Solar power industry growth potential - or prepare for war instead?: "The solar thermal power industry could be worth 16.4 billion Euros and create 54,000 jobs worldwide by 2025... Greenpeace and ESTIA are encouraging politicians and policymakers to support this new sustainable industry by taking the necessary steps laid out in the report, which provides a detailed action plan for Governments who want to invest in this new technology."

"In only two decades, the electricity generated from solar thermal power plants could be equivalent to the power generated by 72 coal-fired power stations, supplying enough electricity each year for Israel, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia combined or half the electricity demand of Australia."

Especially noteworthy in this report are the contentions that "Among the solar electric technologies, concentrating solar power (CSP) [also known as solar thermal power] is the cheapest and the largest bulk producer of solar electricity in the world" and that "costs are expected to drop closer to 7-8 US cents [kw/h] in the future."

Meanwhile, "A new report into the Australian Defence Force's budget says Australia's overseas commitments are unsustainable. The report by the partly Defence-funded think-tank, the Kokoda Foundation, calls for an extra $1 billion on top of the current $18 billion allocated by the Federal Government."

So terminate Australia's 'overseas commitments', ie Afghanistan and Iraq, immediately, and invest in solar energy instead. What on earth has Australia ever been doing in those disastrous colonial and imperial wars in the first place? But no, "Australia must prepare for a major conflict in Asia within the next 15 years", says the report. Why in God's name would Australia want to be involved in a major conflict in Asia or anywhere? Is it that, historically, if a major war breaks out anywhere, diggers gotta get into it? Bring the troops home and keep them home, except for a limited role in operations approved by UN and international law.

Solar power industry growth potential - or prepare for war instead?: "The solar thermal power industry could be worth 16.4 billion Euros and create 54,000 jobs worldwide by 2025... Greenpeace and ESTIA are encouraging politicians and policymakers to support this new sustainable industry by taking the necessary steps laid out in the report, which provides a detailed action plan for Governments who want to invest in this new technology."

"In only two decades, the electricity generated from solar thermal power plants could be equivalent to the power generated by 72 coal-fired power stations, supplying enough electricity each year for Israel, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia combined or half the electricity demand of Australia."

Especially noteworthy in this report are the contentions that "Among the solar electric technologies, concentrating solar power (CSP) [also known as solar thermal power] is the cheapest and the largest bulk producer of solar electricity in the world" and that "costs are expected to drop closer to 7-8 US cents [kw/h] in the future."

Meanwhile, "A new report into the Australian Defence Force's budget says Australia's overseas commitments are unsustainable. The report by the partly Defence-funded think-tank, the Kokoda Foundation, calls for an extra $1 billion on top of the current $18 billion allocated by the Federal Government."

So terminate Australia's 'overseas commitments', ie Afghanistan and Iraq, immediately, and invest in solar energy instead. What on earth has Australia ever been doing in those disastrous colonial and imperial wars in the first place? But no, "Australia must prepare for a major conflict in Asia within the next 15 years", says the report. Why in God's name would Australia want to be involved in a major conflict in Asia or anywhere? Is it that, historically, if a major war breaks out anywhere, diggers gotta get into it? Bring the troops home and keep them home, except for a limited role in operations approved by UN and international law.