Why climate change is an irrelevance, economic growth is a myth and sustainability is forty years too late

As someone who has been exploring the world’s most isolated wilderness regions for nearly half a century, I have some insight into the state of the planet and the human race’s current environmental befuddlement. I’ve watched the condition of the earth plummet before my eyes within my own lifespan, to the extent that I no longer recognize it as the beautiful, diverse supporter of all life it once was.

The detritus of humanity.

So let me start by addressing a few key points of confusion that seem to affect both keen activists and head-in-the-sand deniers in equal measure:

Climate change is not the biggest threat to the world’s environment – we are. The world’s rivers and seas aren’t choked with floating piles of rubbish, toxic chemicals and plastic waste because of climate change. They’re that way because we have 7.7 billion people crammed onto a planet that’s dying under the pressure of our greedy, selfish abuse. Two decades from now, the earth’s oceans are on target to contain more plastic in them (by weight) than fish. Climate change didn’t do that. Way too many people did that.

Climate change hasn’t covered the world with concrete or replaced healthy ecosystems with canal estates and shopping malls – we and our ever-increasing numbers are the culprit. Climate change is only one of many symptoms of an out-of-control disease – human overpopulation. The irreversible environmental damage stemming from having too many people on a finite planet is already painfully evident. Our bloated population is diminishing our children’s futures in ways that have very little to do with the planet’s temperature.

I keep hearing people say “Humans have always found a way to solve difficult problems, so don’t worry – it’ll all work itself out”. Alas, the problem the earth faces now is one it has never dealt with before – a plague of nearly 8 billion humans. It can’t cope anymore.

Read the story from Global Comment by Kevin Casey - “Why climate change is an irrelevance, economic growth is a myth and sustainability is forty years too late.”

Tank water: How to protect yourself from gastro, toxic metals and more

Beautiful, pure rainwater is nature's gift of hydration from the heavens, right?

Many Australians rely on rainwater for drinking,
so it's important to know how to keep that water safe

Well, not quite. Experts say untreated rainwater is considered not safe for human consumption.

Between the bacteria that can thrive in water tanks and the toxic metal traces that can be found in roof runoff, the official advice is that rainwater should be your last choice if you have access to other sources of treated water.

"There is this public view that rainwater is clean and yummy and tasty but it really depends on how you collect it," said Michael Oelgemoeller, a water treatment researcher from James Cook University.

"I would not drink it for sure. It's recommended for dishwashers, for toilets, for gardening but drinking is a different story.”

Flinders University environmental health researcher Kirstin Ross, who recently conducted a review of tank water around Adelaide, said that although there was no evidence of increased gastrointestinal illness as a result of using rainwater tanks for drinking water, the microbes are present in the water.

Read the ABC News story by Tegan Taylor - “Tank water: How to protect yourself from gastro, toxic metals and more.”

Big dry driving red-headed strangers south for a wetter life in our backyards

It's got a vivid red head and it's more commonly spotted on the Queensland coast – but you may soon see this beautiful little bird in your Melbourne backyard.

The scarlet honeyeater has been reported in
unprecedented numbers in Victoria this spring. 

That's because the scarlet honeyeater appears to be heading to Victoria to seek refuge from drought in its usual habitat.

And bird experts think it may now decide to call the Garden State home on a permanent basis.

At least that's what preliminary data from the Aussie Backyard Bird Count appears to indicate.

Read Joe Hinchliffe’s story in today’s Melbourne Age - “Big dry driving red-headed strangers south for a wetter life in our backyards.”