Antinuclear

To 7 May – Climate and Nuclear News Australia

Arguably the biggest news –  the world’s species are disappearing (and hey! – we’re vulnerable, too).

Both issues – climate change, and nuclear wastes have been in the political  headlines in anglophone countries. A pity that these seem to be rarely reported in English language in other countries, and probably not reported at all in totalitarian countries.  Good News:  In Britain, climate activists, – Extinction Rebellion, and school children’s strikes have had their political impact, as UK declares a Climate Emergency.  In Australia climate ‘paralysis’ looms over its coming election.

In USA, the battle over where to put nuclear wastes heats up with renewed political turmoil over plan for Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as nuclear waste dump. Radioactive wastes continue to trouble Europe  and UK, though not a peep out of Russia, China about theirs.

AUSTRALIA

CLIMATE. 

• What’s the cost of not acting on climate change? Climate change costings that don’t count the cost of inaction are worthless. Mark Diesendorf on Fixing the gap between Labor’s greenhouse gas goals and their policies.  Australian Greens will push Australian Parliament to declare a “climate emergency”, as Britain has done.  Young people won’t accept inaction on climate change, and they’ll be voting in droves.  Global emissions from Australian carbon exports dwarf any domestic cuts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCznSqt9Tqg
• Bob Brown leads convoy to Parliament House, says Adani coal mine expansion is the critical test for Australia’s climate action. Traditional owners fight Adani coal project, – fear destruction of their sacred wetlands.  Most people now realise that the Adani coal mine expansion is not likely to go ahead.  Schoolkids take their climate message to the politicians. Tony Abbott pooh poohs it.
• Vote Tony Out: Campaign hits streets as Steggall takes lead over Abbott. Zali Steggall, Independent candidate for Warringah, aims to tackle the health impacts of climate change.

NUCLEAR. It is left to rural South Australians to oppose the misguided national plan for nuclear waste dumping.  Federal election candidates for Grey express their views on nuclear waste dump plan.   Clive Palmer expects to hold the balance of power in Australian Parliament, says he will bring in nuclear power. Both Liberal and Labor oppose Clive’s plan.

The harm done to indigenous people, through uranium mining – and it’s happening again. Unfinished business: a new report on the Ranger uranium mine: what its clean-up means for Kakadu National Park.

RARE EARTHS.  WA rules out Lynas waste imports Western Australian govt rules out importing Lynas’ wastes from Malaysia.  Australian rare earths company Lynas is determined to keep its radioactive trash in Malaysia.

RENEWABLE ENERGY. Labor will establish South East Queensland community power hub. Labor pledges funding for renewable jobs, support for Tasmania Battery of the Nation. Labor battery subsidy could deliver 80% cut to household electricity bills. Solar schools to create 364MW virtual power plant in Labor policy plan.

Bank Australia becomes first Australian bank to purchase 100% renewables.    Big batteries help Tesla lift storage revenue near 10-fold in Australia. Wesfarmers dumps coal and turns to electric cars: Australia should follow . WA’s 130MW Badgingarra wind farm officially opens.  World’s largest Tritium EV charging R&D facility launched in Brisbane. Hanwha to launch 100% renewable “next gen” energy retailer in Australia.   International Award for Australian PV Leader.

INTERNATIONAL

Nuclear weapons companies doing very profitably out of governments. ICAN and PAX list the companies that make nuclear weapons.

Can the Non Proliferation Treaty and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons co-exist?  Hibakusha continue their mission to eliminate nuclear weapons.

High blood pressure risk from prolonged exposure to low-dose ionising radiation. Low level radiation exposure and increased risks of hypertension, cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular disease.

Why cockroaches might be able to survive a nuclear attack.

May 7, 2019 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina reviews