weekly compilation 13.01.12

Here's our weekly look at what's been in the news and is relevant to our campaigns interests:

Biodiversity
MT @pauldezylva: Tipping point for honey #bees nears: http://gu.com/p/34kjx/tf - Is a techno-fix ready to pollinate crops when #bees go? No?

RT @PlanBee1: If anyone is worried about wildlife appearing early in their garden, this gives some tips on how to help: http://bit.ly/xwv0Xc

RT @marinetuk: Tuna stocks continue to plunge globally: http://www.marinet.org.uk/latestnews.html#gtsh

RT @purplelionness: http://chn.ge/A7QmRl Petition against Ethiopian Land grab, please sign
RT @pauldezylva: Are #pesticides the cause of the huge decline in #bees after all? http://bit.ly/xMdYa3 via @motherjones
RT @northfieldeco: In Northfield? Love the local park? Info about volunteer projects in Victoria Common, 7pm Wed 11 Jan http://bit.ly/z0FBL9

Energy & Climate Change
RT @neilelkes: Cllrs trying to work out how city will meet ambitious carbon reduction targets by 2026. Not very clear at all from reports.

Our view on what govt should do on solar #FITs as we go to court again! In @guardianeco: http://gu.com/p/34kxz/tf
That does sound good: RT @MikeChilds1: I love how clever and flexible you can be with solar, great example here: tp://tinyurl.com/73cj7nt
Have you got something like this for Brum? MT @Andy2Atkins: Mini Stern review for Low Carbon Leeds region http://bit.ly/y14G2o
RT @leohickman: UK's solar capacity grew 10-fold in 2011 http://bloom.bg/y4yYK6 >>despite FITs mess but from v low base

Average Brit uses a Kenyan’s annual carbon emissions by 13 January: http://bit.ly/zQl8h0
Friday the thirteenth will hopefully be unlucky for the government: http://bit.ly/zsGkcb
All power to the wind – it cuts your electricity bills: http://bit.ly/xhJocw
RT @adamvaughan_uk: Cuadrilla gets licenses to drill for shale gas in Sussex, Surrey and Kent http://tgr.ph/x7F3cC - trouble ahead!!

Planning
Fair trade shop Shared Earth to close Birmingham store as company faces liquidation: http://bit.ly/xqey9p - very sad.
New Eastside "Masterplan" on the Big City Plan website: http://bit.ly/A1zQPa We're looking at it, but would love to hear your thoughts.

Transport
This data blog about savings on journeys times doesn't seem to recognise the time getting to #HS2 station from others: http://bit.ly/yxkb2i

RT @digbeth: New DiG blog post, #HS2 and Digbeth/Eastside - http://tinyurl.com/6wlwaq5
Please stop this awful idea! MT @mullaney3: a short section of railings by Asda, subject to consultation, will be installed by end of March
Evidence about use of railing guards making streets more dangerous courtesy of @livingstreets http://bit.ly/wb4O5A
Lufthansa's bio-fuelled fantasy finally grounded: http://bit.ly/zkNlO5 -we imagine many other similar ones realise it's not sustainable, too
MT @RennieConsult: Short video about why dropped kerbs so important to me & wheelchair users bit.ly/xziRUU - brilliant & parents with prams!
Useful website. This website works out how CO2 from your flight compares to heating, car use, electricity: http://www.thinkbeforeyoufly.com/

MT @guardianeco: Ryanair adds 25p for "eco-looney tax" to fares http://bit.ly/xUxINe - that'll really mess up their "cheap" fares!
RT @jonwalker121: The public consultation into #hs2 came out two to one against the scheme http://twurl.nl/6liufc
Surely not: RT @guardianeco: Airlines could net £1.6bn windfall from EU carbon trading scheme, report says http://bit.ly/x7koa2
RT @birminghampost: Alister Scott Blog: The planning headaches facing HS2 http://bit.ly/zos6Lx - excellent piece highlighting key issues.
Here's our press release on the #HS2 announcement "High Speed? How do we get to the station?": http://bit.ly/ztdLbN
Thought it'd never happen! RT @BirminghamPress: Public transport users finally able to use easier way of buying tickets: http://bit.ly/wXQx1p

Waste & Resource Use
Industry calls for more ambitious Waste Strategy as resource shortages threaten: http://bit.ly/vZF5J9

Others
If you buy this track, we get a share of the profits - enjoy: http://bit.ly/yXx76M
Birmingham: Eco tourism destination for the week! http://bit.ly/y90h4B

Thanks to @SWMtweet for putting up a couple of new volunteer positions with us on their website: http://bit.ly/x3XZQ8 http://bit.ly/zGK0ml

"The Green Economy – which way to look in 2012": http://bit.ly/Aw5BYW - It's clear that we need to explain better economic models.
Good to see @warehousecafeuk and @loafonline getting some recognition for their part in Brum's food renaissance: http://ind.pn/wvhRne
Response by @CraigBennett3 to @GregBarkerMP "environmental Taliban"+ @ZacGoldsmith asking greens to praise Govt: http://tinyurl.com/79drw93