Antinuclear

ABC Radio National again provides a platform for the nuclear lobby

Just a few months ago, in ABC Radio National’s “Ockham’s Razor” program, Robin Williams interviewed the Australia Nuclear Forum’s Terry Krieg.  Yesterday, 15/1/ 12, Krieg was back on the program – this time with a more subtle approach to his pro nuclear propaganda.   So , I thought it timely to draw attention to Krieg’s previous ABC performance, analysed in the article below.  Perhaps it’s time that “Ockham’s Razor” gave right of return to the other point of view?  – Christina Macpherson

Nuclear industry infiltrates ABC to push for an atomic Australia, Independent Australia, 10 Sep 2011,  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 .

“……..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……

Krieg, rather surprisingly, loses some scientific credibility right at the start, as he reveals himself as a climate-change denier. He moves on to state that pursuing renewable energy is unwise, saying that USA energy experts in the ’80s have been proved right in writing off solar energy……   Krieg dismisses any problem of radiation from Fukushima:….

He claims that nuclear power is “emission free”.  Yes, emission-free if only you don’t count the nuclear fuel cycle’s “front end” uranium mining, milling, transport and its “back end”…

Krieg has spelled out what Australia’s nuclear mandarins have been quietly planning for some time, as has been reported in this journal. Not a word, not a worry, about environmental impacts, water supply and water contamination, costs of security and permanent waste disposal, risks of terrorism. It is no mere pipedream. …. http://www.independentaustralia.net/2011/media-2/nuclear-industry-infiltrates-abc-to-push-for-an-atomic-australia/

January 16, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, media