ANSTO’s all too cosy relationship with its nuclear regulator
Nuclear regulator ‘too close’ to ANSTO, ABC News 7 July 11, A review of Australia’s nuclear industry regulator, ARPANSA, has found an improper relationship with the main agency it monitors.
The Health Department’s audit and fraud control branch has been investigating how ARPANSA handled allegations of safety breaches and bullying at the nation’s only nuclear reactor in Sydney.
Whistleblowers had alleged ARPANSA was too close to the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), which runs the Lucas Heights research facility.
The whistleblowers claimed that safety reports were being compromised.
The Health Department review also questioned ARPANSA’s impartiality.
Greens Senator Scott Ludlam told ABC1’s Lateline the review vindicates the whistleblowers.
“The whistleblowers were right and the people who have been raising concerns about practices with these hazardous materials were right to raise their concerns,” he said. “It also tells us the regulator and the regulated were too close.”
The Federal Government is now reviewing ARPANSA’s regulatory powers, with Thursday’s report recommending they be strengthened if necessary.
Climate Change, extreme weather, and nuclear facilities
The mix of extreme climate changes around the planet plus nuclear weapons, nuclear waste and nuclear power could very easily be a lethal mix.
Fires and floods, By Judith Mohling Colorado Daily, 07/07/2011 “…………Today, the [wildfire] dangers to the Los Alamos labs and the flooded nuclear power plants have subsided and many people have been able to sleep in their own beds again. …
As climate change worsens, extreme, yet unpredictable weather may befall the earth. Continue reading
New ! Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)
The agency will be managed by an independent board of investment, business and energy experts
appointed by cabinet. It will therefore take away the responsibility for AUD$3.2 billion (€2.4 billion) of
renewable energy funding from the department of the Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson, which supporters of the move say will mean less political red tape and more action.
Independent MP Rob Oakeshott also showed support for ARENA, saying that it provides an opportunity for solar to develop into a reliable base-load option in Australia.
“Geothermal, solar and hydro are all proving themselves up as real option for peak loads and increasingly for base-load. A finance scheme the size of ARENA will help Australia transition in a competitive way in regard our renewable strategy,”
Australia: New renewable energy agency announced at Canberra solar roundtable, PV Magazine 08. JULY 2011 BY: NICHOLAS STONE A gathering of solar industry heavyweights held in Canberra today has prompted the early release of details about a new body to oversee the future of renewable energy projects in Australia. Continue reading
Renewable energy investments increased worldwide
Global green energy investments up as Australia consolidates action, Voxy News, NZ, 8 July, 2011 Investments in renewable energy globally are up 32% increase in in 2010, according to a new United Nations report. Significantly, developing nations spent more on renewable energy utility projects, $72 billion, than developed ones, at $70 billion.
China led all nations with $49.8 billion in investments in 2010, ahead of German spending of $41 billion and U.S. spending of $29.6 billion.
The report has been released at the same time Australia has announced new independent statutory body, to be named the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), to lead the Australian Government’s investments in renewable energy….http://www.voxy.co.nz/business/global-green-energy-investments-australia-consolidates-action/5/94521
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1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 