Nuclear lobby is really just a bunch of guys each squabbling over their pet project
There is an area of the “nuclear debate” that needs exploring. That is – the realm of contradictions and humour in it all.
People agonise, thinking that the “nuclear lobby” is one great monolith – too big to successfuly oppose.
But in reality, it’s more like a little bunch of squabbling bovver boys. One lot wants to build “Generation III” reactors, using uranium. Another lot want Gen IV reactors of various competing types, that are still not much more than a glint in the eye of the pro nukes. Then there are “fast breeder” and various types of reprocessing reactors (fraught with problems). Then there are the new geewhiz Bill Gates “travelling wave”. small reactors. Then there are the small “thorium” reactors (that would ruin the uranium industry).
The beauty of it all is that the proponents of each type are really in cut-throat competition with each other.. It shouldn’t take too much to show the public how damn silly they all are.
But I suppose that the winning argument will always boil down to money. Because it is so heinously expensive to properly shut down nuclear reactors, pro nukes might prevail over governments – to keep right on with nuclear power, so that the ever more expensive problem of burying it can be avoided, by passing it on to our grandchildren.
Corporate mining giants funded Aboriginal leader, Marcia Langton’s pro mining lectures
Marcia Langton defends non-disclosure on mining cash before Boyers, Crikey.com, ANDREW CROOK | FEB 22, 2013
The academic background to last year’s Boyer Lectures was funded by global miners Rio Tinto and Woodside. But the audience was none the wiser. Should she and the ABC have disclosed?
Indigenous leader Marcia Langton and the ABC have defended a lack of disclosure over last year’s Boyer Lectures, despite tens of thousands of dollars in cash for Langton’s academic research being sourced from resources giants Rio Tinto, Woodside and Santos.
The series of five Boyers, titled “The Quiet Revolution: Indigenous People and the Resources Boom”, were delivered late last year by Langton at the ABC’s Brisbane studios and beamed around the country on Radio National.
They argued the boom had substantively benefited indigenous communities, with Langton lauding the work of a number of corporate behemoths — notably Rio — in providing job opportunities and friendly chop-outs. One lecture featured a full frontal attack on the “conceit” of anti-mining greenies.
But what listeners weren’t aware of was that two of the companies Langton praised were also bankrolling her. Continue reading
Good riddance Marius Kloppers, and let’s hope that Andrew McKenzie is not worse
Many reasonable people rejoiced at BHP’ Billiton’s decision to abandon the grandiose plan for a new uranium mine at Olympic Dam. We might rejoice also with the demise of its prime pusher, CEO Marius Kloppers.
Now BHP will have CEO Andrew McKenzie, who is also a fan of Olympic Dam expansion.
I am reminded of one old poem for children, by Hilaire Belloc – which ends – “But always keep a hold of Nurse, for. fear of finding Something Worse”
Olympic Dam uranium mine king dethroned, but with obscene $75 million payout
Kloppers’ payout shows BHP can afford mining tax: Greens http://www.theage.com.au/national/kloppers-payout-shows-bhp-can-afford-mining-tax-greens-20130222-2ex3b.html, 23 Feb 13 Paddy Manning THE $75 million outgoing BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers will retire with is ”obscene”, says Australian Greens leader Christine Milne.
Mr Kloppers, who announced his retirement on Wednesday after almost six years at the top, will leave with a package of cash and shares almost equalling the $77 million BHP Billiton paid in mining tax in the second half of 2012. The tax raised a total of just $126 million in its first six months.
Senator Milne said it was ”obscene that Marius Kloppers exits BHP with $75 million and that the company paid only $2 million more to the mining tax when single parents have been forced below the poverty line to fill the budget gap”.
Japanese nuclear power companies now selling uranium back to original sellers, and at a loss!
A senior official of a major utility said the move was exceptional because it likely meant selling the uranium for less than the import
price.
Japan Atomic Power takes rare step of selling uranium to pay off loans http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/02/21/national/japan-atomic-power-takes-rare-step-of-selling-uranium-to-pay-off-loans/#.USfWWB1wpLt KYODO A Japanese nuclear power company has taken the rare step of selling some of its uranium, apparently to help repay loans amid its faltering business conditions, according to sources.
Japan Atomic Power Co. apparently needs to secure money to repay loans due in April amid uncertainty over when it can resume operating its three idled reactors.
Tokyo Electric Power Co. is considering taking similar action as it continues to face funding difficulties following the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 complex, the sources said. Continue reading
Uranium mining – too great a financial risk
We are being asked to take a huge risk with our water and environment with a company of very dubious financial stability
This market has fallen to about $40 per pound and may go lower
We should not take this risk.
Uranium mine too great a risk for South Dakota http://www.mitchellrepublic.com/event/article/id/76549/group/homepage/Powertech (USA), Inc., a Canadian company with just 10 employees owned by a stock market hedge fund, is planning a massive uranium mining operation near Edgemont. By: Susan Henderson , 22 Feb 13, Powertech (USA), Inc., a Canadian company with just 10 employees owned by a stock market hedge fund, is planning a massive uranium mining operation near Edgemont. Continue reading
100% renewable energy is already happening, and will become the new normal
These are just a handful of examples in what amounts to the beginnings of a global movement. Go100Percent.org, a project launched to track 100% renewable energy projects around the world, has mapped more than 8 Countries, 41 Cities, 48 Regions, 8 Utilities, and 21 NonProfit/Educational/Public Institutions that have shifted or are committed to shifting within the next few decades to 100% renewable energy in at least one sector.
Basic logic says that non-renewable energy, by definition, is finite and will run out.
100% Renewable Energy: Becoming the New Normal? http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/22/100-renewable-energy-becoming-the-new-normal/#tdSoYvM5qMkJWZmy.99 February 22, 2013
By Diane Moss, Founding Director of Renewables 100 Policy Institute A decade ago, cities, regions, and businesses aiming for 20% renewable energy were on the cutting edge. Few believed that a higher target in a few decades was an achievable goal. Anyone even suggesting a target of 100% renewable energy was a radical. Fast forward to today and in much of Europe, and increasingly in the U.S. and the developing world, 100% renewable energy goals are becoming the new normal.
Entire countries like Denmark have passed laws requiring that the whole energy supply — electricity, heating/cooling, and transportation — be met by renewable resources. The Pacific island of Tokelau, which risks disappearing as climate change raises sea levels, is one nation that has already met the goal of 100% renewable energy supply, throwing down the gauntlet to far larger polluters around the world who are truly causing the problem.
Iceland is almost there, with 100% renewable electricity and 81% renewable energy overall.
Scotland has a mandate to achieve 100% renewable power supply by 2020.
Upper Austria, inspired by the town of Guessing, which is already there, has a target to achieve 100% renewable heat and power by 2030.
Whole regions in Germany are already meeting, if not surpassing, their power demand with renewables. Several have done the same for their heating requirements, and are busy working toward targets for integrating the transportation sector.
In the U.S, cities like San Francisco, Lancaster, and San José have set official goals to reach 100% renewable power within the next decade, and the state of Vermont has an energy plan in place to reach 90% renewable energy in all sectors by mid century. The heartland town of Greensburg, KS has already reached a 100% renewable power goal set after being destroyed by a tornado in 2007, and aims to achieve renewable energy for all sectors.
Additionally, businesses including IKEA, Whole Foods, and Google are aiming to power, or already are powering, their companies with 100% renewable energy technologies. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 