Logan and Albert Conservation Association

Residents near bushland being bulldozed to make way for a planned satellite city are mounting a fierce and growing battle against the sweeping powers of the Queensland government's Urban Land Development Authority. Greater Flagstone, west of Jimboomba, was chosen during the state government's Growth Summit last year as the site for a new satellite city to absorb 130,000 new southeast Queensland residents in 21 years.

But some of the existing 4000-strong population fear cheap houses will be built en masse without thought for necessary infrastructure or their rural lifestyle.

Resident Mike Kelly, founder of the Save Greenbank campaign, said concerns had fallen on deaf ears in the state government, while the mass clearing of land continued without their consultation.

"The ULDA is bastardising the existing culture and lifestyle here for fast-tracking purposes, which are completely inconsistent with the real needs of the community," he said. Mr Kelly said residents on acre blocks would soon have up to seven neighbours along their fence lines. "There are no guarantees for the development of infrastructure ... even the repair of existing roads," he said. "There are no guarantees that new houses will be made affordable for first-home buyers, rather than investors. We are being kept in the dark here."

Planning Minister Stirling Hinchliffe holds the future of our rural and acreage lifestyle living in his hands. Councils are required to follow a process to allow for community consultation - not so with the statuatory powers given to ULDA. See source and rest of story with comments here.

Go to campaign website to see how local residents are working to restore our democratic rights to be consulted on these issues.

SEND IN  YOUR OWN SUBMISSION. Get some tips here. Contact you local state and federal members and HAVE YOUR SAY.

An African peasant farmer has managed what so many others failed to do: transform the lives of thousands of people by making the desert bloom again. Discover the untold story of Yacouba Sawadogo, an illiterate African farmer who battled for two decades with nature and man to become a pioneer in the fight against desertification. Perfectly pitched cinematography engages beautifully with a story that will leave you moved and inspired.

Yacouba resurrected an ancient planting technique known as "zai," using traditional planting pits. He hacked into the hard-baked earth and filled the pits with compost. In the region, tens of thousands of hectares of land that was completely unproductive have been made fertile again. Yacouba has reversed the process of desertification in the deforested and drought-ridden Sahel, a belt up to 1,000km wide, spanning Africa from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea.

This story is a reminder that determined individuals can at least slow down the steamroller of environmental destruction across the planet.

Using, and then enhancing, traditional "zai" techniques for restoring degraded land, which involve planting seeds directly into pits that have been enhanced with small handfuls of composted dung, Yacouba Sawadogo has spent over a quarter century experimenting with his soils, and then teaching his fellow farmers, resulting in the successful rehabilitation of farmland, the regrowth of forests, and attention from international media and non-profit organizations who wanted to learn more about Sawadogo's techniques.

Read about award winning films at the Jackson Hole Film Festival here.

DEVELOPMENT @ GREENBANK BEFORE TOWN PLAN

 which provides for appropriate consultation period for current residents citizens and voters in Logan is not appreciated.

The solidarity for this opinion was expressed at a local meeting held at the grounds of the Greenbank community Centre Wednesday 9 February.

According to the ULDA, this is less than 1% so why are we concerned? When the ULDA comes to your area the opportunity for appropriate community consultation disappears. ULDA is the URBAN LAND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY which is another level of legislative authority which answers only to Minister Stirling Hinchcliffe. Most people are surprised to learn that development at Greenbank - East and West of Teviot Road, and the proposed investigation North Maclean Enterpise Precinct are all part of the Greater Flagstone Area. This area is targeted by State government to be home to over 120,000 people in our lifetime.

People living at Teviot Downs currently enjoy an open acreage living lifestyle which our native wildlife share. The wider Greenbank community has even larger acreage blocks where many wilflife carers live rehabilitate injured creatures. When you live on 320 m2 blocks there is little room for the kangaroos or wallabies.

HELPING INJURED OR DISPLACED WILDLIFE and other animals

Wildcare Australia Inc is a non-profit organization situated in South East Queensland. The organization was originally formed as the Australian Koala Hospital Association Incorporated in late 1993 by Dr Jonathon Hanger. It became an Incorporated Association and registered charity in 1994 and is listed on the Register of Environmental Organizations.

Wildcare Australia  volunteers man  a  24 hours 7days a week Emergency hotline for SOUTHEAST QUEENSLAND 07 5527 2444

http://wildcare.org.au is a very comprehensive website and essential reading to understand more about how you can help in any wildlife rescue situation.

HELPING THE ANIMALS AFFECTED BY 'NATURAL' DISASTER

The flooding in Queensland has been pretty devastating - thousands of families have lost homes or possessions. If you'd like to donate money or supplies, please do so here: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html

The losses of pets, farm animals and wildlife remain untold. Continual emergency broadcasts are urging South-East Queenslanders to seek higher ground amidst further devastating rises in flood levels, but for millions of animals in affected regions there can be little or no warning. Animals Australia gives coverage here

Wildlife  pets and farm animals also need our help. If you'd like to help buy supplies and food for displaced animals, please do so here: https://donate.rspcaqld.org.au/flood. to support services organised by RSPCA for domestic animals, farm animals and our native wildlife. Please read this page to see how much various items cost.

RSPCA's Townsville and Fairfield Shelters sent crates to help authorities deal with domestic pets stranded in Theodore and  have now set up a temporary Shelter at the evacuation centre at Central Queensland University. They have also set up a data base of foster carers in the area who can look after pets and livestock during the crisis. There are three Inspectors plus a boat and a volunteer ambulance devoted to animal rescues. To date their efforts have been encouraging, particularly in regard to livestock and native wildlife

Queensland Wildlife Rehabilitators Council QWRC have wildlife rehabilitators who have been affected by the floods with many who are currently isolated and unsure of when they can get supplies in. In addition, power outages may cause loss of food stocks for wildlife in care - with more animals coming into care. Should any rehabilitator be in need of assistance please contact your local QWRC representative or the QWRC Chair Annie Saunders (Ph 07 4975 6281) who will do all in their power to get you the assistance required.QWRC is continuing to monitor the flood situation across QLD as it relates to wildlife and wildlife rehabilitators.

A trust fund is set up to receive donations. Donations can be made to the wildlife disaster relief fund by direct deposit to the QWRC Trust Fund account BSB 814-282 and account number 30932248 using your surname as a reference. QWRC will ensure all funds are distributed where they are most needed.

Wildcare Australia Inc is a non-profit organization located in South East Queensland dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of native wildlife and then release once fully rehabilitated. Be prepared and if you find wildlife in distress please find comprehensive information on this website on how you can assist the animal in need. The home page of Wildlife Australia also explains several ways for you to help financially during this flood crisis situation. Many wildlife volunteers are directly impacted by the floods as well as the wildlife already in care.  Emergency Hotline - 24 hours / 7 days 07 5527 2444.

Donate to Koalas, Pademelons, Gliders, Birds......Who really cares?  Go to this page to make donations to Wildcare Australia.

The images of the devastating floods in Queensland and other areas of Queensland and  Australia have shocked the world. Three quarters of the state of Queensland, an area the size of France and Germany, is under water and some 31 towns including our capital city Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Dalby and others in South East Queensland  have been inundated.
Tens of thousands of people have lost their homes, their businesses and lives have been lost. Surviving victims have described the floods at Toowoomba as "an inland Tsunami", "a devastating wall of water" and "an angry force of nature".

Donations are being accepted to help the many human victims through the Queensland Premier's Department. Go to: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html  for more information.
Damages from the floods are impacting every aspect of life in the area including access to clean water and food and shelter, food production and, ironically, coal mining – Queensland's largest primary industry.

Xiang et al. show that in a Chinese village in an area endemic for fluorosis that the higher the fluoride in the children's blood the lower the IQ of the children studied. Pre-published by Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) on Dec 17, 2010. Fluoride Action Network FAN's Press Release: Fluoride in Water Linked to Lower IQ in Children can be read here.

The whole peer reviewed research article publihed online at EHP can be read and downloaded here. EHP is a publication of the U.S. government. Publication of EHP lies in the public domain and is therefore without copyright.

 To be completed

Research findings of effects of Fluoride are reported worldwide - more warnings of deleterious harm from over dose.

In today's society with greater access to information becoming better informed is relatively easy. It is also easier to publish in our digital world - but care is always  needed to verify the credentials of those who publish and who benefits from disclosure - or non disclosure of information.

 Professor Paul Connett states that without studies to investigate and validate all safety concerns there is no assurity. Authorities made decisions which have not been based on sound science. If you don't look you don't find the connections between fluoride and public heath concerns. The practice of fluoridation has been and is being protected before public health.

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FORESTS for PEOPLE

International Year of Forests, 2011 (Forests 2011) website, is a global platform to celebrate people's action to sustainably manage the world's forests. The United Nations General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. Here, you will find information regarding events being organised throughout the International Year as well as interactive web tools and resources to promote dialogue on forests.

300 million of the world's people live in forests.

Forests cover 31% of or planets land.

80% of terrestial biodiversity live in the forests.

Forest products trade is valued at over $320 billion.

The world's forests provide livlihood food and shelter and are responsible for cleaning our air and the water cycle which recycles the earth's water. They are invaluable to mankind for providing an environment where in we can thrive. Man has yet to learn within the parameters of the global system to live in harmony with nature - using her bounty in a sustainable manner. Other species with whom we share the forest ar part if the interrelated connection of all species.

Yet despite what we know now about the richness and riches of the world's forests there are some - large corporations - who with government support and license continue to exploit those resources without paying the real costs.

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FORESTS for PEOPLE and the International Forest Film Festival aims to raise awareness on the importance of forests, their relationship with people and the planet we share, and consequently, to inspire a sense of personal responsibility/stewardship for a greener, more equitable, sustainable future.

Organic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on crop rotation, green manure, compost, biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation to maintain soil productivity and control pests. This however is achieved by excluding the use of synthetic fertilizers and synthetic pesticides; plant growth regulators, livestock feed additives, and genetically modified organisms. Organic farming benefits from the recycling and use of natural products. By supporting local, sustainable and organic farms in your local community you also support the larger community of which we are all a part. Organic farming is the way forward towards a healthier life and a cleaner environment. Words from Navdanya's Diary.

This journal is following the global situation relating to the food crisis, food security, impact of industrial agriculture on biodiversity and places our local - South East Queensland and nationally - food situation within the global context. This online journal by respected Indian scientist and