Nuclear hype, but nuclear future uncertain
Review, by Christina Macpherson. It’s been an interesting week. Internationally – two blatant lies are being taken up by prominent world leaders:
1. that developing nuclear power is an essential part of nuclear disarmament
2. that nuclear power is the solution to global warming.
Meanwhile, the global nuclear energy leader, AREVA, is in debt as “poster boy” new reactors in Finland and France continue to have troubles. Thousands of Russians protest against a new nuclear plant.
In Australia, Liberal party MP’s disagree on nuclear policy. The nuclear lobbyist Ziggy Spinowsky is frantically busy pushing nuclear, (as uranium prices remain low). In W.A., BHP is gently “advised” to consider the Ngalia people’s views on uranium developments. Dust storms, with more predicted, raise fears of radon gas reaching millions of Australians and New Zealanders.
Still much to fear from nuclear
The Age, David Noonan, 29 Sept 09
Nuclear weapons raise serious, unresolved questions about Australia’s uranium exports. The lesson from Iran is that nuclear technology and materials can be – and are – used for dual purposes. The weapons dangers in uranium enrichment are not unique to Iran. All facilities in the nuclear fuel chain can be used to make weapons.
The military remain inextricably linked to the civilian nuclear sector in Iran, in Russia, in China and in India. All these countries fail the test of strengthened nuclear safeguards and should be disqualified from receiving Australian uranium. And in an age of terrorism every nuclear reactor is a potential target that can be used as a weapon against the community. The inherent safety and security risks of nuclear are strong reasons to phase out Australia’s uranium exports. These risks should be front of mind when governments consider BHP Billiton’s plans to expand Olympic Dam to make Australia the global uranium quarry to fuel the nuclear industry.
Nuclear Technology Agency will Analyse Possibly Radioactive Dust
So ANSTO will analyse Australia’s dust storms? – Sounds a bit like Dracula looking after the Blood Bank – Christina Macpherson
Glowing welcome for nuclear partnership
PS NewsvANU 29 Sept 09 The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and the Australian National University have joined together in a partnership aimed at enhancing the nation’s nuclear science and technology engagement. Continue reading
A caution about Australia’s uranium future
Australia’s Uranium, by Greg Baker. Parliament of Australia Research paper Sept 2009 “….. Australian and worldwide concerns about the environmental and health dangers of mining and using uranium, the need to store nuclear fission products for very long periods of time and the issues concerned with the decommissioning of nuclear electricity reactors at the end of their useful life may act to linit growth in nuclear generating capacity…” http://www.aph.gov.au/Library/pubs/rp/2009-10/10rp06.pdf
Australian govt fails to deal with nuclear waste
Danger in nuclear waste move: ACF
ABC News 29 Sept 09Nearly 10,000 barrels of nuclear waste will be moved again in the Woomera prohibited area, to a more suitable storage facility. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 