Toowoomba shop owner Peter Campbell sees nuclear waste dump as a joke
Comic book seller says nuclear waste dump for southern Queensland has great potential ABC Southern Qld ,By Peter Gunders , 17 Nov 15 Peter Campbell does not claim to be a nuclear energy expert, scientist, or waste disposal expert.
But he knows his chosen industry — pop culture — and in that capacity, he cautiously welcomes the idea of a nuclear waste dump in his backyard of southern Queensland.
Late last week Inglewood, a small town west of Toowoomba, was name-checked as one of six locations shortlisted by the Federal Government as a possible site to store low-to-intermediate level nuclear waste.
“If there’s one thing comics have taught us, it’s that we could all gain superpowers,” Mr Campbell laughed. The co-owner of Brutal Deluxe, a Toowoomba store specialising in comics and video games, said nuclear themes pervaded pop culture.
“Bruce Banner was a normal guy until he was exposed to high levels of gamma radiation, and now he’s the Incredible Hulk,” Mr Campbell said. “Right throughout pop culture, people are always being exposed to radiation.” And if any problems arose at the nuclear dump?
“Well, there is not a gamer on this planet that isn’t playing Fallout 4 at the moment,” he said.
“And that shows that so much fun can be had in a post-apocalyptic nuclear wasteland.”……..http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-16/pop-culture-store-owner-says-nuclear-waste-facility-could-be-fun/6945128
The Kakadu Charter led to stopping of uranium mining
The 15th anniversary of the Kakadu Charter is a good time for Aboriginal and environmental advocates to re-confirm our shared concern, action and effectiveness for the long awaited total rehabilitation and completion of Kakadu National Park.
The Kakadu Charter Which Helped Stop A Uranium Mine Marks 15 Years Of Shared Values https://newmatilda.com/2015/11/16/the-kakadu-charter-which-helped-stop-a-uranium-mine-marks-15-years-of-shared-values/ Tomorrow marks a significant anniversary in a landmark battle to protect a people, and a place. Justin O’Brien and Dave Sweeney explain.
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Cancer Council’s warning on sunburn
The Cancer Council and the Australasian College of Dermatologists are joining forces this week during the National Skin Cancer Action Week http://www.cancer.org.au/preventing-cancer/sun-protection/campaigns-and-events/national-skin-cancer-action-week.html to remind Australians that damage from UV radiation adds up whether by accident or attempts to have a tan and increases the risk of skin damage and cancer
Australians’ risk for cancer-causing sunburn higher at home than the beach, study finds, IBT, By Karla Tecson on November 16 2015 Half of weekend sunburns occur while Australians are going about their day-to-day activities at home, a new study suggests.
According to Cancer Council’s National Survey, one in two adult sunburn cases occurs during daily activities such as gardening and chores around the house, along with passive recreation activities such as reading, enjoying a picnic in the park or having a barbecue. Continue reading
King Islands’s world first renewable energy success
Renewable energy a power coup for island http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/3489296/renewable-energy-a-power-coup-for-island/ THE use of renewable energy to power King Island’s electricity supply for 33 successive hours has been hailed as a significant milestone. The latest achievement of the Hydro Tasmania’s King Island Renewable Integration project was an unprecedented milestone, project director Simon Gamble said.
“What makes this significant is that we’ve used renewable energy to support the needs of an entire community, which includes residential and industrial loads, for a full day,” Mr Gamble said.
“Our system has successfully managed the peaks in energy consumption that occur over the course of a full day, including early evening when demand is at its highest and there’s no solar contribution.
“It’s the first time anywhere that this has been achieved at a megawatt scale for such an extended period of time.”
King Island mayor Duncan McFie said the progression of the project helped to support the image of the island, and Tasmania, as clean and green.
“That King Island is leading the way on this is a highly significant achievement,” he said. Australian Renewable Energy Agency chief executive officer Ivor Frischknecht said the project was an example of how renewable energy and enabling technologies could work together to provide stable, reliable power.
“Hydro Tasmania is using a unique combination of technologies to reduce King Island’s reliance on expensive shipped-in diesel and provide residents with a more secure and reliable energy source,” he said. “This innovative energy solution could benefit off-grid communities on islands and in regional mainland Australia. “I look forward to seeing Hydro Tasmania continue to refine and commercialise its approach in other locations
Total Environment Centre’s legal challenge to South Australia solar tariff proposal
Solar penalty tariff proposal for SA households subject of Federal Court challenge, ABC News By Candice Marcus, 16 Nov 15, An environment group wants the Federal Court to uphold the energy regulator’s decision to reject a penalty tariff on South Australian households with solar power.
The Total Environment Centre has intervened in a court case in which SA Power Networks is challenging the Australian Energy Regulator.
The regulator rejected a pricing proposal for households to face a solar tariff and a social tariff, which SA Power Networks said would have been directed toward helping low-income earners facing hardship in paying their bills.
It was estimated the solar tariff could cost the average solar-powered household about $100 annually.
The Total Environment Centre lodged submissions with the Federal Court urging it uphold the regulator’s rejection of the penalty pricing proposal.
Extra tariffs would be solar ‘disincentive’
Mark Byrne from the environment group said imposing additional tariffs would be a disincentive for people to install and use solar power.
“We’ve got half a million people living under solar roofs in South Australia already though and it’s going to negatively impact on them as well as making it less advantageous for new customers to install solar,” he said.
“Obviously in the long run we want to see more solar because it helps reduce greenhouse emissions as well as household electricity bills.”
He said SA Power Networks had a flawed argument.
“Their argument effectively is that solar customers should be paying more because they use less energy and the network is entitled to a fixed amount of revenue,” he said.
“The unfortunate thing about that is it discriminates against solar customers and will result in them paying about another $100 a year.
“What the network should be doing is introducing a tariff that affects everyone equally and recovers more of their revenue during those peaks, when they’re worried about the impact on prices because they have to build more to meet peak demand.”……..http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-16/court-hears-challenge-on-sa-solar-penalty-tariff-proposal/6944870
World Religions back climate conference – Philippa Rowland
Community projects lead to world stage: Bega climate change activist to speak at UN summit in Paris ABC South East NSW Ian Campbell, 17 Nov 15 “……World religions get on board The world’s religions also are adding their weight to the conference.
Ms Rowland’s experience since starting with CEFE has led her to be a regional leader for Catholic Earth Care Australia.
“Faith groups around the world have been speaking out and feeling comfortable to take the moral responsibility to call on our leaders and general people to care for each other and care for the earth,” Ms Rowland said
In June this year Pope Francis issued an encyclical entitled Care for our Common Home.
“This sister [planet Earth] now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods which God has endowed her,” he wrote.
“We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will.”
Ms Rowland points to similar actions and sentiments expressed by Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist leaders this year. “In many religions, when you drill down, it’s responsibility for the earth and not hurting other people,” she said. “One of the shocking things about climate change is the injustice at the fact that the impact falls hardest on those who are unable to deal with it.”
A chance to represent common humanity
That picture of the world’s people and our connectedness is where Ms Rowland sees the bulk of her work in Paris. “You can just be there representing common humanity who want to see things happen,” she said.
“So the responsibility lies in connecting with other human beings across the range and sharing that sense of hope.”…..http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-17/bega-activist-to-address-un-climate-change-paris/6947248
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