More good news for Anvil Hill

The New South Wales government has confirmed that it won't appeal the Land and Environment Court's landmark ruling of last year http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/news-and-events/news/Climate-change/Anvil-Hill-polluter).The ruling means that environmental assessments must include the greenhouse gas emissions that result from the burning of New South Wales coal overseas.

This is great news. It's a strong step forward for the campaign and firmly establishes the principle that we cant ignore greenhouse emissions from our dirty coal just because it disappears overseas. Every tonne of coal we export comes back to us as climate change.

Vote for clean energy if you live in New South Wales http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/issues/climate-change/take-action/vote/NSW
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Occupy Newcastle in February!

Let's send a clear message to the New South Wales election hopefuls. Join the People's Occupation of the World's Biggest Coal Port on 10 February, at Newcastle harbour. This peaceful mass action will be a land vigil and a colourful harbour flotilla, organised by Newcastle climate action group, Rising Tide.

When: 1pm, 10 February, 2007
Where: Horseshoe Beach, Newcastle
More info and RSVP:
http://www.flotilla.net.au/

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Hazelwood activists to appear in court

Fifteen Greenpeace activists will appear in a Victorian court this week charged with trespass.

In August, 2005, activists occupied a loader in the brown coal pit at Victoria's Hazelwood coal plant. They chained themselves to a dredger and released a huge "1st prize" ribbon, awarding Hazelwood the dubious title of the developed world's most polluting power station.

Read more about the court case
http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/news-and-events/news/Climate-change/activists-face-court  

Read about the August 2005 action
http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/news-and-events/news/Climate-change/victoria-wins-first-prize-for]

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Campbell backs down over Bald Hills

Federal Environment Minister, Ian Campbell, has finally approved the $220 million Bald Hills wind farm, reversing a controversial decision in which he claimed the project would pose a danger to the rare orange-bellied parrot. Senator Campbell said the wind farm had federal approval subject to key changes to the turbine layout and strict conditions to protect the parrot and other threatened species.

Antony Newbold, the director of Wind Power Pty Ltd, which has applied for the Bald Hills project, hailed Senator Campbell's decision as a victory for his company "but, more importantly, a victory for the Australian and Victorian people".

"This decision reinforces the importance of renewable energy and the importance of this project, which has taken two years longer than it should have to be approved."

Read our FAQs on wind farms in Australia http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/issues/climate-change/climate-change-resources/faqs#climateChange_q13
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Happy Switched On New Year!

Renewable energy made tremendous strides globally in 2006. From the
passage of Schwarzenegger's million solar roofs legislation in California
to a solar cell breaking the 40 per cent efficiency barrier to a record
year for wind power in the US, Canada and UK, it all looks good for even
more good news for clean energy in 2007.

Read the top global clean energy stories of 2006 at the Renewable Energy
Access website
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=46987

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Take action links:

Are you an older Australian? Join the Grey Power community
http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/issues/climate-change/take-action/greypower

Do your bit to save energy. Download the Switched On guide.
http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/issues/climate-change/solutions/consumer/guide

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Thanks for helping Australia switch on to clean energy solutions. Catherine, Mark, Louise, Ben, Kieran and Julien Energy and Climate team, Greenpeace Australia Pacific

If you received this email from a friend and would like to subscribe, please email switchedon@au.greenpeace.org. Put the word "subscribe" in the subject line and include your first and last name, suburb and postcode in the body of your email.
 
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