Farm Weekly - Nats push for diesel price investigation

Nationals Leader Warren Truss has written to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, requesting an immediate investigation into the retail price of diesel, which he says is out of sync with unleaded petrol.

TV NZ - Islands fight the tide

Imagine your home is slowly sinking into the sea, and then consider Australia's Pacific neighbours - who don't have to use their imagination.

A recent climate change seminar in Sydney heard that scientists are beginning to recognise the 52 island nations of the South Pacific as the mine canaries of climate change. But that's little consolation for the people whose homes and ancestral lands are in danger of disappearing beneath the waves.

The Australian - Super funds crucial in shift to green economy

SUPERANNUATION funds are emerging as a crucial driver in the shift towards a carbon-constrained economy, according to a key report.

IT Brief - Data centres should take to high seas: Prof

Many of the world's data centres could one day float in the oceans tethered to giant windmills supplying sustainable energy, predicts the head of Cambridge University's Computer Laboratory

Stuff.co.nz - Climate change research funded

The Government is to give more than $10 million to research projects designed to help the agriculture and forestry sectors adapt and respond to climate change.

The Australian - BHP slashes coking coal output as price collapses

AUSTRALIA'S most valuable export, coking coal, will take a big hit this financial year as BHP Billiton trims as much as 15 per cent of its output.

The Age - Woodside revenue slips in oil crash

THE crash in oil prices caught up with Woodside Petroleum in the December quarter. Despite record production in the quarter, sales revenue slipped 7 per cent to $1.6 billion from the preceding quarter.

The Australian - Miners to be hit as China's slowdown worsens

HOPES that Asia would buffer Australian miners from the worst of the deepening global recession have evaporated.

ABC - More mining job cuts 'inevitable' as China's economy slows

A resources specialist at the brokerage firm Fat Prophets says further job losses in Australia's mining sector will be inevitable given the dramatic slowdown in China's economy.

Stuff.co.nz - Jan 20 - Close: Contact energy leads charge lower

A 9 percent plunge in Contact Energy shares after the company issued a profit downgrade helped push the sharemarket down more than 1 percent.

But the New Zealand market fared better than those around the region, which slumped on growing concerns about the world economic downturn.

National Business Review - Changes loom for last resort electricity generator

The Whirinaki diesel fired plant, the country’s generator of last resort, should be taken off the reserve energy scheme and could face relocation or a change in fuel, according to a new report from the Electricity Commission.

In the commission’s review of power generation during last year’s winter, it recommends that the operations at Whirinaki should be analysed to determine whether the three 52MW units at the plant could be more cost effective at another location or with a different fuel supply.

ABC - Uranium mining could have saved jobs: Opposition
It is worth repeating that I don't necessarily agree with every story I post. I try to present every point of view. It is part of trying to maintain an open mind.

The Federal Opposition says the Queensland Government could have prevented job losses in the mining sector if it had allowed uranium mining years ago.

SMH - Farm chemicals cause reef pollution: WWF

Tougher regulations on farm chemicals are needed following rain that caused up to one million megalitres of pollution to spew onto the Great Barrier Reef, environmentalists say.

WWF reef spokesman Nick Heath said the organisation estimated enough polluted water to fill Sydney Harbour entered the reef after a monsoon brought drenching rain to north Queensland last week.

He said satellite imagery confirmed water flows travelled to mid-shelf reefs, causing algal blooms.

"If we are to give our iconic reef the best chance of withstanding climate change, we must ensure its water quality is as clean as possible," Mr Heath said.

Herald Sun - Chefs savour Scrooge food amid recession fears

FRUGAL food is the latest cookery craze as recession fears continue to bite.

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Experts say people are now growing their own fruit and vegetables and spending less money on expensive take-away food and prepared meals in favour of home cooking.

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Author Delia Smith said she was moved to reissue Frugal Food to help a new generation faced with rising food prices.

"This time there are more serious reasons to make cutbacks. And issues such as climate change and the high cost of energy emissions are forcing us to revise our wasteful habits," she said.