Newswrap

Sydney Morning Herald

Wednesday September 10, 2008

Compiled by Jennie Curtin

* Wild side

The Great Australian Bushwalk this Sunday is an ideal way to get some exercise and see the wonderful wildflowers of spring. There are walks all around Sydney and up and down the coast, too. The event is an initiative of the National Parks Association of NSW and is designed to encourage folk to get outdoors and see some of the magnificent parks in the state. All walks are led by experienced guides and are suitable for both beginners and experienced walkers. One of the most spectacular is the Taronga Zoo to Balmoral trek, taking in fantastic water views. All walkers must register beforehand. Go to www.greataustralianbushwalk .org.au - links on the right-hand side will lead to all NSW walks.

* Bee warned

Mobile phones, power lines and Wi-Fi systems are playing havoc with birds and bees, a German researcher has said. Britain's Independent website reports conclusions by Dr Ulrich Warnke, a lecturer at the University of Saarland, that "electrosmog" causes birds and bees which rely on the Earth's magnetic forces to lose their bearings, fail to reproduce and die. Warnke says bees exposed to the kinds of electrical fields generated by power lines kill each other and their young, while those exposed to signals in the same range as mobile phones lose much of their homing ability. The British Mobile Operators Association says a US research group has found collapsing bee colonies in areas with no mobile phone service.

* Carbon updating

Australia's tourism sector is the seventh highest contributor to our greenhouse gas emissions. The Carbon Footprint Of Australian Tourism report found that tourism produces 3.93 per cent of our carbon emissions. The biggest contribution comes from transport, accounting for 82.2 per cent of tourism's emissions, compared with accommodation (4.5 per cent), other industries (8.6 per cent) and retail (3.4 per cent). The top six emitters are: electricity and gas supply; agriculture, forestry and fishing; residential transport; metal products; road transport, and mining.

* Pollution diet

Speaking of greenhouse gas emissions, the chairman of the Nobel prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has recommended eating less meat. Rajendra Pachauri told the BBC that the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation has estimated direct emissions from meat production account for about 18 per cent of the world's emissions. "So I want to highlight the fact that among options for mitigating climate change, changing diets is something one should consider," he said.

* Striper night

Zebras are not often the topic of conversation but they will be in a free talk tonight at the Eastern Avenue Auditorium, Sydney University, from 5.45 to 7. Dan Rubenstein, of Princeton University, who has been studying zebras in Kenya for 20 years, will share some of his stories. Bookings required for catering purposes: email ssf@science.usyd.edu.au with number of seats required or phone (02) 9351 3021.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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