Australian Government knew that Aboriginals were exposed to radiation at Maralinga
Paul Langley supplies extracts from Hansard Federal Parliamentary Hansard, ABORIGINES AT MARALINGA : EXPOSURE TO RADIATION (QUESTION NO. 5786….) ABORIGINES AT MARALINGA : EXPOSURE TO RADIATION (QUESTION NO. 5786)
Mr Uren asked questions about Aboriginals’ exposure to radioactive fallout from the atomic bomb testing, and also about the “cleanup”- and got very unsatisfactory answers.
While many rejoice, Tony Abbott weeps, on departure of Martin Ferguson from Parliament
What a charade! Abbott showing his lovely side as Labor’s Martin Ferguson, firm supporter of the Liberal Party’s nuclear policies, announced his departure from Parliament.
No doubt Martin Fergsuon will go on to some lucrative position in the private sector, pushing fossil fuel and nuclear energy.
Abbott tears up as he praises retiring Labor MP An emotional Tony Abbott choked back tears as he praised former resources minister and Labor MP Martin Ferguson, who today announced he will retire from politics after the September election….. In a gushing speech Mr Abbott called Mr Ferguson a “great Australian” and said the parliament and the nation “would be poorer for his absence”…. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/05/29/16/04/emotional-abbott-praises-outgoing-labor-mp#gigyaComments
Questions in Australia’s Senate about Wiluna and other uranium projects – get not very straight answers
Christina Macpherson 29 May 13, These questions were asked in Senate Estimates today, and did not always get clear answers.http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/content/estimates/office-supervising-scientist-5
Senator Ludlam asked the Acting Office of the Supervising Scientist about the following matters:
- Toro Energy uranium project, (Wiluna W.A.) Questions about the process of final recommendation of this project – the final disposal of uranium tailings. The appropriate officers were not available to answer this question.
- Closure and rehabilitation of the Ranger uranium mine (NT) .
- Closure and clean-up of Nabarlek uranium mine (NT) – Still some outstanding jobs to be done.
- Remediation works at Rum Jungle closed uranium mine (NT) – depends on an options document to be produced by the Northern Territory Government – this document may or may not be made public.
- Question about Queensland Government’s uranium implementation committee, – The OSS has not responded to this Committee and the committee has not asked the OSS for advice.
- Question about 10 years since inqury Report critical of regulatory regime at Ranger – whether all its recommendations have been carried out. Answer – this would be better as a formal question on notice. Ludlam – ” A formal response will be greatly appreciated.”
Port Fairy, Victoria, vulnerable to sea level rise
Report says hundreds of buildings vulnerable to flooding from rising sea levels at Port Fairyhttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-28/report-says-hundreds-of-buildings-vulnerable-to-flooding-from-r/4716588
May 28, 2013 A report has found potentially disturbing effects of rising sea levels on the popular tourist town of Port Fairy, in south-western Victoria.
The consultants found if the sea level rises 80 centimetres by 2080, up to 390 buildings could be vulnerable to flooding.
The consultants say some of the report’s findings are disturbing and a huge amount of adaptation planning is needed.
Moyne Shire councillors will decide whether to release the full document for community consultation.
Tasmania could become net exporter of renewable energy by 2020
Blueprint For Renewable Energy Action In Tasmania http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3764 29 May 13 An ambitious plan from the Tasmanian Climate Action Council would see the Apple Isle become a net exporter of renewable energy to the mainland by 2020. The blueprint calls for Tasmania to become Australia’s renewable energy powerhouse, generating 100 percent of its annual stationary electricity needs from renewable sources by 2020 under a Low Carbon Economic Strategy, with the surplus exported via Basslink.
The plan also recommends the implementation of improved feed in tariffs arrangements for small and medium-scale renewable energy generators such as homes and businesses with installed rooftop solar energy systems. More money will go into promoting tidal, geothermal and wind power, along with developing a smart grid power network for the state.
Tasmania has previously identified that climate change will have widespread negative effects on people living in the state and has legislated to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 60 per cent by 2050 compared to 1990 levels.
The blueprint states: “By positioning itself as a low carbon, forward looking, renewable electricity producer, Tasmania will help grow its industry sectors, including agriculture and tourism.”
By 2050, the blueprint states, Tasmania’s transport system will be largely decarbonised through the use of public transport, alternative energy vehicles and removing the need to travel by using advanced technology such as the National Broadband Network. The plan employs Tassie’s farmers in the fight against climate change by further research into developing energy-efficient farming technologies to reduce and sequester carbon emissions through farming practices.
The Tasmanian Climate Action Council was established in 2008 to provide high level advice to the Tasmanian Government on emerging climate change issues and propose best practice solutions to the challenges of climate change. A Blueprint For Action can be downloaded here (PDF)
100% Renewable Energy for South West Western Australia: Free Event June 10
SEN PRESENTS: 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR SW WA BY 2029 HTTP://WWW.SCIENCEWA.NET.AU/COMPONENT/OHANAH/SEN-PRESENTS-100-RENEWABLE-ENERGY-FOR-SW-WA-BY-2029.HTML
10 JUNE 2013 6:30 PM CITY WEST LOTTERIES HOUSE, WEST PERTH
Senator Scott Ludlam will also speak, with CCWA climate campaigner Jamie Hanson hosting and introducing.
FREE EVENT, Refreshments Provided
If you would like directions or are unable to find your way into the building, just call Steve on 0400 870 887 or Angus on 0401 176 323. Feel free to invite friends and colleagues interested in a sustainable energy future for WA by distributing this email or forwarding this link: www.sen.asn.au/events.
In Darwin, Indigenous Guardians of Land and Sea meet, under auspices of United Nations
On Monday, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of 
Indigenous Peoples James Anaya stressed the importance of governments recognising international instruments that protect the basic rights of native people………
The international network of indigenous and local community land and sea managers recently became an official part of the United Nations after the government of Australia handed over its management to the Equator Initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Guardians of the Land and Sea Meet in Darwin By Milagros Salazar DARWIN, Australia , May 28 2013 (IPS) – “Are you a park ranger?” IPS asked. “No, I am one of the owners of the territory,” Ángel Durán responded in a firm voice. The Bolivian indigenous leader is in this northern Australian city along with 1,200 other native delegates from over 50 countries for the World Indigenous Network (WIN) conference.
Durán, who was born in and lives on a collectively-owned native territory, is attending the conference in representation of eight native groups from Bolivia’s Amazon region that total more than 20,000 people.
Although he is not on the programme as an official speaker and can only communicate in Spanish, this is not stopping him from sharing his knowledge and experiences with other indigenous leaders walking from one auditorium to another at WIN headquarters in Darwin, the capital city of Australia’s Northern Territory.
The meeting, supported by the Australian government, runs May 26-29, with presentations of successful projects for the preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity, the sustainable use of protected natural areas, and the development and food security of indigenous peoples of Africa, Asia, Latin America and other countries like Canada or Australia itself. Continue reading
Liberal Coalition policy on climate change does not stand up to scrutiny
In this article, the author says that Tony Abbott “confirmed his belief in man-made climate change.” But in fact, he didn’t. Abbott said that ‘‘We accept the science that says that something is happening to our planet.’’ So – Abbott agreed about the change, but NOT about whether human activiity was the cause of the change.
Doubts over Coalition plan to cut emissions SMH, May 28, 2013 Tom Arup Environment editor, The Age Storing carbon dioxide in soil and plants will deliver less than five per cent of the emissions cuts assumed under the Coalition’s direct action climate change policy, according to government estimates, as Tony Abbott also confirmed in Parliament his belief in man-made climate change.
Climate change department officials told a Senate estimates hearing on Monday night that soil carbon and revegetation projects are currently expected to deliver just 3.7 million tonnes a year of emissions cuts by 2020.
Labor says these new estimates blow a hole in the Coalition’s direct action climate change policy, which suggested up to 85 million tonnes per year of carbon dioxide cuts could come from soil carbon projects alone by the end of the decade. Continue reading
To avoid paying compensation, Japanese Government raised “acceptable” level of radiation
Exposed: Japanese Officials Upped Radiation Yardsticks to Dodge Compensation Costs by Andrea Germanos / Common Dreams / May 26, 2013 / Japanese officials raised the level of acceptable radiation doses for evacuees of the Fukushima nuclear disaster to avoid increasing costs for compensation, Japan’s Asahi Shimbun reported on Saturday.
A 5-millisieverts per year dose, the same level of exposure used as a yardstick to relocate residents after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, was proposed at an unofficial meeting of ministers in October of 2011, seven months after the disaster began, they report.
But just weeks later, the yardstick was upped to 20 millisieverts per year. Continue reading
By 2020 renewables will account for 22 per cent of electricity supply – RET is working
Renewable energy on target for 22% by 2020 REneweconomy, By Ric Brazzale 29 May 2013 The Renewable Energy Target (RET) has come under increasing scrutiny as the level of electricity consumption has fallen. There is confusion over how the RET has been calculated, and particularly in relation to how the initial 20 per cent target has been converted into a fixed target. This Research Note explains in detail how the numbers fit together.
A summary of the key points are as follows:
• The RET policy commitment is for at least 20 per cent of Australia’s electricity supply to come from renewable energy. Minister Combet when introducing the legislation to separate the RET in June 2010 made it clear that the government expected renewables to account for 22 per cent market share by 2020. At this time, the legislation which gave rise to the 22 per cent expected market share, had support from all the major political parties.
• We expect that renewables will increase from 10.6 per cent of total generation in 2011 to 22.5 per cent by 2020 (Figure 1). Forecast total generation is based on the Bureau of Resource and Energy Economics (BREE) latest energy projections. Total renewable generation is expected to reach 67.9 TWh by 2020. This incorporates the contribution of large-scale renewables as well as the expected generation from small-scale solar and avoided generation from solar water heaters. Coincidentally BREE also estimates that by 2020 renewables will account for 22 per cent of electricity supply…… http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/renewable-energy-on-target-for-22-by-2020-2020
Analyzing Green Electricity in Australia: 2013
Research and Markets: Analyzing Green Electricity in Australia: 2013 Edition DUBLIN–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/8chh72/analyzing_green) has announced the addition of the “Analyzing Green Electricity in Australia” report to their offering.
Analyzing Green Electricity in Australia report begins with an analysis of the global energy industry, the Australian energy industry and the Australian renewable energy, setting the stage for introducing the importance of green electricity in Australia. The report covers all the renewable energy sectors that are actively participating in generating electricity through ecological methods. Australia’s renewable energy certificate system is also described in details within the report, along with an in-depth analysis of the regulatory framework affecting electricity generation in a green manner.
The leading providers of green electricity in Australia such as AGL, EnergyAustralia, Origin Energy, etc., are all profiled in the report.
Key Topics Covered:…… http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130528006143/en/Research-Markets-Analyzing-Green-Electricity-Australia-2013
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/8chh72/analyzing_green
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 