Lizard’s revenge – David Bradbury’s daily notes on Olympic Dam anti uranium protest
I am a physician to the people, but you (the protestors at the Lizard’s Revenge camp site) 
you are physicians to a dying planet – Dr Helen Caldicott.
From David Bradbury 19 July Benny got out last night to round of applause. Fire ceremony with Uncle Kevin thanking everyone for coming.
Iris just been arrested. Going into Roxby lockup now.
Racing to protest camp. Got call just now that somehow the Lizard vehicle they wouldn’t let us take on road three days ago is on the road to mine. Cops will be pissed.
From David Bradbury 18 July Helen addresses the camp this last day. Sitting next to Uncle Kevin she said how the Lizards Revenge has inspired people all around Oz in our fight to save a dying planet. Very inspiring exchange here just now.
From David Bradbury 18 July The big day has arrived for us! Helen Caldicott is in flight as we speak headed for Roxby. We’ll pick her up midday and straight to the town meeting. Starts 1pm. Hard to know how it will go. Definitely a buzz in this town of 3-4,000 about her coming. One gets a sense some will come as result of watching When the Dust Settles. And Helen’s street cred, though many have never heard of her. Others cannot afford in their terms to hear the truth. It will cost them too much to throw in their jobs and move out.
And it’s likely the company will send its spies there to note who attends as they’ve done in the past. Roxby is a small town where everybody knows each other. Those arrested who do not want to live upto the stringent bail conditions eg stay
indefinitely away from the protest, have been shipped off to Port Augusta 270kms away and kept in the cells overnight. They will face court today. They include long term activist Benny Zables, the Masked Radiation Man. Continue reading
Closing of the Lizard’s Revenge Festival at Olympic Dam, but the anti uranium struggle will go on
A RETURN TO THE GATES OF HELL? 19th July 2012 Yesterday was the last official day of the Lizards Revenge Music and Arts Festival of Resistance at the Olympic Dam Uranium mine, where over 500 protestors have gathered for the past week.
Dr Helen Caldicott visited the Lizards Revenge to run a workshop addressing health issues relating to uranium yesterday afternoon. She pointed out that there has never been an epidemiological study undertaken in Australia to monitor the health effects of radiation exposure on mine workers and that 50% of uranium mine workers die of cancer related illness.
Elder Kevin Buzzacott has extended an invitation to the festival participants to join him on Arabunna country to visit the mound springs in the Lake Eyre region, which have been impacted by the extraction of water from the Artesian Basin for the uranium mine. Water extraction will increase from an average of 35 million litres per day to 42 million litres per day if the expansion goes ahead. The mound springs are sacred to the Arabunna people and integral to the desert ecosystem.
Organisers are extremely happy with the event, with people coming from all states and territories and as far as Japan, Canada and Europe to participate.
“The week has seen a diverse range of peaceful and creative actions including a fashion parade at the Gates of Hell, a breakfast not bombs picnic on the road blocking access to the mine, and three minutes of silence to commemorate all the victims of the nuclear industry,” said Nectaria Calan.
“However, we are extremely disappointed by the tactics of police, which have included barricading us into our camp, constant surveillance and spotlighting by helicopter, motorbikes and patrol cars 24 hours a day. With close to a one on one ratio of protestors to police it is hard to understand how the state can justify this excessive deployment of resources. The deprivation of civil liberties that we have experienced in the last week is unprecedented at event like this in Australia.”
“The heavy handed tactics by police at Tuesdays cricket match, followed by the deliberate misinformation by the police regarding the days events, suggests that the police have sought to escalate the situation in order to justify the excessive deployment of resources for the event.”
Despite this, the ground swell of support Lizards Revenge is receiving is extremely encouraging; this is just the beginning.
The bipartisan political support this project enjoys in South Australia, despite widespread concerns regarding its local and international implications, highlights the failure of the political system to accommodate community concerns. This battle will not be fought in the parliament but in the desert. For further comment or photos please contact: Nectaria Calan 0432 388 665
Olympic Dam protest raising public awareness of the impact of this desert megamine
VIDEO Outback anti-mining activists packing up http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-18/anti-mining-activists-pack-up-at-olympic-dam/4138668 July 18, 2012 The number of anti-mining activists is dwindling near the BHP Billiton mine in outback South Australia as most make their way home. The numbers peaked at about 350 as they demonstrated about the mine’s proposed expansion.
There have been more than a dozen arrests and protest organiser Nectaria Calan says the activists have achieved much of what they set out to do since last weekend. “We have created more community dialogue about the issue,” she said. “I think our message is getting out there, I think we are raising more awareness about the impacts of the expansion and also just reminding people that it’s here.
“I think it’s almost forgotten, it’s too far out in the desert and people don’t think about it. It’s not a daily concern for them.”
Anti nuclear protes targets Toro Energy at Australian Uranium Conference in Fremantle
Protesters to target uranium conference, AAP, The West Australian July 18, 2012 Anti-uranium protesters will make the “symbolic gesture” of bashing a bull pinata, representing Toro Energy, outside a uranium conference while the firm’s chief is addressing delegates.
Protesters have traditionally camped outside during the morning sessions of the two-day Australian Uranium Conference in Fremantle, south of Perth, complete with costumes, signs and music.
But this year organisers have chosen the afternoon session of the second day to target Toro Energy for its plans to develop the State’s first uranium mine in WA’s mid-west region. In May, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) approved a
proposal to develop the mine 30km from Wiluna.
Anti-Nuclear Alliance of WA spokesman Marcus Atkinson said the protesters would make the “symbolic gesture” of bashing a pinata shaped like a bull – after Toro Energy’s logo – as managing director Greg Hall made his presentation at the conference on Thursday.
Since the EPA approved Toro Energy’s proposal, several anti-uranium groups have indicated they will appeal the decision,…..
Doctors oppose expansion of Roxby Downs uranium mine
MAPW’s particular concerns about the nuclear industry arise from the threat of nuclear weapons and nuclear war. MAPW also recognises the serious health impacts of all components of the nuclear chain, such as cancer, birth defects and death from nuclear accidents. MAPW opposes uranium mining for these reasons, and is especially concerned about the expansion of the uranium mine at Roxby Downs.
“No radiation is without risk”, Medical Association for Prevention of War (MAPW) 18 July 2012 Doctors are reminding the community about the dangers of radiation by attending the Lizards Revenge, a protest camp next to the Roxby Downs uranium mine gates. The protest aims to bring attention to the proposed expansion of the mine by BHP Billiton; the world’s largest mining company. The mine uses 200 million litres of water per day and is exempt from water restrictions, the Aboriginal Heritage Act, and the Freedom of Information Act.
Dr Hilary Tyler, from the Northern Territory Branch of the Medical Association for Prevention of War (MAPW) is at the protest camp. Dr Tyler says “Australia’s uranium has fuelled the Fukushima disaster. We are also deeply concerned about the long term health consequences from exposure to radiation. These can arise from mining, transport, from uses of uranium such as nuclear power and nuclear weapons, and from the enduring legacy of nuclear waste.” Continue reading
Union secretary Paul Howes paid to do a Murdoch media hatchet job on the Greens
Green-hating News Ltd confirms Howes on the payroll, Crikey, by Stephen Mayne , 19 July 12, Ever since Senator John Faulkner told Paul Howes to “put a sock in it” last Sunday, the frenetic media tart, AWU national secretary and political kingmaker has been surprisingly quiet.
It was Howes, a paid News Limited columnist, who teamed with the broader Murdoch press and fellow ALP young turk Sam Dastyari to launch an all-out assault on the Greens last weekend.
……… Howes….with a paid column savaging the Greens in The Sunday Telegraph…
While many have criticised the tactics of Dastyari and Howes — there is also an important issue about conflict of interest and News Ltd payments to Howes. When the HSU scandal was at its peak, Howes tweeted that his AWU salary is only $140,000. I asked the self-described faceless man on several occasions whether he’s on the Murdoch empire payroll courtesy of his weekly Sunday Telegraph column, but he’s declined to respond.
Sunday Telegraph editor Neil Breen cleared up the matter when he emailed this response yesterday: “Yes he is paid. ….Howes should disclose the precise figure, but it would probably exceed $20,000 a year.
So when you add the Murdoch payments (there’s the superannuation board fees too, but it’s unlikely he’s taking those) to Howes’ $140,000 AWU salary, the former radical Trot is arguably doing better than your typical 28-year-old working for the Millionaire Factory Macquarie Bank.
…….there is a legitimate question whether Howes should be returning the Murdoch moolah to his union considering he’s a full-time AWU employee and the column is written on union time.
The other problem with a unionist pocketing Murdoch cash is the stench around News Corp’s right-wing agenda and dodgy practices in Britain. As part of its power agenda, News Corp has long put emerging politicians on the payroll as paid columnists or delivered large cash advances for publishing deals.
Some argue this is a perfectly legal way to build relationships and bank balances, but there should be disclosure. …….
Howes was certainly very obliging in delivering a paid hatchet job on the one cause the News Ltd press hates above all else — progressive Green politics. But Howes has run into more trouble than just a public John Faulkner excoriation. Some progressive AWU members are equally unimpressed and have attempted to express their concerns through the union’s Facebook page.
Alas, Mount Isa-based AWU member Zane Alcorn had his comments blocked, so he set up his own Facebook page “for Australian Workers Union members & supporters to discuss progressive reform of the AWU re: union democracy and climate + social justice policies”.
The Sunday Telegraph assault on the Greens was described as follows: “Pretty damn sure Paul Howes has nothing even remotely close to a mandate from the AWU membership to be embarking on such a destructive divide and conquer mission as this. Note: reading this may cause nausea and vomiting. You have been warned.” *Disclosure: Stephen Mayne was not paid for this contribution http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/07/18/green-hating-news-ltd-confirms-howes-on-the-payroll/
Solar hot water and solar cooling -air conditioning – developing, and fast
According to the International Energy Agency, solar heating and cooling (SHC) could make a dramatic impact on the world’s electricity grids, providing 17 per cent of all energy required for heating in buildings, industrial processes, swimming pools, and 17 per cent of cooling needs.
Solar cooling technologies are relatively new, and not widely deployed – only 711 systems were deployed in the world in 2011, according to the IEA (although Australia’s CSIRO and the Australian Solar Institute are two of many organizations leading research in the area and developing demonstration systems). The IEA suggests that solar cooling particularly useful in handling electricity peaks, because it produces at the time of highest demand. It says the technology is already competitive in tropical regions with high electricity costs, including a 1.47MW capacity installation installed at a college in Singapore, was reportedly fully cost competitive without subsidies.
Solar Insights: Is solar hot water (and cooling) the next big thing? REneweconomy, By Giles Parkinson 19 July 2012 Amid the dramatic cost reductions and soaring demand for solar PV (photovoltaic) technologies in Australia and across the world, the long established idea of using the sun to heat water has taken a back seat. In Australia, where SHW once dominated the local rooftop industry, installations were outpointed by rooftop PV by a factor of 5 in the last year.
But now SHW it is tipped to make a return to centre stage, along with relatively new solar thermal technologies that use the sun to provide heating and cooling for office and building spaces, district heating and under-floor heating in cooler climates, as well as for industrial processes and in hybrid systems with solar PV (known at PV-T). At a larger scale, it could one day be used for water treatment and desalination. Continue reading
In USA young and old work for a nuclear-free, carbon-free world
Working Together for a Nuclear Free, Carbon Free Energy Future Clean Energy Footprints July 18th, 2012 › Jacquie Ayala. At the end of June, in the blistering heat of Chattanooga, Tennessee, over 120 activists converged at the kNOw Nukes Y’all Summit to learn, strategize and build relationships across the South around nuclear issues. The summit was intergenerational – young people as well as activists who have been bravely fighting nuclear power since the first wave of the environmental movement in the 1960s, had a chance to meet, build relationships, and learn together. ….. Here’s some of what I learned: …….Here’s what I think: as the youth climate movement, we have not addressed the nuclear issue directly. In our eagerness to stop Big Coal, we are letting the nuclear industry sneak its way back to the forefront. If we don’t engage our communities and our campuses for a carbon-free AND nuclear-free future NOW, I fear that we will be fighting the same fight again, just shifting from Big Coal over to Big Nuclear, and never getting anywhere with the renewables and energy efficiency advancements that we know can really create the clean energy economy we so desperately need. Continue reading
Global warming affecting nuclear reactors – problems for USA’s nuclear power plants
Nationally, thousands of daily high temperature records and warm overnight low temperature records have been set this summer.
With global warming already increasing the odds of extreme heat events, the challenges faced at Braidwood and Browns Ferry are likely to become more common in the coming years. It’s an open question as to whether the nuclear industry is prepared for this. As the Union of Concerned Scientists‘ David Lochbaum told the Times, “Nuclear plants like Goldilocks weather — not too hot, not too cold, but just right.”
Such weather is getting harder and harder to come by.
Heat and Drought Pose Risks for Nuclear Power Plants, Climate Central July 18th, 2012, By Andrew 
Freedman “…….. it seems that climate change is increasingly causing problems for operators of nuclear plants. Like coal-fired power plants, nuclear facilities use large amounts of water for cooling purposes. After water has cycled through the plant, it is discharged back into a nearby waterway, usually a lake or a river, at a higher temperature. State regulations prohibit nuclear plants from operating once water temperatures go above a certain threshold, in part because it could compromise the safe operation of the facility, and also because discharging very warm water can kill fish and other marine life. Continue reading
Australia’s secret service chief warns on danger of nuclear terrorism
Cold War eclipsed by modern threats, says secret service chief, July 19, 2012, SMH, Dylan Welch, Daniel Flitton THE threats posed by the Cold War will be outdone by the multifaceted dangers of the 21st century, according to a landmark speech by the head of Australia’s spy service today. The menace of terrorists acquiring chemical, biological or
nuclear-type weapons was one of the greatest threats to security…… http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/cold-war-eclipsed-by-modern-threats-says-secret-service-chief-20120718-22amo.html#ixzz2161UHfJj
1 This month
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
– go to https://nuclearinformation.wordpress.com/
Antinuclear 