Tasmania jails first forest protestor in a decade

A Tasmanian forest protester has been sentenced to three months jail – the first time in a decade anyone in the state has served time for environmental activism. Before entering court Colette Joan Harmsen made a passionate speech to a large group of forest and anti-mining protesters who turned up to support her saying “I am not a menace to society.”

A new research paper on seabed mining from Japan has drawn alarming conclusions on the long-term negative impact just two hours of undersea mining activity can have on fish populations. Researchers observed a 43% drop in fish and shrimp density in the areas directly impacted by sediment pollution one year later. 

And, groundbreaking new research shows the climate benefits of protecting and restoring underwater kelp forests could be equivalent to planting a billion trees. Globally seaweed and kelp forests are sequestering the same magnitude of carbon as the Amazon rainforest.

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‘I am not a menace to society’: First Tasmanian forest protester jailed in more than a decade
After the hearing, Bob Brown Foundation campaign manager Jenny Weber said it was believed to be the first time ever a woman in Tasmania had been jailed over environmental protesting.

Japanese study shows drop in fish numbers one year on from two-hour seabed mining trial
Associate Professor Kat Bolstad from the department of Environmental Science at Auckland University of Technology said the effects of large-scale deep-sea mining were likely to “be substantial, longer lasting, and more complex than we can anticipate.”

Great Southern Reef's kelp forests an underwater 'Amazon' that could help tackle climate change
The study, released by UWA and Conservation International, found that the climate benefits of seaweed forests had been grossly underestimated.

Australia’s love of big cars is undoing the benefits of the shift to EVs
Australians are driving bigger, heavier, dirtier cars and it's alarming both climate and road safety experts.Internationally, SUVs are driving an increase in oil consumption, which is at odds with the need to reduce emissions. In fact, the rise of SUVs is wiping out the climate gains from the switch to electric vehicles.

Hundreds killed as monsoon rain causes flooding and landslides across Asia
Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to evacuate amid intense monsoon rains that have killed more than 200 people across Asia. 

Crocodile Islands traditional owners realise dream to join Australia's Indigenous Protected Area network
Arnhem Land Indigenous rangers and traditional owners are celebrating the federal government's move to officially bring thousands of square kilometres of their Crocodile Islands archipelago and sea country into Australia's network of Indigenous Protected Areas.

Landholders sign over private property for perpetual conservation in NSW
Tony Rowland has given 20 hectares of his bushland block to a conservation project so the land will never be logged and remain a wildlife sanctuary forever.

Sunny Corner mine was abandoned a century ago. It’s still a toxic ‘deadly’ mess
While it’s not somewhere you would want to spend much time, the site affords an insight into a problem for governments and industry that is only growing bigger – what do you do with a mine once you’re finished with it? 

Why electric cars are cheaper than ever
Electric cars have dropped so significantly in price, some now cost less than petrol alternatives. In the past month, three battery-powered hatchbacks have gone on sale for less than $40,000 as competition between car companies intensifies.

Orsted seeks licences to build Australia’s largest offshore wind projects
Danish giant Orsted has sought licences to develop Australia’s largest offshore wind projects, and is seeking approval to begin preliminary work early next year, as the world’s biggest developer seeks to dominate the energy source widely seen as critical if Canberra is to meet its lofty transition goals.

Sydney’s unseasonably warm weather set to stay as BoM continues ‘El Niño’ watch
The Bureau of Meteorology’s long-range forecast expects more warm weather for the east coast, with Sydney hitting a top of 23C on Saturday