Yasmine Wright Gittins

YouTube video by ABC News In-depth The online gecko craze turning into a conservation nightmare | The Pacific

Beyond excited to share that @cooperwilliams.bsky.social & I have published our 2nd story as part of the Walkley's Sean Dorney Grant for Pacific Journalism.

📽 by Nicolas Job & Cooper

Give it a watch here: youtu.be/61poVYSrxiw?...

#pacific #newcaledonia #kanaky #geckos

'We are in the s**t': Mine's closure cripples Pacific indigenous community A billion-dollar bet on nickel mining gave many New Caledonians hopes of economic prosperity and political independence. But after the market turned, the mine has left behind a ghost town full of brok...

Fascinating, insightful story with hauntingly beautiful photography of the ghost town around the abandoned nickel mine in New Caledonia.

From former Australia Institute teammate @yasminewg.bsky.social ⤵️

Thanks @haydenstarr.bsky.social 😊 🥳

'We are in the s**t': Mine's closure cripples Pacific indigenous community A billion-dollar bet on nickel mining gave many New Caledonians hopes of economic prosperity and political independence. But after the market turned, the mine has left behind a ghost town full of brok...

The 1st of our stories from #NewCaledonia / #kanaky is out on ABC Pacific. Give it a read (and watch on iview).

Some more fascinating stories still to come!

Thanks to the Sean Dorney Grant for #Pacific Journalism through the Walkley's Public Fund.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04...

Exploring the mangroves of Nouméa with Isabelle, a resident of Oundjo who works with the village mamans to replant mangrove pods at the end of their crabbing season #kanaky #environmentaljournalism

The town of Voh from above ⛰️

Cute puppy on set 🐶

Speaking on the ground with customs officials and rangers!

I am in New Caledonia for the next little while, filming some packages for ABC, thanks to the Walkley's Sean Dorney Grant for Pacific journalism.

I will be sharing some more peeks at our stories here but also keep an eye out on @cooperwilliams.bsky.social

Cue photos 🎬 📽 🌴 🌺

Every fortnight @amyremeikis.bsky.social writes a fantastic piece for our newsletter @australiainstitute.org.au.

You can get it sent to you (free!) by signing up here
🔽🔽🔽
theaus.in/newsletter_s...
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Video Report: Native Logging continues in the Great Koala National Park An on-the-ground video investigation into native forest logging and the people trying to protect the last refuges of some of Australia's most iconic wildlife.

Around 8 months since we worked on this video report.

Native forest logging is a loss-making industry & Australia is in an extinction crisis.

Let's get our priorities right.

australiainstitute.org.au/post/video-r...

Logging in forest earmarked for koala national park increasing under NSW Labor, analysis finds More than 7,000 hectares logged in planned park area since Chris Minns won 2023 election with commitment to deliver new sanctuary, conservationists say

"Logging of native forest in the proposed “Great Koala national park” in northern New South Wales has intensified since the Minns government took office." #auspol #climate

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Great writeup from ABC News on Australia's extreme heat risks. #auspol #climate

Our new research identifies the locations around Australia in which the greatest number of vulnerable people will be affected by extreme heat.

Find out more:
australiainstitute.org.au/report/vulne...

Charts showing Australian annual CO2 emissions from 2021 out to 2030. The have been flat since 2021 and will stay so till 2028 when apparently they will fall at a perfect rate to achieve a 43% cut of 2005 levels in 2030

The latest greenhouse gas emissions figures show Australia emits more gas now than when the government was elected.

But the govt wants us to believe we are "on target" to achieve 43% cuts below 2005 levels by 2030.

Enough with the spin: we need to stop approving new coal & gas mines *now*.

The printed copies of our new book What's the Big Idea have arrived just in time for our launch event tonight!

It's got 32 big ideas from an incredible list of thinkers and writers.

Get your copy here: theaus.in/preorder_bigideabook

Listening to @amyremeikis.bsky.social speak at the launch of the @australiainstitute.org.au books “What’s the Big Idea?”

When did pop music become such an extravagance?

Greens back Albanese government’s Help to Buy housing bill after failing to win concessions Minor party says it is waving bills through after accepting government ‘doesn’t care enough about renters to do anything meaningful for them’

The best thing you can say about help to buy is that it is so tiny that it will make no difference. Wouldn't it be great if government's proposed policies that actually made a positive difference to the housing crisis we're facing. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

"It's good for your health, it's good for your hip pocket. And it's also great for the planet because it reduces those transport miles and it reduces plastic."

Fantastic to have @sophiescamps.bsky.social launch our new report, Grow Your Own 2024, about the benefits of growing your own food. #auspol

Headlines around the world thanks to the local heroes who’ve been on the water this week

Hey, always thought growing food is kinda great?

Well, now there is some research from @theaustraliainstitute.org.au and Grow it Local that shows just how much Australians love growing food.

Bonus points if you find all the little critters I hid in these tiles 🐛🪲🐞

Australia politics live: Greens expected to help Labor pass housing bill; Musk argues social media bill may not be lawful Follow live

Negative gearing lovers rejoice!

Greens to announce they will support the Government's Help to Buy scheme, dropping demands for reforming the investor-friendly tax concessions.

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

SIGN NOW: Protect our elections! Changes to democracy are too important to be rushed through parliament.

If you're worried about the government crashing through legislation that involves lots more money to major parties for electioneering with less transparency and no truth in political advertising laws, sign @australiainstitute.org.au's petition : nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donations_bi...

This week is your last chance to get in a preorder for our new book, and save $5 off the sticker price!

It's an inspiring read, from a star-studded list of writers and thinkers. The perfect Christmas gift.

📖 theaus.in/preorder_big...

The Future Fund is Australia's rainy day fund. It has now become a political football The federal government's decision to have the fund invest in housing and green energy has ruffled Coalition feathers.

So the Liberals think it is OK for people to withdraw money from their own super account to invest in housing but they think its a bad idea for the future fund to invest in housing…🙄

www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11...

Not to worry it was only a story on the errr... front page!!!

There is widespread support for banning gambling ads on free-to-air media. The main objection is free-to-air networks can’t afford to lose the $$.

As @amyremeikis.bsky.social explains, there's a simple solution. A 2% levy on gambling revenue could more than replace all the lost ad income. #auspol

a chart showing the disparities

"we found that climate researchers reported engaging in considerably more advocacy and activism on climate change and, to a lesser extent, high-impact lifestyle changes than non-climate researchers"

www.nature.com/articles/s44...