Time for Australia to manage its own radioactive wastes, not import others’
In October 2011 the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that not only was Australian uranium sold to the inept electric utility TEPCO, but it was Australian yellowcake that was inside the reactor complex when it failed.
The two major parties have ignored repeated calls – including from the UN Secretary General – for a post-Fukushima review of Australia’s high-risk, low-return uranium industry.
Time to stop the (uranium) boats, SMH, Dave Sweeney, 28 Aug 13, SMH, August 27, 2013 Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke gained some airtime in the crowded pre-election public arena with his well-worn call for Australia to host the world’s radioactive waste. In the shadow of Fukushima it would be appropriate for the mantra of “stop the boats” to apply to those departing Darwin and Adelaide carrying uranium oxide, risk and radiation.
At the very least we need all our politicians to commit to a comprehensive and public review of the costs and consequences of Australia’s controversial uranium trade.
While it’s unlikely that many politicians will be enthused by the idea ahead of an election, it is timely to raise serious questions about the issue of radioactive waste in Australia. Not to open the door to more from overseas but rather to talk about how we might responsibly manage our own.
One of the most disturbing things about radiation is that even as it damages it remains invisible and silent. A little bit like how nuclear issues are being regarded in the current federal election campaign.
Two-and-a-half years ago the Fukushima reactor complex melted down following an earthquake and tsunami. The economic, environmental and human damage has been massive with around 160,000 people still separated from their homes, loved ones and pre-meltdown lives.
That crisis continues. This week has seen uncontrolled contamination releases and upgraded emergency warnings at Fukushima.
The contamination started in Australia with rocks dug in Kakadu and northern South Australia – the source of the radiation that has spread across Japan and far beyond.
In October 2011 the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that not only was Australian uranium sold to the inept electric utility TEPCO, but it was Australian yellowcake that was inside the reactor complex when it failed.
While this horrifying reality is keeping the Geiger counter rising in Japan it is hardly registering on the political radar at election time in Australia.
The two major parties have ignored repeated calls – including from the UN Secretary General – for a post-Fukushima review of Australia’s high-risk, low-return uranium industry.
They continue to push an irresponsible agenda of leaking uranium mines and unpopular radioactive waste dumps at home and support for uranium sales abroad to whoever can pay.
Australia currently supplies uranium – a dual-use fuel that can be used in nuclear power and nuclear weapons – to most of the world’s nuclear weapons states, even though all are in breach of international nuclear non-proliferation treaty obligations.
On a good day Australian uranium becomes high-level radioactive waste; on a bad day it can fuel crisis such as we are seeing at Fukushima. But while the risks are high, the returns are low…. http://www.smh.com.au/comment/time-to-stop-the-uranium-boats-20130827-2snau.html#ixzz2dIOX2ZZw
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