Featured-Carbon
Green intentions not matched by action: survey
A survey of attitudes to the environment has found that Australians are deeply concerned about global warming but are only prepared to change their behaviour in small ways.The Australian National University poll revealed two in five people believe global warming is the most... [Read more...]
Featured-Politics
Make Poverty History
Climate change is serious and it’s happening now. We all have a responsibility to act.Increasingly intense and erratic weather and natural events (such as storms and tidal surges) show that time is running out to prevent unprecedented climate-induced land degradation... [Read more...]
Featured-Energy and Water
Every bucket of water counts – let’s save a million of them!
NATIONAL NEWS RELEASE 20 October 2008 Every bucket of water counts – let’s save a million of them! Australians are being challenged to save at least one million buckets of water through the new ‘Every Bucket Counts’ campaign launched today... [Read more...]
Featured-Green Building
ShelterMaker Dreaming
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Global Warming and Carbon
Green intentions not matched by action: survey
A survey of attitudes to the environment has found that Australians are deeply concerned about global warming but are only prepared to change their behaviour in small ways.The Australian National University poll revealed two in five people believe global warming is the most serious threat facing the planet, ahead of population growth, terrorism and HIV/AIDS.
Three in five believe drought and declining rainfall are the greatest environmental threats while a similar number say the Federal Government is doing too little to protect the environment.
Professor Ian McAllister says nine in 10 respondents recycle household waste but just three in 10 use public transport.
“They were less prepared to take more major steps for example to limit their use of cars to use public transport more frequently, and we also found that they were more likely to pay personally to protect the environment,” he said.
“Particularly things like paying more for water, a large majority of people were prepared to do that.”
The survey shows while many Australians are concerned about global warming that does not translate into widespread support for an emissions trading scheme.
Professor McAllister says just over half of those surveyed were in favour of an emissions trading scheme.
“There needs to be a much greater debate about the pros and cons of the emissions trading scheme so ordinary voters are more informed about the whole issue,” he said.
“It’s also the case that most people believe that the Government isn’t doing enough more generally in this area and that’s obviously something that the Government should try and address.”
This article from: abc.net.au - October 29, 2008. Visit Site
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Energy and Water
Every bucket of water counts – let’s save a million of them!
NATIONAL NEWS RELEASE 20 October 2008
Every bucket of water counts – let’s save a million of them!
Australians are being challenged to save at least one million buckets of water through the new ‘Every Bucket Counts’ campaign launched today by Smart Approved WaterMark, Australia’s water conservation labelling scheme.
The ‘Every Bucket Counts’ campaign features three online calculators that show how much water each of us can save with some simple measures. The campaign and calculators, which can be found at www.smartwatermark.org, were officially launched as part of National Water Week.
“ ‘Every Bucket Counts’ makes it easy for people to see how much water they could save by choosing a waterless car wash product, installing a rainwater tank or by using a cover if they have a pool,” says Julian Gray, CEO of Smart WaterMark.
“We are calling on people to make a pledge online to save the amount of water the ‘Every Bucket Counts’ calculators show is easily achievable. If people make the commitment, then Smart WaterMark will donate $2 for every pledge to WaterAid Australia to help programs in countries where every bucket of drinking water is precious.”
Speaking at the launch event Australian marathon swimmer Tammy van Wisse said, “The ‘Every Bucket Counts’ campaign is a fantastic opportunity for Australians to show we care about saving water. The calculators reveal how simple it is to make a difference. Together let’s save a million buckets of water and make every one count.”
The three calculators are:
Car washing
The size of your car (small, medium or large), how often and how you wash it are among the kinds of information keyed in for this calculator. With the press of the ‘calculate’ button find out how much water you can save by using a low flow cleaner, or a waterless car wash.
Rainwater tanks
Not sure how much rain you get or how much you can collect from your roof? Don’t worry, the ‘Every Bucket Counts’ calculator is very smart! It knows how much average rainfall you get according to your postcode, how much rain can be collected over a year for your roof size and what the saving will be according to the size of the proposed rainwater tank. The water collected by your rainwater tank can then be used in your garden, laundry or toilets, saving mains water for drinking.
Swimming pool covers
Simply key in the size of your pool and some other simple facts such as the number of times it is used and topped up, then the number of litres of water saved from evaporation with a pool cover is calculated. Using your postcode, this calculator can even tell you if you are likely to get enough rain to keep your pool filled through the year!
“On average people across Australia use around 23 buckets of drinking quality water each per day*. This drinking water is too precious to waste so we encourage people to make simple changes in their lives by using water saving products around their home as well as offering their pledge in the ‘Every Bucket Counts’ campaign,” says Julian Gray.
Visit www.smartwatermark.org to use the new calculators, for a full list of products and services, or more information about the Mark.
- Ends -
FOR MEDIA INFORMATION
Smart Approved WaterMark CEO, Julian Gray, (02) 9290 3322 or 0407406973
Released for Smart Approved WaterMark by GREEN PR, contact Neville Sloss, ph 0414562010
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Business
Ethical funds perform well in difficult markets
29 October 2008
For immediate release
Media Release
Ethical funds perform well in difficult markets
The Australian Ethical Equities Trust &
The Australian Ethical Large Companies Share Trust
Both of Australian Ethical Investment’s equities based trusts have performed exceptionally well in the current volatile markets. The flagship Australian Ethical Equities Trust achieved a 6 month return to the end of September of 7.2%, compared to the S&P/ASX Small Industrials benchmark return of -10.5% and the overall S&P/ASX 300 return of -12.3%.
Paul Harding-Davis said ‘we are equally pleased with our larger companies trust (the Australian Ethical Large Companies Share Trust) performance for this period of -1.0% compared to its benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Industrials result of -10.7%.
Long-term investors in the trusts have also benefited from the sustainable approach to investing, with returns of 11.5% over ten years for the Australian Ethical Equities Trust, compared to the benchmark S&P/ASX Small Industrials return of 5.4%. Likewise, the Australian Ethical Large Companies Share Trust 10 year return of 10.4% compares strongly to its benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Industrials return of 8.4%.
‘Today, most investors no longer need to be convinced of the value added by holding sustainable companies, something Australian Ethical has been doing exclusively for its investors for over 20 years’ said Mr Harding-Davis.
The Australian Ethical Balanced Trust
The Australian Ethical Balanced Trust has again proved the strength of sustainable investing, over both the short and the long-term. In the last 6 months, a time of extreme investment volatility, the Balanced Trust has delivered a positive return of 0.8%, compared to its peers using the Morningstar Multisector Balanced average return of -3.5%. Australian Ethical’s Head of Distribution, Paul Harding-Davis, said ‘more importantly for a long-term investment strategy the 10 year return of 7.9% has outperformed the average return of its peers by 2.2%.’
Full performance history is available on our website – www.austethical.com.au
For further information or comment please contact:
Paul Harding-Davis Head of Distribution
0438 266 642
End.
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ShelterMaker Dreaming
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