Australia’s nuclear waste danger
Obama’s visit later this year may well lead to Australia becoming an international nuclear waste dump – THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY and RADIOACTIVE WASTES – our theme for June 2010 With the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill, the Australian government is setting Australia up for a possible later step in the sorry story of nuclear wastes.
The decision to impose a nuclear waste dump on Northern Territory Aboriginal land has been followed quickly by an agreement between the Australian government and President Obama, on sharing nuclear technology. And this will now be followed by Obama’s visit to Australia – just at the time when 
Obama is in deep trouble over the USA’s growing mass of nuclear wastes.
At the same time, Obama has set up a (somewhat pro-nuclear industry) “Blue Ribbon Panel” to find out what on earth to do with USA’s nuclear wastes
Australia is still signed up to the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation , (that’s the new name for the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership), by which uranium -selling countries agree to take back nuclear wastes from overseas countries
Rudd undermined, but the Resources Tax idea spreads
Pressure from mining corporations like BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, combined with the political ambitions of right-wingers, Bill Shorten and Paul Howe must have played a part in the undermining of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Kevin Rudd might not be a cuddly, warm and fuzzy person, but Rudd had the interests of Australians and their children and grandchildren at heart, in promoting the Super Profit Resources Tax.
BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto etc had at heart the interests of corporate profit, in Australia, but also in other countries. They worried that other government’s might put their people’s future ahead of those corporate profits.
Well – the undermining of Rudd might have come too late – the idea lives and spreads- as for example in Germany – “The German Ministry of Finance, for example, has envisaged an additional €2.3 billion annual “windfall tax” on nuclear operators as part of the 2011 Federal Budget and its financial plan up to 2014.” – Wall street Journal
Mining corporations expecting Gillard to retreat on the Resources Tax
Australian Miners Won’t Mourn Rudd’s Departure, Wall Street Journal, by David Cottle, 25 June 2010, It’s safe to say the vast Australian mining industry isn’t going to miss ousted prime minister Kevin Rudd……. It looks as though a watered-down version of the levy is on the cards now, if not a total return to the drawing board……………………
Rocketing nuclear reactor costs send AREVA into the red!
While the rocketing costs of the OL3 EPR have dragged down AREVA’s results for years, this is the first time that they have sent the company into the red…..AREVA’s losses are ultimately borne by French taxpayers.
AREVA covers up extent of massive nuclear reactor cost overrun Greenpeace International by jmckeati – June 24, 2010 French nuclear giant AREVA were force to issue a profit warning yesterday. It has had to find an extra 400 million euros to cover the additional costs of building its so-called flagship European Pressurised Reactor at Olkiluoto in Finland. Continue reading
Australia’s Enhanced Renewable Energy Target legislation passed
Australia’s Enhanced Renewable Energy Target : Renewable Energy News, 25 June 2010, After last minute amendments to satisfy all parties, long awaited changes to Australia’s Renewable Energy Target were finally passed on Thursday, changes some are calling the biggest climate change reform in Australia’s history. Continue reading
Veterans die as UK govt delays nuclear compensation case
“The Ministry of Defense is spending lots of money to fight this as it now realises that it will not only have to apologise and admit what happened, but will also have to compensate a lot more people than they originally expected.
(UK) Nuclear test veteran fears he may not live to see final decision, Burton News & Staffordshire Newspaper by ROB SMYTH, 24 June 2010, A NUCLEAR test veteran has described how he believes his battle for compensation from the Government may not be won in his lifetime. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 