Chemicals found in green turtle blood

More than 4000 toxic chemical compounds, including heart and gout medication, pesticides and industrial adhesives and metals, have been found in the blood of Great Barrier Reef turtles.

Findings from a joint Griffith University and World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia study released today reveal the staggering level of chemicals being absorbed by coastal green turtles.

Australian Youth Climate Coalition Protests in Brisbane

Members of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition  gathered today at Speakers Corner in Brisbane to call on the Queensland Government for justice-centred solutions to the climate and COVID crises. 

Community Organiser Monique Jeffs says “The climate crisis is...affects everyone but not equally. It is often the most marginalised in our societies who are hit first and worst by climate impacts.”

Calls for more companies to hire autistic Australians 

Advocates for people with autism are calling for Australian companies to embrace neurodiversity as a report reveals the alarming unemployment rate of people on the spectrum. 

One in 70 Australians have autism, and yet the unemployment rate for those with autism is 30 percent - six times higher than the national average. 

Chinese moon probe begins return to Earth with lunar samples

A Chinese lunar probe has taken off from the moon carrying lunar samples and is on the first stage of its return to Earth according to Chinese state media. 

Chang’e 5 is the third Chinese spacecraft to land on the moon and the first to take off from it again. 

Beijing’s space program also has a  spacecraft en route to mars. 

Letter to hotel CEO to stop the use of hotels as refugee detentions

Politicians, human rights lawyers, community advocates and people seeking asylum have rallied together to sign an open letter to the CEO of Accor Group, Sebastien Bazin, to urge him to stop the use of Accor hotels to detain refugees and asylum seekers. 

Nearly 100 refugees are currently detained in prison-like conditions in the Mantra Bell City Hotel and Mercure Darwin Airport Resort.