Antinuclear

Ferguson, Abbott, Howes, etc – the nuclear lobby’s political stooges

Andrea Mayes takes on the pro nuclear politicians:

Japan’s disastrous and tragic nuclear record should be warning enough to Australian politicians to stop their dangerous flirtation with nuclear energy.

Disaster proves nuclear danger, The West Australian, Andrea Mayes,  15 March 11, “……….For some in Australia, the temptation to move down the nuclear energy path is proving irresistible.Both Federal Energy Minister Martin Ferguson and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott favour nuclear energy as part of the solution to the challenge of climate change…….
His recent push to allow uranium sales to India showed his continued keenness to “modernise” party policy on the issue.

Mr Ferguson is not the only senior Labor figure keen to have nuclear power in Australia.

Others who favour nuclear energy include influential Australian Workers Union national secretary Paul Howes, one of the “faceless men” behind Julia Gillard’s knifing of Kevin Rudd, as well as Bob Hawke, Bob Carr and WA Senator Mark Bishop…..

In the Liberal camp, Mr Abbott believes nuclear power is “the only realistic way” for Australia to reduce its carbon emissions, although like Mr Ferguson, he has been forced to toe the official party line and deny that there will be a policy change on the issue before the next election.

Other Liberals pushing for just such a change include deputy leader Julie Bishop, MP Dennis Jensen and Senator Mathias Cormann, who reportedly said recently: “If we are serious about reducing greenhouse gas emissions and keeping our eye on energy security then we have to consider nuclear. “The reality is nuclear is a proven, reliable and secure low-carbon technology.”
Reliable and secure for whom?

Certainly not for the 200,000 or more residents in Japan forced to flee their homes in areas surrounding the Fukushima nuclear plants in Japan after explosions in the past few days at one of the plant’s reactors……..

The geography and geology of Japan – prone as it is to earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes – should have been enough to sway it away from nuclear power.

History provides us with many powerful reminders of why nuclear power is not a safe option and should be scrapped from the list of future energy options for Australia, regardless of its greenhouse credentials. Chernobyl is one, Three Mile Island another…….

The storage of nuclear waste is a whole other safety issue.

We can’t afford to take a chance with nuclear power.

Japan’s disastrous and tragic nuclear record should be warning enough to Australian politicians to stop their dangerous flirtation with nuclear energy.

Disaster proves nuclear danger – The West Australian

March 19, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics