Australia’s solar rooftop industry looked successful, so government caved in to fossil fuel lobby to stop it
Greens leader, Senator Christine Milne, said the government’s move, combined with a decision to delay taxing methane gas emissions from mines and landfills, “gives the fossil fuel industry a reprieve.”
“It seems incredible that the government wants to bring forward harm to renewable energy industries but delay cost impacts to fossil fuel polluters,” she said.
Solar scheme shift stuns industry, SMH, November 16, 2012 – Peter Hannam Carbon economy editor A rebate for rooftop solar panels will be halved six months earlier than planned in a move blasted by an industry group
as “diabolical”. Climate Change Minister Greg Combet announced the solar credits scheme would end in January next year “due to continued strong demand for household solar”….. Continue reading
How Germany is succeeding in moving away from nuclear power
The nuclear industry and its supporters pounced on Merkel’s decision. They predicted blackouts on a scale Germany hadn’t experienced since World War II and skyrocketing electricity prices that would wreck the nation’s heavy manufacturing sector, the bedrock of the German economy. They warned that Germany would cease to be an energy exporter and be forced to import electricity from, of all places, French nuclear power plants. Utilities would have to burn more coal to make up for the lost nuclear power, they said, pumping huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The British weekly The Economist branded Merkel’s action “a lunatic gamble.”
More than a year and a half later, however, those dire predictions haven’t materialized.
“You have to choose between the old system and the new one. And we have chosen renewables.”
Germany Abandons Nuclear Power and Lives to Talk About It, Bloomberg Business Week By Osha Gray Davidson November 16, 2012“……..Like all revolutions, the German Energiewende was set in motion by many factors and its course altered by a multitude of events and actors along the way. A few key moments stand out, however, and the Chernobyl catastrophe is one of them. To fully understand the Energiewende, and to anticipate its future twists and turns, it’s essential to understand the role Chernobyl played in shaping the German public’s view of nuclear power. Continue reading
Uranium market down the drain, but CEOs can laugh to the bank
Borshoff collects some cash as Paladin shares head south November 17, 2012 Christopher Webb THE disposals table was topped this week by a large-scale sale by the managing director of Paladin Energy, where the share price has come under severe pressure recently.
John Borshoff collected $5.6 million from the sale of scrip at 94¢ apiece on Monday. The price has closed lower for each of the last nine days and on Friday lost as much as 8 per cent to 74¢, a level last seen early in 2005. Paladin is a one-time high-flyer that operates two uranium mines in Africa.
Chairman Rick Crabb said Borshoff’s sale was to release funds ”as part of the management of his personal financial affairs”…… http://www.theage.com.au/business/borshoff-collects-some-cash-as-paladin-shares-head-south-20121116-29ho8.html#ixzz2CWgzVyUU
Borshoff, a cut above http://www.theage.com.au/business/borshoff-a-cut-above-20121102-28pkf.html#ixzz2CWg9jYJs November 3, 2012 Peter Ker HE MAY have cut his salary by 25 per cent, but Paladin boss John Borshoff took home much more money in the year to June 30 than the year before.
The fine print of Paladin’s annual report reveals that despite honouring a promise to cut his salary between November 2011 and November 2012 – a promise extended to June 2013 – Mr Borshoff was able to boost his remuneration after a review of annual leave entitlements.
The review focused on annual and long-service leave in a bid to cut Paladin’s liabilities, and Mr Borshoff responded by cashing out 220 days of leave.
The transaction netted Mr Borshoff $1,717,000 and helped increase his remuneration to $3,464,000, well above the $2.26 million of the year before.
Mr Borshoff’s contract with Paladin has one year left, and provides him with three months’ long-service leave for every five years of service. He is entitled to two years of double base salary when he retires or has his employment terminated.
The 52 per cent rise in Mr Borshoff’s pay came in the year workers at the company’s uranium mine in Malawi had calls for a 66 per cent pay rise rejected.
Paladin maintained that Mr Borshoff’s remuneration is warranted, based on his expertise.
Virginia USA: 39 cities, 157 towns and 105 counties want to keep ban on uranium mining
2 statewide groups back Va. uranium ban, CBS News 16 Nov 12 RICHMOND, Va. — Two groups 
representing hundreds of Virginia cities, counties and towns are recommending that the General Assembly keep a 30-year ban on uranium mining in place.
The Virginia Municipal League cites concerns about health and environmental issues related uranium mining, milling and disposal of radioactive-laced rock, while the Virginia Association of Counties wants the ban to stick “pending further study.”
The league represents all 39 cities, 157 towns and 10 counties, while the association represents the state’s 95 counties.
“I think it’s fair to say it’s a risk that our members are not willing to live with,” Joe Lerch, director of environmental policy, said Thursday of uranium mining. He said the position was unanimously endorsed by its members….. Continue reading
Democracy disappearing in India’s pro nuclear push
Madras HC dismisses plea for holding public meetings in Kudankulam
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_madras-hc-dismisses-plea-for-holding-public-
meetings-in-kudankulam_1765500, Nov 16, 2012,Chennai ANI The Madras High Court on Friday dismissed petitions which sought to declare the clamping of ban orders under Section 144 (1) of CrPC in Kudankulam as null and void.
It also refused to grant permission for conducting a public meeting to highlight demands against commissioning
of the nuclear power plant. Continue reading
An Israeli plea for diplomacy, not bombing
Hold out a hand to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Stop with the “pinpoint assassinations” and look into the civilians’ eyes on the other side as well.
A message to Israel’s leaders: Don’t defend me – not like this http://www.haaretz.com/
opinion/a-message-to-israel-s-leaders-don-t-defend-me-not-like-this.premium-1.478105 As she listens to the rockets raining in her yard, a resident of Kibbutz Kfar Aza asks the government to rethink its Gaza mission. By Michal Vasser | Nov.15, 2012 The first thing I want to say is: Please don’t defend me. Not like this. Continue reading
Anti uranium protest in Toronto
Large crowd calls for closure of uranium plant, Inside Toronto, 17 Nov 12 The GE-Hitachi facility at 1025 Lansdowne Ave. presses uranium powder into the pellets used to power Ontario’s nuclear reactors. The plant releases tiny amounts of radiation into the air and water each year …by Lisa Rainford
Following a march from the GE-Hitachi uranium plant at Lansdowne Avenue and Dupont Street, a capacity crowd of protesters filled the Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood Centre sanctuary for what organizers are calling the first of many meetings to come about the nuclear facility.
Decked out in costume, the “Raging Grannies,” a group of older women who use song to protest and raise awareness of environmental and social justice issues, kicked off the Nov. 15 meeting that brought out local politicians from all levels of government, as well as several guest experts. “If you love your neighbourhood, no uranium… Kick GE out for good, no uranium,” sang the trio to rousing applause.
Facilitated by the Ontario Clean Air Alliance’s Angela Bischoff, the meeting brought together a host of speakers, Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 