Bush Telegraph
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Our fading co-operatives
It has been more than a decade since one of Australia's most well known farmer cooperatives Golden Circle opted to change its structure from a co-op to a public company, and yesterday grower shareholders took the changes one further step and voted to sell the company to American owned Heinz.
In this report: Rainer Schluter, chief executive officer of Cooperatives Europe; Michael Cruice, pineapple grower from Queensland and former chair of the board of Golden Circle
Rural news
The Greens and Nationals have voted together to protest about a new law which they believe will see more land taken from farmers and sold to trees.
Safe return of seeds from space
Australian native seeds that spent six months on the International Space Station returned to earth this week on board NASA flight STS-126.
In this report: Dr Tim Entwistle, Executive Director Botanic Gardens Trust
Blacklist
Late last month, blacklist.org.au went live, creating a one-stop online shop for information, interaction and the music of indigenous Australia. It is the only interactive website dedicated to promoting and sharing indigenous music and culture and allows anyone to get the latest news on the artists, find upcoming performances, download their music, explore their history and much more.
In this report: Dave Arden, Victorian Gunditjmara musician, one of the architects of blacklist.org.au
Solar technology departures
Earlier this month Australia's only remaining manufacturer of solar panels announced they were moving the business offshore. BP Solar is closing down their local plant, and moving to Spain, meaning we lose 200 jobs, and another country benefits from ideas and employment injected into their economy.
In this report: Bob Matthews, Australian CEO of thermal solar company Ausra, based in the US and hoping for emissions trading to change their viability in this country.
Country Viewpoint: Bronte Atkinson from Wollongong in New South Wales
Bronte recently decided to take on Sydney traffic...
