Urgent need for design for recycling of rare earths
“The situation clearly calls for international policy initiatives to minimize the seemingly bizarre situation of spending large amounts of technology, time, energy and money to acquire scarce metals from the mines and then throwing them away after a single use.”
Yale Researchers Call for Specialty Metals Recycling 
http://environment.yale.edu/news/article/yale-researchers-call-for-specialty-metals-recycling/ 25 Sept 12 An international policy is needed for recycling scarce specialty metals that are critical in the production of consumer goods,
according to Yale researchers in Science.
“A recycling rate of zero for specialty metals is alarming when we consider that their use is growing quickly,” said co-author Barbara Reck, a research scientist at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies.
Specialty metals, which include rare earth elements such as indium, gallium and germanium, account for more than 30 of the 60 metals in the periodic table. Because they are used in small amounts for very precise technological purposes, such as red phosphors, high-strength magnets, thin-film solar cells and computer chips, recovery can be so technologically and economically challenging that the attempt is seldom made. Continue reading
University of Queensland takes a step forward in renewable energy research
UQ start-up secures first Southern Cross Renewable Energy investment, University of Queensland, 25 Sept 12, Brisbane Materials, a UniQuest cleantech start-up based on University of Queensland (UQ) research, has closed its AUD$5 million Series A funding round with AUD$2.5 million from the first-ever investment of Australia’s new Southern Cross Renewable Energy Fund (SCREF). Continue reading
Investors would be wise to avoid shares in uranium
the message remains that Japan is moving away from nuclear power in a big way.
Japan’s decision can only be described as a huge one with major effects on commodities markets….. [Japan’s] loss will negatively affect demand for uranium
That may mean more years of grief for long-suffering Cameco shareholders.
investors would be smart to invest in the companies benefiting from the change, rather than hoping that somehow nuclear power makes a big comeback.
Japan Says Sayonara to Nuclear Power The Motley Fool, By Tony Daltorio – September 24, 2012 It is 18 months since the disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, and finally, the Japanese government has made a decision about the future of nuclear power in the country. The government has stated that it will phase out nuclear power entirely by 2040. This would make Japan the second major country, after Germany, to announce such a withdrawal
from nuclear power. Continue reading
New Zealand keeping its nuclear free status – no USA nuclear ships allowed
No backdown on nuclear-free NZ: Key Herald Sun AAP September 24, 2012 NEW Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key is promising there will be no backdown on the country’s nuclear-free status as part of renewedco-operation with the United States.
US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta visited New Zealand last week, and raised the possibility of having US troops based here…… During his visit, Mr Panetta announced New Zealand navy vessels will be able visit Defence Department and Coastguard facilities in the US and around the world.
Mr Key has also invited a US Coastguard vessel to visit New Zealand – as long as it’s not nuclear-powered.
“There’ll be no change to New Zealand’s anti-nuclear legislation, no change to the provisions about boats that would come to New Zealand,” he told TVNZ’s Breakfast…… http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/no-backdown-on-nuclear-free-nz-key/story-e6frf7k6-1226479988638
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 