GarryRogers Nature Conservation
GR: This is the best discussion of the cause of coral death in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef I’ve seen–it’s people.
Coral bleaching at Loomis Reef, off Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Photograph: Essential Median
Graham Readfearn: In late November 2015, as corals across the northern section of the Great Barrier Reef started to bleach white, the game was finally up.
For years, Australians had been told the country’s jewel in the ocean’s crown was on the mend. Only months earlier the Coalition government had won a two-year fight to keep the reef off a United Nations list of world heritage sites in danger.
The stakes were high. International reputations and tourist dollars were at stake. The foreign minister, Julie Bishop, and the trade minister, Andrew Robb, had even attacked Barack Obama, who feared for the reef’s future.
The reef was not in danger, Bishop insisted. The president was…
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June 9, 2016
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
Uncategorized |
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Already, I have received a number of replies to my question to Labor politicians and candidates. Some replies have directly answered the question:
“Would you vote for changing Labor Nuclear Policy or would you vote to keep the present policy?”
Quite a few Labor politicians have opted to send a standard answer, THAT DOESN’T QUITE ANSWER THE QUESTION. (I have wtitten back, politely asking them for more clarity on their personal position) This is their reply:
Thank you for your email regarding nuclear waste.
Labor is strongly opposed to the importation and storage of nuclear waste that is sourced from overseas in Australia.
However, Australian produces much of its own radioactive material – life-saving medical diagnoses and treatments, industry, agriculture, veterinary science, communications and home consumer products all generate and use radioactive material in some way.
Most nuclear waste generated in Australia is low-level nuclear material including contaminated paper, plastic, protective clothing, glassware and smoke detectors.
Australians also produce much smaller amounts of intermediate-level waste from reprocessing spent fuel used in scientific and industrial research as well as production of lifesaving nuclear medicines. Very small volumes also arise from other medical, veterinary and industrial practices including disused radiotherapy and industrial radiography sources.
In health, ANSTO produces more than 500,000 patient doses of life-saving nuclear medicines each year. These are used in diagnosing and treating a wide variety of medical problems including cancers, heart and lung diseases and bone damage. During their lifetime, one in two Australians will benefit from diagnoses or treatment using nuclear medicines. That’s more than 10 million people.
We should not expect these benefits without accepting the responsibility of managing and storing the waste radioactive material generated.
Australia’s current management and storage arrangements create unnecessary complexity, causing safety and security risks.
A national facility will provide a long-term answer to the safe storage and management of the radioactive waste that Australians will continue to produce.
The site-selection process for this national facility is a necessarily long and in-depth process and must not be rushed. Environmental, meteorological, hydrological and heritage evaluations must be considered before final site selection.
Regional consultative committees need to provide extensive and continuing community consultation, honestly and openly, allowing communities to make decisions based on facts.
Labor is committed to finding a solution for storage of Australia’s nuclear waste. We will continue to oppose the importation of nuclear waste from other countries.
June 9, 2016
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
election 2016 |
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This email has now been sent to all
And replies are trickling in
You can help by send a similar request to your local Member or Candidate, preferably in your own words, but this can be a sample:
Sender’s address, and date
The Hon Mr or Ms…or Dear Senator … or Dear Candidate
Member for
Dear …….
As the Federal Election approaches, I would like to know what is your position on the nuclear issue.
- Labor will:
- Vigorously and totally oppose the ocean dumping of radioactive waste;
- Prohibit the establishment of nuclear power plants and all other stages of the nuclear fuel cycle in Australia;
- Fully meet all Australia’s obligations as a party to the NPT; and
- Remain strongly opposed to the importation and storage of nuclear waste that is sourced from overseas in Australia.
The South Australian Labor government t is promoting a move to import nuclear wastes. In view of this, the National Labor Party will surely be re-examining the national policy.
Before deciding on my vote, I need to be sure of Labor policy on this issue.
Please tell me:
Will you vote to keep the present Labor policy as above, or will you vote to change it?
Yours faithfully
Signed ….
June 9, 2016
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
ACTION |
Leave a comment
Already, I have received a number of replies to my question to Labor politicians and candidates. Some replies have directly answered the question:
This email has now been sent to all
Sender’s address, and date
Antinuclear 