.
ParraCAN is circulating a petition calling for the prohibition of the construction of new coal-fired power stations; the development of a phase-out plan for coal; and that the state government support job creation in renewable industries.
Dismayed by the Labor government鈥檚 inaction on climate change and looking for an alternative? Don鈥檛 look to the Liberals.
If the ALP has been dodgy on the issue, Tony Abbott鈥檚 party has been dodgier.
Sincere commitment on the issue is hard for Abbott. At a public meeting last September, he said global warming was 鈥渁bsolute crap鈥.
But the Liberal leader is remarkably consistent on one thing 鈥 the 鈥渘eed鈥 to funnel large amounts of public money to big business.
The Socialist Alliance proposals for the federal election, detailed at www.socialist-alliance.org, won鈥檛 come cheap. They include lifting welfare payments above the poverty line, ending the 200,000 public housing waiting list, achieving 100% renewable energy by 2020 through a plan of public investment, boosted public transport including inter-city high-speed rail, and closing the gap in Indigenous health, education and housing.
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