Nuclear and climate news – week to 27 January Australia
Australia’s bushfires still dominate the climate news. Despite helpful rain, as of last Tuesday, 107 fires were still burning.-More extreme heat, and more fires, are predicted. Indeed, as I write, a new bushfire is reported, in Australian Capital Territory.
Still, Australia is far from the only climate story this week. Climate change could unlock new microbes and increase heat-related deaths. Deadly flooding and landslides are striking Brazil. Extreme weather is causing falling iguanas, rise of deadly spiders and swarms of locusts. And, no doubt of prime importance to “sensible” and “corporate” humans, Climate Change could blow up the economy and the banks aren’t ready.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has moved the “Doomsday Clock” to 100 minutes to midnight, its closest to doomsday since it began ticking, due to nuclear proliferation, failure to tackle climate change and “cyber-based disinformation”.
AUSTRALIA
NUCLEAR. Australia’s megafires a wake-up call on the climate-nuclear danger.
“Ecomodernists” – Ben Heard, Oscar Archer, Barry Brook, Geoff Russell, – Australia’s pro-nuclear fake environmentalists. 1980 spill of nuclear poisons – a warning note for Kimba area.
Honeymoon uranium mine might restart this year, and pigs might fly. South Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young slams investment in South Australian uranium mine. Uranium prospects poor, but Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt and Northern Land Council agree on a new mine.
CLIMATE. Australian bushfires drive up global emissions as economic costs mount. Australia singled out for climate denial as “Doomsday Clock” ticks closer to midnight. Australia’s Finance Minister Mathias Cormann spruiks for coal and for Trump at Davos summit.
Secret research reveals rift in the Liberals, over climate change. Climate and the Coalition’s new denialism. ” Former Prime Minister Turnbull scathing about #MorrisonFromMarketing, on the climate issue. Experts slam Morrison’s false equivalence between emissions targets and hazard reduction. Tasmania’s new Liberal premier appoints himself as climate minister.
‘Money talks’: Outrage at billionaire climate sceptic’s political donations. Legal action over climate change is on the rise.
34 environmentalists and conservationists received Australia Day Awards.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Australia May Add Record Amount of Renewable Power in 2020. 23 solar farms added to grid in 2019 as PV costs fall to record lows. Bushfire crisis: The answer to future energy security lies on our rooftops. South Australia on track to 100 pct renewables, as regulator comes to party. Boost for Canberra’s growing renewable sector. Western Australia has waited far too long for renewable energy.
INTERNATIONAL
Six legal arguments against the extradition of Julian Assange to America.
New interactive flood-risk map shows that global vulnerability to sea level rise is worse than previously understood. Davos conference – an expensive exercise in corporate spin. Greta Thunberg says climate demands ‘completely ignored’ at Davos.
The global danger as insect species disappear
Nuclear recycling is a bad idea. The nuclear nations push the fantasy of Small Modular Nuclear Reactors.
World’s first public database of mine tailings dams aims to prevent deadly disasters.
Solar, storage, and wind tipped as top energy job generators.
Six legal arguments against the extradition of Julian Assange to America
Six legal arguments show why the US extradition of Julian Assange should be denied https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2020/01/25/six-legal-arguments-show-why-the-us-extradition-of-julian-assange-should-be-denied/ Tom Coburg 25th January 2020 The first of two articles examining Julian Assange’s upcoming extradition trial.
There are at least six legal reasons why the extradition request by the US against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be dismissed by the UK courts. The main extradition hearing is scheduled to commence 24 February 2020, with district judge Vanessa Baraitser presiding. The evidence to support Assange is compelling.
1. Client-lawyer confidentiality breached
2. The initial charge is flawed
1. Client-lawyer confidentiality breached
3. Initial charge relies on co-operation from Manning
4. Additional charges raised by the US are political
5. US legal precedent argues that Assange’s work is protected by the US Constitution
6. Threats of violence against Assange mean he’s unable to receive a fair trial
1. Client-lawyer confidentiality breached Continue reading
Uranium prospects poor, but Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt and Northern Land Council agree on a new mine
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NT uranium and gold mine exploration a step closer at Devil’s Elbow near Ranger Mine https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-25/ken-wyatt-approves-new-nt-uranium-mine-exploration/11896844 BY FELICITY JAMES Traditional owners and the Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt have signed off on a new exploration proposal for a uranium, gold and palladium mine in the Northern Territory.Key points:
Traditional owners fought hard against the Ranger Uranium Mine in the Northern Territory.
The Eclipse Metals project still needs approval from the NT Resources Minister but the company said in an ASX announcement it was confident approval would be granted. The site earmarked for exploration, known as Devil’s Elbow, is within Arnhem Land’s Alligator Rivers Uranium Field and lies 65 kilometres east of the Ranger Uranium Mine. The area has previously been explored and abandoned by other companies, including Cameco in 2008. Rio Tinto withdrew from a joint venture to acquire a majority stake in Devil’s Elbow, according to Eclipse Metals’ most recent annual report. The deal had been negotiated in 2016. In its announcement, Eclipse Metals said Mr Wyatt consented to the licence after a “long-standing” negotiation with the Northern Land Council and traditional owners resulted in an agreement. “The terms of the agreement are quite viable in the current market economy, allowing us to develop the Devil’s Elbow’s full potential,” director Carl Popal said in the statement. “The company looks forward to working closely with the traditional owners and the NLC in making the most of each exploration field from 2020, with bilateral benefits.” Scientist says venture may not be worthwhileThe supervising scientist branch of the Environment Department is responsible for protecting the Alligator Rivers region from the effects of uranium mining through monitoring and research. Gavin Mudd, an associate professor of environmental engineering at RMIT University who sits on the Alligator Rivers scientific committee, assists with this role. Associate Professor Mudd was sceptical about the proposal, considering market conditions and the fact the region has already been heavily explored for more than 60 years. “Sometimes you find something that other drillers and other explorers have missed, but often that’s not the case, it’s actually pretty rare,” he said. “There’s not a long-term prospect there. “I think when you’re looking at the uranium industry globally the future is not bright at all, that’s certainly how I read the tea leaves.” Associate Professor Mudd was sceptical about the proposal, considering market conditions and the fact the region has already been heavily explored for more than 60 years. “Sometimes you find something that other drillers and other explorers have missed, but often that’s not the case, it’s actually pretty rare,” he said. “There’s not a long-term prospect there. “I think when you’re looking at the uranium industry globally the future is not bright at all, that’s certainly how I read the tea leaves.”
But Associate Professor Mudd said Rio Tinto deserved some credit for committing funds to the rehabilitation of Ranger. “They haven’t just walked away, which is often what you would see a mining company do when you’ve got a mine that’s not making money anymore,” he said. |
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1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 