Antinuclear

The pro nuclear front group Breakthrough Institute joins push for nuclear power in South Australia

The Breakthrough Institute (BI) was notorious for its attacks on Al Gore and climate scientists.It has a long history of trying to   discredit renewable energy, in particular, attacking Germany’s Energiewende. More recently, BI has discovered climate change, as that is a useful tactic in their long-running promotion of new nuclear technology

the promoters of new nuclear reactors for South Australia certainly include idealistic and altruistic people, some of whom have bought the BI’s message. 

Who wants to be a nuclear billionaire? Independent Australia, 1 Oct 15  Noel Wauchope navigates the complex web of ambiguity behind submissions to South Australia’s Nuclear Fuel Chain Royal Commission.. Some promoters of nuclear industry expansion have very altruistic motivations.

Just who are the people who want South Australia to be a nuclear industry hub?  The submissions to the Royal Commission give some indications, though it is not easy to work this out……

The pro nuclear submissions on the whole, come from interested parties, where a commercial or career motive can be discerned: that is often clearly shown, but sometimes is not apparent. There are also some pro nuclear submissions that are quite cautious about promoting development, and a few who are inclined towards sitting on the fence.

Of the 94 pro nuclear submissions published, 46 come from companies or organisations connected with the nuclear industry. But who knows how many nuclear companies really did send in submissions, as theirs were allowed to not be published, due to ‘commercial in confidence’?

….most favoured topic, as with the organisations, was Issues Paper 3, “ELECTRICITY GENERATION”…

Their  backgrounds?  20 of the [pro nuclear] 48 individuals are now, or were formerly, employed in a nuclear or nuclear-related company, government or university department.(1)  In some cases they state this clearly, in other cases it is not apparent…..

Then there are the 2 career politicians, Sen Sean Edwards and MP Tom Kenyon, who have hitched their political future to the nuclear star.

Then there are nuclear publicists, who are not necessarily engineers or involved in the nuclear industry, but who have become well known for their pro nuclear articles or lobbying.  There are only 4 listed names that could be described as pro nuclear publicists (2)

….the majority of the pro nuclear  submissions enthuse about new nuclear reactors – “Generation IV” Small Modular Reactors” “Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors”.

When you add those individual submissions to the 46 from nuclear-related organisations, it looks as if the overwhelming support for new nuclear reactors comes from interested parties –  nuclear related companies, or individuals connected to the industry, who seek  profit or career advancement.

However, you really have to delve into these submissions. I came to one that was directed at “ELECTRICITY GENERATION” from one Alexander Fiedag. Who is Alexander Fiedag? And does he really exist?. I couldn’t find him anywhere, not even in his own submission, where he is not listed as the writer. In fact, Alexander Fiedag’s submission is written by 18 people, though it appears on the Commission  website as by just one person.

Those 18 people include some very well-known nuclear publicists: Stewart Brand, Barry Brook, Mark Lynas, Ted Nordhaus, Michael Shellenberger and Robert Stone. Most have no employment connection with the nuclear industry, and in fact are described as environmentalists.  The remaining 12 writers have a variety of non nuclear backgrounds, and most have a strong interest in environment.  What brought them to all put in a submission together?  What do they have in common.? Well, it might be the Breakthrough Institute, of which 11 are members, and most are Senior Fellow and/or are on the Board of the Breakthrough Institute.

Their submission is called “An Ecomodernist Manifesto” – 32 pages of beautifully high sounding sentiments about humanity and environment. (it could have been written by Pope Francis).  It’s not until page 21 that nuclear power is even mentioned. What they want is a “new generation of nuclear technologies”. They return quickly to the altruistic and ethical theme ”  We write this document out of deep love and emotional connection to the natural world” There is no further discussion of nuclear power.

This is The Breakthrough Institute (BI) in action. In past years,BI was notorious for its attacks on Al Gore and climate scientists.It has a long history of trying to   discredit renewable energy, in particular, attacking Germany’s Energiewende. More recently, BI has discovered climate change, as that is a useful tactic in their long-running promotion of new nuclear technology. BI has in 2015 discovered the Anthropocene, again using this as an argument for no real action on climate change, and for promoting nuclear power.

If you go to The Breakthrough Institute’s website you will see a whole lot of fresh young faces, all enthusiastic for the environment. BI offers optimism, hope, idealism, but unfortunately along with doing nothing to slow global carbon emissions, and everything to slow renewable energy development.

BI’s seemingly humanist and ecological message has much appeal, in this worriesome world. So – the promoters of new nuclear reactors for South Australia certainly include idealistic and altruistic people, some of whom have bought the BI’s message.

1. Henry-Askin, Dr George Bereznai, Christopher Camarsh,  Goran Cenic, Ian Duncan, John Emerson, Dayne Eckermann, Brian Flew and Ivan May, Stephen Grano, Richard Gun and Philip Crouch, Geoff Hudson, Peter Jans,Timothy-Luke, Jeremy Oakes, Alan Parkinson, John Reynolds,Roger Smart, Pamela Sykes, Malcolm Wedd, Richard Yeeles,

2. Peter Bolton, Alexander Fiedag, Geoff Russell,Oscar Archer         https://independentaustralia.net/australia/australia-display/sa-royal-commission-who-wants-to-be-a-nuclear-billionaire-,8208

October 2, 2015 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | NUCLEAR ROYAL COMMISSION 2016