Climate special news 28 November
The climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all.
What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?
It is time to acknowledge that light- hearted superficiality has done us no good.
We need to be alert to one sad sign of the “globalization of indifference”: the fact that we are gradually growing accustomed to the suffering of others, as if it were something normal
We are confronted with a choice which cannot be ignored: either to improve or to destroy the environment. – Pope Francis
As I write, the Paris Climate Change Summit COP21 gets underway. There is one important message about COP21 – IT’S A START – NOT A CONCLUSION. UNICEF reports that the greatest harm from climate change will be to children. Impetus for action should come from COP21, but corporations are geared up to undermine climate agreements.
I am happy to report that it looks very much as if nuclear power is off the table as an energy source to be chosen at the Paris summit – too dangerous, and more significantly, too expensive.
AUSTRALIA
Melbourne kicked off the global wave of rallies with a huge climate march. Rallies will follow in capital and other cities. Firefighters will march for climate action: global warming increases their dangers. Strong contingent of young Australian activists attending Paris climate summit. Rural Australia will be represented in Paris. The head of the UN climate talks confirmed that videos of our marches will play on a huge screen as Heads of State walk into the Paris climate conference on Monday! Can’t say our political leaders will be much use there. Same pro corporate policies as old PM Abbott, – just said more slimily.
NUCLEAR ISSUES: Lack of space here to detail the numerous protests going on against setting up a national waste dump, supposedly for medical wastes, but really for nuclear reactor wastes, returning from overseas.
New report rules out nuclear power for Australia, on economic grounds.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
Deadly bushfires (a dangerous place to locate a nuclear waste dump) . South Australian govt has already ruled out nuclear power. South Australia to aim for zero emissions by 2050.
Nuclear Royal Commission:
- Expert Dr Mark Nutt Nutt on waste storage showed up the reality of untested, in fact non existent solutions for radioactive trash disposal.
- Dr Edwin Lyman said Direct nuclear waste disposal is best: pyroreprocessing has dangers, and discussed the dangers of transporting radioactive wastes.
INTERNATIONAL – more at http://nuclear-news.net/
Pope and Muslim leaders in call for climate action.
Declaration of the World Nuclear Victims Forum in Hiroshima.
The unmentioned apocalyptic ISIS terror – attack on nuclear reactors. Nor do world leaders talk about the terrorism possibility regarding nuclear weapons. Increasing risk of sabotage by extremists working in the nuclear industry.
A message to Australians who care – from Australian Conservation Foundation
Dear folks – last night in Melbourne there was a great start to a weekend of mobilisation around the country demanding action to address dangerous climate change.
Safe to say fifty thousand people on the streets – big, bright, bouncy and with a strong nuke free presence.
Including this banner – lovingly refreshed by the stand out crew at FoE’s ACE collective – which again made its way along a route it has made many times over many years.
And over those years we are digging and selling less uranium, there are solar panels on one million Australian buildings, no one wants a waste dump and talk of domestic nuclear power remains just that.
So this weekend whether you are walking down a city street calling for cuts to carbon, strolling to the shops for a coffee or wandering through the bush – walk proud.
Our collective efforts have, are and will continue to make a real difference for a safer and saner future.
Best wishes for positive events in your patch this weekend- solidarity and much respect.
Dave
Dave Sweeney
Nuclear Free Campaigner
Australian Conservation Foundation
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 