Mirrar people at last gain some control over their traditional land, as uranium miners leave
Jabiru native title claim victory for Mirarr traditional owners https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-09/mirarr-country-jabiru-native-title-determination-nt/10479708
Traditional owners in Jabiru, 300 kilometres east of Darwin, are celebrating after their native title rights and interests were successfully recognised under Australian law.
Key points:
- Native Title application first lodged on behalf of the Mirrar people in 1998
- Determination gives native title parties security to ensure their rights are protected
- As mining interests leave, traditional owners hope to revitalise the struggling town
Generations of Mirarr people have lived traditionally and used the land within the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park for thousands of years.
In 2017, researchers uncovered a wealth of artefacts on Mirarr country which indicated humans reached Australia at least 65,000 years ago — up to 18,000 years earlier than archaeologists previously thought.
Today, a special on-country hearing will be held to present the Mirarr native title holders, led by five senior women, with hard copies of the native title determination over areas of the Jabiru township. Continue reading
A federal election issue? Future management of Australia’s nuclear wastes?
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE WASTE
Ben Heard’s recent outing on 60 Minutes Australia in my view highlighted the fundamentally flawed issue regarding Nuclear as a solution to energy. In Australia we have been mining it, refining it, selling it and using it for around 60 years and in all that time, no one has invested much effort into figuring out what to do with it in terms of WASTE. (We’re now becoming even more aware of the disgrace at Woomera, South Australia)
Its pretty obvious to most that the nuclear industries continued efforts to sell the benefits of nuclear only serve to attempt to keep the public’s eyes off the concern of what you do with the WASTE.
The next example of “Smoke and Mirrors” is to say that Papers have been written about the issue of waste so that’s supposed make it OK. It borders on offensive the arrogance these people convey.
Rather than persisting with continually wiping the egg from their faces by defending the indefensible, I have wondered why they don’t invest their efforts into solving the waste issue safely. I have often considered that if the pharaohs used Nuclear, we’d still be looking after the waste today.
Could this be a Federal Election issue now?
Mining industry and union get together to prevent mining clean-up legislation
Have you noticed how quickly Liberal members of parliament jump into the 
polluting industries ?
The mining industry and powerful CFMMEU join forces on mining reforms, Brisbane Times, By Felicity Caldwell, 9 November 2018 — The Queensland mining industry and a powerful union have joined forces to pressure the state Labor government to make changes to planned reforms that will force miners to clean-up their sites.
Earlier this week, the Brisbane Times reported state government officials were holding daily talks with the Queensland Resources Council over amendments to the Mineral and Energy Resources (Financial Provisioning) bill, amid mining industry concerns about retrospectivity that could affect existing mines, and aspects of a public interest test.
Miners would have to pay, according to risk, into a pool of funds that would be used to clean up land.
It came after it was revealed taxpayers may have to pay up to $40 million in clean-up costs after the collapse of Clive Palmer’s Queensland Nickel refinery in Townsville.
On Friday afternoon, Queensland Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane wrote to all 93 state MPs to say the industry was “deeply concerned” the government’s proposed amendments had the “potential to be retrospective” and would “therefore put Queensland’s multibillion-dollar resources industry at risk”………
The QRC also sent a joint letter with the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU) to cabinet members, which said the two bodies could not support the government’s proposed amendments………
Earlier, Greens MP Michael Berkman called on Labor not to buckle to pressure and weaken reforms.
“It’s time to pick a side: are you with the mining billionaires or with everyday Queenslanders?” he asked.
“It’s great that cabinet are reportedly considering some improvements, and we would support stronger reforms, but I still haven’t seen any details.”
In September, Mr Berkman wrote to Ms Trad, Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch, crossbenchers and the opposition, asking for support for Greens amendments to the bill, including making “sure no coal mine can ever leave behind a toxic final void”.
“Queenslanders understand that if you make a mess, you should clean it up. There is nothing ‘retrospective’ about that,” he said.
The government amendments were due to go before cabinet on Monday, with the bill to be debated next week.https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/the-mining-industry-and-powerful-cfmmeu-join-forces-on-mining-reforms-20181109-p50f5j.html
Australia’s renewable energy opportunity- export industry and jobs creation
In energy, Australians are already world beaters who have voted with their … roofs.
Renewable projects that are planned and under construction in Queensland alone have created more than 35,000 jobs.
visit www.fairdinkumpower.com.au, read the manifesto and sign the pledge
Why Australia needs to be a renewable energy superpower https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/the-economy/why-australia-needs-to-be-a-renewable-energy-superpower-20181109-p50f0h.html Mike Cannon-Brookes , Australia has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to redefine its place in the world through the production of renewable energy. I share a vision with thousands of Aussies who believe we can get Australia to 100 per cent renewable energy. This transition not only benefits the planet – it presents one of the greatest economic opportunities for our country in terms of job creation and economic growth over the next 10 to 20 years.
Moving our energy generation entirely to renewables is an aspirational and achievable national goal, of which we could be justifiably proud. But we can do better than that. We should be aiming to turn Australia into a renewable energy superpower that exports energy into Asia. Continue reading
Election of 100 women to U.S. Congress gives hope for changing the nuclear status quo
As these newly-elected women converge on Capitol Hill and are sworn in January, they have the opportunity to challenge the nuclear status quo and usher in a new era of nuclear nonproliferation. Many of our nuclear policies have been the same since the invention of the atomic bomb. The president’s nuclear posture review touts “escalate to de-escalate” and relies on the Cold War tactic of mutually assured destruction. The president maintains the sole authority to launch a nuclear weapon and can do so at any time without further authorization. Right now, the United States is risking a return to the Cold War by trashing international agreements regarding nuclear weapons (INF, JCPOA) and building “more usable” nuclear weapons.
Women have played a crucial role in ending dangerous nuclear policies in the past. They led the way in demanding that the United States government put an end to atmospheric nuclear testing after their organizing efforts revealed radioactive isotopes in baby teeth. They led the nuclear freeze movement of the 1980’s. Today, Beatrice Fihn is leading the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize winner, in their work to advance the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons which has now has 69 signatories.
While men have been caught up in the need to build bigger, better weapons regardless of the monetary, health, or environmental costs, women have understood the existential threat these weapons pose. Women have and continue to push back on the assumption that we cannot survive without our nuclear arsenal.
Right now, there’s a small but growing women’s movement against nuclear weapons taking place across the United States. Women in state legislatures from Georgia to California have introduced resolutions in nine states calling on Congress to end the president’s sole authority to launch a nuclear weapon. The president has the power to unilaterally decide to launch a nuclear first strike against another country, and no one can stop the president once that order has been issued. …….
History was made on Tuesday, but it was only a first step. The incredible women who have been newly elected to serve in the 116th Congress now have the opportunity to champion policies that have been ignored by those in power for too long. Women have played an important role in reforming reckless nuclear policies in the past, and it is time for them to do it again. https://intpolicydigest.org/2018/11/08/newly-elected-women-should-challenge-u-s-nuclear-posture/
Toshiba dumps nuclear business
Toshiba Ditches UK Nuclear Business, U.S. LNG Operations, Oil Price.com
Toshiba will also liquidate another nuclear subsidiary in the UK, Advance Energy UK Limited. The loss that the company will book from the wind-ups will come in at US$130 million (15 billion yen) and will be booked in its 2018/19 results………
Earlier this year, Toshiba sold its U.S. nuclear power business, Westinghouse, for US$4.6 billion to a group of investment companies led by Brookfield Asset Management. The deal puts an end to a major headache for the Japanese conglomerate, which last year warned that it might have trouble surviving if it didn’t find a buyer for the nuclear power plant constructor, which it acquired in 2006 for US$5 billion.
Plagued by project delays and cost overruns that came up to US$6 billion for two large-scale projects in the United States, Westinghouse filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last March. The business had by that time generated US$6.3 billion in writedowns for the parent company that resulted in Toshiba reporting a net loss of US$9.1 billion for 2016……..https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Toshiba-Ditches-UK-Nuclear-Business-US-LNG-Operations.html
November 9 Energy News — geoharvey
Opinion: ¶ “Big Auto Has a Problem: Evolve Too Slowly or Cannibalize Cash Cows” • Legacy automakers have a dilemma on their hands. Transitioning to electric cars is hard. To get some understanding, Seeking Alpha’s Scott Morton takes a look at GM’s vexing EV challenges as the company tries to face off with Elon Musk on Tesla’s […]
San Onofre: Defective Holtec Nuclear Waste Storage System Must Be Recalled — Mining Awareness +
Originally posted on San Onofre Safety: Holtec UMAX lid with lower inlet air vents and upper (round) outlet air vent. The Holtec nuclear waste dry storage system (Hi-STORM UMAX) is a lemon and is putting California’s safety, economy and security at great risk. It must be recalled. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Southern California Edison,…
via San Onofre: Defective Holtec Nuclear Waste Storage System Must Be Recalled — Mining Awareness +
Malcolm Turnbull’s double back-flip on 100 per cent renewable energy — RenewEconomy
Out of politics, and without a tie, Turnbull says 100% renewables achievable, dispatchable, and so cheap that new coal just won’t be built. The post Malcolm Turnbull’s double back-flip on 100 per cent renewable energy appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Malcolm Turnbull’s double back-flip on 100 per cent renewable energy — RenewEconomy
Small scale solar surge continues to reshape Australia’s grid — RenewEconomy
AEMO report shows big surge in rooftop solar, eating away at demand, displacing coal and depressing prices. The post Small scale solar surge continues to reshape Australia’s grid appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Small scale solar surge continues to reshape Australia’s grid — RenewEconomy
Victoria’s first big battery charges up on state grid — RenewEconomy
Ballarat big battery, the first in Victoria, starts charging and discharging activity on the grid. The post Victoria’s first big battery charges up on state grid appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Victoria’s first big battery charges up on state grid — RenewEconomy
Norway, Portugal and Costa Rica make history reaching 100% clean energy generation wind, solar, hydroelectric — ENERGIA LIMPIA XXI
Photo by Flickr on Pexels.com In 2018 two countries joined the prestigious club of those who are already 100% renewable, at least during certain times of the year, these countries are Norway and Portugal. Portugal It been quite a while since Portugal started tos invest in renewables and these efforts finally have paid off transforming […]
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 