weekly compilation 06.01.2012

Here's our first news round up of the new year:

Biodiversity
Tories and Labour renew backing for GM food crops: http://bit.ly/x3mVjo - here's why they're wrong: http://bit.ly/AlwzxS

RT @guardianeco: An early spring may be bad news for honey-poor bees http://gu.com/p/34fah/tf

"I would much rather make films which are simply unadulterated pleasure in the natural world" Attenborough on #climate: http://bit.ly/xmY6yD
Please take action with @marinetuk's campaign to "Help stop fish extinction": http://bit.ly/vW6I19

Energy & Climate Change
RT @wwwfoecouk: Court of Appeal schedules Friday 13th as Judgment Day for #solar battle: http://bit.ly/x5vijX
"the three unlimited sources of wealth we have – people, ingenuity and renewable energy" lovely positive article: http://bit.ly/zD1ns4
Excellent plan - preserving Sarehole Mill's sluice gates and potentially generating electricity: http://bit.ly/xOYQ4S
RT @MikeChilds1: Great post on threat of methane releases at Real Climate http://tinyurl.com/7knqywb basic conclusion it's CO2 that matters
RT @pauldezylva: "Environmental Taliban": lost argument on #planning + cut to #FITs, so #GreenestGovtNever resorts to name calling. Classy
Great news management by the pro-nuclear lobby? http://bit.ly/vVl1YH We certainly hadn't heard that!

Unseasonal activity in Birmingham – and Met Office data: http://bit.ly/sS0rmO - who knows what weather will bring, but global temp rising.
Our first blog post of the new year is about sewage and gas. Start as you mean to go on, eh? http://bit.ly/rC62W8

Planning
Birmingham council: value and nurture the markets – central to the health and vitality of the city: http://bit.ly/urMyqx RT @SamwiseBaggie: RT @MDFOXY
Birmingham folk - please take 5 mins to oppose demolition of Island house -comments here: http://bit.ly/x208Xp

Transport
RT @Roads2Nowhere: An 80 mph public health warning from the BMJ, and call for full details to be released for debate: http://bit.ly/ACSlau
Why do all arguments over #HS2 have to be so simplistic - this route or nothing, wealthy opponents, back yards etc? http://bit.ly/ytORcQ

RT @bbcwm: News: A rail watchdog attacks a 13% increase in a rail fare between Birmingham and London. http://bbc.in/xEV8zE

Very good round up on the @airportwatch site about oil prices and what's happening to them compared to DECC forecasts: http://bit.ly/A0IxVQ
"In 2012, please be considerate to other road and pavement users" (post on @b31voices hyperlocal blog): http://bit.ly/rL9iay
Staycations’ and weak pound have boosted British trade, says Bank of England: http://tgr.ph/tnj4xc - so why encourage more flights abroad?

Bus fares shooting up (20%) due to govt cuts in grants. Why so little outcry over that? http://bit.ly/vlyiKo

Waste & Resource Use
Blog post on @b31voices - Your opportunity to change how rubbish is collected: http://bit.ly/yJX0wi
Please do let your councillor know that we should have a better waste (resource recovery) system in Birmingham: http://bit.ly/wtWzHC
There is a lot less rubbish going to landfill (but way too much being incinerated and not enough re-use/recycling!): http://bit.ly/tYz2zI
Brilliant Christmas video message by @Glosvain to the council about the proposed incinerator: http://youtu.be/vyDGACG3Ilo
Global hunger for plastic packaging leaves waste solution a long way off: http://bit.ly/s028Nq incineration is certainly not the answer!

Others
RT @BirminghamPress: Three workshops in Stirchley Park for local people interested in discussing the park's future. http://bit.ly/x4OAHd

RT @guardianeco: 'Greenest government ever' must do better – but so must green groups, too | Zac Goldsmith http://gu.com/p/34ffx/tf
RT @theneweconomics: Two billion reasons to rethink the economy | Mike Harris http://bit.ly/wtTuC4
New blog post on green new year's resolutions that you could take: http://bit.ly/y6MxAl
RT @MikeChilds1: great blog by @James_BG on the name-calling by @GregBarkerMP in the FT http://tinyurl.com/7ac5coz. Now let's move on.
RT @mwarhurst: New study on sustainable development through left wing and right wing UK political narratives: http://bit.ly/zaKQ8m