Queensland’s uranium decision is surprising, in view of uranium market’s collapse
Uranium backflip a speedy decision http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/uranium-backflip-a-speedy-decision/story-e6frerdf-1226501060691 by:Robert MacDonald :The Courier-Mail October 23, 2012 THE most remarkable thing about the Queensland Government’s unexpected decision to lift the state’s two-decade old ban on uranium mining is the speed of its decision-making process.
It was barely a month ago that Resources Minister Andrew Cripps put the long-dormant issue back on the table by saying there hadn’t been a serious public discussion for years.
And it was less than two weeks ago that Premier Campbell Newman was writing to the Australian Conservation Foundation re-affirming pre-election promises that his Government “has no plans to approve the development of uranium mining in Queensland.”
Yesterday’s announcement caught everyone by surprise – the miners, who were delighted, and environmentalists who immediately described it as “irresponsible, ill-considered and in clear breach of pre-election commitments”.
But what does it mean for Queensland, which hasn’t had an operating uranium mine for 30 years?
In the short term, relatively little. On the raw numbers, uranium mining could one day be a significant part of the state’s economy – the Queensland Resources Council values reserves in the ground at $18 billion, which, in theory, could generate $900 million in royalties.
But the reality is the world uranium market is in poor shape, particularly after the Japanese tsunami, which damaged the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
The spot price for uranium yellow cake is less than US$45 a pound, which one industry insider said was only about two-thirds of the break-even price for an efficient mine.
The announcement will, however, encourage uranium explorers to step up spending. But still, Campbell Newman has gone where no premier has been game to go for more than 20 years. He now needs to convince Queenslanders he’s heading in the right direction.
CSIRO mapping Australia’s wealth of solar energy
Solar mapping to shed light on rich resource , SMH, October 24, 2012 Peter Hannam We may be a nation of sun-worshippers but when it comes to forecasting where the sun shines longest, Australia’s energy authorities are stuck in the dark ages.
The CSIRO is hoping to fill that information void with a lot more riding on it than the best place to get that tan. Energy energy suppliers – current and future – need the data to predict how much solar electricity is likely to flow through the nation’s power grids.
For potential developers of large-scale solar power plants, radiation records are needed to bolster investment certainty as they try to secure finance from bankers or government agencies. The real urgency for hard numbers, though, is coming from the rapid take-up of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, with the total now approaching 900,000 across the country. Continue reading
Australian companies adopting solar energy in droves HYDROGEN FUEL NEWS BY ERIN KILGORE – OCTOBER 23, 2012 Solar energy could be t he key to financial stability
More Australian businesses are making the switch to solar energy in an effort to save money. Energy prices are going up in the country due to the rising tensions, political and otherwise, surrounding fossil-fuels. As it becomes more problematic for oil to find its way to Australia, the cost of the commodity increases. This is beginning to put excessive strain on businesses that could receive the energy they need through renewable sources .
Provincial governments throwing more support behind solar energy It seems that more companies around Australia are taking the notion of renewable energy seriously as energy prices continue to rise. Solar energy, in particular, is becoming extremely popular in Australia due to the country’s near constant exposure to solar radiation. As provincial governments begin to throw their support behind solar energy projects, businesses are looking to make use of the energy generated by these new installations in order to cut down on their electricity bills. Adopting solar energy may also help these companies avoid harsh penalties imposed on them by the government due to new emissions regulations….. http://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/australian-companies-adopting-solar-energy-in-droves/856403/
Australia’s extradition laws – creeping loss of civil liberties
a new form of economic imperialism, with the long arm of the Government using criminal enforcement powers to enforce commercial interests at the behest of corporations and their lobbyists. It’s about power.
As recently amended, Australia’s extradition laws enable a person to be extradited for minor offences
extradition is not precluded if the person faces cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment that is not severe enough to amount to torture.
What is to become of individuals who engage in non-violent political protest on the internet?
The tentacles of extradition, Online opinion By Kellie Tranter -, 23 October 2012 Being hailed as “incredibly brave” to stand up to the United States, UK home secretary Theresa May has halted the extradition of British computer hacker Gary McKinnon because of medical reports warning that McKinnon – who was first indicted by a federal grand jury in Virginia in November 2002 –would kill himself if he was sent to stand trial in the United States. But unanswered questions remain about the nature of political extradition cases more generally.
In 2007 former NSW Chief Judge in Equity, Justice Peter Young, highlighted in the Australian Law Journal ‘the bizarre fact that people are being extradited to the US to face criminal charges when they have never been to the US and the alleged act occurred wholly outside the US.’
Justice Young’s comments were raised in the context of the case of Hew Griffiths, an Australian who was the first person in the world to be extradited and criminally prosecuted in the United States for copyright infringement. .. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 