Martin Ferguson pulls a swifty on Northern Territory Nuclear Waste Dump
S.11 of the [new]Bill overrides all state and territory laws that regulate or prohibit nuclear waste dumps
S.12 of the [new]Bill directly overrides the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 in a similar manner to the Howard-era Act. It also overrides the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Back to the future with Ferguson’s nuclear waste legislation crikey, 24 Feb 2010 “…Labor’s 2007 election commitment was to repeal the CRWMA, which overrode NT laws and any Commonwealth legislation that might have delayed or hindered the investigation of waste dump sites, and replace it with a “a consensual process of site selection”. And Ferguson insisted yesterday that that was exactly what was happening. Continue reading
Why Rudd must keep Garrett as Environment Minister
Peter Garrett was known for his strong anti-nuclear and pro-environment stand. That was before he became a politician. And of course, especially in the Labor Party, you have to be a “team player”. Peter Garrett has been a “team player” on matters like the Tasmanian pulp mill, and on widening the ALP’s policy to allow new uranium mines.
It will be no surprise when Garrett toes the line on future uranium/nuclear/radioactive waste decisions made by the Rudd government, as it kow-tows to BHP Billiton, and its other big industry backers. Garrett will be made to take the flak.
Rudd govt can use Peter Garrett as environment scapegoat
Standards sacrificed to save position THE AUSTRALIAN, 24 Feb 2010, PETER Garrett now appears likely to survive as Environment Minister.
He shouldn’t keep his job, because of incompetence and a failure of political instinct and courage, but he will stay out of political expediency.
By holding on to the crippled minister, the government can throw him to the wolves at a later date….The beleaguered minister’s residue of goodwill has been depleted and he now personifies the disillusion with climate change politics.
Renewable energy gaining influence in U.S. Congress
the idea of a national energy standard is growing in popularity. Most of the populace has accepted clean energy as a definite part of our future, and players in Congress are beginning to respond
Renewable Energy Industry Flexes its Muscles CalFinder 24 Feb 2010, As a year expected to be a booming one for renewable energy closes out its second month, the industry is looking to iron out the details that will ensure 2010 is a year to remember. Continue reading
Dissension in Labor caucus over the Muckaty nuclear waste dump plan
Abbott sees ‘mood shifting’ from Rudd HERALDSUN AAP 23 Feb 2010,
“……One point of contention during the caucus meeting was the Rudd government’s expected decision to foist a nuclear waste dump upon the Northern Territory.Two members of caucus are understood to have spoken out against the move.
Resources Minister Martin Ferguson told his colleagues the government wouldn’t run away from “tough decisions” and it had to deal with the nuclear waste
USA could get all its electricity from wind power
U.S. Wind Energy Potential Someday Could Power Entire Country EarthTechling, by Susan DeFreitas, February 23rd, 2010 “…..the US has the potential to produce a whole lot of juice using nothing but turbines–enough, in fact, to power the entire country on an annual basis. But over 12 times that much energy?? Those are the new numbers, according to a new study released by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Continue reading
Ferguson putting it over us on Muckaty nuclear waste dump
a small group of traditional owners were paid $200,000 to volunteer their land, but that the government had refused to make the agreement public
Nuclear waste dump should be ‘scrapped’
BigPond News February 23, 2010
Mr Sweeney ….. argued the government was still forcing a nuclear waste dump on a community that doesn’t want it. He says about 60 traditional owners have signed a petition opposing the development of the dump at Muckaty, some of whom Mr Ferguson claims volunteered the land. Continue reading
Wobbly words promote the nuclear industry
“CLEAN”
Nuclear “acceptance campaigns” featuring “truth squads” were created so as to create a “pro-energy climate” to “stabilize people’s attitudes.
Stop the Nukespeak and Tell the Truth About Nuclear Technology THE HUFFINGTON POST, by Rory O’Connor, February 23, 2010 “…in Nukespeak, proponents speak of “health effects” when they really mean “cancer.” Accidents such as the infamous one at Three Mile Island are merely “anomalies,” “significant events” or “abnormal occurrences” — and when they recur, they are re-dubbed “normal abnormalities.” Continue reading
Climate denialists bullying scientists
Bullying, Lies And The Rise Of Right-Wing Climate Denial Counter Currents, By Prof. Clive Hamilton, 22 Feb 2010, Australia’s most distinguished climate scientists have become the target of a new form of cyber-bullying aimed at driving them out of the public debate. Continue reading
Vermont State to shut down nuclear reactor
Obama’s nuclear vision suffers setback as Vermont plant faces shutdown Vermont would be the first state to close a nuclear reactor after 38-year-old Yankee’s history of leaking cancer-causing tritium guardian.co.uk 23 February 2010
Barack Obama’s new dream of a nuclear renaissance faces a major reality check tomorrow when the state of Vermont is expected to shut down an ageing nuclear reactor with a history of leaks. Continue reading
Funds to aboriginal outstation linked to uranium mining
the area has no permanent residents.
MLA links outstation funds to uranium mine – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) By Kirsty Nancarrow By Kirsty NancarrowFeb 18, 2010 The Northern Territory Government could be investing in a new Central Australian outstation as part of a push to develop a uranium mine, a politician has claimed. Continue reading
Uranium price continues its downward spiral
Spot Uranium Remains Under Downward Pressure ninemsn 23/02/2010 By Rudi Filapek-Vandyck Spot uranium prices continue their descent as buyers seem in no hurry and with sellers offering ever more aggressive price cuts to get deals done. The past week, ending Friday, saw a few deals being concluded, but also a further cut to TradeTech’s weekly price benchmark.
India seeking to own uranium companies in Australia
Cos in overseas drive to tie up N-fuel supply- –The Economic Times 23 Feb 2010 MUMBAI: Indian companies such as Essar, the London-listed Vedanta and a subsidiary of shipmaker Varun Industries are scouting around for opportunities to explore and mine uranium in countries like Australia, Canada and parts of Africa…………..India’s biggest private sector company, had last year bought a 49% stake in a special purpose vehicle, or SPV, set up by a company called Uranium Exploration of Australia (UXA) which has licences to mine uranium at four locations in Australia…… RIL’s overseas arm — RIL Australia — is already in an exploration joint venture with Uranium Exploration Australia. UXA had said in the past year that RIL had committed to invest around $13 million following the agreement in late 2007.2007. Cos in overseas drive to tie up N-fuel supply- Power-Energy-News By Industry-News-The Economic Times
Method in Obama’s madness- nuclear power just not viable?
Though the President’s critics on the left do not recognize a strategic move in the loan guarantees to new nuclear, there is very likely method in what seems madness. The nuclear industry proved in the 1970s and 1980s, to those who were paying attention, that it is not viable.
New Nuclear to be Hoist on its own Petard, RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD, February 23, 2010“…the phrase hoist with one’s own petard…means ‘to be harmed by one’s own plan to harm someone else’ or ‘to fall into one’s own trap’…” (Wikipedia)Announcements from the Obama administration of new financial support for the nuclear industry were met by declarations that the long-anticipated nuclear renaissance is finally at hand but the reality is quite different. There is a very real possibility that the President has just caught the nuclear industry in a trap of its own making. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 