Comments on: Getting Mobile for Copenhagen

By: Jen Dalitz

Jen Dalitz — Sun, 16 May 2010 03:47:11 +0000

So where to from here… apart from an angry PM and a doubting constituency?

By: Turlough

Turlough — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:33:28 +0000

Hi Rod -

Good questions.

“I would like to see the data behind your bold claims about the utopian mobile industry. Does your comparison include the environmental impact of the one million mobile phones that are disposed of around the world every day?”

No, I have based my comparison on operational emissions (not emissions embedded in the phone, network etc.).

“Does it take into account the fact that every bit of data send over a mobile network consumes more than twice as much energy as a bit of data sent over a fixed (ADSL or PON) network?”

This is an interesting point. However, I haven’t made a comparison of fixed vs mobile telecoms. Note that 0.3% of national emissions is an estimate of total telecom emissions (fixed + mobile) hence why I stated less than 0.3% because the mobiles sector is a sub-sector of integrated telecommunications.

Turlough

http://au.linkedin.com/in/turloughguerin
http://twitter.com/Turlough_Guerin

By: Turlough

Turlough — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:13:36 +0000

Thanks Amanda – agree that’s a sad situation. What will get people to listen? I guess different messages for different audiences.

We do have MobileMuster – its one of the best collection pragrams for the industry globally. Sounds like you havent seen much of it though. There are collection facilities in most stores and you can even mail your old phone into a collection depot: http://www.mobilemuster.com.au

Turlough

http://au.linkedin.com/in/turloughguerin
http://twitter.com/Turlough_Guerin

By: Camilla Milburn

Camilla Milburn — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:08:03 +0000

Turlough
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the results from Copenhagen.

Cheers Camilla

By: Anthony

Anthony — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:53:02 +0000

http://www.theage.com.au/world/clean-coal-not-the-answer-gore-20091105-hz4k.html

” …A day after The Age revealed plans by the Brumby Government to gamble on “clean coal” technology in Victoria, Mr Gore expressed serious doubt about its viability and said Australia’s focus should instead be on renewable energy.

“I think a country like Australia probably has more usable and profitable sources of renewable energy than any other nation,” Mr Gore said in an interview with The Age.”

By: Anthony

Anthony — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:50:03 +0000

I was listening to Al Gore in an interview and his attitude to coal powered power plants is NIL. I just Googled the topic and he is not mincing words, it appears we are doomed even considering coal as a fuel source, [and in doing so sabotaging the rest of the world's efforts to start the clean power revolution.] (my words)
I so wish Australia could get our head out of the clouds and instead of playing with Technology, and its Toys use it in a wise way.
A scarey bit of information came my way watching T.V. (Andrew Denton ABC 1 – Alan Alda ) A “Species in general lives two million years, we have a few hundred thousand years under our belt, will we continue, things happen, we are not supreme beings just a species with a finite life span upon this planet” (paraphrased, and maybe misquoted, but essence retained)
Once the finity of our stay here is realised these Tech Toys aren’t going to be nearly as much fun.

Al Gore: “Clean Coal’s Like Healthy Cigarettes”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4-jpOq3ytU

By: Turlough

Turlough — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:23:02 +0000

Thanks for your note Karen – hopefully there will be something positive to report!

By: Amanda Schafer

Amanda Schafer — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:31:28 +0000

Agreed the GFC has rather derailed the more important Global Environment focus. To keep pressure on business and government, we as individuals need to keep discussing and demonstrating our interest in the issues. A Concerning example – I recently happened upon a reception held in a public area of the Beach Hotel Byron Bay, for some of our Vic fire fighters and Police service men and women who were running from North Queensland to Vic to raise awareness of the prevailing and forecast global climate issues. There were scentists and environmentalists presenting important information about climate change, 3 key sponsors and 20 or so of the runners. The event attracted only 3 people as their audience while approximately 400 other patrons ignored the entire procedings! We all need to step up!!
FYI these runners will complete their journey at St Kilda Sea Baths on Sunday 29th at around 3.00 – so let’s all show them some support and DEMONSTRATE to “the powers that be” that people do actually care.
On another topic, mobile phone technology is wonderful, however an effective system for disposing of them and battery chargers etc needs to be established and clearly publicised -especially when we are encouraged to upgrade at least every two years.

By: Turlough

Turlough — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:30:10 +0000

Bill -

Thanks for your comment. Most mobile sites in Australia do use coal-fired power. In Vic all on grid base stations will use brown coal – the other states use black coal and or gas for base load power. There are some sites that are powered to some extent with solar power – in our case these ones are off-grid. As an FYI, we generated 3.7 MW of renewable power which was used to power our network equipment.

I like your idea of a solar powered mobile phone. Did you know you can already buy solar powered chargers for mobile phones?

Cheers

Turlough

http://au.linkedin.com/in/turloughguerin
http://twitter.com/Turlough_Guerin

By: Turlough

Turlough — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:37:50 +0000

Alan

Great job on the advert.

Turlough
http://au.linkedin.com/in/turloughguerin
http://twitter.com/Turlough_Guerin