Australia’s supposed nuclear non proliferation policy: it’s hypocrisy
Australia’s retreat on nuclear non-proliferation http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/environment/australias-retreat-on-nuclear-non-proliferation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=australias-retreat-on-nuclear-non-proliferation 11 Aug 13, This week marked the anniversaries of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and Australia’s signing of the South Pacific Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty. Dave Sweeney comments.SIXTY-EIGHT YEARS AGO this week our world changed forever – and tens of thousands of lives instantly ended – when the atomic bomb was unveiled.
The destruction of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima (6 August) and Nagasaki (9 August) in 1945 heralded the end of the Second World War and the beginning of the nuclear age.
It is a long way from Hiroshima in 1945 to election mode Canberra in 2013, but lessons learned and actions taken to stop the chance of further nuclear threats are being forgotten in the rush to advance risky Australian uranium sales.
In December 2011, the Labor Party narrowly voted to overturn a long standing ban on the sale of uranium to countries that had not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) — the world’s main check and balance on the spread of the world’s worst weapons.
Labor’s backflip was designed to allow uranium sales to India, a nuclear weapon state that has consistently refused to sign the NPT.
The move was condemned by the Australian Greens but enthusiastically welcomed by the Coalition, which paved the way with its August 2007 decision to support uranium sales to India and is an active supporter of an expanded uranium sector.
But the controversial sales plan is in clear conflict with Australia’s obligations under the South Pacific Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty – also known as the Treaty of Rarotonga – and is putting Australia on a collision course with our Pacific neighbours.
Professor of International Law at ANU, Professor Donald Rothwell, has examined the treaty and the planned sale deal and concluded ‘Australia is obligated under the Treaty of Rarotonga to not provide India with nuclear materials until such time as India has concluded a full-scope safeguards agreement.’
The Treaty, signed twenty eight years ago this week in the Cook Islands, bans the use, testing and possession of nuclear weapons within the South Pacific region and places constraints on non-military nuclear activities, including the export of uranium. Continue reading
Toro Energy and Mega Uranium making a big mistake in acquiring Lake Maitland
Toro’s mega mistake Mia Pepper – Conservation Council of WA 12 August 2013 WA uranium hopeful Toro Energy’s acquisition of Lake Maitland, another small calcrete uranium deposit in a sensitive Lake system, is based more on optimism and need rather than any measured assessment of the deeply depressed uranium price and nuclear sector said the CCWA today.
The acquisition between Toro and Mega Uranium does little to change the fundamental constraints facing each company and may well be Toro’s mega mistake.
It is a further sign of the difficulties facing junior uranium companies in a time of falling commodity prices and rising costs. Toro and Mega may share big dreams but they do not have big capacity, experience or dollars.
Toro cannot begin construction at Wiluna and do not have final and formal approval to mine at Wiluna. Instead the company has a conditional Federal approval that involving 35 conditions and requires further assessment from the Federal Minister.
The conditional nature of the approval prohibits Toro Energy from clearing vegetation or using heavy machinery for breaking ground for mining or infrastructure. Toro must also complete a mine closure plan for both State and Federal level assessment.
A recent independent economic analysis of the Wiluna project (attached) found that:
The Wiluna project’s lack of scale and high sensitivity to changes in operating or capital costs means our estimate of its position on the mine production cost curve is perilously high. The project would be highly vulnerable under our model, in the event of sustained lower long-term contract prices in the next decade. On both a cash and total economic cost basis our model suggests Wiluna is a high cost project that will struggle to compete against either existing mines or most greenfield and brownfield projects. For the full report: http://www.ecolarge.com/work/osos-sobre
Australian Greens call for health care justice for nuclear test veterans
GREENS CALL FOR MEDICAL CARE FOR AUSTRALIA’S NUCLEAR VETERANS HTTP://WWW.GREENS.ORG.AU/GREENS-CALL-MEDICAL-CARE-
AUSTRALIA%E2%80%99S-NUCLEAR-VETERANS The Australian Greens have called for hundreds of Australian soldiers who were exposed to radiation from British nuclear bomb testing in the 1950s and ‘60s to automatically receive Veterans’ Gold Card health care.
“Between 1952 and 1963, more than 16,000 Australian civilians and serviceman were exposed to nuclear fallout when British nuclear weapons were tested at the Montebello Islands in Western Australia, Maralinga and Emu fields in South Australia, and over the Christmas and Malden Islands,” spokesperson Assisting on Defence, Senator Scott Ludlam said.
“Some servicemen were clad only in shorts and t-shirts when they were sent into contaminated areas while British scientists in charge looked on wearing full body protective suits.
“In the decades following, many of these men, their wives and families have reported a range of radiation-related disorders ranging from multiple miscarriages to leukaemia, cancers, and respiratory conditions.
“While many radioactive illnesses take decades to manifest after the initial exposure it is widely acknowledged that these men were dangerously exposed. Continue reading
Independent Australia exposes Abbott’s fraudulent Climate Change “Direct Action”
Tony Abbott’s “direct action” dud, Independent Australia 9 August, 2013 Doug Evans examines the Coalition’s climate change policies …… In the Liberal Party’s election pamphlet Real Solutions for Australians the Party commits to taking:
‘…direct action to reduce carbon emissions inside Australia, not overseas — and also establish a 15,000-strong green army to clean-up the environment.’
One of the main tasks intended for the green army is proposed to be plantation tree planting for purposes of carbon storage.
Widely known as the Direct Action Policy (DAP) this ‘policy’ comprises:
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An “Emissions Reduction Fund” of $3 billion to fund projects that would reduce carbon emissions, based on a tender process.
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Support for projects such as “soil carbon technologies and abatement”.
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A commitment to reducing carbon emissions by 5 percent by 2020.
In my assessment of Labor Party climate policy, I showed the inadequacy of the bipartisan 5% emissions reduction target. This time, I will address the likelihood that the measures nominated in the DAP could achieve even this modest emissions reduction. Continue reading
Impacts of nuclear and uranium industries on water in South Dakota
VIDEO: South Dakota: ‘Hot Water’ exposes uranium mining contamination in water http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/south-dakota-hot-water-exposes-uranium.html Filmmakers Liz Rogers and Kevin Flint go to South Dakota following a story about Uranium contamination only to discover that the problem flows much farther, and runs deeper than they could have imagined. Three years and thousands of miles later, “Hot Water” tells of those impacted by Uranium mining, atomic testing, nuclear energy and the contamination that runs through our air, soil and even more dramatically, our water.
HOT WATER
Dutch translation by Alice Holemans, NAIS Gazette, thank you!
http://www.bloggen.be/natam/archief.php?ID=2291511
Election danger to Liberals in Western Australian backlash over attack on solar energy
Could Barnett’s Solar Attack Impact The Federal Election? http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3884 12 Aug 13, The knee-jerk reaction by Western Australia’s government to its failure to rein in increasing power prices by targeting solar households could cost it – and the Coalition – dearly.
As mentioned on Friday, the Western Australian Government has said it will retrospectively slash the solar feed-in tariff rate for approximately 75,000 households that installed systems between mid 2010 and mid 2011.
A similar move was attempted by the New South Wales Government in 2011; which resulted in that government on the receiving end of a black eye – and the same fate may be in store for Premier Barnett, amplified by its timing.
The decision could have dramatic impacts on the Federal Election in key seats says Dr. Geoff Evans of Solar Citizens. Continue reading
USA town shows the way with 100% renewable energy in municipal services
A Town Saves Money with Renewable Energy Engineering.com, Tom Lombardo posted on August 11, 2013 Scituate is the first town in Massachusetts to power all of its government services using only renewable energy. All municipal services – including water, sewer, municipal buildings, and streetlights – will soon be powered by the sun and the wind. The town expects to save over $400,000 per year in electricity costs and the best part is that they didn’t have to buy the solar panels or wind turbine.
Too good to be true? Here’s the deal. Private investors purchased and installed the equipment on municipal land, so those companies paid for and own the equipment. In exchange, the town agreed to purchase its electrical power from the owners at a rate that’s about 40% lower than what they’d be paying the utility. These agreements are becoming more common in the residential market, as consumers want to lower their electricity costs but can’t afford a large initial investment. This is the first time I’ve heard of a municipality doing it.
First, Use Less Energy
The first step in saving money on energy is not to generate your own, but to use less. Once you make yourself more efficient, then you consider ways to generate power. Several years ago the town of Scituate formed a committee to investigate clean energy. They sent out requests for proposals (RFPs) on energy efficiency and renewable energy production. After an electric load analysis, they found ways to use less electricity by replacing lighting fixtures, transformers, and other electrical equipment with more efficient models. A heating/cooling energy audit determined that they could also save energy through improvements in insulation, replacing oil-burning furnaces with gas-burning furnaces, etc. They invested almost $6M to upgrade this equipment based on the promise of energy savings over the next eighteen years.
Next, Generate Energy
After improving their efficiency, they hired a consulting firm to do a wind site analysis. In addition to taking wind measurements at various locations over a 12-month period, they also considered logistical factors such as proximity to transmission lines. In spring of 2012, a 1.5 megawatt wind turbine was installed. Over its first year, the turbine generated 3.2 million kWh. At an electric rate of $0.143/kWh – the utility rate in that area – that’s almost half a million dollars worth of energy that the town received; they paid less than $300k for that energy. ……..
Use the Grid for “Virtual Storage”
Through a net-metering agreement with the utility, any excess energy that the town generates is sold to the grid at retail rates. When demand exceeds generating capacity, they buy power from the grid. In effect, the grid is acting as a free storage medium for excess energy…….
Reduce Government Spending and Boost Business
Disregarding the optional purchases to improve energy efficiency, the town of Scituate reduced its electric rate by 40% with virtually no investment on its part. In addition, the projects created jobs, gave a boost to a burgeoning industry, and produced science/technology/engineering/math (STEM) lessons for schools. Will other municipalities follow suit? I hope so. http://www.engineering.com/ElectronicsDesign/ElectronicsDesignArticles/ArticleID/6125/A-Town-Saves-Money-with-Renewable-Energy.aspx
Western Australia: Liberals rebel against govt reneging on solar energy deal
Liberal rebellion on solar heats up, The West, Gareth Parker and Daniel Mercer, The West Australian August 12, 2013, 2 Colin Barnett is facing a backbench revolt over the State Government’s decision to halve its rooftop solar panel subsidy, with a pair of Liberal MPs accusing the Government of lacking integrity.
The growing rebellion came as a letter from Synergy sent in 2011 emerged as a key piece of evidence in any potential legal fight over
the changes. The letter – sent soon after the Government cut the tariff in a previous revision to the scheme – says that customers entitled to the
40 cent payment would get it “for the full term of your 10-year contract”.
Government MPs have been flooded with complaints from irate voters about the decision to cut to the so-called solar feed-in tariff from
40 cents to 20 cents, with the issue spilling over to the Federal election campaign as a vote turn-er against Liberal candidates.
Maverick Hillarys MLA Rob Johnson threatened to cross the floor for the first time in his 20-year career to vote against the measure,
while Southern River MLA Peter Abetz said the Government had acted unethically.
Mr Johnson said the Government was acting with a “lack of integrity” by reneging on a deal with 75,000 solar panel owners in a bid to save
$51.2 million over the next four years. Continue reading
No Christine Milne in election debate – so no mention of climate change
Where was Christine Milne? The debate we never had Christine Milne theguardian.com, Sunday 11 August 2013 The Greens leader was a notable absentee at the National Press Club. Here she outlines the issues she says her rivals missed
……..Fossil fuel subsidies
Another issue that didn’t get mentioned at all in the debate between Rudd and Abbott is their continued financial support for the environmentally damaging fossil fuel industry. Australian taxpayers continue to subsidise mining companies use of fuel by around $2bn a year as well as giving them tax breaks to explore for more fossil fuels that we cannot afford to burn if we are to avoid global warming.
Instead of subsidising fossil fuels we should be investing in higher education, research and development and the clean economy. The Greens will stand up to the powerful mining companies and invest in clean energy technology………
Climate change
The Greens are the only party you can trust to cut greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the reduction target to between 25% and 40% by 2020, net carbon zero by 2050, increasing the renewable energy target to 90% by 2030, increasing the Clean Energy Finance Corporation funding to $30bn over 10 years and stopping the expansion of coalmining and coal seam gas.
Rudd’s hypocrisy on the Great Barrier Reef is breathtaking. You cannot save the reef by opening up the Galilee and Bowen basins to new coalmines and dredging ports and dumping spoil into the reef. Both he and Abbott will give the go ahead to Abbot Point coal terminal. Abbott doesn’t even pretend to care about global warming. Both old parties cannot be trusted to act with conviction and internal consistency on addressing climate change.
Abbott has cast overwhelming uncertainty over clean energy investment and will stall all utility scale investment when he slashes the large-scale renewable energy target from 41,000 gigawatt hours…… http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/11/australian-election-2013-australian-greens
Hotter weather brings water problems to nuclear industry
NRC to probe Entergy’s nuclear plant finances Rutland Herald, By Susan Smallheer Staff Writer | August 11,2013 HINSDALE, N.H. “……….Saturday’s protest was designed to bring public attention to the fact that Vermont Yankee daily dumps 200 million gallons of “hot” water into the Connecticut River to save money by not running its cooling towers.
Dr. Andrew Larkin, a retired internist from Northampton, Mass., said the Connecticut River was 10 degrees warmer near the plant’s discharge than other spots in the river he tested.
“The heated water coming from the reactor confused us, but still we persisted,” Schakman said, adding that only one in 10 shad get past all the dams on the Connecticut River, “only to be cooked by the reactor.” “We have lost so many, now we are down to a few, but still we persist,” he said.
This is the second year that the SAGE Alliance, a coalition of antinuclear groups, has organized the flotilla to focus public attention on the water discharge. About two dozen kayaks and canoes took to the water, with an equal number of people on shore to protest the daily discharge of warm water. Some people wrote messages to Entergy on cedar shingles and set them floating on the river.
“No nuclear accidents. All it takes is one,” wrote Elo-Mai Noormets of Westminster, Vt.
“Peace and health to this river,” wrote Leslie Sullivan Sachs of Brattleboro, Vt. http://rutlandherald.com/article/20130811/THISJUSTIN/708119973
Eye cancer danger to children from UV radiation
Parents told to make kids wear sunglasses to protect them from eye cancer JANE HANSEN THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH AUGUST 10, 2013 CHILDREN should wear sunglasses because sun exposure in the first 20 years of life increases the risk of eye cancer and other eye problems later in life, Cancer Council NSW research has revealed. The research shows exposure to solar radiation is a cause of eye cancer but while parents may Slip, Slop, Slap, they often overlook sunglasses for their children.
Cancer Council NSW’s Vanessa Rock said it was just as important to protect your eyes as your skin. There is an average of 98 cases of eye cancer per year in Australia.”Unprotected exposure to UV radiation over long periods can cause serious damage to your eyes, including cataracts, and cancer in and around the eye,” Ms Rock said.
Optometrist Association of Australia (OAA) Andrew McKinnon said irreplaceable eyesight is at risk in high glare, high UV settings such as the beach, by the water or the snow. “At the beach, it drives me mad, I want to put sunglasses on all the kids, all the adults have glasses on but a child’s eyes are more vulnerable.” Continue reading
Western Australian government’s solar rate cuts will be fought by Labor
WA Labor promise fight over solar rate cut http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/wa-labor-promise-fight-over-solar-rate-cut/story-fni0xqi4-1226695095998 AAP AUGUST 11, 2013 WEST Australian opposition leader Mark McGowan has promised to “take on” Premier Colin Barnett after the state government reneged on a 10-year undertaking for households that feed in solar power to the grid.
Mr McGowan tweeted on Sunday: “Anyone unhappy with Mr Barnett ripping up their families solar contract should come to parliament at 2.45pm Tuesday where we will take him on.” It follows Thursday’s state budget in which Treasurer Troy Buswell announced that the government would halve the residential solar feed-in tariff rate to save $51 million.
The state government believes it is safe from legal action over the decision, despite many householders expressing their outrage on talkback radio.The program, introduced in 2009, was such a success that the Liberal government had to admit in 2011 the take-up cap had been breached, costing about $46 million more than planned.
The Sustainable Energy Association says more than 75,000 WA households will be affected. Mr McGowan described the solar backflip as another “broken promise” from the Barnett government.
New obstacles to Tasmania’s solar industry
New Building Codes Threaten Tasmania’s Solar Industry http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3883 12 Aug 13 Additional and pointless red tape threatens the solar industry in Tasmania say the Greens. The Tasmanian Greens have called for the Minister for Workplace Standards to review proposed new building codes for solar installations that it says would increase the cost of installing solar – and ultimately lead to job losses in the industry.
Greens Energy Spokesperson Kim Booth MP says the proposed new regulations will see Councils requiring planning fees and an accredited builder to install a solar panel system – even though solar installations are already required to be engineered, installed and inspected according to Australian Standards.
The additional costs could add 25% – 100% on to the contracted value of solar installation.
Mr. Booth says the industry is concerned only accredited builders will be legally permitted to perform installs, while suitably accredited solar installation experts are “driven off the site.”
“Ultimately, pointless red tape drives the price up for consumers and potentially drives companies out of business, something that the Property Council and the HIA should reflect on given their role in wrapping the building industry up in worthless over regulation.” The solar industry in Tasmania is facing a number challenges; including an uncertain future for the state’s feed in tariff. However, for households that install solar power systems before January 1, 2014, Tasmania’s government has proposed to keep the state’s 1:1 feed in tariff in place until 2017 – making the best time to go solar in Tasmania likely right now.
According to solar solutions provider Energy Matters, a good quality 3kW solar panel system installed in the Apple Isle can return a financial benefit of approximately $890 a year.
More than 12,500 households in Tasmania have already installed solar PV systems. In doing so, these households have not only slashed their own power bills, but have also generated employment, diversified electricity generation and allowed increased export of the state’s hydropower to mainland states; providing additional revenue for Tasmania.
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 