Environment

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Not one single environmental problem can be solved if and when tackled only by scientific or technological means, without considering it to be a part of the global spiritual crisis of humankind, without considering the moral, cultural and ethical conditions of our civilization.

- Central Asia Earth Charter Council

The Principles

1. The human community depends on the earth and has a responsibility to respect life in all its diversity.

2. All environmental issues are profoundly linked and touch all aspects of human life and enterprise.

3. The actions of each generation have implications for all future generations.

The Issues

1. The dominant patterns of production and consumption are causing environmental devastation, depletion of resources and massive loss of bio-diversity.

2. NSW has cleared at least 45% of its native vegetation and forests.

3. Destruction of habitat has led to species extinction and loss of bio-diversity.

The Alternatives

1. Provide an incentive and transition package to encourage and assist landholders to protect and manage native vegetation.

2. Protect all old growth, wilderness and high conservation value forests and native vegetation throughout NSW.

3. End woodchipping from native forests and the use of native forests for electricity generation or charcoal production.

4. Make no exemption for logging under the Native Vegetation Conservation Act.

The Issue Water, Rivers and Salinity -

Inappropriate use of rivers has led to diminished flow and the devastation resulting from salinity.

The Alternatives

1. Increase flow in NSW river systems by returning one percent of the average annual flow per year over ten years.

2. Ensure that in NSW a water licence does not confer property rights.

3. Provide incentives to improve water efficiencies, to return the saved water to the environment.

4. Continue remediation works on known saline discharge sites.

5. Work with other states to reduce the risk of flood plain salinisation from land management, river regulation and salt from upstream catchments.

The Issue Greenhouse Gases, Energy and Sustainable Transport -

Our option for non-renewable energy and the effects of global warming are creating long-lasting damage to our environment.

The Alternatives

1. Offer incentives for such facilities as double flush toilets and shower heads; and alternative power sources such as wind power and solar panels.

2. Discourage reliance on carbon sinks, over reliance on gas and coal power.

3. License industrial developers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

4. Seek environmental reform of the National Electricity Code and Market.

5. Advocate the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol.

6. Provide sustainable public transport and encourage research into alternative energy for all transport.

Issue Protected and Public Lands -

Wilderness, National Parks and public lands of environmental significance face ongoing threat from human activity.

The Alternatives

1. Establish a Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative Reserve System (CAR) over NSW lands and waters. An urgent priority is the Melbourne to Brisbane Conservation Link and a broader network of reserves that connect core coastal and highland bushland belts and western outliers.

2. Create marine sanctuaries protecting at least 20% of all habitat types.

3. Ensure that significant public lands cannot be disposed of and are formally protected in a permanent reserve such as a national park.

The Issue Nuclear and Radioactive Waste -

The consequences of the storage and disposal of radioactive waste and the siting of nuclear facilities.

The Alternatives

1. Ensure Lucas Heights site becomes a non-reactor based centre for excellence in nuclear medicine, site remediation and waste management.

2. Amend legislation to regulate clearly the storage or transport of intermediate and higher level radioactive wastes in NSW.

3. Oppose the construction of the planned second reactor at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation's (ANSTO) Lucas Heights facility.

The Issue Genetically Modified Organisms -

Research into the long term consequences of Genetically Modified Organisms is needed before products are introduced.

The Alternatives

1. Introduce a five year moratorium on the release of genetically modified organisms.

2. Ensure freedom of regions of NSW to nominate as GM free zones.

3. Legislate for compulsory labelling of all foods with any GM content.

For more Information

www.catholicearthcareoz.net.au

www.sao.clriq.org.au

www.nccnsw.org.au

www.npansw.org.au

www.wilderness.org.au

www.earthcharter.org