AUDIO: Robert Drewe’s new book about Montebello
AUDIO Drewe delves into our nuclear past http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/10/31/3622855.htm 31 October, 2012 By Joanne Shoebridge and Samantha Turnbull
North coast author Robert Drewe has a new book based on Australia’s nuclear history The release of Robert Drewe’s latest work couldn’t be more timely.
The Byron Shire author’s Montebello unearths a chapter of Australia’s nuclear past.
The book will be officially launched next week, unexpectedly on the back of Australia pushing forward with sales of its uranium to India. Montebello is the name of a group of islands off the West Australian coast where the British tested atom bombs in the early 1950s.
Drewe says many Australians aren’t aware of the history. “It was a time of ‘let’s keep our heads down and not rock the boat,'” he said.”The nation had just been through a war, 10 years before, and people just wanted to get on with it.”
Hear Joanne Shoebridge’s interview with Robert Drewe in the attached audio.
Australian Labor govt wishy washy on renewable energy
Mr Fitzgibbon back-pedalled on Wednesday from his claim that he was “tempted to say we should not have a renewable energy target at all” given Labor had put a price on carbon
Labor muddled on renewable energy: Greens THE AUSTRALIAN, JULIAN DRAPE AAP October 31, 2012 THE Australian Greens have attacked Labor for sending mixed messages about the renewable energy target (RET) after chief whip Joel Fitzgibbon suggested it should be reduced.
Greens leader Christine Milne dubbed the whip “Coal Fitzgibbon” on Wednesday arguing he and the ALP right were “out on a limb” trying to undermine the RET. “What this shows is you simply can’t trust the Labor party to run a consistent line when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” Senator Milne told reporters in Canberra.
“The Climate Change Authority has come out having reviewed the RET and said it’s a really good policy.” The target is meant to ensure 20 per cent of Australia’s electricity comes from renewable sources by 2020.
But softer demand and the popularity of rooftop solar panels mean the fixed 45,000 gigawatt-hour target may be exceeded….. the Greens want the RET extended to ensure 50 per cent of Australia’s electricity
comes from renewable sources by 2030. Continue reading
AUDIO Indigenous land and sea management network launched
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1706353/Indigenous-land-and-sea-management-network-launche
30 OCT 2012, BIWA KWAN, SBS RADIO Indigenous rangers from Australia are visiting Canada to help launch a global
network of indigenous land and sea managers.
They say the development reflects a growing international demand for their knowledge to deal with environmental problems. Continue reading
Australian Solar Council Slams Discrimination Against Home Solar , Energy Matters, 31 Oct 12, The Australian Solar Council (previously known as AuSES) has expressed serious concerns with regard to the Climate Change Authority’s (CCA) Review of the Renewable Energy Target Discussion Paper.
As we reported after the release of the paper, the CCA has suggested discounting the number ofRenewable Energy Certificates (RECs) accompanying the purchase of home solar power systems; which would further reduce the subsidy available. This would be in addition to the final phasing out of the Solar Credits multiplier next year, already decided previously……. http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3448
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 