Yesterday I Wrote Too Soon About Australia and Nuclear Power
Yesterday I wrote that ” the nuclear push goes on in media silence.” How wrong I was!
Today we have two worrying developments.
1, In the beautiful State of South Australia, we have a greedy and ignorant push 
ready to poison the land with the full development of the nuclear fuel cycle, aligned with USA nuclear military development.
2. Paul Howes, union heavy, comes out in support of Tony Abbott! It’s all about workers conditions etc. But let’s not forget. Along those other career minded people – Aboriginal Warren Mundine, and soon to be Governor General, Peter Cosgrove – Paul Howes is right behind the nuclear lobby’s push into Australia.
Time for Australia’s Future Fund to stop investing in nuclear weapons
In 2011 the Future Fund barred all investments in companies that manufacture anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions, but a loophole remains in the policy allowing the Fund to continue investing in nuclear weapon companies.
Congratulations, Costello – now it’s time to give up the nukes Gem Romuld Outreach Coordinator International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons- Australia 5 February 2014Following yesterday’s announcement that former federal treasurer Peter Costello has been appointed Chair of the government-owned Future Fund, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) calls for a review the Fund’s investments in nuclear weapons companies.
Campaigners from ICAN visited the Fund’s Melbourne headquarters today to deliver a congratulatory card to the new Chair. “We’ve visited Peter Costello on the first day of his new job, to call on him to use his new Chairmanship as an opportunity to steer the Fund out of the nuclear weapons industry”, said ICAN spokesperson Gem Romuld. Continue reading
A way to prove Fukushima radiation-cancer link in court
DNA Evidence Can Now Prove Link Between Cancers And Fukushima Radiation, What if there were a way to establish a direct and provable in court link between cancer and Fukushima radiation? ……
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2011/05/18/1017137108.abstract
Uranium company AREVA plays hardball with poverty-stricken Niger
A nuclear story: Areva and Niger’s uranium fight Express Tribune 5 Feb 14 “……uranium has not enriched Niger. The former French colony remains one of the poorest countries on earth. More than 60 per cent of its 17 million people survive on less than $1 a day…..
Areva and Niger’s just-expired agreements have never been made public. But Reuters has reviewed documents which reveal that Areva’s mines pay no export duties on uranium, no taxes on materials and equipment used in mining operations, and a royalty of just 5.5 per cent on the uranium they produce. …..
“For 40 years, Niger has been one of the world’s largest uranium producers, but it’s still one of the poorest countries on the planet,” he said. “At the same time, Areva has grown to be one of the world’s largest companies. You see the contrast?”
Areva, which produced nearly one fifth of the world’s uranium in 2012, says a higher royalty rate would make its business in Niger unprofitable.
With uranium prices down about 70 percent from their peak in Niger needs to take into account that Areva is not in great financial health and that the uranium price is low and not about to increase anytime soon,” said the source…..
“Today Niger is faced with the power of France. Niger is not negotiating with a company,” said Ali Idrissa, head of ROTAB, the local arm of transparency campaigner Publish What You Pay.
Areva is prepared to play hardball….. http://tribune.com.pk/story/667988/a-nuclear-story-areva-and-nigers-uranium-fight/
Brisbane Aboriginal activists to push for land rights and sovereignty
Aboriginal News Aboriginal Way – National Indigenous Radio Service (NIRS) Lateral Love NIRS NEWS STORIES 05 FEBRUARY 2014 A number of Brisbane activists have formed a group to push for and further discussions on treaties, land rights and sovereignty.
Nganyaywana man Callum Clayton-Dixon is a co-founder of the collective and says treaties must be a grass-roots movement and not be administered by government bodies.
Mr. Clayton-Dixon says he welcomes Nigel Scullion and Warren Mundine’s recent interest in treaty talks and wants to bring the discussion into communities.
The hidden benefit of Australia’s carbon tax
Big fall in electricity sector emissions since carbon tax Peter Hannam, 5 Feb 14 ENVIRONMENT EDITOR, THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD “……..The premise of the debate about changes in emissions from last year is wrong, said Frank Jotzo, an associate professor at Australian National University’s Crawford School of Public Policy and deputy director, ANU Climate Change Institute.
“What matters is not the comparison with last years’ emissions levels, but with what emissions would be if it was not for the carbon price,” Professor Jotzo said. “Australia’s emissions have been on an increasing trajectory, projections without carbon pricing were for strong increases.”
“Now we’re seeing only very slight increases which is progress,” he said.
While the electricity sector is seeing the largest impact of the carbon prices, the impact is not as big as it would be if businesses believed that the carbon price was here to stay, Professor Jotzo said.
“To stop increasing emissions in transport and extractive industries like LNG would require a carbon price much, much higher than what is currently in place,” he said…….http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/big-fall-in-electricity-sector-emissions-since-carbon-tax-20140205-320a6.html
Campaign to save Australia’s Renewable Energy Target
Save Australia’s Renewable Energy Target Campaign Launched http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=4161 6 Feb 14, The Australian Solar Council is drumming up support for what it terms is a ‘David vs. Goliath’ campaign to counter the companies exerting their influence in an attempt to abolish the Renewable Energy Target.
Solar supporters are urged to carry out actions such as donating to fund an information campaign, writing to local members and using social media to raise awareness of the threat.
“We do not want two classes of Australians, those who have benefited from the RET, and everybody else who might be locked out,” says Australian Solar Council CEO John Grimes.
“Why should big energy companies be treated as protected monopoly providers?…This campaign is about fairness, and a fair go. It’s about speaking for the community and allowing competition, not protecting monopolies.”
3.5 million Australians have indicated a desire to go solar in the next 5 years; but with even Prime Minister Abbott continually issuing negative signals regarding the RET; the campaign will need all the support it can muster.
Renewable Energy Target Quick Facts Continue reading
European Union votes for 30% binding renewable energy target to 2030
MEPs send ‘strong 2030 signal’ http://renews.biz/59912/brussels-sends-strong-2030-signal/ 5 Feb 14, A vote in plenary today by MEPs to set a 2030 renewables target of 30% has been hailed as sending a “signal that political will to support renewable energy solutions to the climate issue is strong”. MEPs voted by 341 to 263, with 26 abstentions, to call for a 40% cut in CO2 emissions, a 30% target for renewable energy and a 40% target for energy efficiency under the EU’s new long-term climate-change policy.
These targets should be binding, they said. The MEPs also criticised the European Commission’s proposals, which were released last month and proposed a binding GHG target of 40% and a supposedly binding renewables target of just 27%, as short-sighted and unambitious.
A vote in plenary today by MEPs to set a 2030 renewables target of 30% has been hailed as sending a “signal that political will to support renewable Menergy solutions to the climate issue is strong”.
MEPs voted by 341 to 263, with 26 abstentions, to call for a 40% cut in CO2 emissions, a 30% target for renewable energy and a 40% target for energy efficiency under the EU’s new long-term climate-change policy.
These targets should be binding, they said. The MEPs also criticised the European Commission’s proposals, which were released last month and proposed a binding GHG target of 40% and a supposedly binding renewables target of just 27%, as short-sighted and unambitious.
77% of Britons support renewable energy
Government poll: 77% of Britons support renewable energy Wednesday, February 5th, 2014 By Ilaria Bertini Public support for clean energy has remained strong, according to a government survey that also reveals only 5% of households actively object to renewables.
The latest Public Attitude Tracking Survey, conducted to monitor people’s reaction to energy policies for December 2013, confirms that over three-quarters (77%) of British adults support renewable energy…..http://blueandgreentomorrow.com/2014/02/05/government-poll-77-of-britons-support-renewable-energy/
You can check out world temperatures via Google Earth
World temperature records available via Google Earth
Climate researchers at the University of East Anglia have made the world’s temperature records available via Google Earth. The new Google Earth format allows users to scroll around the world, zoom in on 6,000 weather stations, and view monthly, seasonal and annual temperature data more easily than ever before. The move is part of an ongoing effort to
http://www.uea.ac.uk/mac/comm/media/press/2014/February/cru-google-earth
Aboriginals wait to see if Cape York Peninsula can be protected from mining
Lateral Love, 6 Feb 14 Traditional Owners in the Cape York Peninsula are still waiting on the State Government to submit information that would see parts of the Cape listed as UNESCO World Heritage.
Desmond Tayley is speaking for his traditional land in the Laura area, a cultural site with world-renowned rock art that is also a major tourist attraction.
Mr. Tayley says there has been no feedback by the Government and world heritage status would not just protect the site from mining……http://lateralloveaustralia.com/2014/02/05/aboriginal-news-aboriginal-way-national-indigenous-radio-service-nirs-19/
Australia’s carbon tax has successfully reduced electricity greenhouse gases
Christine Milne – ‘‘Reducing free permits and ending fossil fuel subsidies to coal and gas would help to drive down emissions but the Abbott government is keen to maintain the culture of entitlement in those industries,’’
Big fall in electricity sector emissions since carbon tax Peter Hannam, 5 Feb 14 ENVIRONMENT EDITOR, THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector are down about 7.6 per cent since the carbon tax was introduced in July 2012, or the equivalent of about14.8 million tonnes. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 