Antinuclear

Australia’s latest high powered pro nuclear propaganda

With all this emphasis on safety, radiation effects are never discussed.

The same argument could be used to show how safe the asbestos industry is – : just a few deaths from falls in the mine and you don’t count the mesothelioma that comes on years later. Same with tobacco and lung cancer.

The renewed push for a nuclear Australia  Pro-nuclear campaigners are, beyond all reason, using the Fukushima nuclear disaster to push the case for an atomic Australia. Independent Australia , 7 July 11,  Noel Wauchope reports.

Perhaps because of its geographical isolation, Australia is, in some ways, off the culture map. This might be why Dr. Ziggy Switkowski,Professor Barry Brook,Dr Adi Paterson and the rest of the nuclear propagandists seem to be able to get away with statements on the Fukushima nuclear disaster – now described as the world’s worst industrial disaster – that range from the dubiously absurd, to the downright untrue.

All three enjoy excellent media exposure. Former chair of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Dr Ziggy Switkowski, always bears watching. In an article by Jim Green in the Green Left Weekly this year (July 4) about the safety of nuclear plants during an earthquake, Switkowski is quoted as recommending:

“The best place to be whenever there’s an earthquake is at the perimeter of a nuclear plant because they are designed so well.”…..

Dr Adi Paterson, CEO of ANSTO, exploited his invitation as keynote speaker at a recent NSW government solar energy conference to promote nuclear reactors for Australia whilst rubbishing renewable energy technologies.,,,,,,

Another aspect of the worrying turn is Switkowski’s newfound enthusiasm for China……

When we are ready to get involved in nuclear power, we will look in a catalogue, pick up the phone and place an order on a Chinese vendor, who will deliver it at a price that we can afford.”

China’s nuclear industry is notorious for its secrecy and corruption. Ziggy is decidedly vague on how this sales arrangement would come about or what type of reactors these might be. At other times, by contrast, Ziggy has been more fulsome on the subject of reactor types, advocating for the Gen III and IV— that is, the latest, safest, ones. (Note: one Gen III plant is in operation in Japan but no Gen IV plants are anywhere near ready to operate.)……

there’s a more serious part to this third aspect: the safety of nuclear reactors. Ziggy doesn’t bother to go into detail on how these new and largely untried nuclear reactors will be safer. The argument is driven home by subtle suggestion…you see, Fukushima has woken up the nuclear industry and, as a result, the next reactors will besafe! The devastation caused by Fukushima’s nuclear “event” somehow proves the safety of the next lot. To me, that’s an extraordinary leap of logic.

In this neat twist, the Fukushima nuclear disaster is supposed to make us feel more reassured! This is the overriding argument in the latest pro nuclear spin. Although Australia’s spinners are good at it, they didn’t invent it. On 30 June, 2011, the Guardian exposed leaked emails showing that the Fukushima “PR campaign” cover-up planning started just hours after the catastrophe……

John Ritch, Director General of the World Nuclear Association is quoted at length in a video interview with Russia Today on 2 July 2011 declaring that nuclear energy is still one of the safest sources of power — and getting safer……

With all this emphasis on safety, radiation effects are never discussed.

The same argument could be used to show how safe the asbestos industry is – : just a few deaths from falls in the mine if you don’t count the mesothelioma that comes on years later. Same with tobacco and lung cancer…..

http://www.independentaustralia.net/2011/health/the-renewed-push-for-a-nuclear-australia/

July 9, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, spinbuster