“Corporate Responsibility” an oxymoron, especially when it comes to uranium
I don’t understand why people expect corporations to give a hoot about the environment, or about anything else of real importance to the public. They do give a hoot insofar as they are forced to wriggle around any environmental laws, or other laws, that might impede their progress.
But a corporation is not a person. It has but one goal – profit for its shareholders. Indeed, it can be fairly blamed, if it does consider the environment, and so makes itself less competitive.
Marathon Resources is lobbying to overcome the ban on uranium mining in Arkaroola Wilderness. As a corporation, that’s its duty. In terms of the public good, it might seem stupid. But corporations are by nature stupid in having such tunnel vision. Why expect them to be intelligent about the public good? If they were, then their shareholders would be up in arms.
Marathon lobbies for compensation, now that the govt has knocked them back. Fair enough, why shouldn’t they?
And they lobby to again explore and mine uranium in Arkaroola World Heritage Wilderness.
The pity is that Australia’s politicians, both Labor and Liberal, are on the side of corporations, and not on the side of the public good. – Christina Macpherson
Liberal and Labor politicians lobbying for Marathon uranium company
Marathon calls in political heavyweights for Arkaroola compo fight, Adelaide Now, Russell Emmerson ,August 15, 2011 EMBATTLED uranium explorer Marathon Resources now has five former MPs arguing its Arkaroola compo case. It has three former federal Labor ministers, one former federal Liberal minister and a former state Liberal MP associated with it as lobbyists or sitting on its board.
The company announced last week it was hiring commercial law firms Kelly & Co and Arnold Bloch Liebler – which has previously represented James Hardie, VISY Group and Patrick Group – to explore “options” after the State Government announced it was banning all mining in the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in July.
But while it declared its legal moves to the market, Marathon has also upped its activity in the professional lobbying arena. It has retained ALP lobbyist John Quirke since at least December 2009 but has added two more voices to its coterie since the State Government announced its ban.
Former state Liberal MP Graham Gunn declared he was representing Marathon Resources in late July and Bespoke Approach – comprising ALP heavyweight Nick Bolkus, Liberal heavyweight Alexander Downer and Ian Smith – declared its interest last week.
Former federal ALP minister Chris Schact sits on the Marathon board as a director but does not represent the company as a lobbyist. The state’s Lobbyist Code defines a lobbyist as a person lobbying on behalf of a third party client. As a director of Marathon Resources, Mr Schact does not fall within the definition…..http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/marathon-calls-in-political-heavyweights-for-arkaroola-compo-fight/story-e6frede3-1226114793615
USA’s radioactive cleanup at Hanford site will cost $115 billion
$115 billion needed to finish Hanford cleanup The News Tribune, BY ANNETTE CARY, TRI-CITY HERALD, 13 Aug 11, The Department of Energy has taken a look at all the environmental cleanup yet to be completed at the Hanford nuclear reservation and come up with a big price tag: $115 billion.
Australian power companies skimmimg money from renewable energy schemes
A mean, green power scheme, Daily Telegraph, Geoff Chambers August 15, 2011 GREEDY power companies are using a federal government green scheme to skim cash from customers already struggling with increased bills.
The state’s biggest electricity utilities recently blamed price hikes of up to 18.1 per cent on the demand to buy green credits. Attempting to justify why electricity prices needed to rise by that much, the energy retailers said they would be required to pay $40 for every solar certificate issued to customers.
Instead, they are only paying $19 market rates for those certificates, virtually pocketing the difference, about $50 per family.
Fluctuations in the green credit market have pushed prices from the government standard $40 to just $19. Energy retail wholesalers are buying up green credits, obtained through rooftop solar panels and energy-efficient hot water systems, directly from solar installers, electricians and plumbers at lower rates.
TruEnergy, AGL and Origin Energy all lifted their bills to pay for green credits bought from small businesses.
Climate Change opposition spokesman Greg Hunt has called for a national solar summit to fix the solar industry “chaos” and blamed Labor’s energy policies for mammoth bill increases.
“It’s resulted in higher electricity prices and Labor is doing nothing to help people with their skyrocketing power bills or small solar businesses who’ve been caught out by this scheme and are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Mr Hunt said. A spokesman for Minister Greg Combet said he would not use his legislative powers to change the $40 price…..http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-nsw/a-mean-green-power-scheme/story-e6freuzi-1226114799464
Growing opposition to nuclear power in Middle East
residents of Mafraq say the planned reactor will pollute their environment and endanger their health. Political forces in the kingdom have also rallied against nuclear power plants…”The solution is energy conservation and efficiency,” Hakim said. “Jordan has above average levels of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.”
Jordanians lash out against planned nuclear reactor, The Jerusalem Post, By DAVID E. MILLER / THE MEDIA LINE 08/14/2011 Activists encourage gov’t to search for energy alternatives as Amman makes plans to build nuclear reactor in response to rising oil prices. Jordan has opted for nuclear power as a solution to its energy woes. But politicians and local residents say they will oppose any government bid to build a nuclear reactor in the resource-poor kingdom. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 