CANBERRA, Australia, February 2, 2009 (ENS) – Today, Australia’s Labor government used the occasion of World Wetlands Day to slam the former Liberal government for its treatment of the country’s 65 wetlands that are officially designated under the Ramsar treaty.

World Wetlands Day marks the date of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.

“A snapshot report into the management of Australia’s Ramsar wetlands up to the end of 2007 paints a damning picture of poor administration and inaction under the previous government,” said Environment Minister Peter Garrett, who is part of the government of Premier Kevin Rudd, which took office in December 2007.

The Ramsar Snapshot Study Report looks at the status and management of all 65 Australian Ramsar sites and assesses the completeness and currency of Ramsar site documentation for Australian Ramsar sites.

The Coorong wetland and the Lower Lakes are drying up. (Photo by Andy Burton)

“This study shows just how much the Howard Government and Malcolm Turnbull as environment minister took their eye off the ball when it came to the management and protection of our internationally recognized wetlands, including the Coorong,” said Garrett. “It is a damning indictment of their failure to act in the face of drought and dangerous climate change.”

The Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth region is a national park and lagoon ecosystem in South Australia, 156 kilometers southeast of Adelaide. This wetland forms at the terminus of the longest and largest river in Australia, the River Murray. The park is characterized by a complex interaction of sea water, the river water, rainfall and groundwater.

The Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Ramsar site and many other Australian wetlands are increasingly drying. The two year period to the end of November 2007 is the lowest Murray System two year inflow period on record, according to a federal government report.

Wetlands conservationists demonstrate at Milang, holding a banner with the World Wetlands Day 2009 theme message. February 2, 2009. (Photo
by Kazzawhoo)  

A banner demonstration and candlelight vigil was held today at Milang to mark World Wetlands Day 2009 with a focus on the sorry state of the Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Wetland.

Experts are blaming the drought on climate change. In May 2008, Murray-Darling Basin Commission Chief Executive Dr. Wendy Craik announced the Australian government’s conclusion that, “There is growing evidence that lower rainfall and reduced runoff in southeast Australia is linked to climate change.”

The federal and South Australia governments have proposed to allow saltwater to flow into the freshwater wetlands through the lower lakes.

The Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council, on November 14, 2008, approved a strategy that if critical thresholds are reached, the barrages between the Coorong and Lake Alexandrina should be opened to transfer the minimum necessary quantities of salt water to avoid acidification in the Lower Lakes.

Now the South Australia government must prepare an environmental impact statement and publish it for public comment.

The saltwater inflow proposals have been widely criticized by Australian Greens and environmental groups.

In October 2008, the Greens’ Senate Inquiry into water management in the Coorong and Lower Lakes found that, “contrary to the federal government’s pessimistic view,” a total of 60 gigalitres of fresh water by September 2009 is all that is required to provide enough environmental flow to stop Lakes Alexandrina and Albert from drying up and acidifying in the short term.

Today, the Australian Conservation Foundation took the occasion of World Wetlands Day to call on the federal government “to put its money where its mouth is” and buy the water needed to keep all options open for the future of the Lower Lakes and Coorong.

“Politicians should not be giving up on South Australia’s Coorong and Lower Lakes or making out that flooding these wetlands with seawater is the only option,” said Dr. Arlene Buchan, ACF healthy rivers campaigner.

“January water allocation data shows there is plenty of water for sale on the market at the very reasonable price of around $300 per megalitre,” Buchan said. “In fact, there is more water on the market at the moment than water brokers are able to sell – and the price is dropping.”

“By purchasing this water the federal government would buy some much needed time for the Lower Lakes and the Coorong,” she said. “Now is the time for the federal government to actively deal with the problem by buying the water needed to save these wetlands from a salty grave.”

A team of Adelaide University scientists has presented a plan to resuscitate the southern Coorong by pumping the concentrated brine out into the ocean across the Younghusband Peninsula.

“The lower Coorong is so salty that even if the total reserves of the Murray were tipped into it, would not make any difference because it would still be too salty for the plants and fish to revive,” said Adelaide University Professor David Paton last September.

“And that’s unlikely to happen anytime soon because any fresh water available would be used to fill the Lower Lakes which would take 1,000 gigalitres,” he said.

Sunset over the drying Coorong wetland (Photo by Fabio de Francesco)

The brine, which is eight times saltier than seawater, would be gradually replaced with rainfall runoff from the lower reaches of the Coorong, rain, hopefully, and seawater from the northern part of the Coorong, Paton said.

The Coorong crisis has been building over a long time. In 2005, Nick Roberts of the Victorian National Parks Association said, “Australia has signed the Ramsar treaty to say we would maintain the ecological character of the Coorong as it was in 1985. We are failing this promise.”

In his World Wetlands Day message, Environment Minister Garrett blamed the previous government. Of the Snapshot Report, he said, “Page after page highlights the serious ecological and management issues and challenges regarding Australia’s Ramsar Convention administration, the failures of the past and suggests a number of areas where implementation of the Ramsar Convention in Australia can be improved.”

Garrett said water management and use is a key threat to a number of Ramsar sites and as part of the $12.9 billion, 10 year Water for the Future plan, the Australian government is purchasing water entitlements from willing sellers to return water to the environment.

The minister said funding also has been provided to The Living Murray initiative for increased environmental flows and complementary on-ground works and measures to six icon sites, which include six Ramsar sites along the River Murray.

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HONG KONG, China, December 3, 2008 (ENS) – Commitments to clean Hong Kong’s beaches, produce carbon-free energy from rice residues, and raise awareness of climate change in India are among the results of the first Clinton Global Initiative meeting in Asia.

Today, at the conclusion of the two-day meeting in Hong Kong, former President Bill Clinton said, “I am truly impressed by our Clinton Global Initiative members and the new commitments announced this week that will bring real, measurable change to millions of lives in Asia and across the world.”

“CGI Asia members have made commitments worth an estimated total value of US$185 million, to positively impact more than 10 million lives,” Clinton said.

Former President Bill Clinton
(Photo courtesy CGI)

Clinton welcomed current and former heads of state and prominent regional business and non-profit leaders who pledged to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges – climate change, food and water security, and deforestation.

“Asia has a strong history of social responsibility and we have a unique opportunity to work together in innovative and effective ways to achieve positive change during a time of great uncertainty for the world,” said Clinton, whose wife, Senator Hillary Clinton has just been nominated to serve as Secretary of State in the incoming administration President-elect Barack Obama.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed the CGI Asia meeting’s opening plenary session on Tuesday with a video message, saying, “In recent decades, Asia has achieved remarkable gains in economic growth and development. This progress has offered valuable lessons to the rest of the world.”

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd also addressed the participants via video. “We need new ideas to confront and solve the myriad of challenges which lie ahead of us this century,” said the prime minister. “I look forward to working with all those gathered at the Clinton Global Initiative meeting to move our world forward towards a new chapter in human history.”

Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said her visit to Hong Kong to take part in the Clinton Global Initiative was “short but fruitful.” Arroyo told participants that she remains “laser-focused” in working to further strengthen the economy so the country could stay the course.

The Commitments to Action, made by members to affect positive change include the CGI’s three areas of focus – education, energy and climate change, and public health.

The World Food Programme and partners made a far-reaching mega-commitment’ includes six different CGI commitments involving eight countries and is valued at US$20 million dollars. It will focus on feeding more people with better food, targeting vulnerable groups in emergency and post-disaster situations and long-term food security.

Fun in the sun at one of Hong Kong’s 40
beaches (Photo by Pepa Amenabar)

Environmental commitments include a pledge from Graeme Reading, chair of the Café Deco Group, to spend US$125,000 over two years to establish a Hong Kong beach authority, which will coordinate both public and private efforts to clean up Hong Kong’s 40 beaches.

Dr. Robert S. Zeigler, director general of the International Rice Research Institute, commits US$2.2 million over four years to develop a new technology that will produce carbon-dioxide free energy from rice residues such as straw and husks, helping create additional income for farmers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in India and Cambodia.

The BAIF Development Research Foundation and partners, is committing US$30,700 over two years to integrate an educational program on climate change in 10,000 rural schools in Northern India and 5,000 in Maharashtra state.

The Noble Group, one of the world’s largest supply-chain managers whose operations involve many of the Earth’s natural resources and raw materials, announced a commitment to be carbon neutral by 2008. In addition to going carbon neutral, the Noble Group will also generate an awareness-raising campaign targeting its 10,000 staff members and more than 4,000 business partners. This commitment is valued at US$10 million over three years.

Habitat for Humanity China is committing US$12.5 million over 18 months to rehabilitate three communities that were affected by the earthquakes that struck China’s Sichuan province in May by constructing 924 houses, three nursery schools, health clinics, libraries, and outdoor exercise areas.

Hang Seng Bank, along with its partners, is committing US$150,000 over one year to build 300 biogas toilets for 1,700 people in Yunnan, China that will store methane gas produced by humans and poultry to provide local communities with alternative forms of energy for daily use, in an effort to reduce carbon emissions.

The nonprofit group International Center for Networking, Ecology, Education and Re-Integration, along with its partners, is committing US$1 million over two years to raise awareness of the dangers posed by climate change in India and Mozambique. The group intends to engage 60,000 students in renewable energy discussions in 600 schools to demonstrate that a positive change in individual and community behavior can result in energy efficiency and resource conservation.

Mother and child in a Thar Desert village,
Rajasthan, India (Photo by Mirjam Letsch)

The Jal Bhagirathi Foundation, with its partners, is committing US$7.6 million over six years to implement projects in 400 villages in the Thar Desert of India that will improve underserved populations’ access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and alternative sustainable livelihood opportunities; in an effort to reduce their vulnerability to climate change.

Mlup Baitong and partners is committing US$110,000 over three years to reduce the current degradation of natural resources in Cambodia by coordinating and implementing a community based forestry management project in Kampong Thom province.

51-Sim.org and its partners announced a commits US$1 million over two years to host China’s first ever “Green Car Show” which will be carbon-neutral, and to hold a climate change competition to encourage environmentally-friendly behavior.

Over the course of three years, Practical Action commits US$27 million to help disadvantaged, rural communities develop their capacity to use innovative agricultural techniques that will reduce their vulnerability to disasters and risks associated with climate change, aspiring to improve the lives of 700,000 people.

Aid Foundation, Inc. commits US$260,000 over two years to provide access to clean drinking water for disadvantaged, rural communities by developing their capacity to manufacture and install AIDFI’s hydraulic ram pump in Colombia, Indonesia, Madagascar, and the Philippines, in an effort to improve sanitation and agricultural activities for 3,600 people.

Mr. Wee Lin is committing US$99,000 over nine years to enhance access to environmentally-friendly and affordable food for underserved and poor communities in Singapore by hosting a series of events and engaging stakeholders in dialogue.

The World Toilet Organization, along with its partners, is committing US$1.2 million to expand access for more than 750 million people in Cambodia and India to basic sanitation by improving the current market structure of the sanitation sector. The WTO will work to better match supply of sanitation products with demand and provide training programs for business leaders who wish to tap into the US$1 trillion global sanitation marketplace.

The WWF is committing US$200,000 over three and a half years to provide access to finance, education, and training to excluded and marginalized women and children living in the slums and rural villages of Southern India, and identify potential NGOs who could replicate this program in Northern India.

The Shri Ram School, Shri Ram Foundation, and Save the Children Bal Raksha Bharat commit US$300,000 over two years to launch a comprehensive disaster risk mitigation program to train teachers, children and families to better prepare for and address natural disasters.

GeoHazards International, India’s National Disaster Management Authority, GeoHazards Society, ProVention Consortium, EHDD Architecture, University of New Mexico, Rutherford & Chekene Structural Engineering, Stanford University Chapter of Engineers for a Sustainable World, and the National Centre for Peoples’ Action in Disaster Preparedness commit US$5 million over five years to improve the earthquake resistance and energy efficiency of schools and health clinics in Northern India and other Asian countries.

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SYDNEY, Australia, July 17, 2008 (ENS) – Pope Benedict XVI opened the official portion of his first visit to Australia today by reminding everyone at the Government House welcoming ceremony of “the need to protect the environment.”

“With many thousands of young people visiting Australia at this time, it is appropriate to reflect upon the kind of world we are handing on to future generations,” the Pope said. “In the words of your national anthem, this land “abounds in nature’s gifts, of beauty rich and rare.’”

Young people await the Pope’s arrival
at Barangaroo. (Photo © and ™
WYD 2008)

“The wonder of God’s creation reminds us of the need to protect the environment and to exercise responsible stewardship of the goods of the earth,” he said. “In this connection I note that Australia is making a serious commitment to address its responsibility to care for the natural environment.”

The pope is here on the occasion of the 23rd World Youth Day, the largest youth event in the world, which opened in Sydney on Tuesday and continues through Sunday. Organized by the Catholic Church, World Youth Day gathers young people from around the globe to celebrate and learn about their faith.

In his welcoming statement, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd acknowledged “the first Australians on whose land we meet and whose cultures we celebrate as among the oldest continuing cultures in human history,” and welcomed the pontiff on their behalf at their request.

One in every four Australians is Catholic and there are 1,300 parishes across the continental country, in each of which the pope would be most welcome, the prime minister said.

“It is fitting that his holiness’s first visit to Australia is for the occasion of World Youth Day,” said Rudd, “in part because Australia itself is a young country, although as this young country we inhabit this vast and ancient land.”

Later in the day at Barangaroo, a waterfront renewal area in Sydney Harbour, Pope Benedict returned to his environmental message.

Addressing an estimated crowd of over 150,000 pilgrims who traveled to Sydney for World Youth Day ‘08, the pontiff told of his feelings of awe while traveling from Europe to Australia by air.

Pope Benedict XVI blesses the crowd
at Barangaroo (Photo © and ™
WYD 2008)

“The views afforded of our planet from the air were truly wondrous,” he said. “The sparkle of the Mediterranean, the grandeur of the north African desert, the lushness of Asia’s forestation, the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, the horizon upon which the sun rose and set, and the majestic splendour of Australia’s natural beauty which I have been able to enjoy these last couple of days; these all evoke a profound sense of awe.”

“It is as though one catches glimpses of the Genesis creation story – light and darkness, the sun and the moon, the waters, the earth, and living creatures; all of which are “good” in God’s eyes,” said the pope. “Immersed in such beauty, who could not echo the words of the Psalmist in praise of the Creator: “how majestic is your name in all the earth?”

But Pope Benedict also called attention to environmental degradation.

“Perhaps reluctantly we come to acknowledge that there are also scars which mark the surface of our earth: erosion, deforestation, the squandering of the world’s mineral and ocean resources in order to fuel an insatiable consumption,” he said.

“Some of you come from island nations whose very existence is threatened by rising water levels; others from nations suffering the effects of devastating drought,” said the pope.

“God’s wondrous creation is sometimes experienced as almost hostile to its stewards, even something dangerous. How can what is “good” appear so threatening?”

Pope Benedict is introduced to a koala at
Kenthurst Retreat. (Photo © and ™
WYD 2008)

The planet is in urgent need of caring stewardship, the pontiff emphasized, saying, “My dear friends, God’s creation is one and it is good. The concerns for non-violence, sustainable development, justice and peace, and care for our environment are of vital importance for humanity.”

The World Youth Day events began on Tuesday with an opening Mass at Barangaroo celebrated by Cardinal George Pell and bishops from around the world.

On Friday afternoon, there will be a live theatrical and devotional re-enactment of the Stations of the Cross, the last days of Jesus’ life against the backdrop of the Sydney Harbour.

On Saturday, there will be an evening vigil and candlelight ceremony with the pope at Southern Cross Precinct.

And on Sunday, World Youth Day, Pope Benedict celebrate Mass for what organizers predict will be the largest gathering of people in the history of Australia at Southern Cross Precinct.

The pope will fly over the precinct in a helicopter and then drive through the precinct in the pope-mobile, a bullet-proof vehicle designed for the pontiff.

Through Friday night, the Youth Festival features music, performing arts, visual art exhibitions, debate, film, community gatherings, street performers, workshops and a Vocations Expo. All Youth Festival events are free and open to the general public.

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