Ocean Garbage - searching for the Malaysian plane.

The search for the missing Malaysian flight MH370 continues with a huge number of people and equipment searching for any signs.

My heart goes out to the relatives who by now must come to terms with the loss of their loved ones.

But as I hear about all the debris spotted by the satellites and plane searchers, I wonder how much garbage is in our oceans.

Sympathy to those who have lost loved ones.

In spite of all the searching, no one has yet identified any of the hundreds of pieces spotted as being from the plane. 

The ocean is vast and this search is much more than the proverbial needle in the haystack.

It's turning out to be an expensive garbage collection.

The CSIRO research on Marine Debris by Denise Hardesty and others has been on the news in the week following this post. Here is a link to their research and the Radio National Sunday Extra Report

Let's hope some real news comes before the black box stops sending messages. If that happens the plane may be lost for many years.

Let's hope not.

Volte Face - PUP

I was surprised and very skeptical to receive an email from Solar Citizens and others regarding the Palmer United Party (PUP)  and Renewable Energy Targets (RET)

Red Sunset on the Autumnal Equinox

"I am writing today with a very important update regarding the future of the Renewable Energy Target in Australia.

Just yesterday evening Clive Palmer and members of his Palmer United Party (PUP), announced they support the maintenance of Australia's current 20% renewable energy target.*

Palmer himself told Fairfax Media he is a ''supporter of renewable energy'', and Palmer United's lead WA Senate candidate, Dio Wang said he thought the current review of the Renewable Energy Target was a ''waste of taxpayers' money.''"

But of course, this changed the very next day - support only involves a voluntary Renewable Energy Target. Why am I not surprised"

I thought it was too good to be true! I didn't think PUP had a record of interest in sustainable, renewable development. Now I'm sure of it!

Well done Federal Senate for refusing to allow the repeal of the Carbon Tax!

But its a dangerous game, pushing for a double dissolution, given the current climate (pun intended).