Sustainable Business Weekly [Procurement, Floods, Qld State Election]

SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT

The Association for Sustainability in Business (ASB) is easily confused with the Australian Sustainable Group (ASBG).

ASB are running a Conference - Taking Care of Business: Sustainable Transformation which will be held on the Gold Coast in May 2012.

It will include the Green Procurement Challenge Workshop presented by Monique Chelin and Greg Edmonds.

The aim of procurement is to deliver value for money. The aim of green procurement is to deliver value for money AND value for the environment. The principles of green procurement are being mandated by corporations at all levels and at each tier of government, as part of standard operating procedures around Australia.

Green procurement is a set of tools applied to your current procurement process to ensure your organisation can buy products and services in a sustainable manner.

An organisation which has an effective green procurement system can take advantage of cost-savings through buying smarter, achieve compliance with current and proposed procurement legislation (especially government procurement standards) and achieve recognition for sustainable business practices. At the same time, green procurement enables you to reduce your company's environmental footprint and strengthen relationships with staff, suppliers and customers.

A properly structured green procurement system allows you to buy goods and services that have a substantially lower impact on the environment while maintaining quality, functionality and cost competitiveness.

Monique & Greg propose to help you not get bogged down with complex technical details and jargon – like product life cycle analysis – and to focus on achieving the desired outcomes of value for money and the environment through the purchasing decisions you make. The Green Procurement Challenge includes an interactive workshop and tools that get you started straight away and will point you in the right direction to start or improve your current green procurement system.

The presentation will demonstrate the cost-savings and benefits to the environment, brand and process efficiency through making sound environmental purchasing decisions. We will also demystify the terms of "green specifications", product certifications, life cycle analysis and eco-labelling.Take the time to learn about green procurement and you won’t ever be de-railed again by suppliers with greenwash slogans. Don’t let confusion ruin your genuine efforts to develop and maintain sustainable purchasing in your organisation The conference program is available on the website and will feature over fifty (50) presenters.

The Qld Floods Commission

The Qld Floods commission has been out of the news this week, drowned under Federal Politics. The commission was given an extension last month, to investigate “new evidence” concerning the operation of Wivenhoe Dam releases in Jan 2011.

The Commission of Inquiry delivered the interim report on 1 August 2011, covering matters associated with flood preparedness to enable early recommendations to be implemented before next summer's wet season. The final report will be delivered on 16 March 2012.
It is impossible to pin any one unusual weather event (such as the Qld floods in Jan 2011 or bush fires in Victoria) on climate change.

However the evidence is emerging that suggests that climate change is already influencing the weather. The IPCC reports that both heat waves and intense rain events have increased in frequency during the last 50 years, and human-induced global warming more likely than not contributed to the trend. Satellite-based rainfall measurements show tropical areas got more rain in the form of large storms or light rainfall instead of moderate storms between 1979 and 2003.

Since the 1970s, the area affected by drought and the number of intense tropical cyclones also have increased, trends that IPCC scientists say were more likely than not influenced by human activities. Regardless of the outcomes of the Qld Floods Commission, future Qld Governments will have to respond to the causes and impacts of Climate Change.

Qld State Elections

In the current circumstances of the Federal Leadership kerfuffle, not much has happened in the Qld State Election campaign concerning Environmental Management.

However, last Tuesday, the Liberal National Party did announce a plan to open up the Trinity Inlet to larger cruise ships into Cairns. There have been no costings or Environmental assessment on this proposal.

Apparently, cruise ships already inject $12 million-plus a year to the Cairns economy, but the LNP fear that as cruise ships grow larger, the lack of access to Cairns could see the city miss out.
Over the weekend, the Qld Premier, announced the intention to extend the “Wild Rivers Area” to include another 5 river catchments on Cape York Peninsula. . The LNP are proposing to open up this area for commercial development & dissolved the Department of Environment & Resource Management into multiple departments.

Sustainable Business Weekly QLD Edition [Procurement, Floods, Oh my Darling]

Sustainable Procurement

In the last few weeks, the Australian Sustainable Business Group (ASBG) in Qld has had a drive on to assist members to embed “sustainability” in supply chains. One good way to encourage supplier industry transformation is through 'forward commitment procurement'.

In theory, one engages with suppliers early (well before the product or service is required) to discuss with them one’s requirements & objectives. This gives suppliers time to properly understand what one wants & allows the market to consider modifications to their products/services/business to provide a more appropriate product/service (that are more likely to win the tender).

For example, one might let the market know that one will favourably consider environmentally labeled products. This would give suppliers time to consider modifying their processes & getting products certified under an appropriate scheme.

The British Standard BS 8903:2010 Principles and Framework for Procuring Sustainably is very useful. The Australian Procurement & Construction Council (APCC) also has some good publications.

This arrangement creates several rewards for both the Supplier & the end-user. In brief...

Advantages for Suppliers:

· Get to spend time marketing the products early, before their production runs commence;

· They may receive some payment early, which helps with cash flow;

· Have an opportunity to get to know the end-users.

Advantages for end users:

· more customisation of products to meet the end users specific needs;

· better integration of manufacturing with installations & commissioning;

· Develop a relationship with the supplier & an understanding of manufacturing processes &/or service delivery.

The Qld Floods Commission

The Qld Floods commission was given an extension to investigate “new evidence” concerning the operation of Wivenhoe Dam releases in Jan 2011.

The Qld Floods Commission of Inquiry has taken public submissions from across Qld & held two rounds of public hearings in affected areas. The Commission has commenced a third round of public hearings commence 2 February 2012.

This week Dam Engineers, Bureaucrats & Politicians have been on trial in the Courts of public opinion. There is a class action being assembled.

Steve Posselt (author of Cry Me a River) pointed out that the fallout from the Qld floods commission is a result of a society that thinks that we can engineer ourselves to be independent of nature...

Clive palmer’s Conspiracy Theories

This week on social media Qld State Treasurer Andrew Fraser tweeted “Lettuce know what you think of page 33 of Courier-mail please Prof Clive Palmer? Doesn't exactly mesh w your conspiracy theory ...”

The “Lettuce” was a reference to Clive Palmer’s blast of the Courier Mail in a recent press conference. There would appear to be a BHP Billiton project proposed in the same (or similar) corridor as Clive Palmer's project. On face value, it appears to mesh quite well with Clive Palmer's conspiracy theory.

The Coordinator-General has prepared draft terms of reference (TOR) for the environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Goonyella to Abbot Point Rail Project.

The draft TOR set out the matters that BHP Billiton MetCoal Holdings Pty Ltd must address when preparing the EIS.

The public and state government advisory agencies are invited to comment on whether the draft TOR adequately cover all the matters the project proponent must address when preparing the EIS.

Comments close at 5pm on Monday 5 March 2012. The project's impacts on matters of national environmental significance are being assessed separately by the Australian Government. Download the draft terms of reference for EIS, read the fact sheet on making a comment & complete the draft TOR comment form.

Send your comments to: goonyella-abbot-rail@deedi.qld.gov.au Read more about commenting on draft TOR.

Questions for the Qld Environment Minister Vicki Darling

Recently, ABC Radio morning show host: Steve Austin spoke to Environment Minister Vicki Darling.

The Member for Sandgate took over the Environment & Resource Management portfolio 7 months ago, when the Kate Jones retired from the Ministry to spend more time re-contesting her seat of Ashgrove. Ms Darling has been involved in implementing some of the reforms that were started by Ms Jones.

Waste Reform has been an area of focus because Qld had the worst rate of rubbish to landfill of any State in Australia.

In her discussions with Steve Austin, Ms Darling defends the Qld Government’s decision to ban sand mining on Stradbroke Island.

Ms Darling is comfortable with the control systems that the Qld Government has put in for Coal seam Gas Development & is more concerned about misinformation.

Sustainable Business Weekly QLD Edition [Flood Mitigation & PRW, Transitional Environment Programs, Carbon tax]

Flood Mitigation and Purified recycled Water

The Commission of Inquiry delivered the interim report on 1 August 2011, covering matters associated with flood preparedness to enable early recommendations to be implemented before next summer's wet season. The final report will be delivered on 24 February 2012.

The Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) has been instructed to arrange an investigation (in conjunction with relevant agencies) into the preferred options to increase the mitigation of floods downstream of Wivenhoe Dam.

This includes the ridiculously expensive consideration of raising of the Wivenhoe Dam wall to increase the flood storage compartment.

There is still no rationale consideration of the use of purified recycled water, in order to lower the required water supply level (thus increasing the flood storage volume). The Qld State Government persists with a policy to introduce purified recycled water only in the unlikely event of the combined dam levels falling below a 40% trigger level.

The Qld Flood inquiry has resumed in Brisbane today for a second round of public hearings.

Transitional Environmental Programs

One of the things that will be under the scrutiny of the Qld floods commission is the release of water from mines during the January floods.

Transitional environmental programs (TEPs) approved by the department allow a mine site to complete actions outside of its agreed environmental authority conditions. The program is in place for a specified time and requires adherence to special conditions, to ensure that any actions, such as dewatering, do not harm the environment.

The department has recently developed a guideline to provide greater clarity around TEP assessment for both industry and departmental officers. The document outlines what requirements need to be fulfilled before a draft TEP will be approved by DERM. The guide has been published on DERM's website as part of a commitment towards ensuring industry understands departmental requirements and expectations.

Carbon Tax

This week the Federal Government introduced the first Bills that will create a price on carbon. The price itself will always be too high for those who are liable to pay for it and it will always be too low for those who are campaigning for Australia to contribute to a global response to climate change.

The greatest disappointment is that the legislation will pass through Parliament with minimal scrutiny by the Federal opposition. At the same time there has been little or no scrutiny of the Federal Opposition’s alternative policy which appears to be more costly and does not appear to actually meet the soft greenhouse gas emission targets.

The treasury modelling indicates that the Australian economy will continue to prosper and incomes will rise, despite the price on carbon. Most Australians will be financially compensated.

ASBG aims to provide members with details and share information about the assistance that will be available to Australian businesses. Stay tuned for upcoming ASBG workshops and information sessions.

Reef regulation compliance update

The reef protection measures under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 require sugarcane cane growers and cattle graziers to submit environmental risk management plans (ERMPs) for their property, to help minimise the risk of sediment, herbicide and nutrient run-off in the Great Barrier Reef. Currently more than 94 per cent of operators have submitted, or are in the process of submitting, a plan. Accreditation of the ERMPs is underway and is expected to be finalised by the end of 2011. Audits of other measures (such as the requirement to calculate and apply no more than the optimum amount of fertiliser), and of the implementation of ERMP action plans, will progress through 2011 and early 2012. A simplified version of the cattle grazing ERMP for graziers has also been developed by an industry-government joint working group.

Read more about ERMPs on the ReefWise Farming website...

The Qld Party

There is an interesting development in Qld politics, purporting to present a new voice on sustainable development and the environment.

The Qld Party was originally formed by a couple of members of the Qld Legislative Assembly, who broke away from the Liberal National Party (LNP).

Having recently also broken away again from Bob Katter’s Australia Party, the Qld Party must now register 500 members by 5pm this Friday or face deregistration.

The Qld Party has a policy to call for an immediate moratorium on Coal Seam Gas and supports local representation in State Parliament allowing members to cross the floor on local issues.

CSG Training

The Qld Government announced another $1.4 million to expand the AgForward Coal Seam Gas Landholder Support Initiative into the Galilee and Bowen Basins.

The funding will be spent to assist landholders to negotiate with coal seam gas companies.

What is Sustainable Sanitation?

In light of the earthquakes in Christchurch, floods in Brisbane & elsewhere.....it is apparent that modern centralised sewerage & sewage treatment systems are particularly vulnerable to earthquakes & floods.

I seriously believe we need to re-think the strategy of mixing our poo with our wee & diluting it with vast quantities of 'food-grade' water, then transporting the slurry over vast distances, only to have to separate the poo, wee & water at the other end of the pipe with energy intensive processes.

The following article is reposted from the SuSana website.....

The main objective of a sanitation system is to protect and promote human health by providing a clean environment and breaking the cycle of disease. In order to be sustainable, a sanitation system has to be not only economically viable, socially acceptable, and technically and institutionally appropriate, it should also protect the environment and the natural resources.

When improving an existing and/or designing a new sanitation system, sustainability criteria related to the following aspects should be considered:

1. Health and hygiene: includes the risk of exposure to pathogens and hazardous substances that could affect public health at all points of the sanitation system from the toilet via the collection and treatment system to the point of reuse or disposal and downstream populations. This topic also covers aspects such as hygiene, nutrition and improvement of livelihood achieved by the application of a certain sanitation system, as well as downstream effects.
2. Environment and natural resources: involves the required energy, water and other natural resources for construction, operation and maintenance of the system, as well as the potential emissions to the environment resulting from its use. It also includes the degree of recycling and reuse practiced and the effects of these (e.g. reusing wastewater; returning nutrients and organic material to agriculture), and the protection of other non-renewable resources, e.g. through the production of renewable energies (such as biogas).
3. Technology and operation: incorporates the functionality and the ease with which the entire system including the collection, transport, treatment and reuse and/or final disposal can be constructed, operated and monitored by the local community and/or the technical teams of the local utilities. Furthermore, the robustness of the system, its vulnerability towards power cuts, water shortages, floods, earthquakes etc. and the flexibility and adaptability of its technical elements to the existing infrastructure and to demographic and socio-economic developments are important aspects.
4. Financial and economic issues: relate to the capacity of households and communities to pay for sanitation, including the construction, operation, maintenance and necessary reinvestments in the system. Besides the evaluation of these direct costs also direct benefits e.g. from recycled products (soil conditioner, fertiliser, energy and reclaimed water) and external costs and benefits have to be taken into account. Such external costs are e.g. environmental pollution and health hazards, while benefits include increased agricultural productivity and subsistence economy, employment creation, improved health and reduced environmental risks.
5. Socio-cultural and institutional aspects: the criteria in this category refer to the socio-cultural acceptance and appropriateness of the system, convenience, system perceptions, gender issues and impacts on human dignity, the contribution to food security, compliance with the legal framework and stable and efficient institutional settings.

Most sanitation systems have been designed with these aspects in mind, but in practice they fail far too often because some of the criteria are not met. In fact, there is probably no system which is absolutely sustainable. The concept of sustainability is more of a direction rather than a stage to reach. Nevertheless, it is crucial, that sanitation systems are evaluated carefully with regard to all dimensions of sustainability. Since there is no one-for-all sanitation solution which fulfils the sustainability criteria in different circumstances to the same extent, this system evaluation will depend on the local framework and has to take into consideration existing environmental, technical, socio-cultural and economic conditions. Taking into consideration the entire range of sustainability criteria, it is important to observe some basic principles when planning and implementing a sanitation system. These were already developed some years ago by a group of experts and were endorsed by the members of the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council as the "Bellagio Principles for Sustainable Sanitation" during its 5th Global Forum in November 2000:

1. Human dignity, quality of life and environmental security at household level should be at the centre of any sanitation approach.
2. In line with good governance principles, decision making should involve participation of all stakeholders, especially the consumers and providers of services.
3. Waste should be considered a resource, and its management should be holistic and form part of integrated water resources, nutrient flow and waste management processes.
4. The domain in which environmental sanitation problems are resolved should be kept to the minimum practicable size (household, neighbourhood, community, town, district, catchment, city).

http://www.susana.org/lang-en/intro/156-intro/53-what-is-sustainable-sanitation

A message to Graham Quirk

A Message to Graham

With households feeling the weight of cost-of-living pressures and Brisbane still recovering from the impact of January’s floods, I’m mindful of the need for a responsible, ‘back to basics’ approach to Council’s finances.

That’s why I wonder why the largest line item in the 2011/12 budget is $456m for another road tunnel, while basic services like libraries & parks were cut in March 2011. Residents of Brisbane are suffering a rate rise to pay for the "Tunnel Vision" which was hospital passed from Can Do Campbell to Captain Quirk.

Graham is on track to deliver a little bit of guilt offset that was promised (and paid for) in 2008 - planting two million trees, purchasing 500 hectares of bushland for conservation, putting 500 new buses on Brisbane roads and chipping away at a $100 million upgrade to our fragmented bikeway infrastructure. In reality, how far will $100m go? How much has been spent? What improvements have there been?

At the same time Captain Quirk is proceeding with his white elephant, Northern Link Road Tunnel from Toowong to Kelvin Grove, (also known as the Legacy Way). The Federal Government have poured half a billion dollars down another hole in the ground. Additional funds will be bled from core Council services, with record spending on one single road project.

Captain Quirk is committed to making Brisbane a rabbit warren of tunnels. Like his predecessor - Campbell Newman, Quirky will leave our children with a Legacy of Debt. This tunnel unlike all the others is fully funded by taxpayers and ratepayers. Clem 7 and Airport Link were privately funded. Legacy way is not.

If you have any questions, or would like more information on what this year’s budget means for you, please contact the Lord Mayor's office on 3403 4400 or e-mail Captain Quirk at lordmayor@brisbane.qld.gov.au

Rowan Barber

BRISBANE RESIDENT

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Message from Graham

With households feeling the weight of cost-of-living pressures and Brisbane still recovering from the impact of January’s floods, I’m mindful of the need for a responsible, ‘back to basics’ approach to Council’s finances.

That’s why my 2011/12 budget is focused on improving core Council services while delivering one of the lowest rate rises in the past 35 years.

We’ re on track to deliver key promises we made in 2008 - planting two million trees, purchasing 500 hectares of bushland for conservation, putting 500 new buses on Brisbane roads and completing a $100 million upgrade to our bikeway infrastructure.

At the same time we are proceeding with our important traffic congestion busting project, Legacy Way, with a welcome contribution from the Federal Government. Additional funds will be invested in core Council services, with record spending on road resurfacing and footpaths.

I’m committed to making Brisbane a cleaner, greener and more inclusive city. This Budget - concentrating on the fundamentals of rates, roads and rubbish - does exactly this.

If you have any questions, or would like more information on what this year’s budget means for you, please contact my office on 3403 4400 or e-mail me at lordmayor@brisbane.qld.gov.au

Graham Quirk

LORD MAYOR

Carbon Price, Coal Seam Gas, Flood, Cows

ASBG June Seminars
ASBG QLD is very excited about a couple of seminars to be hosted at Norton Rose Australia in June 2011.

We are still fine tuning the programmes. Registration forms will be sent out soon. Both these seminars will provide an update on the recent changes to Australian & Queensland Laws affecting Environment & Safety respectively.

The Environmental Management Seminar on Thursday 15 June 08:00-12:30 will feature Andrew Wilford discussing the bigger picture & setting the context for Environmental Management.

Rebecca Hoare (Norton Rose Australia) will provide an overview & an update of recent changes to Australian & QLD Environmental Law.

Omar Ameer from DERM will be informing those who attend the seminar on how to stay out of trouble with one’s Environmental Regulator.

On Wednesday 22 June from 08:00 to 12:30, ASBG is running a Safety Management Seminar which will include the new changes to Dangerous Goods Packaging & Labeling requirements (Global Harmonisation).

There is a Carbon Price workshop ready to roll, as soon as there is sufficient detail released by the federal Government (watch this space).

Implementation of the Carbon Price

The Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency is calling for written submissions from interested stakeholders on the proposed architecture and implementation arrangements for a carbon pricing mechanism.

Submissions will be used by the Department to inform the development of policy options for discussion by the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee (MPCCC). In order that views can be taken fully into account in the design of policy options, the Department is seeking written submissions by close of business 10 May 2011. Submissions should be emailed to CarbonPriceSubmissions@climatechange.gov.au by 10 May 2011



Coal Seam Gas
ASBG QLD have been hearing a lot of about Coal Seam Gas from frustrated proponents and disaffected opponents who share a common grievance with the Queensland Government Regulators: The Department of Environment & Resource Management (DERM) &/or the Queensland Water Commission (QWC).

ASBG QLD recently heard from a frustrated Environmental Manager from a major Coal Seam Gas proponent, complaining about the amount of pointless analyses & data collection that was required by the Regulators that:
A) Added no value (in terms of knowledge or information);
B) Used time, money & human resources that could be better spent on problem solving or collecting more useful information.

As Environmental Practitioners, there is going to be a huge demand for our services to address complex environmental & regulatory compliance issues.

It would appear the Regulator faces a problem with recruiting and retaining staff (with appropriate qualifications & experience). Anecdotal evidence would suggest that the Coal Seam Gas industry is poaching staff (either passively or actively) from where ever it can get them.

ASBG QLD has started to hear more stories from other industry sectors (such as Petroleum Refining & the Sugar Industry) that are losing staff to the Coal Seam Gas sector and are having a lot of difficulty replacing them.

An unusual alliance of farmers, environmentalists & scientists called the Western Downs Alliance has been lobbying the State and Federal Governments claiming that Coal Seam Gas activities are potentially hazardous to human health, agricultural land & underground water.
One of the Western Downs Alliance’s greatest fears is that Coal Seam Gas Development could irreparably damage the Great Artesian Basin. This lobby is calling on Government/s to impose a moratorium on the industry until all outstanding social & environmental issues have been addressed.



Qld Flood Inquiry
The Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry continues its public hearings into the 2010-11 flood events. It was heartbreaking to hear about the emergency calls from flood victims in Toowoomba and hear of the heroics of the people of Grantham.

The public hearings will be held in Goondiwindi, St George and Brisbane this coming week (3-6 May 2011). The interim report is due in August 2011, to enable early recommendations to be implemented before next summer's wet season.
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Cows means Farts
ASBG QLD’s newly acquired rural reporter, Lord Julian of Boonah, reports that farmers are happy because cattle prices are at a high & there is lots of grass around!

ASBG is interested in what Lord Julian will make of Professor Ross Garnaut’s Update Paper 4: Transforming rural land use.

an Easter Rant about cars, poo & wee, diarrhea & vomitting

Apparently up to six people will read this rant, if I am lucky. Well, six people will look at this rant. I have seen the statistics, my blog is not very popular. So my blog has become my confessional.

Forgive me readers, for I have sinned. This week, I drove a car.

I have given up trying to save the world......It is not my world to save.

However, I have also given up working in the fossil fuels industry.

I once provided Environmental management services to petroleum refineries. I am now a card carrying member of petroleum anonymous....

Up until this week, I could say:

My name is Rowan Barber, I am a petroleum addict, it has been six years since I last drove a car.

......but I have fallen off (or on) the wagon. Last week, I was required to drive a car as part of my new responsibilities, working for a water utility.

It gets worse.

I have taken on a job as an inspector, supervising the installation, renovation &/or repairs to sewers & water mains.

In the past couple of weeks, I have seen first hand - how silly we all are.

We take our Number 1's (also known as urine) & we mix it with vast quantities of drinking water & our Number 2's (also knowns as faeces). This slurry is gravity feed and/or pumped over vast distances (predominantly using coal fired electricity) to sewage treatment plants.

At the sewage treatment plants, we (as a society at Municipality level) spend vast sums of money, time & electricity, separating our Number 1's from our Number 2's and the water (which is no longer drinking water quality).

We (Ratepayers & Taxpayers) have built a vast network of pipes & pumps to move our mixture of poo, wee, water & industrial waste across 100's of kilometres.

Many of these pipes leak.

The slurry of substances in sewage is highly toxic & choc full of human specific pathogens.

This is not wise.

During the floods in South East Queensland in January 2011, (in my view) the system completely failed. Our sewers were inundated with flood water. Many pump stations & sewage treatment plants were also inundated with flood water.

The untreated sewage mixed with flood water & mud, was distributed in and through our low-lying suburbs.

The mud (erosion of topsoil from places like the Grantham, Toowoomba and all the upper catchment areas of the Bremer & Brisbane Rivers), became a nutrient rich matrix for cultivating human specific infectious diseases.

During the peak of the flood (12 January 2011), our former Prime Minister - Kevin Rudd was out wading through floodwaters, assisting to evacuate his electorate. On the 15 January 2011, he was admitted to hospital with some sort of foot infection.

Months later, there is still anecdotal evidence of an epidemic of diarrhea & vomiting, which may have begun from flood water to human transmissions. These illnesses appear to be persisting through human to human transmissions (at Child Care centres, schools & workplaces etc).

As I write this blog post at 4:00 am on Sunday 24 April 2011, I have been up all night looking after my 20 month old daughter.

She has a fever. She has been vomiting. Her poos are liquid. She wakes up coughing. This is her third episode of this kind of illness since January.

She is going to be ok. We have paracetomol to reduce her fevers. We have been able to keep her hydrated & re-hydrated. She is still getting some food & formula and holding it down (or in) long enough for her little body to take in some nutrients.

According to Water Aid,

"Diarrhoeal diseases kill a child every 20 seconds."

So as the carbon tax rages around me in Australia, every 20 seconds a child (like my daughter), dies from easily preventable diseases.

In many developing communities, they poo & wee on the streets. They do not have toilets. Flies, rats, dust, wind & rain transfer human pathogens directly or indirectly from poo to people.

In my own community, we are sophisticated. We poo in toilets. We mix in our wee & we flush it away with lots of water. We all know about Carbon Dioxide now. Some of us deny the impacts. Some of us ignore the consequences, but how many people actually know where their poo goes?

Here is a song I wrote a few years ago, to the tune of the Beach Boy's song - Surfin' USA.

I wrote this song in frustration, at the stupidity of what we do as a society & as municipalities in Australia. In Brisbane we have $7 billion worth of water recycling infrastucture (pipes, pumps, plants) which is sitting idle, because we do not recycle our sewage. We are still discharging tertiary treated sewage back into our creeks, rivers & oceans. When it rains or floods, we discharge untreated sewage back into our creeks, rivers & oceans.

Well everybody did a motion,
Across the U.S.E*....
& it all ends up in the ocean,
We're surfing poo & wee,
You’d see em flushing the toliet
mixing their ones & twos
flushin with potable water,
Surfin wee & poo

Sewage has primary treatment,
To remove the chunks that stink,
By the time its tertiary treated,
It could be fit to drink....
All that embodied energy,
Embodied water too...
Would it not be better to separate our ones & twos?

You see the deep outfalls at Bondi
& discharged at Potter Point
Sepia Depression & Bolivar
Sandgate & Luggage Point
All over Port Phillip Bay
& Gunnamatta Beach

Everybodys gone surfin
Surfin wee & poo

We all mix our wee & poo,
We’re gonna flush real soon
We’re flushing down our faeces
We just waste our poo
We could be growing our veges
We could be growing a tree
Tell Jack Sim were surfin
Surfin poo & wee

Gibson Island desal plant
is keeping Incitec cool
they waste the Nitrogen & phosphorus
then burn the fossil fuel
All over Australia
We mix our ones & twos
Everybodys gone surfin
Surfin wee & poo

Everybodys gone surfin
Surfin wee & poo.

Everybodys gone surfin
Surfin wee & poo

*United States of emergency