To 22 February, Covid-19, climate, and nuclear news
- Global Tracker: Cases exceed 111.2 million; deaths pass 2.4 million
- Vaccine Tracker: More than 202 million shots given worldwide
- Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine reduces transmission by 89%, study shows
Climate; disinformation is rampant. –”we have allowed governments around the world to throw away the time when we could have stopped the endless killer heat waves, fires, rising seas, superstorms, dying coral, dying everything. We let governments from Monarchies to Oligarchies to alleged Democracies endanger life on this planet, including our kids future.
If we can’t change that, we really are doomed.” – Alex Smith, Radio Ecoshock.
Nuclear – it is disappointing to me to listen to interviews with Bill Gates- he is not questioned on his statements pushing nuclear power for climate. It seems that being a billionaire entrepreneur qualifies him for a kind of reverent belief and trust . Meanwhile, a real climate expert , Michael Mann, has just published an authoritative book on the subject.
Hunting for good news – but it’s tricky. Lots of good news on things like individuals being kind to homeless people. But there’s a dearth of news about public, government, action to provide homes for the homeless.
AUSTRALIA.
Wise warning to Australian government to withdraw embarrassing Nuclear Waste Dump Bill.
Nothing clean about nuclear, coal or gas – Australian Conservation Foundation. Australian Liberal National Coalition enthusiastic for nuclear power. Nationals add nuclear enthusiasm to the government’s energy bill. Australia a renewables leader – or the ‘‘Saudi Arabia of nuclear energy”– Queensland neeeds job-supplying, clean, renewable energy, NOT antiquated nuclear power. News Corpse fervently promoting nuclear power to Australia.
Solar, storage to take over from Ranger uranium mine. Mediation continuing over rehabilitation of Range uranium mine.
‘Clean coal’ is nothing but a marketing scam: Energy experts.
Federal energy and emissions reduction minister Angus Taylor wants to include dirty energy in Clean Energy Finance Corporation.
INTERNATIONAL
Nuclear lobby planning to take over the U.N Climate Change Conference.
Living longterm in radioactively contaminated areas damages our health.
On nuclear power as climate solution, Bill Gates shows alarming ignorance. Bill Gates’undemocratic approach to climate crisis. New books on climate change; Michael Mann versus (nuclear promoter) Bill Gates.
The “negaWatt” – the best energy is the energy you don’t use.
Wise warning to Australian government to withdraw embarrassing Nuclear Waste Dump Bill
Peter Remta, 21 Feb 21, to Senator Slade Brockman
I am aware that the Waste Management Amendment (Site Specification, Community Fund and Other Measures) Bill 2020 has been listed in the Senate’s order of business for Tuesday 23 February but with respect suggest that this a completely futile exercise on the part of your government and the responsible minister
The bill will not be passed because of the unwavering opposition by the crossbench and any preceding debate could be extremely embarrassing for your government because of the untoward and disingenuous information previously put out by Pitt and his department and its agencies being raised by the opposing senators
If Pitt then falls back on the existing legislation he will be subject to administrative and judicial and now because of the High Court decision earlier this month in the New Acland Coal case(1) will be completely stopped with his proposals if the opposing community at Kimba start their legal action since their situation is one real and not just apprehend bias as in that case
Should that litigation ensue then practically all written material held by the government in all its guises will be fully disclosed through the litigation procedure of discovery
From my limited personal knowledge of some of that material it will prove extremely embarrassing and your government will not be able to claim any privilege to prevent its disclosure
This is the view of several senior lawyers including some retired superior court judges but ask the attorney should you have any doubts
Perhaps the most pertinent aspect of the whole situation is the proposal for Kimba will in any event fail to get any of the necessary licences as ARPANSA is already being criticised for not carrying out its proper regulatory functions with respect to ANSTO and as a result the licence applications will be subject to an overseas peer review which will completely remove the licensing process from your government and its agencies
In any case ANSTO is already under a cloud due to its dismal performance and awkward responses at the Senate estimates hearing on 29 October 2020 which will I understand be subject to further extensive questioning and explanations
Please bear in mind that I was the source of the information for the questioning senators and the further questions to be asked due to the complete inadequacy of the responses by ANSTO to the notified questions(2)
I therefore suggest that you and Dean Smith as the government whips withdraw the bill before it becomes a further embarrassment to your government in a possible election year
With kind regards
Peter Remta
(1). Oakey Coal Action Alliance Inv v. New Acland Coal Pty Ltd & Ors
High Court Case No.B34/2020
(2). SENATE ECONOMICS LEGISLATION COMMITTEE Estimates
Hansard THURSDAY 29 OCTOBER 2020
Senator Abetz pages 11 to 13 and Senator Carr pages 5 to 11
Haines proposes $483m Local Power Agency to help communities buy in to wind and solar — RenewEconomy
Independent MP Helen Haines introduces legislation to establish a new Australian Local Power Agency to support community ownership of renewable energy. The post Haines proposes $483m Local Power Agency to help communities buy in to wind and solar appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Haines proposes $483m Local Power Agency to help communities buy in to wind and solar — RenewEconomy
Antinuclear 