Global unpopularity of nuclear industry, but nuclear leaders do not ‘get it’
People do not like this [nuclear] industry, not because they misunderstand it but because they understand it perfectly
well. That is going to be very difficult to fix with little video clips on websites and new fact sheets….
… the magnitude of the disconnect, the dissonance, that exists in the minds of the strongest advocates of the [nuclear] industry. All they need to do is somehow just fix up the image of the industry and everything is going to be fine. I think we will be hearing a lot more of that on the part of the nuclear industry and its supporters in government.
Adjournment speech – Fukushima 6 months on – Australia’s Nuclear Free Alliance Spokesperson Scott Ludlam 14th September 2011 “……..It will be very interesting to see how the democratic aspirations of the people of Japan now play out in the light of the permanent radioactive nightmare that has been unleashed in the Tohoku region of Japan.
If we take a very quick trip around the world, a Washington Post/ABC poll in April 2011 found that 64 per cent of Americans oppose the construction of new reactors, so there are no surprises why the industry is at an absolute standstill there. Support for nuclear power was similar or much lower in countries as varied as Chile at 12 per cent, Thailand at 16½ per cent, Australia at 34 per cent, and the United Kingdom at 35 per cent support.
That, I think, is a problem that has dogged the nuclear industry right from the beginning but to read some of the things they say you would think perhaps they have an image problem. Continue reading
Kudankulam’s anti nuclear protestors defy Chief Minister
Anti-nuclear plant protesters in Tamil Nadu turn down Jayalalithaa appeal, THE ECONOMIC TIMES, 17 SEP, 2011, , JOE A SCARIA, CHENNAI: Protestors from three southern districts inTamil Nadu have refused to give up their demand to shut down what is poised to be the nation’s newest nuclear power plant coming up in Kudankulam in Tirunelveli district.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram made a “kind appeal” to the protestors, including 127 people who are on a fast that entered the sixth day on Friday, to end their protest. She said the power plant had ensured all safety parameters, and that it was situated in the second zone of seismic activity where earthquakes were unlikely.
The protestors have turned down her plea. “The CM’s request was disappointing for all of those who are here demanding closure of the plant”, Amal Raj, a volunteer of the People’s Movement against Nuclear Energy which is spearheading the agitation against the nuke project told ET.
Among those who have thrown their weight behind the agitation to have the plant shut, is the local Radhapuram MLA, Michael Rayappan of DMDK, which was an ally of the ruling AIADMK in the assembly poll. … http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/anti-nuclear-plant-protesters-in-tamil-nadu-turn-down-jayalalithaa-appeal/articleshow/10012764.cms
Stawell, Victoria, calls for political action for renewable energy
“We’re keen to see as much of that funding go to renewables and energy efficiency as possible and not polluting energy sources such as fossil gas and clean coal.”…
The group is calling on Federal Member for Mallee John Forrest to get behind the renewable energy elements of this package.
Climate group supports legislation for funding, The Stawell Times News, MICHELLE DELISLE 16 Sep, 2011 STAWELL – Stawell Climate Action Group welcomes the renewable energy commitments delivered by the carbon price package and is calling for them to be rolled out as soon as possible.
“There is $10 billion of new funding for renewable energy over five years which is a great result for Australia and for the Wimmera,” said Julie Andrew, Stawell Climate Action group spokesperson.
“We’re keen to see as much of that funding go to renewables and energy efficiency as possible and not polluting energy sources such as fossil gas and clean coal.” Continue reading
Huge and determined anti nuclear protest continues in India
Indefinite Fast Against Nuclear Plant in Koodankulam,16 September, 2011 Countercurrents.org 5th day Update from Idinthakarai Indefinite Fast , Peoples Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE)
Koodankulam: The 25000 people who gathered in Idinthakari village for protesting against Koodankulam nuclear plant rejects Tamil Nadu Chief Minister freebies like mixy, grinder, laptop etc… distributed on the occasion of Aringar Anna the first CM of Tamil Nadu’s birthday on September 15th. These people had gathered as part of the ongoing indefinite hunger strike by 127 people from September 11 demanding closure of the nuclear plant in Koodankulam.
These fasting people are from the villages in Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts. More than 15000 people have gathered every day at Idinthakarai. With the fast reaching the 5th day the situation of some of the people are slowly turning critical. The non-violent struggle from people are not being responded to with seriousness by the state government and central government.
There is a huge battalion of police personnel around Idinthakarai village. For the fifth day in succession fishermen, farmers, manual laborers, merchants of the area did not go for their jobs while students continued to boycott schools and all shops remain closed for kilometers…. http://www.countercurrents.org/koodankulam160911.htm
Wind farms for South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales
Acciona Plans to Develop 144-Megawatt South Australia Wind Farm, Bloomberg, By James Paton – Sep 15, 2011 Acciona SA (ANA), the Spanish renewable energy company, plans to develop a 144-megawatt wind farm in the state of South Australia, according to documents filed with the Australian government.
The Exmoor wind farm, with as many as 48 turbines, would be located about 15 kilometers (9 miles) north of Naracoorte in the southeast region of the state, the Madrid-based company said in documents lodged yesterday with the Australian Environment Department. Acciona may get approval to build the wind farm as early as 2013, the company said.
Acciona, AGL Energy Ltd. (AGK) and Investec Plc are among companies planning to build more wind-power projects in Australia as the country moves toward a goal of generating 20 percent of its power from renewable energy sources by 2020. AGL’s 420-megawatt Macarthur wind farm in Victoria state, estimated to cost A$1 billion ($1 billion), will be the largest in the southern hemisphere when it is completed in early 2013, the Sydney-based company said last year.
Acciona in July opened the 107 million-euro ($148 million) Gunning wind farm in New South Wales state, the company’s third in Australia. That project has a capacity of 46.5 megawatts…http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-16/acciona-plans-to-develop-144-megawatt-south-australia-wind-farm.html
Carbon tax plan helped attract world’s largest solar maker to Australia
World’s largest solar maker opens office in Australia Radio Australia September 17, 2011 The world’s largest maker of solar panels says Australia’s carbon tax is one of the factors that has attracted it to the country.
The US-based First Solar opened its doors in Australia this month, planning to be a major supplier of solar panels for large-scale power projects. The company says costs of panels are coming down quickly but government incentives will be necessary for another five years….. SNOWDON: If the forecasts are right, solar energy will deliver half the world’s electricity production within fifty years. Australia’s target is 20 per cent renewable energy by 2020, a policy that encouraged the world’s biggest solar panel maker to open a sales and engineering office in Sydney a week ago. And the carbon tax while not essential, helped….
Government incentives he says will be necessary for another five years, after which the industry should be established…..
As the nuclear industry freezes, Liquefied Natural Gas exports expand
In the big league of LNG exporting, Qatar holds the top spot, which according to Corbeau, has expanded its production to 105bnm3 in the last two years, with Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia being other significant players….
Nuclear freeze heats up LNG markets, Industrial Fuels and Power, September 16th, 2011 by Ian McInnes With world opinion cooling towards nuclear power after Fukushima, LNG markets could benefit from the recent slowdown in nuclear capacity expansion. IFandP tracks the latest developments in the LNG market.
As the world watched Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster on live TV, people and governments started to think hard and quickly about the consequences of a damaged nuclear power station and just how difficult and dangerous it is to get control of a major incident. Continue reading
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