Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop ‘s timely warning on the danger if USA were to scrap the Iran nuclear agreement
Julie Bishop warns Donald Trump’s Iran backflip could weaken pressure on North Korea, SMH, David Wroe, 29 Oct 17,
Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop has said there is a “powerful argument” that US President Donald Trump’s threat to scrap the Iran nuclear deal could imperil efforts to negotiate a peaceful outcome with North Korea.
In a significant sharpening of Australia’s public rhetoric on the Obama-era Iran agreement, Ms Bishop said she had asked US officials, including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, how they would counter the argument that North Korea could not trust the US if it walked away from previous international agreements…..
The US President vowed during his election campaign to tear up the deal, but this month kicked the issue to the US Congress, effectively demanding it either come up with a tougher approach or he would follow through on his threat to scrap it.
By endorsing the argument that ditching the deal could set back efforts to negotiate with North Korea over its nuclear program, Ms Bishop has taken the firm, if diplomatically sensitive position, of pressuring the White House not to push ahead with what many international experts say would be a self-defeating move but one in which Mr Trump is personally invested.
Ms Bishop said she had discussed the matter with American officials last month after Iran mounted the argument to the United Nations General Assembly that the US would lose credibility including in its stand-off with North Korea.
“Iran was immediately on the front foot saying … ‘Why would North Korea sit down and negotiate with the United States as we, Iran did, if the United States feels that it’s able to walk away from an agreement that was embodied in a UN Security Council resolution?'” Ms Bishop told Fairfax Media…….http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/bishop-warns-trumps-iran-backflip-could-weaken-pressure-on-north-korea-20171027-gz9t0j.html
Britain’s costly Trident nuclear weapons system is subsidised by its ‘peaceful’ nuclear power industry
This British document highlights the way that the nuclear weapons industry is subsidised by the ‘peaceful’ nuclear power industry. This could happen eventually in Australia too, and I have no doubt that this is the aim of some of Australia’s defense ‘experts’
channelling revenues ultimately funded by electricity consumers towards a joint civil-military national nuclear industry base
Evidence from Andy Stirling and Philip Johnstone: As the early part of the process of the BEIS Committee Brexit Inquiry has unfolded, the salience of this civil/military link is being further underscored in statements in which a number of relevant senior civil servants and ministers are confirming that the priority attached to UK military submarine capabilities is deeply entangled in strategic commitments to civil nuclear industry strategy 6 . Several possibly serious implications therefore arise in relation to the particular circumstances of Brexit.
Parliament 27th Oct 2017 http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/business-energy-and-industrial-strategy-committee/leaving-the-eu-implications-for-the-nuclear-industry/written/71514.pdf
Written evidence from the University of Sussex, Science Policy Research Unit (BRN0015)
1. We submit this evidence to the inquiry on Brexit and the Implications for UK Business.s. The content draws on a detailed submission by the same authors to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), discussed at the PAC witness session on Monday 9 th October 2017, which informed illuminating exchanges with senior civil service witnesses to that Committee and was subsequently published by PAC 1 . A number of potentially important implications arise in relation to issues under discussion around Brexit.
2: This earlier evidence to PAC addressed the otherwise difficult-to-explain intensity of Government commitments to civil nuclear power in the face of growing recognition of the relative competitiveness of alternative UK low carbon energy investments. Multiple grounds were found for inferring that this persistent Government attachment is due, at least in part (and with no public discussion), to perceived needs to engineer a cross-subsidy from electricity consumers to help cover costs of a national nuclear industrial base that is deemed to be essential for maintaining UK military nuclear infrastructures 2 .
3: The issues that arise are central to the general remit of the BEIS Committee. For instance, this recent evidence to the PAC documents significant statements by the National Audit Office, which suggest that UK military nuclear infrastructures are being bolstered by revenue flows to UK industry strategy in other sectors Continue reading
US Defense Secretary says US will never accept a nuclear North Korea
US will not accept a nuclear North Korea: Mattis, The Pentagon’s chief says the threat of nuclear missile attack by North Korea is accelerating. AP – SBS Wires, Reuters – SBS Wires, 29 Oct 17,
Mixed messages from USA on the possibility of talks with North Korea
US refusal to accept N. Korea as nuclear power leaves little room for talks By KIM GAMEL | STARS AND STRIPES October 29, 2017 SEOUL, South Korea – Defense Secretary Jim Mattis insisted the United States will never accept North Korea as a nuclear power, warning the communist state will face a massive military response if it attacks.
But he also clung to diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the standoff over the North’s nuclear weapons program.
The mixed messages reflect the lack of good options in dealing with the North, which conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test on Sept. 3 and has made rapid progress in developing a missile that could threaten the U.S. mainland.
U.S. policy has been aimed at forcing Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambitions. but North Korea has defiantly persisted with its efforts despite punishing economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure.
While both sides say that in principle they’re willing to return to dialogue, the standoff over the North’s nuclear ambitions leaves little room for negotiation……..https://www.stripes.com/news/us-refusal-to-accept-n-korea-as-nuclear-power-leaves-little-room-for-talks-1.495161
Anti Adani coal mine protests to be a continuing feature of Queensland election
Anti-Adani protests to dog Qld election, Herald Sun, Ed Jackson, Australian Associated Press, October 29, 2017 Anti-Adani protesters have tried to upstage Annastacia Palaszczuk as she tried to kick of the Queensland election……Anti-Adani protesters were also waiting outside Government House when she called on the acting governor Catherine Holmes to request writs be issued for the November 25 election.
South Africa’s finance Minister says NO to nuclear power
Australian nuclear shill Ben Heard went to south Africa to promote nuclear power. His persuasive skills apparently did not work, when it comes to the economic argument.
Gigaba says no to nuclear, Fin 24, 2017-10-29 – Sipho Masondo and Setumo Stone, Johannesburg – Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba says drastic steps are needed to help South Africa’s ailing economy – including freezing senior civil servants’ salaries and selling chunks of state-owned enterprises.
Drug use by British navy sailors on nuclear Trident submarine – 9 fired
British navy sailors on nuclear Trident submarine fired after failing drug tests, ABC News, 29 Oct 17, Britain’s navy has fired nine sailors serving on a nuclear-armed submarine after they tested positive for cocaine, the country’s defence ministry says.
The crew were from HMS Vigilant, one of four Royal Navy submarines which operate the Trident nuclear missile system.
“We do not tolerate drugs misuse by service personnel. Those found to have fallen short of our high standards face being discharged from service,” a Royal Navy spokesman said.
The Daily Mail newspaper reported that the sailors had failed drugs tests while the submarine was docked in the United States to pick up nuclear warheads and undergo work, and the sailors had been accommodated in hotels on shore……http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-28/british-navy-sacks-nuclear-submariners-over-cocaine-use/9096396
Australian involvement in coal mining venture all too close to Cumbrian nuclear site
Scisco Media 27th Oct 2017, Back in 2015 the Champagne glasses were clinking in The Four Seasons, a Chinese restaurant in Whitehaven, Cumbria. West Cumbria Mining was
“happily toasting the recent visit to the UK of Chinese premier Xi
Jinping.” As well they might. Over £14m of funding for the development
has come from EMR Capital Resources Fund, an Australian-managed private
equity fund. Managed by Owen Hegarty and Jason Chang, pride of place in the
head office is a photo of “an Australian politician at the signing of an
agreement between EMR and a bank in China”.
https://sciscomedia.co.uk/cumbrian-coal-mine-china-connection/
Queensland poll to be stress test for future of renewables in Australia — RenewEconomy
Queensland election means delay for major renewables and storage tender, but will also be major litmus test for future of industry in Australia.
via Queensland poll to be stress test for future of renewables in Australia — RenewEconomy
Incineration, Processing and Interim Storage at Okuma-Futaba Facility — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
As you may see the Mainichi’s article below does mention the incineration which will take place at this facility. The Asahi ‘s article below on the other hand completely omits to talk about the incineration, lying by omission. The radioactive debris will be first incinerated to reduce their volume to 1/50 of their initial volume, […]
via Incineration, Processing and Interim Storage at Okuma-Futaba Facility — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
Minister for Adani” is back – and pushing for mega coal mine and new coal generator
Matt Canavan says his immediate priority is to get NAIF funding for the Adani coal mine and a new coal-fired generator in north Queensland.
via Minister for Adani” is back – and pushing for mega coal mine and new coal generator — RenewEconomy
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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