Politics – what hope for civil society? theme for November 20
AS I write the tortuous American election process is going on. The USA used to be a world leader . This is a gripping example of 2 different ways to run the political process. With Trump – dictatorial ruthlessness – heading to fascism, with Biden, restraint, respect for the rule of law, and a co-operative effort.
2020 has seen the continuing dictators, like Xi Jinping, Putin, Putin, Kim Jong Un, Bolsonaro, Bashar Al-Assad – , and also the drift to dictatorship in democratic countries, e.g India. As the world is faced with huge problems, many people seem to turn to uninformed, anti-science populist leaders – especially in English- language countries – USA, Britain, Australia.
So – the American election circus goes on: it is something of a test case for the world. To deal with global heating, nuclear dangers, and the pandemic, we need people of intelligence, respect for science, and the ability to co-operate.
Fortunately there are many thousands of people with all kinds of valuable skills , working on the global problems. Far too many great organisations to name here, and a lot of them under the wing of the United Nations.
The achievements can be seen, and continue to evolve, First and foremost , there’s the U.N. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, It matters, whatever the bosses of the ‘nuclear nations’ say. There’s the global work towards the 2021 United Nations Climate Change 
Conference. But, however good the work of these agencies, it can succeed only with the participation and support of millions of people
The media has a huge role to play in explaining and promoting this. But will they?
Research on the intergenerational impacts of Maralinga nuclear tests
Research on the intergenerational impacts of Maralinga nuclear tests supported by Moran Awardhttps://www.science.org.au/news-and-events/news-and-media-releases/research-intergenerational-impacts-maralinga-nuclear-tests
Henrietta Byrne from the University of Adelaide. Photo: suppliedHenrietta Byrne from the University of Adelaide is the recipient of the Academy’s 2021 Moran Award for History of Science Research.
She receives the award for her proposal entitled ‘Legacies of exposure: Tracing scientific and Indigenous understandings of exposures from the Maralinga atomic testing (1956–84)’.
Ms Byrne will explore how Australian science has responded to the question of intergenerational impacts of environmental exposures on bodies over time, focused around the British atomic testing conducted in Maralinga, South Australia between 1956 and 1968.
The National Archives of Australia and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies library, as well as interviews with leading anthropologists, will inform her research.
Her work will not only provide an important examination of scientific understandings of environmental exposure, but will also focus explicitly on the Indigenous aspects of this history.
Ms Byrne said that the award will allow her to study the relationships between Indigenous knowledges, settler colonial histories and science and technology studies.
“I’m honoured to have the support of the Australian Academy of Science to undertake this study. It is a great opportunity to engage with the archives in a way that highlights the experiences and ongoing activism of Aboriginal people whose land was exposed to radiation.”
This research is part of her broader PhD project in Anthropology and Gender Studies on environmental exposures and epigenetics in Indigenous Australian contexts.
The Moran Award for History of Science Research is worth up to $5000, and is aimed at postgraduate students and other researchers with expertise in the history of Australian science. Applications for the 2022 award will open in early 2021.
Morrison might abandon Kyoto carryover, but Australia will remain friendless without stronger policies — RenewEconomy
Morrison may be considering abandoning plans to use a controversial Kyoto surplus to meet his 2030 target, but it won’t be enough to win friends on climate. The post Morrison might abandon Kyoto carryover, but Australia will remain friendless without stronger policies appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Morrison might abandon Kyoto carryover, but Australia will remain friendless without stronger policies — RenewEconomy
November 20 Energy News — geoharvey
Opinion: ¶ “Solar Panels + Agriculture: You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” • It seems like only yesterday that the idea of combining solar panels with agriculture was just a dream. Now, the US DOE is putting down $7 million to sow the seeds for a revolution in American farming. That might not seem like much, […]
November 20 Energy News — geoharvey
1.This month.
The Road to War brings a sharp focus to why it is not in Australia’s best interest to be dragged into a war with China which will almost inevitably go nuclear very quickly. The filmmaker has interviewed some of Australia’s senior foreign policy analysts who have vast experience behind them in analysing what really is going on here as the United States rattles its sabres with China. And sets us up to be its proxy, like the poor Ukranians have been fed into the Meatgrinder. So America can remain the Top Dog. The Road to War reveals how the United States through its spy base at Pine Gap and by stationing six nuclear capable B52 bombers in the Top End (without permission from the traditional owners) is making Australia a prime nuclear target if the current war of words suddenly melts down into full scale war.
The Road to War shows the implicit connection between Carbon emissions (the US military uses a whopping 70% of America’s annual petroleum to move its armies and vast War Machine around the globe to its 800+ military bases..but under a loophole wangled at Kyoto, the US military does not have to report its C02 annual emissions). The Road to War starts screening at selected cities and regional centres in March. See the trailer end for details.
Antinuclear 