pro-nuclear hype, Italy and France’s nuclear wastes
Review, by Christina Macpherson 22 Sept 09 Pro-nuclear hype stepped up over the past week, with the worrying connection being pushed that somehow “nuclear energy and nuclear disarmament” are goals that go together!
In Australia, Paul Howes the very right-wing union leader, and hopeful ALP politician, is to speak on nuclear power, at a Liberal Party seminar! ANU to pursue nuclear research with ANSTO. Ziggy Spinowski spruiking nuclear power for Australia.
Internationally, the push to include nuclear at climate talks continues. The nuke lobby, (including Ziggy) tout Italy and France as winning nuclear examples. But Italy is in the throes of a nuclear waste scandal – ships scuttled in the Mediterranean . In France AREVA’s finncial problems continue, and its nuke waste disposal is coming under scrutiny, too.
Exposing Ziggy’s spin
Ziggy Switkowski is pretty careful these days, on where he spouts his pro-nuke spin. He doesn’t want demonstrations and hecklers. So, it’s usually to the refined world of corporate Australia. Or at Lucas Heights, where he recently spruiked on the seemingly inevitable move to nuclear power.
Ziggy talks about Australian public pro-nuke opinion, without any evidence to support this. He does not mention cost, nor water use, nor waste disposal.
Ziggy continues to tout nuclear as the solution to global warming, ignoring the factors of nuclear fuel cycle carbon emissions, and the fact that even if it did work, nuclear power would supply only electricity, and would be years too late.
Ziggy prophesies a future of continued unbridled energy consumption while the world is waking up to newer ways, energy conservation, energy efficency, cogeneration. Of course, Ziggy dismisses renewable energy sources, rather as horse and buggy experts might have dismissed the automobile a century ago.
Ziggy Switkowski wants 50 nuclear power plants in Australia
Upping the ante on nuke power
Business Spectator, by Keith Orchsison 22 Sept 09
One of the great quotes from Ziggy Switkowski is that it is never hard to figure out where things are moving; it’s just hard to figure out the timing.Switkowski, chairman of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and the head of John Howard’s review of nuclear energy earlier this decade, is quietly increasing his forecast of how many uranium-fuelled power stations will be operating in this country by the middle of the century. Continue reading
Aborigines challenge mining registrar for equal treatment
Indigenous people power challenges mining might
Eureka Street Moira Rayner September 22, 2009A mining registrar in Western Australia has a hard decision to make. The Martu Idja Banjima Native Title claimants — the Martidja Manyjima people of the Pilbara — want him to hear their challenge to BHP Billiton’s claim for more mining leases on 200 square kilometres of their traditional land. BHP Billiton doesn’t. Continue reading
Australian National University quietly working with ANSTO on nuclear reaearch
New agreement for nuclear research
Sky News September 21, 2009
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and The Australian National University (ANU) will join forces to further research into nuclear science.Science Minister Kim Carr will launch the national research partnership in Canberra on Tuesday.
The new agreement will see the two organisations collaborate on research into future energy sources and nuclear non-proliferation as well as share the use of testing facilities like particle accelerators.
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 