Australia’s ABC Radio gets “astroturfed” by the nuclear lobby
Nuclear Industry infiltrates ABC to push for an atomic Australia, Independent Australia , 10 Sept 11, The nuclear industry is using increasingly subtle methods to promote the development of a nuclear power and radioactive waste disposal industry in Australia. Noel Wauchope reports.
In the ABC radio program Ockham’s Razor, first broadcast on Sunday 4th August, Terry Krieg enthusiastically promotes the nuclear industry. This program was remarkable for two reasons:
First, Mr Krieg appeared to be not your usual expert connected with the nuclear industry. Mr Krieg, we were told, is “a retired geography and geology teacher”. Good, I thought, as it seemed that the ABC was giving an ordinary mortal a go on national radio. But was that all he was? No, alas. There was, as there always seems to be, some “astroturfing” going on.
A bit of research on the Net and we soon discover that Mr Krieg is a spokesperson for the Australian Nuclear Forum. This is an organisation dedicated, it says, to “advancing peaceful aspects of nuclear science and technology”. With that aim, the ANF provides “policy papers and information papers for schools”. Its members are “professionals with wide collective experience in nuclear science and technology”. In other words, it is a false grassroots nuclear industry lobby group.
Now, I really do think that the presenter, Robin Williams, should have told us that. But perhaps he didn’t know. It is in the interests of nuclear astroturfers to not have people know that the information they present, far from being unvarnished, comes straight from the nuclear industry itself.
Secondly, Mr Krieg came out with what the nuclear lobby has been secretly planning for Australia — that is, to establish the full nuclear cycle in this country, including storing radioactive wastes.
For these two reasons, Krieg’s promotional spruik is important.
I hope that it kicks off a clearer, more “democratic’ discussion on the nuclear industry. Australia so far has had only one real speaker who puts clearly the case against nuclear power: Dr Helen Caldicott. Yes, I know that she is an “expert”. But she has an unusual ability to speak plainly. Perhaps that is why she is ignored by Australia’s media and political big boys.
Anyway, Australia surely needs some plain speaking on this issue, so critical for our children and grandchildren’s future.
Terry Krieg should not be ignored. His vision for a totally nuclear South Australia is scary stuff.
On Climate Change and Renewable Energy Krieg, rather surprisingly, loses some scientific credibility right at the start, as he reveals himself as a climate-change denier…. On Germany… On Wind power This seems to be Terry Krieg’s main target,…. On Greenhouse gas emissions…. On Australia’s nuclear future.. On South Australia’s future…
If the Australian public is not made aware of the full meaning of the nuclear lobby’s plan, in clear “ordinary” language, Terry Krieg’s vision might well come true.http://www.independentaustralia.net/2011/media-2/nuclear-industry-infiltrates-abc-to-push-for-an-atomic-australia/
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