Resistance growing to Martin Ferguson’s Nuclear Waste Bill
There are serious and unresolved problems in the proposed National Radioactive Waste Management Bill (2010) currently before the Parliament that fail the test when it comes to reflecting international best practise in radioactive waste management ….
Traditional owners opposed to a dump at Muckaty are taking legal action, travelling widely to address forums and exploring international avenues as part of their efforts to build awareness and halt the plan – and their supporters are growing.
An out of sight, out of mind approach to nuclear waste management, The Drum, David Sweeney, 12 July 11 The unassuming
town of Tennant Creek hugs the Stuart Highway 500 kilometres north of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory…… if Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson gets his way – Australia’s first national radioactive waste dump.
And, like the waste itself, the politics of how to manage radioactive waste are getting hotter and dirtier.
Mr Ferguson has consistently refused to meet with traditional owners or others affected by the dump plan, or to explore other management options. Continue reading
Australia to get carbon tax, despite powerful pressure from polluters’ lobby
Australia’s right-wing Liberal Party speaks for the polluter community,…
The individual risks to those who bucked Australia’s huge coal industry are great, but borne with equanimity.”It’s not about me being re-elected, or who’s going to be the prime minister,” one Independent MP, Tony Windsor, told the BBC. “This is about the history of people, most of whom haven’t even been born yet. And if I’m sacked from politics because of that, well, I’ll remove myself with a smile on my face.”
Australia’s Climate Legislation Meets a Surprise Success, Clean Technica, Susan Kraemer, 12 July 11 After months of Tea Party-type astroturf attacks by the Australian coal industry, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has prevailed in introducing a comprehensive carbon tax on the top 500 polluters in the country to move the heavily coal-dependent Australian economy to a more sustainable future based on clean renewable energy, in the country’s most comprehensive economic reforms in a century. The support of the Green Party turned the tide, according to the Canberra Times. Continue reading
Japanese billionaire’s push for renewable energy
His goal is to encourage local governments to shift to renewable energy sources and to provide land for mega-solar panels, wind turbines, geothermal, small hydropower generators, and other renewable energy forms.
Investment would come from Son’s fund as well as other public and private sources…….As it takes a minimum of 10 years to build a nuclear plant, and given that the cost of solar power in other countries like the United States continues to fall thanks to ever more efficient solar panels, Son is betting that, by 2020, renewable energy technology will have developed to the point where it is extremely cost-competitive on a per kilowatt hour basis compared with nuclear power. And renewable energy would not have the social and environmental problems of nuclear power…..
SON’S CLEAN ENERGY INITIATIVE Son’s quest for sun, wind has nuclear interests wary, Japan Times, 12 July 11, By ERIC JOHNSTON In late March, while engaging in volunteer work and making efforts to restore telecommunications networks in the quake-stricken Tohoku region, Softbank Corp. founder and Chairman Masayoshi Son met with evacuees from the area surrounding the troubled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
Days later, he returned to Tokyo and declared pursuit of a new energy policy, one emphasizing renewable sources, such as solar, wind and thermal energy, was needed.
In April, Son announced he would personally donate ¥1 billion to establish a foundation for that purpose. Continue reading
More about Australia’s new carbon tax plan
Gillard says energy secure under carbon tax, ABC News, 12 July 11, Prime Minister Julia Gillard is adamant her plan to close coal-fired power stations will not threaten Australia’s energy supply. The Government says it wants to close some power stations, with Hazelwood in Victoria thought to be at the top of the list…..
And she says the transition to renewable energy “will be done in a measured way so that we have continuity of electricity supply so the lights stay on”.
“We’ll work with the regulators to make sure this is got absolutely right, so it will take some time,” she said……..
Why this is better than Rudd’s scheme, Sydney Morning Herald, Sarah Hanson-Young, a Greens Senator, July 12, 2011
There are more than 13 billion reasons why the climate package unveiled on Sunday is better at putting a price on pollution than its predecessor. For starters, there’s $10 billion for renewable energy projects. Unlike the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) proposed by the former Rudd government, this package lays the basis for science-based climate action.
The old scheme locked in weak targets for 15 years which could not be strengthened. There was no money for investment in renewable energy and next to nothing for energy efficiency measures……
Once this package passes Federal Parliament, it will send a signal to the world that Australia is serious about reducing its share of pollution. In addition to taking local action, Australia can continue working with other countries and the UN toward achieving global co-operation.
Until now, each state and territory has operated separate schemes that encourage households to use renewable energy such as by installing solar panels. The multiparty committee agreed to create the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. This will for the first time create a systemic, whole-of-government approach to renewable energy, from R&D to roll-out and planning, at arm’s length from the government.
There will also be an independent Climate Change Authority which will recommend targets and caps for when the scheme moves to flexible pricing….http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/blogs/gengreens/why-this-is-better-than-rudds-scheme-20110711-1haep.html#poll
Woodchips no longer a renewable energy fuel The Drum, by Dan Cass, 12 July 11, One of the most telling and historic parts of the carbon price deal was a tiny announcement, barely noticed in the media coverage. Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the Greens announced yesterday that the carbon price package prevents native forest woodchips being counted as a renewable energy fuel.
This Greens initiative has saved Australia’s native forests from being burned as a renewable energy source, which is good news for conservation and also for the solar and wind industries……http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2790222.html
Carbon storage seeks recognition as clean energy, ABC Rural News, By Babs McHugh, 12/07/2011 The research body behind the development of Carbon Capture and Storage in Australia wants the technology recognised as ‘clean power’ under the Clean Energy Future package.
A spokesman for the Minister for Climate change says the Federal Government ‘is retaining existing funding for CCS initiatives’ which is support for the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute and other projects.. ..http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201107/s3267531.htm
New solar technology based on Australian design
The Pluto design is based on the PERL (passivated emitter with rear locally diffused) technology developed at Australia’s University of New South Wales, where efficiencies of 25 percent have been achieved in the laboratory. Unique texturing technology with lower reflectivity ensures more sunlight can be absorbed throughout the day even without direct solar radiation.
Suntech Unveils Pluto and Mono/Multi Hybrid Modules, Two new products show the innovation coming from China’s solar firms. GreenTechSolar, Eric Wesoff, 12 July 11, Suntech (NYSE: STP), the world’s largest solar module manufacturer just launched two new products. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 