Nuclear waste Dump Court Case – Day 6 – hearing at Tennant Creek, Northern Territory
Muckaty Court Report Day 6- June 9 Day 6 – Federal Court comes to Muckaty Beyond Nuclear Initiative, By Padraic Gibson, 10 June 14, The nuclear waste dump trial traveled to the Muckaty Aboriginal Land Trust on Monday June 9, to hear testimony from Traditional Owners opposed to the nomination of their land.
First, a convoy of ten vehicles traveled out to the nominated site. The site is located about 12 kms west of the Stuart Highway, on the southern boundary of the Land Trust. It can be reached along a bituman “haulage road”, built to cart manganese from the Bootu mine out to the Adelaide – Darwin railway line. Having the dump on this well developed road, with access to two major transportation routes – the highway and the railway line – would be perfect for the government, helping explain why they are fighting so hard to defend the Muckaty nomination.
Senior Warlmanpa man Dick Foster, one of the applicants challenging the waste dump, gave the court (and a throng of journalists) a short explanation of the dreaming stories that are significant to the nominated site and how these impact on the rights and responsibilities of different clan groups. His account is in sharp contradiction with the anthropology relied upon by the NLC to justify the waste dump nomination. His traditional knowledge and cultural authority is respected by all sides of this dispute. Mr Foster will give detailed evidence next week.
The convoy then proceeded further north into the Land Trust, stopping at an outstation about 5kms from the Stuart Highway to set up properly to hear evidence.
There was only time to hear the start of evidence from Bunny Nabarula, an 84 year old Warlmanpa Elder who has been a leading spokesperson in the campaign against the dump for 7 years now……….
Evidence from more Traditional Owners opposed to the dump will be given in the court house at Tennant Creek for the rest of this week. For many people, who feel they have been pushed aside and ignored through this whole process, they are eager to put their case to the court. It’s important to note that both the Commonwealth and the NLC argued strongly against the Court coming to the NT. Both parties strongly defend their consultation process. But they also argue that whether or not this nomination was put forward with genuine consent should not actually matter legally, due to draconian provisions in the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act passed in 2005. http://beyondnuclearinitiative.com/muckaty-court-report-day-6-june-9/
Tony Abbott’s plan for alliance to block climate action has already come to grief
Britain, New Zealand reject Tony Abbott’s idea for alliance to block action on climate change Age 
June 12, 2014 –Lisa Cox National political reporter The UK’s conservative climate and energy minister has rejected suggestions his government could form an alliance of “like-minded” nations with Australia to oppose carbon pricing.Greg Barker has put an end to Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s dream that a group of five countries could be formed to undermine global moves to install carbon pricing and challenge a push by US President Barack Obama for stronger international regulation of climate change.In moves that show Australia is increasingly isolated on the subject, New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key has also said he was caught off-guard by the idea of an alliance and signalled his government has no intention of walking away from its emissions trading scheme.
The comments leave Canada, with its anti-carbon tax prime minister Stephen Harper as Australia’s only likely ally on the subject.
Mr Barker told British media on Wednesday that the UK would not be joining Australia to challenge international regulation of carbon emissions. ”I think you can take it the UK won’t be joining an alliance against regulation. We are engaged with Australia and New Zealand, encouraging them to take a responsible proactive part in seeking an ambitious global treaty on climate change,” he said……..
Earlier this year, Mr Cameron said he believed that ”man-made climate change is one of the most serious threats that this country and this world faces”.And earlier this week, Mr Obama and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said political leaders had to recognise that climate change was the number one priority for governments as the most significant issue the planet faces…..
Mr Abbott’s stance on climate action has also drawn criticism from retiring US politician Henry Waxman, who was at the forefront of clean energy bills in America.
Mr Waxman said Australia, along with Canada, risked being ”behind-the-scenes laggers” rather than leaders on climate policy.
Both nations risked being out of sync with Europe and the US. ”I hope Australia doesn’t turn its back on its leadership role and become a drag on what we need to all be doing around the world,” Mr Waxman told ABC’s 7.30 on Wednesday.
The retiring senior Democrat also criticised the Coalition government’s ”voluntary” direct action policy as ineffectual. ”That never worked anywhere,” he said. http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/britain-new-zealand-reject-tony-abbotts-idea-for-alliance-to-block-action-on-climate-change-20140612-39yws.html#ixzz34Ya5sywb
Western Australia’s changes to Aboriginal Heritage Act will benefit miners, disadvantage Aborigines
Aboriginal Heritage Act changes help miners, but do little to protect sacred sites: Greens ABC News By Katrin Long 12 Jun 2014 The Greens have raised concerns over a WA Government proposal to amend parts of the Aboriginal Heritage Act, which sets out the way in which sacred places and objects should be preserved.
The Act has not had any major changes since it was introduced 42 year ago.
One of the changes would see control of major decisions regarding potential and established heritage sites handed from a committee to a single CEO. The Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) has said the proposed changes would improve efficiency in the mining and energy sector.
Greens MP Robin Chapple said the changes would aid mining companies, but would constitute a “complete desecration” of an Act that has already been watered down since its inception.
“They’ve taken away what was left of a shell of an Act and just trashed it,” he said…..http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-12/concern-over-proposed-changes-to-aboriginal-heritage-act/5518244
Fukushima radiation results in first cancer death among USA sailors from USS Ronald Reagan
First Sailor from USS Ronald Reagan dies from radiation from FUKUSHIMA http://investmentwatchblog.com/first-sailor-from-uss-ronald-reagan-dies-from-radiation-from-fukushima/#TpACD1zIVugkBWMs.99 June 12th, 2014 1st death in USS Reagan case; rare cancer takes 38 yr old Tomodachi samaritan. RIP Theodore Holcomb
Information
just released today by the legal team representing the USS Reagan sailors in their billion dollar lawsuit against TEPCO.
http://www.nuclearhotseat.com/1964/
The Ronald Reagan spent a couple months at sea after being dosed off with radiation, trying to clean itself up; then, according to a lawyer for the sailors claiming injury, it was decontaminated at port in Washington State for another year and a half before returning to service.
Fukuhsima’s Nuclear fuel pool at No 4 reactor could collapse at any time
Japan Nuclear Professor: It’s feared Fukushima fuel pool to “collapse in” at any time; “Any scale of accident is possible” — Expert warns ice wall increases risk that reactor units will move or shift; Buildings ‘very precarious’ even without frozen barrier being constructed (AUDIO) http://enenews.com/japan-nuclear-prof-its-feared-pool-of-fukushima-nuclear-fuel-may-collapse-in-at-any-time-any-scale-of-accident-is-possible-expert-warns-ice-wall-increases-risk-of-reactor-units-moving?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ENENews+%28Energy+News%29
Radio Forum #72, May 24, 2014 — Translated by DISSENSUS JAPAN, June 10, 2014:
- Jiro Ishimaru, host: About the current progress of decommissioning…
- Hiroaki Koide, professor at Kyoto University Research Reactor Institute: […] In November 2013, they started with Reactor #4 because it was the most accessible pool, and the most dangerous. The floor that housed the Used Fuel Pool in Reactor #4 was hugely damaged and it has been feared that the pool might collapse in any time. This is a very dangerous job. Any scale of accident is possible. But they have to do it. […]
- Translation of complete interview available here
WBUR — Here and Now, June 9, 2014:
- Ken Buesseler, senior scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: Maybe there’s some side effects [to the ice wall] that might also creep into this game, that they really haven’t considered here… if you stop the flow of water into certain soil, you can get things like settling — Buildings can move, so these are very precarious situation anyways, so we don’t want to have shifting.
- Full WBUR broadcast available here
More USA military to be based in Australia
US to extend Darwin marine base as Tony Abbott meets Barack Obama to push G20 agenda, DAVID CROWE IN WASHINGTON THE AUSTRALIAN 12 June 14AUSTRALIA has struck a defence agreement with the United States that prepares the ground for more American troops, aircraft and ships to operate from Australian bases to ward off threats in South East Asia.
- The outcome will give the two countries the capacity for “additional reach” into the region as a result of talks in Washington overnight between Tony Abbott and US President Barack Obama…….the agreement means Australia is open to hosting more US Marines in Darwin over time and may also consider the use of a Western Australian naval base as a port for US destroyers…….
Victoria’s community Hepburn Wind farm at risk as government reviews Renewable Energy Target
Renewable Energy Target review sparks fears for wind farm http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-11/renewable-energy-target-review-sparks-fears-for/5514354 11 Jun 2014, Investors in Australia’s first community-owned wind farm near Daylesford say the venture could fail, if changes are made to the Renewable Energy Target. The Federal Government has ordered a review into the pledge of producing 20 per cent of power from renewable sources by 2020. People involved in the Hepburn Wind project met members of the review panel in Daylesford yesterday. Hepburn Wind’s founding chairman, Simon Holmes Court, says scrapping the target would cost locals thousands of dollars. “I can’t sugar-coat it – the project will not be able to continue in its current form,” he said. 
Hepburn has operated turbines since 2011. Director David Perry says the cost would not just be financial. “Perhaps the most painful thing would be to have all that time and passion over the years lost,” he said. The panel toured the wind farm and congratulated Hepburn Wind on its work.
History will not be kind to Tony Abbott – warns Al Gore
Al Gore: Mother Nature has ‘louder voice’ than Tony Abbott on climate SMH, June 12, 2014 Nick O’Malley Former US vice-president Al Gore has told Fairfax Media that “history will not be kind” to politicians who stand in the way of climate action…..“I am not a citizen of Australia and I don’t feel I have the privilege of entering your political debate,” said Mr Gore.
“But we have had deniers of the climate crisis in office in the US as well. History will not be kind to those who looked away, much less those who sought to prevent [action on climate change].”
Mr Gore, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his climate-change activism, said he was aware that the Australian Prime Minister had once described climate-change science using “a scatological term” and that the Abbott government had de-funded bodies established to advise the government on climate change.
“I don’t pretend to know what the basis of his thinking is, but Mother Nature has a louder voice,” he said, referring to increasing incidences of severe weather.
Mr Gore said that although Mr Abbott had not asked for his advice, and was unlikely to do so, if he had a few minutes with the Prime Minister he would ask him to “think of your children and grandchildren, think of the people who are already suffering the consequences of the climate crisis”.
He said Australia had among the best scientists in the world – perhaps the best on a per capita basis – and they agreed that the nation was bound to suffer among the worst consequences of climate change. Meanwhile, engineers agreed that it stood to reap huge economic and employment benefits from continued renewable energy development and the retrofitting necessary to transfer to a clean economy.
He said changes in Australia’s environment were not only being scientifically documented but were obvious to him as a regular visitor during Australia’s “angry summer”.
……..Mr Gore spoke to Fairfax Media days before his scheduled visit to Australia to train environmental volunteer leaders through his Climate Reality Project. He said the training would take into account the recent actions of the Abbott government.
Speaking at the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday, Mr Abbott said climate change was not the world’s most pressing problem. http://www.smh.com.au/world/al-gore-mother-nature-has-louder-voice-than-tony-abbott-on-climate-20140612-zs4wx.html#ixzz34YbRSYPH
Business Council of Australia pushes for nuclear power and against renewables
Let’s not forget that Tony Shepherd and the Business Council are keen lobbyists for the nuclear industry. 
https://antinuclear.net/2011/03/01/business-council-of-australia-joins-nuclear-lobbys-marketing-push/
Business council push to cut renewable energy target, SMH, 12 June 14, “……The Business Council of Australia says the government should scale back the target to a point where renewable energy will account for a ”true” 20 per cent of Australia’s electricity generation by 2020. In a submission to the Abbott government’s review of the target, the council also calls for the scheme to cease in 2030.
The 17-page submission describes the target as ”poor public policy” that is ”no longer relevant to Australia’s circumstances”……The council’s submission contrasts to last month’s submission from the Australian Industry Group, which pressured Prime Minister Tony Abbott to retain the targets and argued that reducing the target would not lead to a fall in power prices. http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/business-council-push-to-cut-renewable-energy-target-20140612-3a0cw.html#ixzz34YLl7VyO
AUDIO: Government’s carbon plan will fail – new independent report
Report finds a 300 million tonne shortfall in the government’s carbon plan http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/300-million-tonne-shortfall-in-government-carbon-plan-report/5517734 Thursday 12 June 2014
The government has committed to cutting carbon pollution by a minimum of 5 per cent by 2020.
But the first independent report since the budget calculates that the government will fall more than 70 per cent short of it’s promise – potentially buying as little as three million tonnes of carbon abatement every year, if the price it’s willing to pay is $10 a tonne or less.
Queensland govt to intervene on the side of wind power opponents?
Wind farm opponents welcome intervention ABC Rural By Charlie McKillop, 12 June 14, Queensland Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney will determine the fate of a controversial wind farm proposed on the far north’s Atherton Tableland.
Mr Seeney has informed the Mareeba Council he’s decided to ‘call in’ the development application to establish 75 wind turbines at Mt Emerald, about 100 kilometres west of Cairns.
The move has been welcomed by both the mayor of Mareeba, Tom Gilmore, and opponents of the wind farm, who agree the size and complexity of the assessment is beyond the technical and financial resources of the council.
But Steve Lavis, from the Tablelands Wind Turbine Action Group, admits he has reservations about the decision being taken out of the local community…….http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-12/wind-farm-opponents-hopeful-about-intervention/5519106
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 
