Nuclear news this week: Australia
Weapons and war are in the news this week – well, even more than they usually are. US President Trump sent a missile strike attack on a Syrian military airfield, in the first direct American assault on the government of President Bashar al-Assad. The reverberations of this continue around the world, and USA warns that there could be further attacks. Trump did act without Congressional approval. There is debate about this – some say he violated the US Constitution and the War Powers Resolution. Others say that Trump had legal authority to attack Syria. My own opinion – it is a worrying precedent.
The United Nations held the global summit for a treaty on banning nuclear weapons . 1st round of nuclear weapons ban treaty talks ends, aims to draft treaty next month. North Korea remains a worry, as US President Trump and China’s President Xi begin an uneasy meeting. Meanwhile, Donald Trump expands the power of the President to declare war.
AUSTRALIA
Trump administration informed Turnbull in advance, of USA strike on Syria. Will Australia be drawn into a fresh conflict in the Middle East? Well, we hope not. Turnbull critical of Russia’s support of Syrian govt, but will not be drawn on Australia’s response.
Nuclear waste issues simmer on – South Australia is the focus. South Australian Liberal Party to launch advertising campaign against Nuclear Royal Commission plan to import nuclear wastes. Does Australia REALLY need a radioactive waste facility in outback South Australia? ANSTO admits that Federal waste plan is for reactor generated wastes, (not just “medical” ) and that no long-term disposal plan exists. Some enthusiasts for nuclear waste dump at Kimba, but many opponents.
Victorian Liberal Party rejects nuclear power, also rejects climate denialism.
CLIMATE. Australia’s security, like America’s, is threatened in unexpected ways, by climate change. While coal mining contributes to climate change, climate change is wiping out coal mining revenue! Adani coal mine granted UNLIMITED ACCESS TO GROUNDWATER. Adani coal railway line plan in breach of Australian government policy. While the Australian government slumbers on, business takes lead on climate disasters.
RENEWABLE ENERGY Despite the blindness of Australian govt and vested interests, the switch from ‘base load’ to smart grid energy is underway. With big solar, Australia can meet renewable energy target of 33,000GWh by 2020. New Queensland homes can have Solar + Tesla battery storage. A cautionary tale about going off grid with solar energy.
Will Australia be drawn into a fresh conflict in the Middle East?
Syria missile attack: Will Australia be drawn into a fresh conflict in the Middle East?http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/syria-missile-attack-will-australia-be-drawn-into-a-fresh-conflict-in-the-middle-east-20170407-gvfx0y.html David Wroe
Is Australia about to be drawn into another military conflict alongside the United States in the Middle East?
Trump notably called “on all civilised nations to join us in seeking to end the slaughter and bloodshed in Syria [and] to end terrorism of all kinds and all types”.
Might he go further and intervene more fully in Syria to remove Assad while brokering some kind of stable peace?
Notwithstanding Trump’s strong words and those of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in the past 24 hours, removing Assad remains just as tangled a proposition as it has at any time in the past couple of years during which it has eluded the international coalition.
To do so without the co-operation of Russia, Assad’s most powerful ally, would mean the US was taking on a major power. That would take a major military intervention requiring air power and ground troops, including Australia’s.
The sheer magnitude of that means it is more likely that the US military action will remain a limited strike to punish Assad over the chemical attack. Trump is finally responding to the crossing of the famous red line that his predecessor had drawn but then failed to enforce. He is saying that he will not hold all the might of the US military on a tight leash when there are such deliberate and cruel provocations.
Russia can tolerate this limited attack on its ally – indeed it may even be so frustrated by this latest chemical attack that it ditches Assad for a new leader from his Alawite tribe who suits Moscow’s purposes. Assad has no viable way to retaliate against the US. Therefore this should not escalate the broader conflict and should not mean an expanded role for Australia.
Apart from anything else, Australia’s legal basis for air strikes against the Islamic State in Syria – defending Iraq at the request of its government – does not extend to attacking the Assad regime.
But this is a complicated conflict with many players, and Trump has just proved himself to be an unpredictable president. Even if it is meant as a limited strike, the X-factor is that someone will decide to hit back somehow – Assad through some indirect means such as attacking Israel, Russia by deliberately conflicting with coalition air forces operating in Syria, or Iran perhaps through its proxy Hezbollah.
If Trump was prepared to act so swiftly and decisively over the chemical attack, he may well do the same again if the other side takes the next step. Then we are in an escalation and Australia would be hard pressed to avoid getting involved.
Trump administration may make further attacks on Syria. Russia accuses USA of violating international law
US warns of more Syria attacks during UN Security Council meeting, news.com.au APRIL 8, 2017 Sarah Blake, in New York, staff writers, wires THE US ambassador to the United Nations has said that the US is prepared to take further action in Syria. Nikki Haley told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council overnight that the US couldn’t wait following Tuesday’s attack and “took a very measured step last night” with its airstrikes against the Assad government.
“We are prepared to do more, but we hope that will not be necessary,” she said. “It is time for all civilized nations to stop the horrors that are taking place in Syria and demand a political solution.”
White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters that the attacks were the result of a “72-hour evolution.”
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had only said days before the US air strikes that Syria was a matter for the Syrian people to decide.
Mr Trump was offered a variety of options for a US response from his Cabinet and members of his national security team, said Mr Spicer. He gave the green light on the missile strike ahead of dinner with China’s President Xi Jinping.
Dozens of innocent people were killed in the suspected chemical attack on Tuesday.
Mr Tillerson said on Thursday that the US feels confident Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government was behind the attack and that sarin gas was apparently used.
In contrast, Russia’s UN envoy has accused the US of violating international law by carrying out the military strikes in Syria.
“The United States attacked the territory of sovereign Syria. We describe that attack as a flagrant violation of international law and an act of aggression,” Deputy Ambassador Vladimir Safronkov told the Security Council.
The UN meeting was called by Bolivia, which has also branded the US cruise missile strikes on a Syrian air base a violation of international law.
France and Britain said the US response was “appropriate” following the deaths of 86 people, including 27 children, in a suspected chemical attack on Tuesday, and laid the blame on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
As the UN Security Council meeting was going on reports indicated that the Russian Navy sent its most advanced Black Sea frigate into the Eastern Mediterranean.
USNI News reports that guided missile frigate Admiral Grigorovich – based in Sevastopol, Crimea – passed through the Bosporus Strait and into the Mediterranean.
It came as the Russian military said it will help Syria beef up its air defences.. At least seven soldiers were killed in the strike.Russia said President Vladimir Putin saw the missile strike as “aggression against a sovereign state in violation of international law”. The Kremlin claimed it has created a “serious obstacle” against forming an international coalition to fight terrorism……..
Mr Trump acted without Congressional approval………http://www.news.com.au/world/middle-east/us-missile-strike-on-syria-widely-hailed-by-world-leaders-save-for-russia/news-story/36820085601761ea254777dff2d315f5
Trump administration informed Turnbull in advance, of USA strike on Syria
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had pointedly said before news of the strikes broke that the chemical attack on civilians “cries out for a strong response”.
On Friday morning, Mr Turnbull linked the attacks to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and blamed Russia for failing to rein in its ally.
But Mr Turnbull carefully sidestepped questions about what action Australia might take against the regime after Washington appeared to ramp up its rhetoric about the need for Mr Assad’s removal.
“This is a war crime of the worst sort. It is inhumane and it has been universally condemned,” Mr Turnbull told radio 3AW………
Asked on Friday morning whether Australia would step up its military effort in Syria beyond air strikes against the so-called Islamic State group, Mr Turnbull said he had spoken “a little while ago” to Defence Minister Marise Payne and Chief of the Defence Force Mark Binskin but refused to say if any action was being discussed.
“I don’t want to speculate any further about that. You know where we stand. We have condemned this attack, utterly. It cries out for a strong response and we are in very close touch, as we always are, constant communications with our allies, in particular the United States.
In a slap at the administration of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr Turnbull said that “Russia obviously is the principal foreign sponsor of the Assad regime”.
Asked whether Russia had behaved appropriately, Mr Turnbull said, “No.”…….
Greens senator Scott Ludlum issued a statement on Friday condemning the US strikes on Syria and calling on Mr Turnbull to rule out Australian involvement in any new military campaign.
“The horror of the chemical weapons attack in Syria this week requires a credible, independent investigation, not a random barrage of missiles ordered by a clueless President,” he said. http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/malcolm-turnbull-says-syria-chemical-attack-demands-strong-response-as-military-threats-grow-20170406-gvfnqh.html
Medical waste will be only a minor fraction of the nuclear waste planned for outback South Australia
Tim Bickmore Fight To Stop Nuclear Waste Dump In Flinders Ranges SA
Don’t get sucked in by the “medical gloves & gowns” Canberra con-job:
FACT 1 – South Australia’s current hospital waste storage regimen WILL REMAIN in-situ;
FACT 2 – Radioactive metal from the 1940’s British Montebello Atom Bomb Tests IS DESTINED for the suppository;
FACT 3 – Radioactive concrete & steel from the de-commissioned Lucas Heights HIFAR reactor WILL ALSO be supposited;
FACT 4 – If/when the 10,000 Woomera barrels arrive, Radon gas WILL LEAK. This heavy invisible radioactive odourless & poisonous gas flows like water & accumulates in low-lying areas;
FACT 5 – The so-called Intermediate Level Waste ALSO RELEASES invisible radioactive odourless gasses;
FACT 6 – The lowest area in the Wallerberdina precinct is the Hookina Creek line;
FACT 7 – GLOVES & GOWNS WILL BE A MINOR FRACTION OF THE LOW LEVEL WASTE INVENTORY.https://www.facebook.com/groups/344452605899556/
Trump Breached the War Powers Resolution, in attacking Syria
In Attacking Syria, Trump Breached the War Powers Resolution http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/40160-in-attacking-syria-trump-breached-the-war-powers-resolution-s-outer-wall April 07, 2017By Robert Naiman, Truthout President Trump has attacked Syria without congressional authorization, violating the US Constitution and the War Powers Resolution.
The War Powers Resolution is a series of barriers that Congress erected in the wake of the Vietnam War to defend the constitutionally-mandated role of Congress in deciding when the US will use military force if the US has not been attacked. Continue reading
Another point of view: Trump did have legal authority to attack Syria
Experts agree that in limited instances, such as the Syrian missile attack, a president has legal authority provided in the Constitution as commander-in chief.
“Because the air strikes were undertaken by cruise missiles that put virtually no American lives at risk and because the strikes lasted only minutes, the president’s action would seem to be a lawful use of force under the Constitution. Needless to say, if further military actions were to be undertaken, they could rise to the level of requiring congressional authorization.”
Mark Pocan wrongly claims Donald Trump had no legal authority to launch missile attack on Syria http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2017/apr/07/mark-pocan/mark-pocan-wrongly-claims-donald-trump-had-no-lega/ By Tom Kertscher The morning after the U.S. cruise missiles assault on a Syrian air base, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan questioned the legal authority of President Donald Trump to order the attack.
“There is no legal basis for last night’s missile strike against Syrian military assets,” the Madison-area Democrat declared in a statement on April 7, 2017. “Congress must be called back immediately, if President Trump plans to escalate our military involvement. He must send a new Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) to Congress, as I have previously called for.”
The 59-missile assault was launched in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack by the government against Syrian civilians two days earlier. News reports quoted U.S. officials as saying Trump had the right to use force to defend national interests and to protect civilians from atrocities.
Meanwhile, first-term U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Green Bay, while praising the “limited strikes,” also said Trump “should seek congressional authorization for any sustained military operation in Syria.”
There’s certainly debate over the extent of a president’s authority to use military force without approval from Congress.
But Pocan went too far in saying there is no legal basis for Trump’s action. Continue reading
Radiation leaking from Woomera radioactive trash dump – for 16,000 years
Tim Bickmore Fight To Stop Nuclear Waste Dump In Flinders Ranges SA In April 2016 ARPANSA discovered that Radium had leaked from the 10,000 barrels stored at Woomera. http://www.arpansa.gov.au/…/inspections/2016/R16-05292.pdf This means that Radon gas is being released into the environment. Radon is heavy & tends to flow to the lowest point & accumulate. After about 4 days it transforms into a solid & infects the ground surface. As time passes more & more Radon converts to a solid that builds up & continuously increases the radioactivity wherever it may happen to land – which is at the place it arrives at after about 4 days. This will continue to happen for at least 16,000 years. https://www.facebook.com/groups/344452605899556/
Britain’s response to USA’s air strike on Syria
But Labour’s leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said the decision could worsen the humanitarian crisis.
“The US missile attack on a Syrian government airbase risks escalating the war in Syria still further,” he said. “Tuesday’s horrific chemical attack was a war crime which requires urgent independent UN investigation and those responsible must be held to account.”
Syria airstrikes: UK offers verbal but not military support to US Defence secretary backs US response to gas attack but says Britain is not committed to military action against Assad, Guardian, Anushka Asthana, 7 Apr 17, The British 
government was not asked to provide military support to the US attack on Syria but believes it was a “wholly appropriate” response to the deadly use of chemical weapons on civilians, the defence secretary has said.
Sir Michael Fallon said the UK would not get directly involved in action with combat troops or aircraft in Syria without parliamentary approval. But while he made clear that the decision to launch dozens of missiles on to a Syrian airbase in the early hours of Friday was a US one, he said Britain believed it was the right move. “We fully support this strike, it was limited, it was appropriate, and it was designed to target the aircraft and the equipment that the United States believe were used in the chemical attack and to deter President [Bashar al-]Assad from carrying out future chemical attacks,” Fallon said.
He urged Russia to learn a lesson from the action, suggesting President Vladimir Putin was the key figure to end the war. “It is Russia that has the influence over the regime that can … bring this slaughter to a stop.” Continue reading
While the Australian government slumbers on, business takes lead on climate disasters
With actuaries warning that some properties could become uninsurable in future, land values in some areas would likely plummet.
“The possibility of legal liability heightens risks for companies that aren’t responding”
While the financial sector is now seriously factoring the practical impact of climate change into their plans, many within it fear government is not.
Business takes lead on climate disasters, In the wake of cyclone Debbie, the insurance and banking industries are pushing for better mitigation measures, while the federal government lags behind. By Karen Middleton, Saturday Paper 8 Apr 17, “……..The Cannons and their neighbours join the residents of Murwillumbah, Lismore and other affected areas of NSW and Queensland in surveying the damage from cyclone Debbie, and the storms and flash flooding of its aftermath, and asking what can be done to help communities protect themselves in future.
The same questions are being asked in the boardrooms of corporate Australia – especially but not only in the finance sector – with an increasing emphasis on planning for and guarding against such events, rather than just cleaning up afterwards.
…….The Insurance Council of Australia wants the federal government to focus on mitigation as a priority in the upcoming federal budget.
“Cyclone Debbie and the floods that followed it should be a starting point for state and federal governments to address mitigation,” council spokesman Campbell Fuller said.
In the insurance and superannuation industries, work is being done on the likely longer-term impact of climate change on the frequency and ferocity of these major disasters and how they and other investors – and ultimately governments – should respond.
The big banks have also begun studying the implications of climate change on their risk exposure through mortgages reaching back 30 years. Continue reading
USA taxpayers paying the high cost of govt ignoring the financial risk of nuclear projects
While this might mean huge losses for taxpayers, the real tragedy is that financial entanglement with the project could have been avoided altogether. It’s not clear what the Department of Energy can do now to mitigate the potential for losses. In the end, the Vogtle mishap could be a very expensive way to learn what we should have known all along – the federal government cannot ignore risk when taxpayers’ money is on the lin
The High Cost of Ignoring Risk https://www.usnews.com/opinion/economic-intelligence/articles/2017-04-06/westinghouse-bankruptcy-shows-cost-of-energy-department-ignoring-risk
The bankruptcy of a company in the midst of building two nuclear reactors could leave taxpayers on the hook. By Ryan Alexander |April 6, 2017, Last week, Westinghouse Electric Co. announced that it will be filing for bankruptcy. Westinghouse, a subdivision of Toshiba Corporation, is in the process of building two AP1000 nuclear reactors for a power plant known as Plant Vogtle in Georgia. In fact, Westinghouse is bankrupt largely because of Vogtle. The project is a mess, and thanks to the $8.3 billion worth of loan-guarantees federal taxpayers have put into the project, courtesy of the Department of Energy, we are the ones who are going to take the hit if the whole things goes belly up.
In 2008, when the project originally applied for a federally backed loan guarantee, it was estimated that the two reactors under construction would begin commercial operation in April 2016 and 2017, respectively, and cost $14.3 billion. Instead of being completed this month, the project is less than halfway done, more than 39 months behind schedule, and at least $3.3 billion over budget. Now this. Continue reading
Turnbull critical of Russia’s support of Syrian govt, but will not be drawn on Australia’s response
Syria gas attack: US considers action against Assad, Turnbull in talks with Defence Chief, ABC News 7 Apr 17 “………Attack ‘cries out for strong response’: Turnbull
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull described the chemical attack as a shocking war crime, but he would not confirm if Australia would join any retaliatory military campaign.
He told Melbourne radio station 3AW he was in close touch with the United States on the issue.”We have condemned this attack utterly, it cries out for a strong response,” he said.
“The American assessment, which is shared by America and her allies is that this was an action by government forces, by Assad government forces.
“Russia obviously is the principal foreign sponsor of the Assad regime.”Mr Turnbull added that Russia had not acted appropriately in response to the attack.
He stopped short of committing Australian forces to any specific military campaign in response, saying there were already dedicated resources in Syria.
“I’ve spoken only a little while ago with the [Australian] defence minister and the chief of the Defence Force,” he added.”We are already involved in Syria in terms of making airstrikes as part of the anti-Daesh coalition, the anti-ISIL coalition.
“I don’t want to speculate any further on that.”……… http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-07/syrian-govt-sets-terms-for-any-inquiry-into-gas-attack/8424108
Galilee Blockade grandparent activists occupied office of Qld Dep Premier Jackie Trad.
‘On Tues a large group of Galilee Blockade grandparent activists occupied office of Qld Dep Premier Jackie Trad. Cayman Islands was the theme, Gautam Adani holidaying with a billion dollars of public funds.’
Eleven Hour Occupation.
Three Arrests.
One Message.
Galilee Blockade campaign http://galileeblockade.net/occupying-trad/ http://galileeblockade.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/S1010163.jpg
“Prepared with food, bedding and a camp toilet, the grandparents vowed to occupy the office until Jackie Trad (as Minister for Infrastructure) signed a legal letter stopping our money going to Adani.
NAIF’s own process is clear that the Queensland Labor Government can reject the applications of both Adani and Aurizon. …
“Bill Shorten says he is against taxpayer funds going to Adani.
Wayne Swan says it’s a slush fund for the Liberals and has asked the Auditor-General to investigate.
Jackie Trad has the power to actually stop our money going to Adani but refuses, despite 75% of Australians being against it. …
Direct action can be very fun. The grandparents engaged staff and the general public, often in song.
https://www.facebook.com/GalileeBlockade/videos/1883638468560217/
The grandparents stopped the office closing for the day, taking turns blocking the doorway for almost 5 hours. Again with music! https://www.facebook.com/GalileeBlockade/videos/1883714215219309/
Anne, Richard and John were arrested but released without charge. We broadcast this live on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/GalileeBlockade/videos/1883853088538755/
“P.S. Activist tip. What does a grandparent activist do when he’s about to be arrested.
Take a selfie and put it on Facebook!” http://galileeblockade.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/3.jpg
In India, a 9 year old girl sues Indian government over inaction on climate
Girl, 9, sues Indian government over inaction on climate change http://news.trust.org/item/20170407113847-vw8c4 by Rina Chandran | @rinachandran | Thomson Reuters Foundation, 7 April 2017 India is home to four of the 10 worst ranked cities in the world for air pollution MUMBAI, – A nine-year-old girl has filed a legal case against the Indian government for failing to take action on climate change, highlighting the growing concern over pollution and environmental degradation in the country. Continue reading
New South Wales grid operator gets 6,000MW solar proposals in 2017
Transgrid gets 6,000MW solar proposals in 2017, sees 95% 
renewables by 2050 http://reneweconomy.com.au/transgrid-gets-6000mw-solar-proposals-2017-sees-95-renewables-2050/ By Giles Parkinson on 7 April 2017 Transgrid, the owner and operator of the main transmission line in New South Wales, reports that is has received “enquiries” about more than 6,000MW of large scale solar so far in 2017.The figure, revealed by business development manager Gustavo Bodini at the Large Scale Solar conference hosted by RenewEconomy and Informa earlier this week, is more than a six fold increase over 2016, and highlights the huge interest in solar as it matches wind on costs and beats new gas (and new coal) by a significant margin.
Of course, not all that 6,000MW will be built, or even get to development approval stage, but large scale solar is clearly the energy source of choice at the moment, accounting for at least half of new projects for the renewable energy target – a share that is likely to increase in coming years.
Amy Kean, the renewable energy advocate for the NSW government, showed this slide (on original) at the conference, indicating the amount of large scale solar already installed, under construction, and those in the pipeline and the “stealth” projects, which may well refer to the Transgrid enquiries.
This graph above from Transgrid’s Bodini is the most striking – because it predicts that by 2050, 95 per cent of the demand will be delivered by renewable energy – some 65 per cent from large scale renewables like wind and solar and hydro, and another 30 per cent from “distributed energy”.
That’s why, says Bodini, we need to get out and test new technologies, such as battery storage, to see how they operate and integrate with the grid.
There is some grace. There will be enough synchronous generation, Bodini says, within the whole National Electricity Market by 2030 to provide the inertia required to keep the grid stable. From that point, as more of the legacy coal and gas plants retire, it will be up to new technologies to take over.
The grid of the future, he says, will focus on better ways of managing peak demand, energy efficiency, widespread deployment of distributed generation (mostly solar), network based storage and new market rules to allow this to happen and one that promotes “genuine competition” and protects consumers when there is ineffective competition.
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 