A Monty Python quality to Australia’s pro nuclear lobby
In the film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”, we see a sad little Knight, who wants to fight on, as one by one, his limbs are cut off by his enemy.
Australia’s nuclear lobby is getting to sound very like that knight. Faced with current developments, do they stop to think? Apparently not, as they continue to trot out their pronouncements on nuclear’s cost, efficiency, solution to climate change, – and of course, on the (dismal) future for renewable energy
But today the uranium industry is going down the drain. The USA is desperately devising new nuclear safety regulations – a process that might take not merely years, but decades. Nuclear power is ending in Germany, stalled in many other countries. Even France is now having serious second thoughts on nuclear.
Nuclear plants are threatened, not only by earthquakes, terrorism, human error, but also by climate change – extreme heat, sea level rise, – and now, even jellyfish!
As for Australia – the Gillard government’s new plan for carbon tax is a good start, well thought out, with appropriate compensation packages. It’s meeting with approval from many sections of the community. And enthusiasm for renewable energy investment is now growing in Australia, as well as overseas.
Monty Python’s knight kept on trying to fight, with not one limb left. Is Australia’s nuclear lobby equally proud, to the point of stupidity?
I guess it takes a great man, like Sir Marcus Oliphant, to turn around and say “We wuz wrong about nuclear power”” – Christina Macpherson
Global warming, jellyfish, and clogged nuclear plants
“Global warming increases the water temperature. These animals are cold-blooded so the warmer you make it the quicker they grow,”
Jellyfish force shutdown of nuclear power plants, Sydney Morning Herald, Glenda Kwek, July 11, 2011 , Huge amounts of jellyfish have forced the shutdown of nuclear power plants in Japan – already hit by the earthquake and tsunami – Israel and Scotland in the past few weeks. Continue reading
Global uranium projects stalled because not profitable
Several uranium projects planned globally are stalled because the spot price isn’t high enough to justify development, said Andy Lloyd, chief development officer for Rio Tinto’s uranium unit.
Rio Tinto Executive: Rossing Uranium Mine Losing Money, Fox Business, By Stephen Bell DOW JONES NEWSWIRES, July 11, 2011PERTH PLC’s (RIO) flagship Rossing uranium mine in Namibia is losing money, as the spot price for uranium, the key fuel for nuclear reactors, continues to languish in the wake of Japan’s atomic crisis, a senior Rio executive said Monday. Continue reading
Carbon tax plan welcomed by Independents, Aboriginals, Western Australia, South Australia
“There is an enormous opportunity, particularly for rural Australia, that will lead to a cleaner environment,” Mr Windsor said….”It’s not about us, it’s not about the next election, it’s about the next generation,”
Independents hail carbon win for regional Australia, ABC News 11 July 11, Key independents Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor have praised fellow members of the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee for arriving at the carbon tax plan.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard day confirmed Australian households will be handed more than $15 billion in compensation to offset the impact of the new carbon tax, …http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/07/10/3265812.html
“The carbon market is the next big opportunity for Aboriginal people and puts us on a path to economic independence.”
Carbon tax vital reform – conservationists, 9 News Western Australia, 11 July“………..Kimberley Land Council (KLC) acting chief executive Nolan Hunter said the carbon package would also benefit indigenous Australians by giving Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley a chance to be involved in the carbon economy.
“This provides Aboriginal people with a real opportunity to stay on country, to utilise our knowledge of looking after the environment while benefiting economically through the creation of carbon businesses and jobs,”….http://finance.ninemsn.com.au/newsbusiness/aap/8271510/carbon-tax-vital-reform-conservationists
Greens say carbon plan a win for SA, 9 News, 11 July 11— The Greens say South Australia will benefit from the $10 billion allocated to renewable energy projects as part of the federal government’s carbon pricing scheme….
“South Australia is already ahead of the rest of the country in renewable energy and this package will give industries the security and certainty they need to continue their investments in solar, wind and geothermal projects.
..state Greens MP Mark Parnell said ….. it was not a question of the “bulldozers coming in tomorrow”.
“What we’re talking about is a package of measures to transition Australia away from dirty fossil fuels that lead to climate change, that pollute the atmosphere, towards renewable energy,” he said…http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8271653/greens-say-carbon-plan-a-win-for-sa
renewable energy is set for a very bright future and WA is well placed to make the most of those opportunities.”…..WA-based wave, wind and solar power companies can now progress with confidence.
Carbon tax puts the heat on to shift to renewables, ABC News 11 July 11, A Federal Minister Chris Evans says Western Australia’s renewable energy sector is well placed to benefit from the carbon tax. The Federal Government plans to source 20 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Senator Evans says he expects to see a flurry of investment as a result.
“We’ve got enormous potential in solar and wind and wave which has been largely untapped and the impact of the carbon price will make them more competitive,” he said……
“I think renewable energy is set for a very bright future and WA is well placed to make the most of those opportunities.”….. Carnegie Wave Energy’s Michael Ottaviano says emerging WA-based wave, wind and solar power companies can now progress with confidence…..http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/07/11/3266920.htm
Baseload power from sun and wind – it’s available now
What’s new about Gemasolar is that the plant can store solar energy for up to 15 hours. That’s baseload renewable energy, supplied all through the night.
Even better, unlike coal or nuclear plants, solar thermal power is dispatchable: it can be used to meet peaks in energy use. Baseload or peakload — solar thermal can do both.
24-hour solar power: here and now Green left 9 July 2011, It’s the best news on climate change for years, and you’ve probably not heard about it.
Spain’s new Gemasolar power plant produced uninterrupted clean energy all day and all night for the first time on July 3. That’s 24 hours of zero emissions power, here and now. Continue reading
Australian company to mine uranium in World Heritage Wildlife Sanctuary
Australians open Uranium mine in the Selous Game Reserve, Work World 11 July 11, Mantra Resources will begin uranium mining in the Selous Game Reserve at the end of next year. The Australian mining company will be operating in the south of Tanzania on a UNESCO heritage site, the second largest wildlife sanctuary in the African continent……..http://www.worktheworld.co.uk/blog/australians-open-uranium-mine-in-the-selous-game-reserve_2550
Dirty tricks to promote nuclear power in Japan
To raise support among prefectural residents for the reactors’ reactivation, the utility also called on the employees to send the e-mails from their home computers to hide their identities as employees of Kyushu Electric or its subsidiaries and to pose as members of the general public.
E-mail scandal could amplify distrust of N-power, The Yomiuri Shimbun, 11 July If they thought they could use the deception to increase support for restarting nuclear reactors, the idea was extremely ill-advised.
This is in reference to the e-mail scandal involving Kyushu Electric Power Co., in which the utility sought to manipulate public opinion to favor reactivation of its Genkai nuclear power plant in Saga Prefecture. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 