Geoff’s Best Reads

Every fortnight on Tasmanian Times, widely-read Geoff Dickinson chooses Six of the past fortnight’s Best Reads.

Ancient Mining Site in Romania May Fall Victim to Mining
The area around the Transylvanian village of Rosia Montana in Romania has been mined for some 2,000 years. But it still contains the largest gold and silver reserves in Europe. Despite widespread opposition, the site may soon succumb to open-pit gold mines… Transylvania Spiegel 29/8/11
http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,783197,00.html#ref=nlint

A Moore’s Law for Renewable Energy
Increasing capacity per dollar in computer technology has driven exponential growth for 50 years. With a similar organizing principle, the same could happen in the energy industry. … USA 26/8/11
http://www.strategy-business.com/article/00087?gko=2ac86&cid=20110830enews

Germany Lacks Clear Plan for Climate Change
Germany is preparing for climate change by installing air conditioners in overheated cities and irrigation systems on dry fields. But a new federal proposal is short on details, state programs differ and there is no solid plan for preparing the country for a warming world. .. Germany Spiegel 9/9/11
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,785181,00.html#ref=nlint

Does a company’s responsibility to society start with paying its taxes?
For some social businesses such as the IT training company Happy there is a recognition that tax forms a social contract between companies and government. In exchange for tax, companies can expect government to deliver a secure environment, …UK The Guardian 9/9/11
http://www.guardian.co.uk/social-enterprise-network/2011/sep/09/company-responsibility-society-paying-taxes

Double wireless capacity with ‘full-duplex’
RICE U. (US) — A new technology that allows wireless devices to “talk” and “listen” on the same frequency could pave the way for 4.5G and 5G networks. The “full-duplex” technology developed by engineers at Rice University also could allow wireless phone companies to double throughput on their networks without adding a single cell tower…. USA Futurity 7/9/11
http://www.futurity.org/top-stories/double-wireless-capacity-with-%E2%80%98full-duplex%E2%80%99/?utm_source=Futurity+Today&utm_campaign=a69d88d422-September_79_7_2011&utm_medium=email

Get the fracking facts [infographic]
USA Posted Sep 9th 2011,
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/09/fracking-facts-infographic.php