Reported by Sophie, Danielle, Isabel and Ez
This week is International Brain Awareness Week.
Neuroscience organisations worldwide have organised Brain Awareness Week to educate people on mind and brain disorders, as well as the benefits of brain research.
Australian research institutes, community support organisations, universities, schools and professional organisations will help campaign during this week.
Asylum seekers and immigrants no longer have to pay for their detention costs in Australia, after new legislation was introduced to Parliament yesterday.
The cost for one year's detention can be as high as $45,000. Federal Immigration Minister Chris Evans said this is an "unjust and ineffective" policy.
The legislation will waive all existing debts for current and former detainees, but no refunds will be offered under the scheme.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the legislation is "overdue", after the Government pledged to be more compassionate towards immigration and asylum seeker issues.
Ms Hanson-Young called on the Government to shut down the Christmas Island Detention centre and to have asylum applications transferred to the mainland. This will allow immigrants to access community support.
Australia is also going to cut its intake of skilled migrants up to 14% next year.
The current economic crisis and rising unemployment levels have caused the immigration department to make this controversial decision.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans said it is important to keep Australians in work, and there is "no need" for migrants to compete for jobs when they are in short supply.
Health occupations, engineering and information technology will be listed on the critical occupation shortage list this year after May 12.
A leading Queensland environmental group are urging politicians to stop politicising the Moreton Island oil spill.
Simon Baltais from the Queensland Conservation Society said the conflict is "undermining the work and confidence of those working valiantly to minimise the damage caused".
Although Moreton Island and Brisbane City Council cleared away most of the oil, the clean-up is expected to take another month. The oil will wash up on cleaned beaches along the coastline.
Specialist equipment has arrived in Brisbane today to help with the clean-up.
50 per cent of Tasmanian forests are gone, according to the UN.
The UN Food and Agricultural Organisation released a report on the state of the World's Forests. The report said expansion of large-scale monocultures of oil palm, soy and other crops for agrofuel production has been a key factor in deforestation.
Friends of the Earth and the Global Forest Coalition have called on world governments to take immediate action to halt deforestation and forest degradation.
Sri Lanka has rejected a call from the European Union for an immediate ceasefire between government troops and the Tamil Tigers.
The EU urged the two sides to halt fighting in the north of the island to allow humanitarian aid to reach a "safe zone".
But Sri Lankan foreign secretary Palitha Kohonoa said the ceasefire will only allow the Tamil Tigers time to regroup and acquire more weapons.
The clean energy industry economy is booming in Germany, according to the German economics ministry.
280,000 people were employed in the country's clean energy sector, which is up from 30,000 two years ago.
Renewable energy now accounts for 10 per cent of energy consumption in Germany, furthering their role as leaders in sustainable energy.
Blogged by Ellie
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