Australia’s Nuclear Waste Bill debated today – despite Strong Local Opposition
“It’s false to claim that the waste dump is purely for medical waste.”..
The National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010 was expected to pass through the Senate last night. But the Senate failed to debate the Bill by the time of print. Senate continues today.
Locals reject waste dump, Northern Territory News, CONOR BYRNE | May 12th, 2011 ‘NO’ was the message from an anti-nuclear waste dump protest at Parliament House in Darwin on Wednesday. The gathering rejected a nuclear waste dump anywhere in the NT, especially at the planned Muckaty Station site, about 120km north of Tennant Creek. Continue reading
A thorough analysis gives thumbs down to nuclear power
In his analysis, Abbott explores the consequences of building, operating, and decommissioning 15,000 reactors on the Earth, looking at factors such as the amount of land required, radioactive waste, accident rate, risk of proliferation into weapons, uranium abundance and extraction, and the exotic metals used to build the reactors themselves.
Why nuclear power will never supply the world’s energy needs, (PhysOrg.com) 12 May 11, –“….In an analysis to be published in a future issue of the Proceedings of the IEEE, Derek Abbott, Professor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Adelaide in Australia, has concluded that nuclear power cannot be globally scaled to supply the world’s energy needs for numerous reasons. The results suggest that we’re likely better off investing in other energy solutions that are truly scalable. Continue reading
Australian govt’s Budget – no interest in renewable energy revolution
The importance of the green revolution, the multi-trillion dollar clean-tech industry that the world’s largest companies predict will emerge within the next decade does not seem to register in our policy-making.
BUDGET 2011: Lean on clean,CLIMATE SPECTATOR, Giles Parkinson, 11 May 2011, This was not a good budget for the clean energy industry.
A whole host of schemes were either cut, closed, recycled or pushed back beyond current spending horizons. Some of the measures were expected, or even warranted. Others reflect that Australia finds it hard to see itself as an innovator and developer of new technologies. Continue reading
Fukushima schoolchildren are daily exposed to radiation
Children and teachers at a fifth of the 1,600 schools in Fukushima are receiving at least 20 millisieverts of radiation per year, said Nakate, according to readings from the government. That’s the limit for a nuclear power plant worker, according to Japan’s nuclear safety commission.
Children Don Masks, Hats in Fukushima as Radiation Looms, Bloomberg, By Takahiko Hyuga and Shigeru Sato – May 11, 2011 Students at the Shoyo Junior High School in Fukushima are wearing masks, caps and long-sleeved jerseys to attend classes as their exposure to radiation is on pace to equal annual limits for nuclear industry workers. Continue reading
Northern Territory Labor Minister joins anti nuclear waste dump rally
Nuclear waste dump opponents rally, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Jano Gibson, 11 May 11 , A Northern Territory Labor Minister has called on his federal colleagues to abandon plans to set up a nuclear waste storage facility in the Northern Territory. Member for Barkly Gerry McCarthy was one of about 50 people who staged an anti-nuclear dump protest outside Parliament House in Darwin this afternoon.
Mr McCarthy says a federal court challenge to the Muckaty Station nomination shows the site is in dispute among Aboriginal clan groups and the nomination should be withdrawn.
Traditional owners, environmentalists and trade unionists called on federal politicians to block a bill before the Senate, which would allow a waste dump to be built at Muckaty Station, about 100 kilometres north of Tennant Cree……this is an issue for Australia and Australia’s first nuclear waste management facility.”
Lorna Fejo told the crowd she was a traditional owner from the Muckaty Station area and she was against a waste dump.
“I am a traditional owner of Muckaty by acceptance to the land, the law and the culture, and I say no to Muckaty being used as a dump,” she said.
Nuclear waste dump opponents rally – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Victoria’s Liberal govt to keep dirtiest power station open
Green groups slam Hazelwood decision Jessica Craven, Herald Sun
May 11, 2011, GREEN groups are furious the State Goverment has abandoned a Labor plan to close two units at the Hazelwood power station…..Hazelwood is one of the dirtiest power stations in Australia…
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 