The Daily Telegraph’s chilling Sydney dystopia: ducted air conditioning and cars 'forced underground’

It’s my sad duty to inform you that the city of Sydney as we know it is set to be destroyed and replaced by the totalitarian spectre of a chilling dystopia. At least, that’s if you believe the Daily Telegraph’s latest reporting on the lord mayor Clover Moore’s 2050 vision.

‘Trains and light rail would be powered by renewable
energy, urban farms would feed the city. On its face,
this sounds like a great thing. But the Daily Telegraph
 sees it for what it is.’

Moore has outlined a concept for how the city could look that year as part of the City of Sydney council’s broader move to make the city more sustainable.

Given the spectre of rising sea levels in a harbour city that has already declared a climate emergency, you would expect future planning to help mitigate the worst of these scenarios, if for no other reason than to help keep its spot on the most liveable city rankings. Instead, the Telegraph describes Moore’s future Sydney as a “wacky dystopian vision”.

The City of Sydney Liberal councillor Christine Forster is quoted in the piece criticising Moore for “scaring children with alarmist rhetoric”, citing a feedback session that described children as being deeply anxious. Won’t someone think of the children? Not in a “handing them a better world” sense, of course, but at least coddle them until they inherit the worst of our sins.

Read the story from The Guardian by James Colley - “The Daily Telegraph’s chilling Sydney dystopia: ducted air conditioning and cars 'forced underground’.”

Insect population decline leaves Australian scientists scratching for solutions

A global crash in insect populations has found its way to Australia, with entomologists across the country reporting lower than average numbers of wild insects.

Entomologists are concerned Australia's insect populations are in decline.

University of Sydney entomologist Dr Cameron Webb said researchers around the world widely acknowledge that insect populations are in decline, but are at a loss to determine the cause.

"On one hand it might be the widespread use of insecticides, on the other hand it might be urbanisation and the fact that we're eliminating some of the plants where it's really critical that these insects complete their development," Dr Webb said.

"Add in to the mix climate change and sea level rise and it's incredibly difficult to predict exactly what it is."

Entomologist and owner of the Australian Insect Farm, near Innisfail in far north Queensland, Jack Hasenpusch is usually able to collect swarms of wild insects at this time of year.

Read the ABC News story by Mark Rigby - “Insect population decline leaves Australian scientists scratching for solutions.”