How the nuclear lobby distorts Australia’s media coverage
Distorting the facts. Socialist Party Australia 17 June 11 The industry’s domination of the public debate around nuclear energy is clearly evident in Australia. In 2006 the Australian government commissioned the Uranium Mining, Processing and Nuclear Energy Review, which was unbelievably blatant in its distortion.
The panel included no health professionals, no environmental experts and no leaders in the field of weapons proliferation. Not surprisingly the report expressed no serious concerns in any of these areas.
Within the report a table titled “Fatal accidents in the worldwide energy sector, 1969 –2000” indicated a total of 31 deaths
associated with nuclear reactor accidents during that period. A tiny footnote added that “These figures do not include latent or delayed deaths such as those caused by air pollution from fires, chemical exposure or radiation exposure that might occur following an industrial accident.”
One commentator pointed out that the tobacco industry could similarly claim that the number of deaths attributed to cigarette smoking equals the number of people who die in house fires caused by people smoking in bed, with a footnote stating that there may be some risk of cancer and heart disease also. Continue reading
Australia’s top hypocrite? Uranium prince Mike Rann
Today, South Australia’s Premier Mike Rann, is reported in The Advertiser – “a well-placed party source said the Premier was “just trying to limp through until next March when he can sign off on the Olympic Dam expansion as his grand legacy, and then he’ll quit”. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/from-media-mike-to-mr-invisible-the-premiers-new-style/story-e6frea83-1226077387415
In 1982, Mike Rann, evidently always driven by personal ambition, , wrote “Play it Safe”, a pamphlet released by the ALP to explain its opposition to uranium mining.
But that was before he saw the light – the light of where he could get influential backing to become important. Soon, Rann was pushing for ALP policy change on uranium mining – calling uranium “the fuel of the future”. But Rann did make one concession to anti-uranium feeling amongst wealthy consituents, opposing uranium mining in the Fleurieu Peninsula .
Otherwise – it’s been “All The Way ” with the Nuclear Lobby – for our top hypocrite, Mike Rann. – Christina Macpherson
Rising flood waters at Fort Calhoun nuclear plant might permanently collapse the uranium market
While currently abandonment of nuclear power remains an option limited to affluent countries, one more cataclysm may nail the coffin lid of the nuclear power industry shut for good. And that news may be coming from the United States, birthplace of the nuclear era and currently home to 104 NPPs. On 7 June, a fire at Nebraska’s Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant knocked out the cooling process for spent nuclear fuel rods for 90 minutes…. No NPPS have been built in the U.S. since Three Mile Island and should bad things happen at Ft. Calhoun, where the Missouri’s water’s are still rising, the global market for uranium fuel for NPPs worldwide is going to crater, beginning with the U.S.
Kazakhstan’s Uranium Industry could Lose Its Luster By. John Daily of OilPrice.com-, 18 june 11 What a difference a year and a tsunami make. Western investors have been salivating over the post-Soviet space’s energy riches since the 1991 collapse of communism. While focusing on the Caspian’s hydrocarbon reserves other mineralogical riches awaited development as well, none more so than Kazakhstan’s vast uranium deposits. Continue reading
Renewable energy wrongly blamed for electricity price rises, while polluting industries are supported
The “Shielding the Big Polluters” report also demolishes the argument that support for renewable energy programs, such as feed-in tariffs and other clean energy subsidies, are responsible for electricity price rises. It’s an important point that has often been flagged by other bodies, but also often ignored by some in the media who choose to instead demonise renewables. ….it is time the scapegoating of renewable energy ends and more scrutiny is applied to government support for the nation’s big polluters.
Climate Institute : Stop Scapegoating Renewable Energy, Renewable Energy News, 17 June 11by Energy Matters, Australia’s Climate Institute is calling for an end to protection for big polluters under Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET), with a new report revealing households and businesses will foot a $7.1 billion bill to prop up the high-emissions sector over the life of the scheme. Continue reading
Australia’s big polluters to get over $7 billion from Renewable Energy Target compensation
$7.1bn discount for big polluters, Sydney Morning Herald, June 16, 2011 A green group has released analysis that suggests exemptions for big polluters under the renewable energy target (RET) will cost households and businesses $7.1 billion by 2030…….A green group has released analysis that suggests exemptions for big polluters under the renewable energy target (RET) will cost households and businesses $7.1 billion by 2030….emissions-intensive trade-exposed industries receive a discount of up to 90 per cent so they’re not at a disadvantage compared with overseas competitors. Continue reading
USA nuclear plant at risk from flooding
Missouri River Flooding Threatens Nuclear Power Plant Care 2, 18 June 11 by: Ann Bibby Concern is growing about the safety of a nuclear power plant that sits in a Missouri River flood plain. The Fort Calhoun Nuclear plant was cited for inadequate flood protection just last year and is currently a sandbagged island as the Missouri sits at 1.5 feet over flood stage and is expected to rise another five feet. Continue reading
Australia’s uranium mining: continued record of racism
Uranium mining Socialist Party Australia 17 June 11 Rural Indigenous populations have long been victims of the nuclear industry. The Ranger uranium mine in the Northern Territory has been in operation since 1981. During the ‘negotiating process’ the Mirarr Traditional Owners were told their opposition “shall not be allowed to prevail”. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 