Antinuclear

Roundup of Australia’s renewable and nuclear news this week

Well, this week, it’s still all about renewable energy. The Liberal Coalition promises to shut down the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) , if they win the September election. But the CEFC is going ahead with contracts for low carbon companies, anyway.  It will be interesting if an Abbott government goes ahead to break those contracts.

Wind: However, the most interesting energy news of the week is the stoush going on in formerly quiet little King Island. Rather sad, really. A small community being torn apart by the prospect of  a feasibility study being done into having a big wind farm there.   TasWind, a division of Hydro Tasmania, is running a running a comprehensive “consultative process”.  But the anti wind heavies, the  “Waubra Foundation” are there.

Meanwhile the anti wind farm camp is gearing up for a big rally at Parliament House on June 18. It’s run by an anonymous group  called  Stop These Things.  Prominent anti wind campaigners will be speaking, also Alan Jones: 2GB Radio announcer. The the Institute of Public Affairs set up  the Australian Environment Foundation. Don’t be fooled by that name. This organisation is a climate change denial crusader, especially targeting wind energy.

This week the 5 day The inaugural World Indigenous Network (WIN) Conference is on in Darwin, bringing together  1,500 delegates from over 50 countries. The international network of indigenous and local community land and sea managers recently became an official part of the United Nations – part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Its main focus is in the preservation of land and sea ecosystems, and in strengthening traditional knowledge of ways to do this.

Matters nuclear:  Traditional owners, unions and environmentalists marched in Tennant Creek, showing their determined opposition to the Muckaty nuclear waste dump plan.  West Australia Nuclear Free Alliance walkers completed their marathon walk from Yeelirrie to Leonora in opposition to Toro Energy’s planned Wiluna uranium project.  A second economic study advises that this project is not likely to be financially viable.

May 30, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized