Podcast: Radioactive Show on Queensland uranium, and the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance
Radioactive Show | 28 Oct 2012 We speak with Robin Taubenfeld, nuclear free campaigner at Friends of the Earth Brisbane about the State Government’s recent reversal of the 30-year ban on uranium mining in the Sunshine State. We hear some voices from the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance 2012 in early October, specifically the introductions of Kado Muir, Martha Watts and Teresa, Sue Haseldine, Penny Phillips and Uncle Kevin Buzzacott.File Download (30:02 min / 14 MB)Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) find S.A.’s solar rooftop energy is lowering mains consumption
Thanks in part to the state’s solar feed in tariffs, currently at nearly 26c per kilowatt hour for new participants for any surplus electricity exported to the mains grid; South Australia has the highest penetration of rooftop PV of all the National Electricity Market (NEM) states.
Solar Driving Down South Australia’s Mains Electricity Consumption http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3448 by Energy Matters, 31 Oct A report from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) shows a substantial drop in demand for mains grid supplied electricity in South Australia. Continue reading
“Fresh Currents – essential reading for Japan’s non nuclear future
Even if you don’t live in Japan, “Fresh Currents” has something profound to offer. As the Kyoto Journal’s Einarsen notes, “The writings in ‘Fresh Currents’ explore Japan’s path forward from Fukushima to a renewable energy future — and why this is important, wherever you live.”
“Fresh Currents” can be downloaded free. It is also available from good bookstores, priced ¥2,000. For more details, including news updates, visit:www.freshcurrents.org. Stephen Hesse is a professor in the Law Faculty of Chuo University. He can be reached at stevehesse@hotmail.com.
‘Fresh Currents’ charts the way to, and from, Fukushima, Japan Times, 28 Oct 12, By STEPHEN HESSE This month’s column is about a book that is very much more than just a book: It is a work of art, a labor of love and a realizable dream of a better future for Japan…..
Japan has limited options regarding its energy future: To accept the status quo and the cronyism that taints its government-industry relations, leaving energy policy in the hands of those who prioritize political gain; or to pursue national energy security that puts a priority on safety and on sharing the costs and benefits, financial and technological, across all of the nation’s regions and residents.
In a nutshell, Japan can either remain nuclear, with all the dangers that portends for these islands perched on the Pacific Rim of Fire — or it can pursue policies that foster and reward dramatic increases in energy conservation and efficiency and the development of alternative energies that are safe and widely decentralized. Continue reading
Hear David Bradbury speaking about India’s repression of anti nuclear activisits
Detained film maker speaks from India 30 October, 2012 http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/10/30/3621872.htm By Samantha Turnbull and Joanne Shoebridge North coast film maker David Bradbury speaks about his run-in with police in India
Wilsons Creek film maker David Bradbury is no stranger to controversy. His documentaries have covered political corruption in Argentina, nuclear waste from arms manufacturers, neo-Nazis, and the military dictatorship of Chile’s General Pinochet.
His latest project on nuclear power has taken him to India where he was detained last week in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. “I decided I’d slip down to the southern most region because there’s been a long ongoing protest for the last 10 years since two Russian-built nuclear power plants have been built,” he said.
“The local people don’t want the nuclear power plant to be open at all. “The power plants are built right on the ocean edge… they fear the same could happen to them as happened in Fukushima.”….
AUDIO: Aboriginal rights will be eroded as Queensland develops uranium mining
Uranium mining in Australia has removed Aboriginal rights in uranium States and territories. Queensland’s Aboriginals are next in line for this, as Newman government sets up a committee, with Aboriginal uranium lobbyist invited to join it.
‘Nuclear racism’ concern over Qld uranium mining http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/239743/-Nuclear-racism-concern-over-Qld-uranium-mining 31 Oct 2012 By Stefan Armbruster Queensland Aboriginal groups are being warned their legal rights could be eroded as the state moves to resume uranium mining. Queensland Aboriginal groups are being warned their legal rights could be eroded as the state moves to resume uranium mining.
Last week the state’s Liberal National Party government said it would end the uranium mining ban introduced by Labor in 1989. The Queensland government has asked indigenous employment advocate and Australian Uranium Association director Warren Mundine to join a committee overseeing renewed mining.
In other states and territories, uranium mining has partial or total exemptions from Aboriginal land rights and heritage laws. Friends of the Earth’s national nuclear campaigner, Jim Green, told Queensland correspondent Stefan Armbruster it is a bad sign, given Australia’s past of so-called “nuclear racism”.
Official studies on birth defects in Fallujah – carefully omit depleted uranium as a cause
“While there is no estimate of the amount or type of bombs and bullets used in the Iraqi occupation, a US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report had put the figure of bullets used at a mind boggling 6 billion between 2002 to 2005. That worked out to about 250,000 bullets for every enemy soldier shot by the US and its allies in Iraq.” Continue reading
Nuclear lobby’s Aboriginal poster boy Warren Mundine to oversee Queensland uranium mining?
Warren Mundine asked to oversee Qld uranium mining BY: ROSANNE BARRETT The Australian October 30, 2012 FORMER Labor party president Warren Mundine has been approached to oversee the resurrection of Queensland’s uranium mining industry.
Queensland Premier Campbell Newman told parliament today that Mr Mundine’s appointment to the uranium implementation committee was “subject to confirmation”. – subscription only
Poor outlook for Queensland uranium mining, but “Yellowcake Newman” presses on
The Australian Conservation Foundation’s Dave Sweeney called on Mr Newman to back up his claim that uranium exports will earn Queensland tens of billions of dollars over the next two decades, providing
thousands of jobs.
“Development plans have been shelved at Yeelirrie and Kintyre, the two largest deposits in Western Australia.
“Kakadu uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia has lost more than $180 million and BHP Billiton has walked away from its long-held plan for a massive expansion of the Olympic Dam mine in South Australia.”
Activists slam ‘Yellowcake’ Newman http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/newman-names-qld-uranium-committee/story-e6frf7kf-1226506654419 AAP October 30, 2012 QUEENSLAND activists say Premier “Yellowcake” Campbell Newman’s new uranium committee is a stunt to fast-track mining of the “toxic” substance.
Mr Newman on Tuesday named members of the committee, which will establish a framework for the resumption of uranium mining in the state. It will be chaired by Central Highlands councillor Paul Bell, who has just retired as the president of the Local Government Association of Queensland, the government’s chief scientist Geoff Garrett and industry representatives.
Mr Newman said former ALP national president and indigenous leader Warren Mundine had been invited to serve on the committee and he hoped he would agree. Continue reading
Queensland government considering shipping uranium through Great Barrier Reef
Queensland uranium could be exported through reef, SMH, October 31, 2012 -The Queensland government says it would consider shipping uranium through the Great Barrier Reef if a new advisory committee made the recommendation.
The comments come as the United Nation’s environmental arm considers whether to list the reef as a World Heritage site in danger. In a report earlier this year, UNESCO identified shipping as one of the most pressing threats to the reef’s future. Continue reading
Queensland uranium would have to go to ports in Darwin or Adelaide
Queensland ports unready for uranium, Brisbane Times, November 1, 2012 – Tony Moore Queensland’s burgeoning uranium industry would bring no immediate benefit to the state’s port cities, the Australian Uranium Association has predicted.
Rather, AUA spokesman Simon Clarke said uranium would be exported via ports in Darwin and Adelaide.
That would mirror the situation in Western Australia, where uranium export is banned from local ports. Uranium from WA is instead shipped through Darwin and Adelaide.
“As matters stand now, it would seem most likely that any uranium mined in Queensland would be transported by road and rail to either Adelaide or Darwin for shipment out of Australia,” Mr Clarke said. Any port exporting radioactive uranium must be capable of carrying class seven hazardous wastes and storing waste in secure premises while waiting for commercial shipping. Continue reading
Podcast on nuclear power problems after Hurricane Sandy
http://enenews.com/9pm-special-edition-exactly-happened-fukushima-going-njs-oyster-creek-except-reactor-refueling-gundersen-audio SPECIAL EDITION PODCAST: AFTER HURRICANE SANDY – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED In this special edition question & answer podcast, Gundersen and Hurley discuss what effects Hurricane Sandy had on U.S. nuclear power plants, especially Oyster Creek. Gundersen explains how spent fuel pools are not configured to be cooled with diesel power in the event of a loss of offsite power. Oyster Creek and several other nuclear power plants did lose offsite power and Thomson Reuters reports that they may use fire pumps to cool the pools.
Despite government oppression, thousands again rally against Kudankulam nuclear power plant
Protest erupts in Tamil Nadu over Kudankulam nuclear power plant, India Express, :
Chennai, Oct 29 2012, Thousands of anti-nuclear activists thronged to the streets in Chennai on Monday in an attempt to lay siege to the state assembly as mark of protest against the Kudankulam nuclear power plant.
Protest against the power plant has only intensified over the past year, while nuclear fuel has already been loaded in the plant that is awaiting approval from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) for commissioning. Activists from various political groups and anti-nuclear bodies shouted slogans against the federal and state government, urging them to shutdown the plant permanently.
“Throughout Tamil Nadu, the state government has arrested hundreds and thousands of people to prevent them to come to Chennai to stage thisprogramme. In spite of that thousands of people have gathered here. We want that the Kudankulam nuclear plant should be closed, once and for all……
Free energy fuel: South Australia’s wind power is making fossil fuel power too costly
How wind is changing the energy game in South Australia REneweconomy, By Giles Parkinson on 31 October 2012 Nowhere in Australia has wind energy had as much of an impact on the existing electricity infrastructure as in South Australia. According to the latest figures from the Australian Energy Market Operator, wind energy accounted for more than 22 per cent of capacity and 20 per cent of supply over the past year – although it has been higher over
shorter periods – and at times supplied more than 80 per cent of the state’s energy needs.
The fact that wind energy, once built, supplies energy at near zero marginal cost and lowers the wholesale price of electricity has helped push more expensive fossil fuel generation out of the system, which is why fossil fuel generators are keen to reduce the extent of the renewable energy target. In South Australia, it has forced the closure in winter of the two local coal-fired generators that once supplied nearly one-third of the state’s needs. Continue reading
Australia’s Asian neighbours not capable of managing nuclear safety
Asia’s Nuclear Feeding Frenzy Global Mail By Clare Blumer October 30, 2012
How safe is the Pacific rim, where 100 reactors in 10 years are planned, some in earthquake-prone, developing nations?
…….. the use of nuclear energy by developing countries in the Asia Pacific region — some of which are prone to earthquakes — worries Karamoskos, who also represents the public-health interests on Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Authority committees.
“The problem with nuclear power is it has the potential, when it goes bad, to go bad on a grand scale, as we’ve seen with Fukushima and Chernobyl,” he says. “It’s not good enough to build a nuclear reactor and then have a nuclear regulator that is inexperienced, or compromised, or lacks independence.”
Karamoskos points to an international transparency-and-corruption scale compiled by Transparency International (partially supported by AusAID) as a reasonable indicator of whether countries can take on the complex safety responsibilities of nuclear power. Indonesia doesn’t rate highly on this scale, coming in at 100 of 183 countries on the Corruption Perception Index; Vietnam and Bangladesh are worse, at 112 and 120 respectively. India ranks 95th.
“That’s my first and foremost concern — do these countries have the underlying principles … to foster a robust safety culture?” he asks Continue reading
AUDIO: India – nuclear workers exposed to radiation
AUDIO Leaking India nuclear plant under investigation http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/connect-asia/leaking-india-nuclear-plant-under-investigation/1038 30 October 2012, Correspondent: Michael Edwards Speakers: P K Sundaram, Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament & Peace. The international nuclear watchdog is inspecting one of India’s main reactors after a series of leaks exposed workers to dangerous levels of radiation. Dozens of employees at the Rajasthan Atomic Power plant were exposed during two serious breaches earlier this year.
There are fears over the safety of India’s civilian nuclear facilities; the country’s Auditor-General says the country is just one slip away from a disaster of Chernobyl-like proportions.
It comes as Australia contemplates the safeguards and sale of uranium to India.
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 