Oz: Farmers and Greens Unite to Fight Climate change

August 16, 2007By Andy RowellBlog Post

It might be considered an unlikely alliance, but Australian farmers and green groups have united in the fight against global warming. They are launching a group called the Agricultural Alliance, which aims to significantly reduce emissions by up to 60 per cent by 2050.

Top Iraqi Official Was In Charge of E&P

August 16, 2007By Andy RowellBlog Post 1 Comment

The Iraqi oil official kidnapped with four others on Tuesday was in charge of Iraq’s exploration and production, a key role, especially for a Sunni. Abdel-Jabar al-Wagaa, a deputy minister and top assistant to the oil minister, was taken by a group of men in official uniforms and vehicles.

Arctic Sea Ice Melting at Fastest Rate

August 15, 2007By Andy RowellBlog Post

The sea ice of the Arctic will melt further and faster than at any time since records began nearly 30 years ago, according to the latest data collected by a satellite survey of the polar region. Scientists warned yesterday that the sea ice is already approaching the record minimum set in September 2005, even with … Read More

Iraq: Deputy Oil Minister Seized

August 15, 2007By Andy RowellBlog Post

More than 50 gunmen dressed in Iraqi security forces uniforms and using 17 official vehicles broke into an Oil Ministry compound in eastern Baghdad yesterday and abducted a senior deputy of the oil minister, and four other officials, a ministry spokesman and police said. Abdel-Jabar al-Wagaa, the senior assistant to Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani, was … Read More

Almost Half UK Want Green Tax on Air Travel

August 15, 2007By Andy RowellBlog Post

There may be a war of words at the moment between protestors and the airline industry at the climate camp outside Heathrow over the damage caused to the climate by aviation, but there is more bad news for the aviation industry. A major public survey has shown that public attitudes to flying have hardened in … Read More

Wolfowitz “Tried to Censor World Bank on Climate”

August 14, 2007By Andy RowellBlog Post

We know that the Bush administration has consistently tried to water down policy documents on climate change, both home and abroad. Now there is evidence that the White House’s pointman at the bank, the now disgraced Paul Wolfowitz, personally intervened to remove the words “climate change” from the title of a bank progress report and … Read More

Mend Threatens Renewed Attacks

August 14, 2007By Andy RowellBlog Post

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has threatened renewed attacks on oil and gas installations at the end of August. It believes that there is a lack of genuine commitment on the part of government to address its concerns over allocating more resources from oil to the local communities in the … Read More

BP to Fight OSHA Penalty

August 14, 2007By Andy RowellBlog Post

BP may have changed leadership, but its old habits continue. The company BP has said that its US division will contest the latest safety citations and a fine imposed by federal regulators over hazardous conditions at the company’s Texas City refinery. Last month the Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited BP for one willful and … Read More

Thousands Expected at Heathrow Climate Camp

August 13, 2007By Andy RowellBlog Post

Thousands of protesters are expected to arrive today at the “Climate Camp” near London’s busiest airport, Heathrow today, despitethe injunction taken out last week by the airport’s operator, BAA. It is also despite the predictable heavy-handiness of the police. The camp is part of a week-long protest against plans to expand the airport, which organisers … Read More

“The Answer to Oil Sands”

August 13, 2007By Andy RowellBlog Post

Interesting story from the Globe and Mail about new techniques being used to exploit Alberta’s oil sands which offer a “potential sea change in how Canadian companies wring energy from the ground.” Most companies have traditionally pumped steam into their reservoirs to move the putty-like oil deposits, a process called steam-assisted gravity drainage, but this … Read More