Pakistan says of Australian uranium – “Me Too!”
Pakistan says it should be allowed to buy Australian uranium November 17, 2011 BUSINESS RECORDER Pakistan says if Australia sells uranium to India, it too should be eligible for exports of the product. India’s arch rival is also a nuclear power and, like India, a non-signatory of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Pakistan says it could use Australian
uranium to boost its civilian nuclear power programme.
And its High Commissioner to Australia Abdul Malik Abdullah told ABC Radio correspondent Michael Edwards in an interview that it would be discrimination to sell to India and not to Pakistan.
“We are not against uranium sales to India but that if they do go ahead they should also be available to Pakistan,” Abdullah was quoted as saying by ABC Radio on Tuesday. “In the past when United States, India nuclear deal had taken place, we feel that Pakistan was discriminated against. And we hope that this time, given our very strong and cordial relationship with Australia, Pakistan would not be discriminated against.”
Pakistan’s atomic programme began in earnest after India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974. It tested its first bomb in 1998. It’s also expanding its civilian nuclear power programme. ….. http://www.brecorder.com/business-a-economy/189/1251905/
No environmental safeguards for Queensland uranium mining, (Barnaby Joyce doesn’t care)
Senator Barnaby Joyce says nuclear power in Australia is next step after Queensland decision to resume uranium mining Robyn Ironside, John McCarthy The Courier-Mail October 24, 2012 OUTSPOKEN Senator Barnaby Joyce has put nuclear power on the LNP’s agenda in the lead-up to the next federal election following Queensland’s decision to resume uranium mining…..
The comments came as federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson said yesterday nuclear power was not part of Australia’s future…
.. The State Government’s rush to announce its uranium backflip has left Queensland without any policy on environmental and health safeguards. Premier Campbell Newman offered a guarantee the environment and public
health would not be adversely affected by uranium mining.
The powerful left-wing union, the Electrical Trades Union, has said it will ban members from working in any uranium mine in Queensland because of the risk to the workers’ health and to Australia’s environment….
Tokelau leads world in the Pacific Islands switch to renewable energy
PEC-funded projects have brought power to the lives of more than 10,000 people in the Solomon Islands; will reduce Samoa’s fuel usage by 135,000 litres per annum; and, in the Federated States of Micronesia, reduce carbon emissions by 500 tonnes and induce fuel cost savings of 486,000 dollars per year.
Pacific Island Sets Renewable Energy Record, Alert Net, 26 Oct 2012 By Catherine Wilson BRISBANE, (IPS) – Tokelau, a small Polynesian territory in the central Pacific, has surpassed the rest of the world in replacing fossil fuels and raised the benchmark of achievement on sustainable development.
Located north of Samoa, the three atolls, home to 1,411 people, will claim a world record when they switch to 150 percent renewable energy – sourced primarily from solar power – next week. Continue reading
Don Argus, like Martin Ferguson, adds more lies about nuclear energy
Uranium ‘cheapest’ alternative fuel October 23, 2012 Tony 
Moore brisbanetimes.com.au senior reporter Uranium remained the cheapest of the alternative fuels, one of Australia’s leading business figures, Don Argus, said today.
However restrictions on shipping and transport of uranium in several Australian states, including Queensland and Western Australia, remain.
Mr Argus, the former BHP Billiton chief executive, cautiously welcomed Queensland’s possible re-entry to uranium mining.
Mr Argus however decried governments’ lack of focus on Australia’s natural gas reserves.
“Uranium is still the cheapest of the so-called alternative energy sources,” Mr Argus said. “But I am surprised that governments haven’t adjusted to the gas option as distinct from what appears to be, in
some cases, inefficient renewable energy in the form of wind farms.” http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/uranium-cheapest-alternative-fuel-20121023-2838o.html#ixzz2AWguXGhW
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) finds Australia is “Saudi Arabia” of renewable energy
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), the body charged with running the nation’s energy supply, has modelled the feasibility of switching to 100 per cent renewable electricity generation by 2030 and 2050. This week, AEMO buried its findings in its monthly Energy Update.
AEMO isn’t due to release its draft report on the study until next March. By the end of the year, the government will already have released its Energy White Paper to chart future energy policies for years to come.
More crucial for the renewable energy sector, though, may be the release of the government’s review into the Renewable Energy Target (RET), perhaps within weeks.
Renewables: Australia’s a land of plenty SMH October 26, 2012 Peter Hannam Carbon economy editor When feisty UN climate change chief Christiana Figueres swept into Sydney this week, she mocked suggestions Australia is alone in cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
“Nothing could be further from reality,” Ms Figueres told the Lowy Institute. Rather than excoriate the government for holding out on signing up for the second round of the Kyoto Protocol to set emission targets, the diminutive diplomat instead stressed how the country was “blessed” with renewable energy resources the envy of much of the world.
While many nations were keen to tap such resources in order to improve health and lower carbon emissions, the real appeal, she said, was economic: “None of them is trying to save the planet. They’re doing it because it’s in their national interest and that’s the most important motivator.”
But for national interest to be rightly understood — and acted upon — it helps if the population is aware of what’s possible. Continue reading
Senator Ludlam to question India’s Ambassador on the arrest of David Bradbury
Australian filmmaker detained in India while investigating nuclear industry Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam. 26 October 2012. Australian documentary maker David Bradbury was detained by police late yesterday in Tamil Nadu while investigating the Indian nuclear industry.
Greens nuclear policy spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said the arrest was only the latest in a series of moves to suppress criticism of India’s notorious nuclear sector.
“Mr Bradbury was approaching Idinthakarai, a village that has been subjected to severe police repression in response to anti-nuclear protests, when he was detained and taken to Radhapuram Police Station. He has since been released. I will be raising the matter with the Indian Ambassador today.
Continue reading
Police stop Australian film-maker from entering Kudankulam anti nuclear protest area
Australian filmmaker prevented from entering Kudankulam 25 Oct 12http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_australian-filmmaker-prevented-
from-entering-kudankulam_1756187 , Oct 25, 2012, Three persons from Australia were today prevented from entering Idinthakarai, the epicentre of protests by People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy leading the stir against Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tirunelveli district, police said.
Filmmaker David Bradbury along with his wife and son arrived in India on tourist visas and were about to enter Idinthankarai from Kanyakumari district this morning when police stopped them near Radhapuram police station, they said.
“After interrogations, the three were made to go back, since prohibitory orders were in place,” an officer said.
The PMANE has been leading protests against the plant for over a year citing safety concerns.
Commissioning of the first unit of the Indo-Russian project was originally scheduled for December last year, but has been delayed due to the protest.
India: police deny they detained Australian David Bardbury
Australian filmmaker detained, let off http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/australian-filmmaker-detained-let-off/article4031884.ece , 26 Oct 12, David Bradbury, a documentary filmmaker from Australia, was said to have been detained by the police at Kamanaeri village, near Thomas Mandapam, on his way to Idinthakarai village on Thursday evening Police, however, denied any such incident.
A local resident said a foreign national was intercepted by the police at Kamanaeri while he was on his way to Idinthakarai, the hub of the anti-nuclear protest. He was later taken to the Radhapuram police station and let off after some time. However, he was not allowed to proceed to Idinthakarai.
The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Valliyoor, K. N. Stanley Jones, denied that any foreigner was detained at the Radhapuram police station.
M. Pushparayan, a leader of the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE), which spearheads the protest, said he had no knowledge of a filmmaker by that name planning to come to Idinthakarai.
Antinuclear 