Residents fear anarchy as Cape Town water shut-off looms

Cape Town: It sounds like a Hollywood blockbuster. "Day Zero" is coming to Cape Town this April. Everyone, be warned.

Residents collect water from a communal tap in an
informal settlement in Mitchells Plain outside of Cape Town.

The government cautions that the Day Zero threat will surpass anything a major city has faced since World War II or the September 11 attacks. Talks are underway with South Africa's police because "normal policing will be entirely inadequate". Residents, their nerves increasingly frayed, speak in whispers of impending chaos.

Read the story in today’s Melbourne Age - “Residents fear anarchy as Cape Town water shut-off looms.”

Inadequate climate change response angers Mark Ruffalo

M

ark Ruffalo understands what anger can do to a person and although that experience has been in the movies, personally though our less than adequate response to climate change angers him.

Mark Ruffalo - our
 inadequate response to
climate change angers him.

The American actor, director, producer and screenwriter says, “I’m angry that we are still debating climate change, and that despite the reams of science-based evidence for it, there are still those who ignore the facts.

“I’m angry that we’re heavily investing in fossil fuels to power our nation, when greater investment in renewable energy represents jobs, energy stability — and the sustainability of life as we know it.”

Ruffalo, who portrays the Marvel Comics character Dr Bruce Banner, also known as The Hulk, said in Grist story: “Mostly, though, I’m hopeful, because I think the tide is turning, and many — particularly young people — understand the existential threat we face and are prepared to do something about it.”

Read the Grist story - “Mark Ruffalo talks climate change and what you can do about it”.

Stone's avoidance understandable

Efforts to have the Federal Member for Murray, Sharman Stone, join us Beneath the Wisteria have been met with only avoidance and in reading this story in The Guardian, it is clear why.

The Guardian's Oliver
Milman in Melbourne.

Federal Coalition plans to combat climate change are not only inappropriate, but clearly inadequate.

The story, headed “Abbott's tree-planting plan not enough to combat climate change, study says”, quotes a report that warns that in absence of significant cuts to fossil fuel emissions would undermine any attempt to store carbon in trees and soils would be fruitless.

The report, entitled “Untangling the Confusion Around Land Carbon Science and Climate Change Mitigation Policy”, says that there is public confusion over the offsetting of carbon emissions by carbon “sinks” such as forests.