Australia’s mainstream media actively promotes climate change denialism
How Australia’s old media sows doubt about climate change Independent Australia 20 June 13, Australia’s corporate media does not properly hold politicians accountable or give the public the full picture — and is most especially remiss concerning climate change, says Brad Farrant, David Holmes and Assistant Professor Mark G Edwards. “…….
Why are they getting away with it?..….You would think most journalists would be forensically questioning any politician who denied the science or failed to devise and support adequate policies to address this threat.
Unfortunately, very few, if any, of our mainstream journalists have ever really challenged climate-science-denying politicians.
In fact, the opposite has been true. According to research by Robert Manne, many major media outlets – notably the Murdoch media, and particularly The Australian – have actively created doubt about the science. They have misreported the science and supported inaction among politicians who should be developing climate policies and offering national and international leadership on the issue. Continue reading
Albuquerque community’s cluster of cancer cases near uranium site
Residents blame cancers on uranium site http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/environment/residents-blame-cancers-on-uranium-site 19 Jun 2013, Elizabeth Alvarez ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – Residents near Milan say there’s been a cluster of cancer cases, and they’re blaming an abandoned uranium mill.
The Albuquerque Journal reports residents in the community west of Grants say action is needed immediately. They’re demanding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency either move the waste from the abandon mill or relocate the owners of about 75 nearby homes.It’s been more than a decade since uranium ore was mined in New Mexico, but two foreign companies are looking to re-open another one this year near Grants.
Green energy seen as a real danger, by fossil fuel industries
Fossil Fuel Really Beginning To Hate Renewable Energy: Graphs, Clean Technica June 19, 2013 Giles Parkinson This article follows on from our story yesterday on Alinta, and the complaint by CEO Jeff Dimery that wind energy is “undermining the running regime of exiting thermal generation assets”. There is no doubt that it is. But while some could argue whether this is a good thing (early retirement of ageing polluting assets in a clean energy transition) or a bad thing (stranded assets, loss of value), it seems that it is inevitable as the world transitions to an energy system based around renewables.
This series of graphs – taken from an expansive presentation of energy data collected by Germany’s Franhofer Institute for Sustainable Energy – gives some insight into why the owners of fossil fuel plants hate this scenario. The growing impact of wind farms and solar panels in Europe, and in Germany in particular, are having a massive impact on energy markets – and the impact is very much more an economic one than a technical one. The same is true in Australia,…. Read more at http://cleantechnica.com/2013/06/19/fossil-fuel-really-beginning-to-hate-renewable-energy-graphs/#O2dk75bjgXmhYssM.99
The week that was in Australian nuclear news
AUSTRALIA
While the uranium industry is stagnant, due to record low prices, the pro nuclear lobby is busy. South Australia appears to be the pro nuke hub.:
- This week we have the Property Council of S.A. pushing the plan for the full nuclear fuel cycle in South Australia, and for importing the world’s nuclear wastes to South Australia. Businessmen Nathan Paine, Chris Burns,and Theo Maras promoted the idea that South Australia should become the nuclear energy “Dubai of Asia”. The worst part of this is that these men are pitching this as an investment idea for “mums and dads” , as part of a campaign “We’re for Jobs in SA” to be run by The Advertiser.
- South Australia’s two nuclear front group lobbies (Decarbonise S.A and Brave New Climate) are promoting a conference – “Nuclear Energy For Australia” (Sydney July 25-26)
- At Flinders University, USA’s Dept of Energy funds a program aimed at showing that low dose radiation is good for health.
Renewable Energy got quite a boost on 18th July – with two rallies in Canberra, which drew respectable gathering of 500 . Speakers included Professor Simon Chapman and Greens leader Christine Milne.
Meanwhile the much touted anti wind farm rally was a bit of a fizzer. It drew 100 people, who listened to radio shock jock Alan Jones, and politicians Liberal Senator Chris Back , National Senator, Ron Boswell, DLP Senator John Madigan. Senator Nick Xenophon was expected but didn’t turn up.
Climate change – more bad news, as Australia is predicted to be especially affected, and Canberra to become especially vulnerable to bushfires. But good news – Australia’s Uniting and Catholic churches have taken renewable energy initiatives, encouraged by the Pope and other religious leaders.
Renewable energy programs going ahead in remote locations, under the Federal Governmnent’s Regional Australia Renewables (RAR) 60 communities are lobbying the government – Coalition for Community Energy – for funding community energy projects. Construction beginning on South Australia’s Port MacDonnell wave energy project
Australia hosted first World Indigenous Network Conference in Darwin.
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 