Australia’s Resources Department overestimates costs of renewable energy
Forecasts prepared last year for the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism as it helped plan the future electricity network suggest solar and wind power are far more costly than they actually are……The Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson, said changes to the cost of renewable energy would be noted
Green energy costs ‘out of date’, The Age, Ben Cubby, May 26, 2011 THE federal government and the power industry have massively overestimated the cost of renewable energy, according to new University of Melbourne research, commissioned by the the government’s own Garnaut climate change review. Continue reading
Australia’s bewildering anti science view on Climate Change
Climate politics betray lack of belief in science, Sydney Morning Herald, 25 May Australia’s debate is strangely at odds with global reality. CURIOUSER and curiouser, an observer might remark of what passes locally for climate policy debate. The past week’s events add to the impression of another world where ”we’re all mad”, as the Cat tells Alice in Wonderland. Globally, with the stark exception of the US, few seriously doubt that climate change demands an urgent response. Australia is still having that debate. While party leaders claim to accept the science, senior colleagues scoff and mutter about leftist greens….
…..Back in Australia, the focus is short term. Facts and evidence count for less than fear and self interest. Policy consistency doesn’t matter. Labour, which was resoundingly elected in 2007 when it vowed to tackle climate change, seems more anxious to appease the sceptics even as the evidence of warming mounts. As Alice said: ”It would be so nice if something made sense for a change.”…Climate politics betray lack of belief in science
Australia’s Future Fund invests in nuclear weapons
Australia investing in nuclear arms, The Age, Dan Oakes, May 26, 2011 THE federal government’s $74 billion Future Fund is investing Australian taxpayers’ money in foreign companies that make components for nuclear weapons.
Records obtained under freedom of information laws show the fund has $135.4 million invested in 15 companies involved in the design, production and maintenance of nuclear weapons for the United States, Britain, France and India.
About $3.8 million of this is invested in Larsen & Toubro, a Mumbai-based company involved in building a fleet of nuclear-armed submarines for India. The company has also helped test a launch system for India’s nuclear missiles.Any investment involving the production of nuclear weapons for India is particularly controversial because New Delhi is not a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty…… Australia investing in nuclear arms
Parents anger at raised allowable radiation levels for Japan’s children
“Do you really care about our children’s health?” one parent shouted. “Why have you acted so late?” said another. Among other concerns: isn’t radiation still raining down on Fukushima? Shouldn’t the entire school building be decontaminated? The entire city? Can we trust you?
Angry Parents in Japan Confront Government Over Radiation Levels, NYTimes.com, By HIROKO TABUCHI, May 25, 2011 FUKUSHIMA CITY, Japan — FUKUSHIMA CITY, Japan — The accusations flew on Wednesday at the local school board meeting, packed with parents worried and angry about radiation levels in this city at the heart of Japan’s nuclear crisis. Continue reading
Aboriginal Catholic Ministry welcomes U.N. probe into Northern Territory Intervention
On her arrival in Darwin, Ms Pillay was handed a petition signed by 6500 Australians calling for her support in restoring the rights of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory….Ms Pillay also said the Aborigines told her they were under pressure from the Govern-ment to sign 99-year leases over their land which they saw as “a land grab”…….The enabling legislation for the intervention expires in June next year.
UN NT probe, The Catholic Leader, 29 May 2011, By: Paul Dobbyn A TOP United Nations official’s Australian visit to investigate the Federal Government’s Northern Territory Intervention has been welcomed by the head of a ministry to Aboriginal Catholics. Continue reading
Nuclear industry’s future – new doubt as Switzerland pulls out
In Switzerland’s Decision to Phase Out Nuclear Power, a Glimpse of the Future? Forbes, by Parmy Olson May. 25 2011 The political fallout from Japan’s nuclear crisis has reached Switzerland.On Sunday, 20,000 people participated in the country’s largest anti-nuclear demonstration in a generation.
Today, the Swiss cabinet decided to phase out nuclear power through attrition over the next few decades. “The existing reactors will operate for as long as they’re safe,” Swiss Energy Minister Doris Leuthard said, but no new nuclear plants will be built. The decision was seen as a compromise between those who support a quick halt to nuclear power generation and others who want to build more plants…….The Swiss phase out raises more doubts about the future of the nuclear power industry…In Switzerland’s Decision to Phase Out Nuclear Power, a Glimpse of the Future? – Osha Gray Davidson – Edison 2.0 – Forbes
ANSTO making efforts to clean up its tarnished safety image
Nuclear agency safety culture ‘stuck in 70s’ | The Australian, Leigh Dayton, 25 May, 11,“……..Dr Paterson said he was instituting the “safety culture approach” adopted by the nuclear power industry. To assist what he called this “safety journey”, Sydney-based workplace resolutions company CoSolve has been hired. As well, recalcitrant staff are encouraged to move to another ANSTO job.Industry observers will be watching closely, following the Easter weekend incidents involving the handling of low-level laboratory waste and a batch of radioactive molybdenun-99. Dr Paterson disputed allegations they were not handled properly.ANSTO also disputed reports in The Australian last March that staff had been suspended after raising safety concerns and that others were bullied….”
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 