Oil exploration of Great Barrier Reef pushed by Australia

[dArKeR]

REUTERS , SYDNEY

Australia has increased tax concessions to encourage oil exploration in the far reaches of the Great Barrier Reef, angering environmentalists who warn an oil spill could destroy the world's largest living reef system.

The Australian government says the new concessions are needed to encourage oil companies to explore remote sections of the reef if Australia is to secure future energy supplies.

"If there was a bad accident or a spill we'd have a massive oil spill washing up on the outer barrier reef within no time at all," Don Henry, executive director of the Australian Conservation Foundation, said yesterday.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/06/24/2003176303

The end of life on Earth.

[tlcandie]

1. But wait!!! Saw a documentary not long ago where some type of

imaging stuff had been done and the government flat out denied it wasn't working on anything similar to drilling for oil in the area! The government said there was no cause for environmentalists to be concerned because noone would touch the GREAT barrier reef!

So, they lied?!?!?! :puke:

[Cha]

2. I imagine some Australians and the Environmentalists

are going to fight this with everything they got.

[Matilda]

3. John Howard's only mission in life is to please big business.

Who else will give him a nice cushy job when he leaves politics?

[Toucano]

4. Global warming is killing the reef.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2149304.stm

"Researchers in Australia have claimed that sea temperatures around the Great Barrier Reef are now so high that major damage has been caused to the world's biggest marine park."


http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994707
"Australia's Great Barrier Reef will lose 95 per cent of its living coral by 2050 - predicts a new report. And this devastating situation will occur if the best-case scenario for global warming unfolds."

We've spend years trying to save the Amazon rainforest and in the interim, we've lost the boreal forests of the northern hemisphere due to insect infestation and other problems caused by rising temperatures.

Maybe if we conduct another study... :(

[DrWeird]

5. Jesus Christ.

These guys would probably encourage oil exploration in their own daughters virginas.

Fucking savages.

[Judi Lynn]

6. You've got that right.

Who would believe ANYONE could be stupid enough to let himself even think of doing anything to risk more damage to that rapidly deteriorating reef?