Queensland uranium sales would bring radioactive waste importing to Australia
Uranium Mines More Dangerous Than Nuclear Power Confirms Japanese Atomic Expert At Brisbane Forum http://www.mysunshinecoast.com.au/articles/article-display/uranium-mines-more-dangerous-than-nuclear-power-confirms-japanese-atomic-expert-at-brisbane-forum,32305#.UofD39Jwo7o 16 Nov 13, Fears for worker safety at future uranium mines in Queensland were confirmed by a top Japanese atomic expert at this week’s Australia-Japan Dialogue Forum in Brisbane.
Japan Atomic Energy Commission vice chairman Dr Tatsujiro Suzuki said at the forum “Mining actually poses larger risks than reactors, even when there are not accidents. Uranium miners are regularly exposed, there’s high exposure in areas around mines and the potential for atmospheric contamination.”
Anti-Nuclear Campaign Coordinator, Mark Bailey said Mr Suzuki’s comments showed why uranium mines were not worth the risk in Queensland. “The Ranger mine in the Northern Territory, in a similar wet season climate as North Queensland, has an appalling safety record with more than 150 documented mishaps including workers drinking and bathing in radioactive water.”
“The latest reported mishap occurred only last week. The safety of workers and nearby communities cannot be guaranteed by the uranium industry given their very poor record.” Dr Suzuki also confirmed that Japan is set to run out of nuclear waste storage capacity within six years and is looking to sign deals with uranium suppliers who are prepared to help it dispose of radioactive waste. Mr Bailey warned “Once we allow uranium mines in Queensland it is inevitable that nuclear waste storage and nuclear power will soon be on the agenda. Uranium mines are the thin edge of the nuclear wedge in Queensland.” “Once the nuclear industry has their radioactive foot in Queensland’s door, they will want to move in and take over the whole house.”
“Queensland doesn’t need uranium mining, nuclear waste dumps or nuclear power and we should re-instate the ban on uranium mining promised before the last election before it’s too late,” said Mr Bailey. “The Newman government has no mandate from the people of Queensland to allow uranium mining as they explicitly ruled it out before the election.”
Doncha get sick of the nuclear lobby’s lies and propaganda?
This week the Murdoch Press further glorified nuclear power by publishing a rave review of the filmic nuclear advertisement “Pandora’s Promise”. They used the dishonest argument that “environmentalists really favour nuclear power but are afraid to speak out”. So they imply that there’s some sort of “environmental mafia”?
However – as to that filmic ad – there are indeed many reviews that show Pandora’s Propaganda up in its true light.
Robert Stone and “Pandora’s Promise”http://noelwauchope.wordpress.com/2013/10/09/robert-stone-and-pandoras-promise/
Beyond Nuclear: Pandora’s False Promises Download 38-page report here: http://charlottesierraclub.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/aug23_2013_pandoras-false-promises.pdf Pandora’s Promise, is a new pro-nuclear propaganda documentary released theatrically in the US in July 2013. It is funded in part by individuals with a vested interest in seeing the development of new reactors and is seemingly a vehicle by which to raise the profile of the anti-environmental Oakland think tank, The Breakthrough Institute, whose personnel feature prominently in the film. Despite the film’s premise and early claim that it features “a growing number of leading former anti-nuclear activists” who now support nuclear energy, no one in the film ever led the anti-nuclear movement. Nor was any credible, independent scientific or medical professional with expertise in the areas covered in the film consulted or featured. Beyond Nuclear has bird-dogged the film from the beginning, and has produced numerous critiques. We have also published a definitive report – Pandora’s False Promises: Busting the pro-nuclear propaganda – and a two-page synopsis. These documents address virtually all of the myths, lies and omissions typically found in pro-nuclear rhetoric and are intended to address these long after Pandora’s Promise fades into deserved oblivion.
Read more: http://www.beyondnuclear.org/pandoras-false-promises/
Download the 2-page synopsis at: http://www.beyondnuclear.org/storage/pandoras-false-promises/Pandora_Two-Pager_Handout_July2013.pdf
Download 38-page report Pandora’s False Promises: Busting the pro-nuclear propaganda at:
Analysis: ‘Pandora’s Promise’ one-sided Anderson Cooper gets reaction to the CNN Films special “Pandora’s Promise” and talks with the director. http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2013/11/08/ac-later-pandoras-promise-reaction-one-sided.cnn.html More commentary & film excerpts available here: http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/world/cnn-films-pandoras-promise/index.html?iid=article_sidebar
Scientist: Film hypes the promise of advanced nuclear technology Editor’s note: Edwin Lyman, a physicist, is a senior scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington. For more of his critique of Pandora’s Promise, see his blog post, “Movie Review: Put Pandora’s Promise Back in the Box.” http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/07/opinion/lyman-nuclear-pandora/index.html
Sierra Club: Nuclear power irrelevant The director of “Pandora’s Promise,” Robert Stone, debates the merits of nuclear power with The Sierra Club’s Mike Brune. http://edition.cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2013/11/07/newday-pandora-promise-brune-stone-nuclear-debate.cnn&video_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2FSPECIALS%2Fworld%2Fcnn-films-pandoras-promise%2Findex.html%3Fiid%3Darticle_sidebar
Doncha get sick of the nuclear lobby’s lies about renewable energy not happening?
Doncha get a bit sick of the nuclear lobby – bleating away about how renewable energy is not happening ? When in fact IT IS happening – faster, cheaper, cleaner than nuclear power !
Renewable Energy Generation Hits All Time Highs in Denmark and Germany .http://www.permaculture.co.uk/news/1511134008/renewable-energy-generation-hits-all-time-highs-denmark-and-germany
South African solar plant connects to the grid three months ahead of schedule, Renewable Energy Magazine, Robin Whitlock Friday, 15 November 2013 The 75MW Kalkbult solar plant will generate 135 million kilowatt hours per year and displace 115,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions A solar plant built by Scatech Solar in cooperation with local partners has become the first utility-scale renewable energy facility to supply electricity to South African public utility Eskom after connecting to the country’s electricity grid three months ahead of schedule.
Mena solar energy market gears for growth Most of demand expected to originate from Turkey and Saudi Arabia Gulf news, By Sarah Diaa, Staff Reporter November 15, 2013 Dubai: With an expected combined output of 10 gigawatts by 2017, the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) solar energy sector is gearing for significant growth, experts said…… http://gulfnews.com/business/general/mena-solar-energy-market-gears-for-growth-1.1255473
Renewables get big boost as 50MW solar plant to be built Ghana Web 15 Nov 13 . http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=292098
Inadequate, ineffective, radiation cleanup at crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
TV: Fukushima workers “fear for their own safety” — “The truth is astonishing… I don’t dare wash my hands, even after using toilet” (VIDEO) http://enenews.com/tv-fukushima-workers-fear-for-their-own-safety-the-truth-is-astonishing-i-dont-dare-wash-my-hands-even-after-using-toilet-video
NTD Television, Nov. 13, 2013: According to reports by one of the major newspapers in Japan, Mainichi Shimbun, the decontamination workers used to throw the contaminated waste or water into nearby rivers. Mr. O also confirms that improper disposal of contaminated waste is seen every day at the site.
CCTV News, Nov. 14, 2013:
Exclusive: workers say decontamination work in Fukushima ineffective
CCTV correspondent Matt Stuttard: Two of the decontamination workers at Fukushima, they’ve taken a big risk, being interviewed about their daily work. They say workers received no detailed training before starting the job and no advice. […] the workers say they were given no information on how the handle the material. […]
Worker: Sometimes we don’t have enough plastic bags. So we find a place and dig a pit, and throw all the polluted soil into it […]
CCTV: The workers say they fear for their own safety, and that of the whole team.
Worker: I used to have no idea if the water we use to wash our hands was polluted. I used to wash my hands before eating. I’m now wondering how much radioactive substances have gone into my body. Now I know the truth, I don’t dare to wash my hands, even after using the toilet. The truth is astonishing.
Watch the CCTV report here
Containment of Fukushima Nuclear Reactor 1 has ruptured
Nuclear Engineer: New footage shows Reactor 1 has “ruptured” containment structure, most likely from the explosion — Water to cool “what’s left of the core” is pouring out (VIDEO) http://enenews.com/nuclear-engineer-new-footage-shows-reactor-1-has-ruptured-
containment-structure-most-likely-from-the-explosion-water-to-cool-whats-left-of-the-core-is-pouring-out-video
The Japan Times,, Nov. 14, 2013: One leak came from a rupture in a sand-cushioned drain pipe installed at the bottom of the containment vessel. The pipe is not directly connected to the containment vessel and is used to drain condensation that forms on the vessel’s surface.
Chris Harris, former licensed Senior Reactor Operator and engineer, Nutrimedical Report, Nov. 14, 2013 (at 29:00 in): They did indeed find water pouring out of several locations in Reactor 1′s containment structure and basically this shows that it was ruptured, most likely during the explosion that happened […] As we discussed before, all the water that gets pumped in to cool what’s left of the core […] it goes in and it’s falling back out again and goes right into the secondary side, which is basicallly the reactor building […] Because the water level’s not going up into that part of the building, it’s flowing out into the environment. That’s not really good news.
Full broadcast available here
Wind energy in Australia – a good investment
Investing in Australian wind energy http://ecogeneration.com.au/news/investing_in_australian_wind_energy/084291/, 15 November 2013 In this exclusive excerpt from the December 2013 edition of EcoGeneration, newly appointed Managing Director of OneWind Australia Michael Toke discusses the company’s investment strategy for Australian wind energy.
In May 2013, Denham Capital announced a planned investment of $US75 million ($A78.8 million) equity in a 1 gigawatt portfolio of Australian wind energy projects currently under development.As part of the deal, Denham partnered with Enersis Australia, National Power and Kato Capital to create a new entity called OneWind Australia.
OneWind Australia will initially focus on the late-stage development and financing of several Australian projects, including:
- Glen Innes, a 100 megawatt (MW) project in New South Wales
- Lincoln Gap, a 250 MW project in South Australia
- Cattle Hill, a 240 MW project in Tasmania
.
Denham said that its investment is aimed at accelerating development of these projects, with a goal of achieving financial close on several phases in the first half of 2014.
Why does OneWind Australia see Australia as a good market for investment in wind farms? Continue reading
Queensland’s Aborigines do not have a fair say about mining on their lands
Qld Indigenous leaders demand more say in traditional lands management ABC News, By Chrissy Arthur 15 Nov 2013, Indigenous leaders says they want Queensland Premier Campbell Newman to deliver on a commitment to give Indigenous people a greater say in decisions over their traditional lands.
About 50 leaders from Queensland’s Gulf Country, western Cape, Channel Country and the central-west have organised a forum in Brisbane today and tomorrow, focusing on protecting land and water in Queensland.
Gerry Fogarty from Barcaldine’s Bidjara people in Queensland’s central-west says there have been some Government decisions which have ignored Indigenous concerns, including changes to the management of Lake Eyre Basin rivers.
“Aboriginal people want to be consulted on what happens on their land,” he said. “The big thing that is happening now is mining – we probably haven’t got a fair say in that…….http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-15/queensland-indigenous-leaders-demand-more-say-in-traditional-la/5094546
Record high renewable energy in Germany and Denmark
Renewable Energy Generation Hits All Time Highs in Denmark and Germany Permaculture Magazine | Friday, 15th November 2013 Denmark’s and Germany’s wind and solar electricity generation is peaking, covering much of their countries’ need, setting the trend for renewable energy systems that do not cost the Earth. In the last month, solar and wind energy has been reaching record breaking figures in some countries in Europe.
On November 4th this year, Denmark’s wind turbines covered 122% of the countries demand for electricity.
“This is the highest registered figure so far,” says Preben Maegaard, director of the Nordic Folkcenter for Renewable Energy.
A month before on October 3rd, Germany’s renewable energy peaked at 59.1% with a combination of solar and wind. Across the entire day, 36% of total electricity generation was achieved, with solar contributing 11% at 20.5 gigawatts at its peak.
“It was around midday on October 3, which just happened to be Germany’s annual Reunification Day holiday, when the sun was at its fullest and the significant peak was reached. Over the entire day, 36.4% of total electricity generation was achieved with solar and wind power; solar panels contributed 11.2% on their own. At its peak, solar accounted for 20.5 gigawatts.
“Although the electrical grid withstood the large amount of renewable energy flowing to it, you’ll be pleased to know that electricity prices also dived. A drop in demand from big, conventional power plants led the electricity price index at 2:00pm to 2.75 cents per kilowatt hour. The index covers Germany, Austria, France, and Switzerland.
“So there you have it. A country as large and industrialized as Germany can and did operate successfully, albeit on a national holiday, using a large percentage of renewable energy. And this is only the beginning,” comments Jim Winstead.
These surges not only showed that renewable energy can supply energy needs, but neither power grids broke down under the surge…..http://www.permaculture.co.uk/news/1511134008/renewable-energy-generation-hits-all-time-highs-denmark-and-germany
Why Google plans to run on 100% renewable energy
Google wants to run on 100% renewable energy Here are 3 reasons the company may want clean and sustainable power sources.MSN Money, By The Week 16 Nov 13.This week, Google (GOOG -0.16%) announced in a blog post a new $80 million investment in solar energy in California and Arizona, bringing its total investments in renewable energy since 2010 to over $1 billion.
It’s just the latest step in an ongoing project by Google to keep at the forefront of the green energy industry. Continue reading
New Senator, Nova Peris, speaks out against Muckaty nuclear waste dump plan
Senator Nova Peris OAM. Maiden speech, 13 November 2013 CRIKEY, BOB GOSFORD | NOV 13, 2013 “……….. Aboriginal Australians are symbolic of triumph over adversity. We represent knowledge and wisdom held in land and country.
Because in our hearts we know that we do not own Mother Earth, the Earth owns us……..
I acknowledge I am a Senator elected to represent all Territorians— and I fully intend to discharge this duty to the best of my ability and I will always put our concerns – the concerns of Territorians first and foremost.
I believe it is my duty and the duty of all members elected to the Parliament to answer questions and deal with issues honestly and openly.
One such matter that is a very contentious issue is the location of Australia’s proposed nuclear waste facility. Recently my Larrakia uncle Eric Fejo who is also here today spoke about the previous Government’s decision to locate the proposed nuclear waste facility on Muckaty Station in the Barkly region of the Northern Territory.
He reminded a public forum that during the Apology to the Stolen Generations it was stated that Governments were wrong to make laws and policies that inflict profound grief, suffering and loss on Aboriginal people.
That is what the Muckaty decision is currently doing. It is dividing a community of traditional owners. This policy is inflicting grief.
I strongly urge my fellow parliamentary colleagues to reconsider their support for the current location of this facility.
Of course Australia needs a nuclear waste management facility. But its location must be based on science not politics……..
I acknowledge I am a Senator elected to represent all Territorians— and I fully intend to discharge this duty to the best of my ability and I will always put our concerns – the concerns of Territorians first and foremost.
I believe it is my duty and the duty of all members elected to the Parliament to answer questions and deal with issues honestly and openly.
One such matter that is a very contentious issue is the location of Australia’s proposed nuclear waste facility. Recently my Larrakia uncle Eric Fejo who is also here today spoke about the previous Government’s decision to locate the proposed nuclear waste facility on Muckaty Station in the Barkly region of the Northern Territory.
He reminded a public forum that during the Apology to the Stolen Generations it was stated that Governments were wrong to make laws and policies that inflict profound grief, suffering and loss on Aboriginal people.
That is what the Muckaty decision is currently doing. It is dividing a community of traditional owners. This policy is inflicting grief.
I strongly urge my fellow parliamentary colleagues to reconsider their support for the current location of this facility.
Of course Australia needs a nuclear waste management facility. But its location must be based on science not politics….
I also particularly thank former Prime Minister Julia Gillard from the bottom of my heart for her faith in me and for giving me the chance to become involved – my duty now is to work hard and make a real difference….http://blogs.crikey.com.au/northern/2013/11/13/senator-nova-peris-oam-maiden-speech-13-november-2013/
Australian uranium miner Paladin: last ditch battle for survival?
Weak uranium price hurts Paladin http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/business/a/-/national/19838677/weak-uranium-price-hurts-paladin/ Nick Sas, The West AustralianNovember 15, 2013, Paladin Energy has underscored the enormity of its battle for survival, admitting its African uranium mines lost $US14.9 million ($15.9 million) in the September quarter despite record production.
As shareholders prepare to quiz long-standing managing director John Borshoff at the company’s annual meeting in Perth next week, Paladin last night released its financial and operating report for the three months to September 30 detailing the pain caused by the depressed uranium price.
The gross loss on operations was the result of a 17 per cent slump in quarter-on-quarter uranium price and a resulting impairment of uranium inventory at the Kayelekera mine in Namibia, more than offsetting a 37 per cent jump in sales volumes.
It was the first time in more than five years that Paladin has not reported a gross profit for the September quarter, despite a period that included bringing the company’s second mine, Kayelekera, into production to add to output from Langer Heinrich in Namibia.
The weak September quarter came despite record production at Langer Heinrich – leading to a record group output – and continued cash cost reductions.
Production at Kayelekera fell by 9 per cent. Although Paladin receives a premium over the market-traded spot price courtesy of long-standing contracts with suppliers, a yellowcake price sitting at historical lows has now pushed it over the brink of profitability.
Over the quarter Paladin received an average of $US41.38 a pound U _{-3} _
O{-8} – down from $46.22/lb in the June quarter. The average spot price over the quarter was $US36/lb – a historical low.
The gross loss for the quarter including impairments was $US40 million. It adds to the $US420.9 million loss reported during the 2012-13 financial year, largely because of big writedowns on the value of its assets.
Paladin celebrated its 20-year anniversary earlier this year but the pressures surrounding the uranium price, mounting debt and a free-falling share price have been no cause for celebration. Paladin’s shares, at 40¢, are worth less than half of the 91.5¢ they commanded on the eve of last year’s annual meeting.
Paladin has $US276 million in unsecured convertible bonds maturing in late 2015, and a further $US236.6 million falling due 18 months later, fanning fears about its ability to generate cash to repay its debt.
Shareholders are likely to vent their disappointment at Thursday’s meeting. The Australian Shareholders’ Association wants chairman Rick Crabb to retire.
It’s high alert time for Fukushima nuclear plant, and the whole nuclear industry
Japan and nuclear power High alert The riskiest part yet of the Fukushima clean-up is soon to begin The Economist, Nov 16th 2013 | FUKUSHIMA AMONG the twisted metal and random debris that litter much of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, the fourth reactor looks in relatively good condition. A new structure covers the damage from a hydrogen explosion that blew its roof off days after a massive earthquake and tsunami hit the plant in March 2011. But the building is still unstable, and its spent-fuel storage pool highly dangerous. This month Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) will start plucking out over 1,500 radioactive rods from the pool in order to store them more safely. Over the pool a crane waits to start the procedure, and a yellow radiation alarm stands at the ready. Experts call the operation the riskiest stage of the plant’s clean-up so far.
Mr Koizumi still knows how to rouse the public, says Jeff Kingston of Temple University in Tokyo, but there is little chance that Mr Abe’s commitment to nuclear power will change. His government’s links to the “nuclear village” are too strong. Big business is clamouring for the power stations to restart. Mr Koizumi’s style is certainly more orthodox than Taro Yamamoto’s. At a garden party, the new member of parliament dared to hand a letter to the emperor, Akihito, about the impact of the Fukushima catastrophe. Such direct contact with a near-divine was considered an outrage by everybody in the establishment (except Akihito, who carried on chatting with him). Japan’s nuclear-energy drama is far from over. http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21589912-riskiest-part-yet-fukushima-clean-up-soon-begin-high-alert
South Korea’s fish traders lose, due to public fear of radiation
“In 26 years in this business, I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Ms. Choi added, standing by tanks where live, locally bred flatfish and Russian-imported king crabs were displayed.
Ms. Choi’s predicament provides a taste of the psychological impact of Japan’s nuclear crisis on South Korea’s seafood industry. Sales of marine products have plummeted in recent months as three out of every four Koreans say they have cut back on fish consumption following leaks of radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan.
The fears come despite Seoul imposing some of the toughest restrictions on seafood imports from Japan. Since September, it has blocked all fishery imports from eight prefectures surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi plant, on Japan’s Pacific coast.
Around 80% of seafood consumed in South Korea is caught locally, where there is no evidence of any impact from the nuclear disaster. Despite the facts, many Koreans are shunning seafood……..http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303289904579196893701088208
Most extreme warming for any country has hit Australia
Australia suffers most extreme warming http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2013/s3890466.htm Reporter: Jake Sturmer
The UN’s World Meteorological Agency has found that this year Australia has had the most extreme warming of any country.
Transcrip:t EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: The UN’s World Meteorological Agency has found that climate change is increasing the impact of storms like Typhoon Haiyan. And closer to home, in findings released tonight, the WMO says that Australia this year has experienced the world’s biggest increase in average temperatures. This report from Jake Sturmer. Continue reading
Australia’s clean energy companies may go overseas, due to Abbott’s cuts to renewable energy
Abbot’s Cuts to Clean Energy Could Push Companies Abroad – Sourceable, 15 Nov 13 Prime Minister Tony Abbot has flagged massive cuts to funding for renewable energy which the sector’s peak body says could spur an exodus of companies overseas. – The Clean Energy Council (CCEC), Australia’s peak body for the renewable energy sector, said that the Abbot government’s proposed legislation for the repeal of the carbon tax contains a provision which will reduce funding for the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) by $435 million over the next three years.
In an official statement Kane Thornton, CEC’s deputy chief executive, said that the cuts to ARENA funding threaten to roll back the tremendous progressive achieved by Australia’s clean energy sector over recent years, in areas including large-scale solar, marine, geothermal and energy storage.
“It is disappointing that the agency is now facing a significant budget reduction,” Thornton said.
According to Thornton the slated changes to funding for ARENA could spur many renewable energy companies to relocate abroad, to jurisdictions where government support for renewable energy is more clear-cut and consistent.
“This unstable policy environment has had a clear impact on major technology innovators, developers and financiers, who will understandably be questioning their future in Australia,” said Thornton.-………. http://sourceable.net/abbots-cuts-to-clean-energy-could-push-companies-abroad/#sthash.QHz36p6r.dpuf
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 