Paladin Energy’s John Borschoff puts a brave face on uranium market’s disaster
‘Price hikes will be severe’ And uranium’s rise will come sooner, not later, says Paladin’s John Borshoff Resource Clips, by Greg Klein, 31 Aug 13,
With uranium selling well under $40, “no one will or can move forward with growth, never mind maintaining current production,” said Paladin Energy TSX:PDN managing director/CEO John Borshoff. While summarizing his company’s fiscal 2013 he expressed incredulity about the uranium market’s “absolute absurdity” of low prices despite looming shortages.
He also predicted a dramatic change, emphasizing “the price can only go up sooner than some think.
”…… Addressing a conference call from his Western Australia office on August 30 (August 29 in the Western Hemisphere), Borshoff acknowledged “an extremely challenging year, what with the uranium price falling from about $50 in July 2012 to $35 this month and currently sitting on an eight-year low.”
He attributed this month’s fall in share value to the uranium price, a general weakness in world markets “still waiting by and large for Japanese nuclear re-starts post-Fukushima” and uncertainty about the sale of a minority interest in Paladin’s Langer Heinrich mine in Namibia…….
There’s absolutely no incentive for miners or juniors to develop anything today in anticipation of this shortage. This time around, prices will have to rise and stay there on a sustained basis before the time of the shortfall for the developers to commit, and the end user needs to realize this fact.”
Borshoff said new development will remain stalled “until a price of at least $70 or higher is reached to galvanize some action. It’s only at this price level, and above, that sufficient capital for new development can be raised.”…… http://resourceclips.com/2013/08/29/%E2%80%98price-hikes-will-be-severe%E2%80%99/
Uranium miner Paladin’s financial loss twice as bad this year as last year
Struggling Paladin records $471m loss Canberra Times, August 30, 2013 Peter Ker Uranium miner Paladin has more than doubled last year’s losses with a $US420.9 million ($471.2 million) net loss for the 2013 financial year.
Despite increasing production and improving revenue, low uranium prices continue to take a toll on the company, prompting $US335.9 million worth of asset write downs.
Shares in Paladin last traded at 53 cents, meaning the stock has almost been decimated – in the literal sense of the word – since the Fukushima nuclear crisis destroyed confidence in the sector…… The Singaporean Government’s investment corporation is now the company’s biggest shareholder.
Paladin boss John Borshoff acknowledged that the recent failure to sell a stake in the company’s flagship mine was the major disappointment of the year, http://www.canberratimes.com.au/business/earnings-season/struggling-paladin-records-471m-loss-20130830-2sulp.html#ixzz2dZwCtmc0
Newcastle Independent candidate calls for renewable energy in Hunter Valley
Independent calls for renewable energy manufacturing in Hunter Manufacturers Monthly, 30 August, 2013 Matt McDonald The former Kurri Kurri Aluminium Smelter site should be transformed into a hub of renewable energy manufacturing.
As the Maitland mercury reports, this is the opinion of Independent candidate for Newcastle Rod Holding.
Mr Holding believes the smelter site wNDIDATE CALLS FOR ould be a good starting point to his plan to transform other industrial areas in the electorate into renewable energy manufacturing hubs.
“It wouldn’t take a lot of money for the factories to be transformed so they could make generators or turbines,” Mr Holding said.
“There’s no reason why Newcastle can’t start exporting this technology to get away from the global warming fossil fuel disaster that’s ahead of us.”
He said that the plan would create local jobs, boost the regional economy, and also provide the Hunter with an alternative export to coal. Mr Holding said that, if elected, he would probably vote with the Greens in the House of Representatives…. http://www.manmonthly.com.au/news/independent-calls-for-renewable-energy-manufacturi
Japanese officials are covering up the magnitude of the Fukushima nuclear disaster
Professor: Fukushima disaster “beyond a cover-up” — Japan gov’t thinks they can get away with tricking masses about extent of problem — Officials and Tepco cannot be trusted, they are lying to the camera http://enenews.com/professor-fukushima-disaster-beyond-a-cover-up-japan-govt-thinks-they-can-get-away-with-tricking-the-masses-about-extent-of-problem-officials-and-tepco-cannot-be-trusted
Title: Are the Japanese government lying about the fallout from Fukushima?
Source: Newstalk 106 FM
Author: Raf Diallo
Date: 29 August 2013
Alexis Dudden (SOURCE: University of Connecticut)
[…] Alexis Dudden, a Professor of History at the University of Connecticut and a regular visitor to Japan [who was recently in Fukushima Prefecture] spoke to me about events in the country and why the Japanese government nor the Tokyo Electrical Power Company (TEPCO) can be trusted regarding the nuclear issue.Two years ago she told me that the way the Fukushima disaster was handled was beyond a cover-up and her opinion has not changed.
“There is a willful determination that (the government) can get away with it, that they can get away with tricking the masses about the extent of the problem. [Japan’s] former ambassador to Switzerland wrote a letter to the International Olympic Committee, saying that the government lied,” says Dudden of a situation she believes is just as bad as Chernobyl in relation to its long-term impact. […]
“They blamed TEPCO for the last two years but they haven’t moved to disband the organization. Shares in TEPCO were doing well until recently so the people in charge profited in the interim. They are lying to the camera,” says Dudden. […]
She believes that hundreds of thousands of people should have been evacuated from the affected area immediately after the disaster to reduce pain and suffering and it is a view backed up by the head of Japan’s Medical Association who also happens to be from Fukushima. […]
See also: Korea Times: Japan cover-up could violate international law — Hid global issue of environmental concern?
Australia’s clean solar energy revolution is well underway
It’s in everyone’s interest to generate as much renewable energy as possible – except existing power providers that rely on burning coal or gas
Money trail backs the clean energy revolution, SMH, Ben Cubby, Peter Hannam 31 Aug 13 Across Australia, thousands of rooftops have been turned into solar-power money generators. Here’s a bright idea: what if, instead of paying for solar panels to keep your electricity bills down, you asked a solar company to put them on your roof for free, then paid them back with excess energy that you didn’t need?
What we are seeing is a transition from high carbon to a low carbon system.
If that sounds fanciful, bear in mind that a decade ago there were just a few hundred working solar-powered home in the country, run mostly at significant personal expense by enthusiasts. By the end of last year, 936,810 solar systems were installed, and the number cruised past 1 million earlier this year.
Slowly but surely, renewable energy is eating into the business model of the fossil-fuel-burning energy generators. Those in the industry liken it to the effect the internet is having on publishing: disrupting revenue, overturning tradition and, literally, tilting the balance of power in favour of the customer, rather than big corporations. Continue reading
Greg Hunt (Liberal)’s carbon reduction plan based on dodgy facts
Fact Check, 30 Aug 13,
- “……..The claim: Greg Hunt says CSIRO research shows carbon emissions can be reduced by 20 per cent over 40 years using nature, soils and trees.
- The verdict: Mr Hunt quotes the figure for potential abatement accurately, but he leaves out the uncertainties and practical challenges in a large body of research and articles published by its scientists…..” http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-30/greg-hunt-not-giving-full-story-climate-research/4923258
Abbott’s Direct Action climate plan will cost $35 billion more than budgeted for.
Report casts more doubt on Direct Action HERALD SUN, NICK PERRY AAP AUGUST 30, 2013
AN Abbott government would need to spend around $35 billion more than it has budgeted on its climate change policy to deliver its promised cuts to carbon emissions by 2020.
The findings from energy advisory firm RepuTex raise more doubts about whether the coalition’s Direct Action plan can reduce carbon emissions by five per cent by 2020 given the funding allocated……
Japan’s officials ignoring mysterious white spots on Fukushima cows
TV: Mystery spots on Fukushima cows ignored by gov’t — Veterinarian: It’s extremely important, Japan has to think of what to do with this problem (VIDEO) http://enenews.com/tv-mysterious-white-spots-on-fukushima-cows-ignored-by-govt-officials-veterinarian-its-extremely-important-japan-has-to-think-of-what-to-do-with-this-problem-video
Title: “White spots” on Fukushima cattle ignored by Japanese officials
Source: Channel NewsAsia
Reporter: Makiko Segawa
Date: Aug. 29, 2013
h/t Anonymous tip Channel News Asia: […] radiation exposure can cause DNA and immunological changes in living organisms. […] Farmer Masami Yoshizawa kept his cattle alive to monitor changes due to prolonged radiation exposure. Now, mysterious white spots on the fur and skin are appearing on ten […] so far, nothing has been said about the issue.
SOURCE: Farm Sanctuary
Makiko Segawa, Reporter: When you visited in December 2012 do you remember? Did youu see these white spotted cows?
Kazuo Suzuki, Ministry of Agriculture official: No, I do not remember them […]
Segawa: Could you please test these cows next time you visit?
Suzuki: As I explained before it’s not my duty. They should go to the nearby Livestock Hygiene Service. […]
Channel News Asia: Local farmers disagree, saying they were told by the Fukushima prefectural officials that all such investigations do actually fall under the Ministry of Agriculture’s authority […] Beef from Fukushima [Prefecture] was still the 5th most traded and shipped [in 2012] at Japan’s biggest beef market in Tokyo. […]
Toshimitsu Matsubara, veterinarian and president of the BBB Beef Association: “What is happening [to these cows] now is extremely important. Japan has to think of what to do with this problem.” […]
More photos of Yoshizawa’s affected cattle
Watch the Channel News Asia broadcast
“I have a dream, too” – for Aboriginal self-determination
I have a dream too, of basic human right August 31, 2013 Sol Bellear http://www.smh.com.au/comment/i-have-a-dream-too-of-basic-human-rights-20130830-2sw3r.html#ixzz2dZis35mC “…..King’s speech inspired my people. And yes, King’s speech shone an international light on the appalling treatment of Aboriginal Australians. But while King was arguing for basic civil rights, in Australia we were still fighting for basic human rights, a fight that continues today.
”I have a dream” was delivered in 1963, when Aborigines were still classed as ”flora and fauna”. It would take another half a decade before our nation voted to count Aborigines in the census, and afford us citizen status.
But the great promise that the referendum held forth – justice and equality before the law – has never fully materialised.
I’m not suggesting there haven’t been some gains in Australia. The activism of the 1970s and ’80s, strengthened by the determination of men such as King and women such as Rosa Parks, brought us modest land rights.
In NSW, there exists a land rights system that costs the taxpayer nothing, and which is leading economic development in many metropolitan and regional Aboriginal communities. The NSW system is not perfect – indeed it has returned to Aboriginal people less than one-tenth of 1 per cent of the total NSW land mass – but, according to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples James Anaya, it is the best land rights legislation on Earth……
Why, 50 years after King’s speech, does the most basic human right – self-determination – still elude my people? Why, today, do we seem further away from this dream than ever before?
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott recently promised to appoint a national indigenous council if he is elected to office. Hand-picking our leaders to
get the advice you want to hear didn’t work in the 1960s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and 2000s. It won’t work now. It’s as far from self-determination as you can get……..
Fifty years on, I dream of a day when Australians will face up honestly to the failures of their past, regardless of the kindness of their intent. I dream of a day when non-Aboriginal Australians demand not a dream about a future for my people, but a simple plan to restore our basic human rights.
Most of all, I dream of the day when Aboriginal Australians will be judged not on the colour of our skin, but on the strength of our self-determination. http://www.smh.com.au/comment/i-have-a-dream-too-of-basic-human-rights-20130830-2sw3r.html#ixzz2dZjVOnIc
Uncertainty over Liberal Coalition’s plans to cut renewable energy incentives
”What we’re heading into is a period of sustained high volatility in the industry. There is a high possibility that, if this is not managed correctly, we will all end up with much higher costs than we could have had.
”You can transform the energy system in a non-disruptive fashion or in a disruptive fashion … But ultimately it is going to be transformed.”
Money trail backs the clean energy revolution, SMH, Ben Cubby, Peter Hannam 31 Aug 13 “…….At present, the Coalition has promised to abolish the carbon price, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Climate Change Authority – which will recommend the greenhouse gas reduction targets that will in turn influence renewable energy growth.
This week it also announced that it would cut funding to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency – an independent group that oversees about $3.2 billion in renewables investment, and which the opposition has previously said would be retained.
The exact nature of the newly pledged cuts remains obscure. ”There will be some savings over the forward estimates – those details will be out with the full costings before the election,” a spokeswoman said. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 