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convenience outweighs moral conscience. Most shoppers still accept the plastic bags because continually remembering to bring empty cloth bags is forgettable and a bit of a nuisance? Yet plastic bags are used and thrown adding more to waste disposal problems?
2. Waste disposal management is largely a council concern. Practices vary considerably from one council district to another. There is no clear state or national co-ordination of waste management. The Environment Protection Act of 1970 demanded a national focus on re-use and recycle, but only the state of South Australia has formalised a strategic plan (2007) to reduce landfill by 25 per cent by 2014. Sound theory has evaporated into well meaning but scattered practices.

The one constant, ironically, is embodied in the figure of politician Bob Brown. He straddles the world of environmental activist and politician. From the 1970's he actively participated in protecting Tasmania wilderness areas. He set up a trust fund to buy strategic blocks of land blocking building development. He was one of 1500 people arrested for protesting the construction of the Franklin Dam in the Tasmanian wilderness area. On the day of his release from Risdon prison after 19 days, he was elected to the Tasmanian Parliament and rose to Federal politics as leader of the Greens party in the 1990's. In short, he speaks with authoritative knowledge and experience for the green movement'. Constantly he endeavours to keep environmental issues high on the political agenda.

As recently as December 2008, Bob Brown was vehemently challenging the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. "The Sydney Morning Herald" reported on December 15, 2008:
"The Government has announced it will cut emissions by between 5 and 15 per cent by 2020.
But the maximum 15 per cent cut is conditional on the world signing up to an effective pact to fight climate change. If no pact is agreed, Australia will go with an unconditional 5 per cent cut."
Bob Brown blamed the pressures of big business demands on Kevin Rudd's decision. The environment needs took second place.

As in many countries, the "green movement" in Australia brings mixed blessings. We know we need to think "green" but wanting to make it a daily habit can be a little awkward. More Bob Browns are needed at national, state and local council levels to co-ordinate a clear, green movement agenda for the future.

Bibliography

Paradigm Oz
http://paradigmoz.wordpress.co m/2007/07/05/the-environment-m ovement-and-aboriginal-austral ia-cont/

Australearn http://www.australearn.org/des tinations/australia/country_in formation/green_links/

Sydney Morning Herald http://www.smh.com.au/news/env ironment/global-warming/youve- failed-australia/2008/12/15/12 29189518879.html

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