Federal Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese opposes Australian further involvement in nuclear fuel chain
Premier Jay Weatherill at loggerheads with senior Labor members over nuclear industry, GST, Perth Now July 24, 2015 PETER JEAN CHRIS RUSSELL The Advertiser “…….Federal Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese yesterday declared his opposition to any further Australian involvement in the nuclear fuel cycle and to the importation of nuclear waste, while Labor leader Bill Shorten reiterated his hostility to raising the GST.
Mr Albanese – who unsuccessfully stood for the Labor leadership after the last federal election – yesterday said it was too dangerous for Australia to become more involved in the nuclear fuel cycle.
“My position on the nuclear fuel cycle is clear,’’ Mr Albanese told an anti-nuclear weapons event held on the sidelines of the ALP conference.“Until the issues of nuclear waste and nuclear proliferation are satisfactorily solved, I oppose any further Australian involvement in the nuclear fuel cycle.“Nuclear waste created today, remains an issue for generations to come.’’
Mr Albanese’s opposition to nuclear energy is heavily influenced by his close friendship with former Labor MP Tom Uren, who died earlier this year. As a prisoner of the Japanese in 1945, Mr Uren saw the mushroom cloud from the atomic bombing of Nagasaki……..
Labor’s platform commits the party in government to prohibiting “the establishment of nuclear power plants and all other stages of the nuclear fuel cycle in Australia.’’
An anti-nuclear section of the Federal Labor policy platform will be left in place at Labor’s national conference in Melbourne this weekend……..
Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce, the head of South Australia’s Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission, said yesterday if he was to recommend an expansion of the industry, national support would be crucial.“There would be no opportunity - in my view – without bipartisan support both at the federal and state level to make the investment that would be necessary,” he said………http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/national/premier-jay-weatherill-at-loggerheads-with-senior-labor-members-over-nuclear-industry-gst/story-fnii5yv8-1227456054891
Dr Helen Caldicott’s Submission on all 4 Nuclear Royal Commission Issues Papers
Submission to the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission, by Helen Caldicott on July 24, 2015 I begin my submission to the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission by posting an article which I wrote for the Australian Medical Student Journal, which outlines in some detail the medical implications of the whole nuclear fuel chain.
The impact of the nuclear crisis on global health
Due to my personal concerns regarding the ignorance of the world’s media and politicians about radiation biology after the dreadful accident at Fukushima in Japan, I organized a 2 day symposium at the NY Academy of Medicine on March 11 and 12, 2013 … [ to read the full text of this article, click on this link: http://www.helencaldicott.com/the-impact-of-the-nuclear-crisis-on-global-health/. The link will open in a new tab or window. Close it to return to this page ]
Now to answer some of the questions posed by the Royal Commission Continue reading
Court ruled that plaintiff’s cancer linked to radiation from nuclear station
South Korean Court Ruling Could Spur Nuclear-Power Plant Suits Court Rules for Plaintiff Claiming Link Between Nuclear-Power Plant Radiation, Cancer, WSJ By SEOUL–A South Korean court for the first time has ruled in favor of a plaintiff claiming a link between radiation from a nuclear power plant and cancer—a verdict that could trigger similar lawsuits in a country that depends heavily on nuclear power. (subscribers only) http://www.wsj.com/articles/south-korean-court-ruling-could-spur-nuclear-power-plant-suits-1413885944
Potassium Iodide pills for residents near nuclear fcaility
Department of Health distributing free Potassium Iodide to Pennsylvanians near Nuclear power plants, Pittsburgh Actio News,
KI is also available for those who work within the 10-mile radius, but do not live there. Employers can contact the Department of Health at 1-877-PA-HEALTH to make arrangements to pick up tablets for their entire workforce.
School districts within the 10-mile radius have the option of deciding whether to distribute KI for their students. Interested schools work directly with the department to obtain their supply of tablets…….http://www.wtae.com/news/department-of-health-distributing-free-potassium-iodide-to-pennsylvanians-near-nuclear-power-plants/34335576
Nuclear Royal Commission back from overseas jaunt
Nuclear commission takes overseas experiences on board as SA considers uranium industry expansion, ABC News By Nicola Gage, 24 July 15, South Australia’s nuclear royal commissioner Kevin Scarce says he is “nowhere near” making a recommendation to government on the potential for an expanded industry in the state after a research trip to Asia, Europe, the United States and Canada…….The commission received 90 submissions from companies and individuals in its first round of public feedback, which has now closed…….[n.b second round of submissions closes on August 3rd]
Public hearings are expected to commence from September, with a final report due in May.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-24/sa-nuclear-commission-takes-overseas-experiences-on-board/6647018 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6swqTljXeE
AREVA, advisor to the South Australian Nuclear Fuel Chain Commission, goes belly up
As Areva Goes Belly Up, Modi’s French Nuclear Plans May Start Unravelling, DiaNuke.org, 24 July 15 “………..The signs of Areva’s irreparable decline if not imminent death have been on the horizon these past years. With its single product catalogue, Areva has struggled to complete two identical EPR reactors, the first at Olkiluoto for TVO in Finland (still not operational despite a nine-year delay and a trebling of costs) and the second in Flamanville, France, plagued by equally serious construction and security flaws, delays and outrageous cost over-runs. …….
Reactor woes continue
The estimated price of the reactor continues to go up and up – it has nearly trebled from 3.3 billion euros eight years ago to around 9 billion euros at current estimates and could go higher if the EPR’s technical problems persist. The company has run up a deficit estimated at 4.8 billion euros for a turnover of 8.3 billion. Its recapitalisation requirements stand at 7 billion euros. The French government has stepped in to impose draconian solutions on the company that will see its design, construction and operations arm hacked off and handed over to its arch enemy, EDF. When the negotiations with EDF are completed – the haggling over price is currently underway – Areva, a company that has built and operated some 64 nuclear reactors will be reduced to a dwarf. Continue reading
Australia at historic turning point in global switch to renewable energy
Dramatic changes in energy systems are evident in many other countries too, and they are affecting technological possibilities and relative prices everywhere.
Australia, with its world-class renewable resources, is among the best-placed countries to capitalise.
It is now beyond reasonable doubt that a more decentralised, renewables-based system will provide much cheaper power over the medium and long term, especially with ongoing innovation, and with the increasing uptake of smart electricity grid infrastructure and energy storage technologies, the costs of which are also falling rapidly.
Australia needs to accept the move to clean energy, Brisbane Times, July 24, 2015 James Rydge and Fergus Green
China is also transforming its energy system. Continue reading
50% renewable energy goal will effectively bring Australia up with world leaders
50% renewable energy would put Australia in line with leading nations, The Conversation, John Mathews Professor of Strategic Management, Macquarie Graduate School of Management at Macquarie University, 25 July 15, Opposition leader Bill Shorten told the Labor Party conference this morning that the party’s policy should be for 50% of electricity to come from renewables by 2030.
This would bring Australia abreast with its international competitors such as California, with its recently announced target of 50% of electricity from renewables by 2030, and Germany, where the Energiewende(“energy transformation”) will see the country commit to 40-45% non-nuclear green power by 2020, and 55-60% by 2035.
Shorten’s move is a major break with previous ALP policy, and promises to be so effective in building a new power sector to eclipse the present fossil-fuelled sector that it already has the conservative side of politics foaming at the mouth. Continue reading
Responses to Labor’s goal of 50% renewable energy by 2030
Labor raises the renewables bar, Australia responds, REneweconomy By Sophie Vorrath on 22 July 2015 Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten’s announcement that he will ask the party to adopt a 50 per cent by 2030 renewable energy target is a real breakthrough for the political debate in Australia, possibly as significant as the bipartisan deal to pursue a 20/20 renewable energy target way back in 2007.
That – in a nutshell – is how we here at RE have described today’s ALP policy news.
Now here’s what some other people are saying about it…
Australian Solar Council CEO John Grimes: “This is a visionary announcement and the right announcement economically, environmentally and socially. …This is a game changer for Australia’s economy… Australia will join all of its major trading partners – China, US, EU, Japan, Indonesia and South Korea – in embracing solar and renewable energy.”………………..
Australian Youth Climate Coalition, director Kirsty Albion: “We are so excited to see the ALP step up by committing to a target for 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030. Australia can be powered by 100 per cent clean, renewable energy creating thousands of jobs. …Now Tony Abbott must get with the program and increase renewable energy not cut it.”………………….http://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/labor-raises-the-renewables-bar-australia-responds-58311
Flinders University students to fight Lomborg
Flinders uni students are ready to fight a $4 million policy centre linked to Danish academic Bjorn Lomborg. (subscribers only)
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/climate/lomborg-climate-centre-flinders-uni-students-ready-to-fight/story-e6frg6xf-1227456007466
Northern Territory development : Aboriginal owners asked to agree to extinguish native title
Northern Land Council calls for major rethink of northern development amid concerns about Ord expansion talks PM By Sara Everingham ABC New, 25 July 15, The head of the Northern Land Council (NLC) has said a major rethink of northern development is needed and he fears one of the Northern Territory Government’s key strategies for boosting agriculture will lead to little but heartache for Indigenous people.
Chief executive officer Joe Morrison said traditional owners were being asked to agree to extinguish native title to allow for the expansion of the Ord Irrigation Scheme from the East Kimberley into the Northern Territory but he said he was worried there would be few lasting benefits in return.
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 