Australia Sleeps on, While Nuclear Decisions are Made
Hardly a whisper in the mass media, as:
1. the Australian government moves to pass its National Radioactive Waste Management Bill – paving the way for Australia to impose a radioactive waste dump on Aboriginal land – and who knows, on any land later on.
2. the South Australian and Federal governments move to approve BHP Billiton’s grandiose plan for the world’s biggest uranium mine and uranium waste tailings mountain
3. Western Australian company Lynas continues plan to process Rare Earths in Malaysia – following in the good old Australian tradition of putting toxic radioactive wastes in another country- preferably one with weak environmental legislation. See below the effects of such an industry on the people of inner Mongolia.
Despite legal action, Australian govt to rush nuclear waste law
Traditional owners have begun a challenge to the nomination in the Federal Court.
Ownership of nuclear waste site disputed, Lindsay Murdoch in Tennant Creek, Sydney Morning Herald, May 9, 2011 DOCUMENTS unearthed in the National Archives challenge the Gillard government’s push to build a nuclear waste dump on disputed Aboriginal land near Tennant Creek, lawyers say. Continue reading
Radioactive Poisoning from Rare Earths
Environmental groups have long criticised rare earths mining for spewing toxic chemicals and radioactive thorium and uranium into the air, water and soil, which can cause cancer and birth defects among residents and animals…..
China pays price for world’s rare earths addiction, By Allison Jackson (AFP) – Google News, 7 May 11, BAOTOU, China — Peasant farmer Wang Tao used to grow corn, potatoes and wheat within a stone’s throw of a dumping ground for rare earths waste until toxic chemicals leaked into the water supply and poisoned his land. Continue reading
Unlimited potential for renewable energy
By far the most comprehensive UN assessment of the status and potential for 
the clean energy sector, the report weighs 164 separate development scenarios……The report says there is virtually unlimited technical potential for renewables, with much of it coming from solar energy.
Renewables major part of 2050 world energy, Sydney Morning Herald, Marlowe Hood, May 7, 2011 Renewable power from the Sun, wind, water and biomass can and should generate a major portion of the planet’s energy supply by 2050, a leaked draft of a United Nations report says. Continue reading
South Australian govt’s unseemly haste to push for uranium mine expansion
Concerns have been raised that the State Government will ram through approval of the $20 billion project on the same day the latest environmental impact statement is released – leaving no room for public consultation.
Concern at pace of mine approval | Adelaide Now, Russell Emerson May 08, 2011 THE latest version of the Olympic Dam expansion is likely to be released publicly on Thursday or Friday. Continue reading
Unacceptable financial risks of nuclear power
the insurance industry and financial markets still have not altered their long held position that nuclear power poses unacceptable financial risk.
‘Smart money’ reflects nuclear power risks Burlington Free Press David R. Abbott, 8 may 11, “……… we should follow the smart, disinterested money …. because, in the case of the nuclear power industry, an unacceptable financial risk is, at the same time, an unacceptable safety risk.The smart money here is represented by the insurance industry and the financial markets. Continue reading
Collapse of uranium industry affecting Cameco, BHP Billiton
Cameco’s chief executive says “Germany’s ”weak political leadership” had prompted its decision to make an ”illogical and emotional decision to close a number of older nuclear facilities”.
BHP to feel uranium slide, Barry Fitzgerald, Sydney Morning Herald, May 9, 2011 THE partial meltdown of the Fukushima nuclear power plant in March has prompted leading uranium producer Cameco to cut its demand forecasts for the nuclear fuel. The cut has implications for BHP Billiton, which must find a home for the additional uranium it will produce with its planned $30 billion expansion of the Olympic Dam copper/uranium/gold mine in South Australia’s outback. Continue reading
Inadequate public discussion of “adequacy” of uranium mine expansion plan?
The Federal Government last month declared the project had passed what it described as its “adequacy test”, triggering a decision by BHP-Billiton to issue the document.
Next stage of Olympic Dam plans to be revealed this week | Herald Sun, Russell Emmerson, 9 May , 2011 FURTHER plans involving the proposed $20 billion expansion of South Australia’s largest project, the next stage of the Olympic Dam development, are expected to be revealed this week. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 