Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

The National Party’s Barnaby Joyce recommends nuclear power for impoverished rural Australians

Barnaby Joyce’s thwarted ambitions glow like a nuclear meltdown, “……….  Mr Joyce’s commentary this week on nuclear energy, raising Newstart, and an Indigenous voice to Parliament is also a transparent re-branding exercise – the type favoured by disgraced politicians when they’re trying to rebuild their leadership credentials.

You might recall that Mr Joyce was doing a lot of leadership posturing in the lead-up to the May federal election. Some political observers even reported that the former Deputy PM’s return to the Nationals leadership was such an inevitability that it could possibly happen even before the election…….

the backbencher missed out on a seat in Scott Morrison’s new ministry and also lost his special drought envoy role, although Mr Joyce did retain a gig as chair of a parliamentary committee.

Using what was left available to him, namely the chairman’s role, Mr Joyce kicked off a campaign to become relevant again by claiming his committee should hold an inquiry into establishing nuclear power in Australia.

Yet again demonstrating his expertise in energy policy, the former accountant claimed in a radio interview last weekend that technological advances had essentially made nuclear energy “safe” – and that impoverished Australians living in regional Australia would vie to live near a nuclear power plant if it meant they would receive lower-cost or free electricity in return. To be fair, this is how the French established their nuclear power stations with minimal community dissent.

These reassuring words may well be what mining magnate Gina Rinehart and other investors with uranium interests told Mr Joyce, but the vested interests omitted to explain how expensive it is to build a safe nuclear power station, and how long it takes.

Meanwhile, solar and wind farms with battery storage can be built in remote locations too, but at less cost and in less time, with no need to worry about long-term radioactive waste. Yet pesky details are not what the Barnaby 2.0 campaign is all about………  https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/2019/07/19/barnaby-joyce-leadership-ideas/

Advertisements

July 20, 2019 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics | Leave a comment

New research shows how low dose ionising radiation promotes cancer

Low doses of radiation promote cancer-capable cells, Science Daily 

New research in mice helps to understand the risks around exposure to low doses of radiation, such as CT scans and X-rays

Date
July 18, 2019
Source:
Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
Summary:
New research finds that low doses of radiation equivalent to three CT scans, which are considered safe, give cancer-capable cells a competitive advantage over normal cells.

Low doses of radiation equivalent to three CT scans, which are considered safe, give cancer-capable cells a competitive advantage over normal cells in healthy tissue, scientists have discovered. Researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the University of Cambridge studied the effects of low doses of radiation in the esophagus of mice.

The team found that low doses of radiation increase the number of cells with mutations in p53, a well-known genetic change associated with cancer. However, giving the mice an antioxidant before radiation promoted the growth of healthy cells, which outcompeted and replaced the p53 mutant cells.

The results, published today (18 July) in Cell Stem Cell show that low doses of radiation promote the spread of cancer-capable cells in healthy tissue. Researchers recommend that this risk should be considered in assessing radiation safety. The study also offers the possibility of developing non-toxic preventative measures to cut the risk of developing cancer by bolstering our healthy cells to outcompete and eradicate cancer-capable cells……..

Low doses of radiation equivalent to three CT scans, which are considered safe, give cancer-capable cells a competitive advantage over normal cells in healthy tissue, scientists have discovered. Researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the University of Cambridge studied the effects of low doses of radiation in the esophagus of mice.

The team found that low doses of radiation increase the number of cells with mutations in p53, a well-known genetic change associated with cancer. However, giving the mice an antioxidant before radiation promoted the growth of healthy cells, which outcompeted and replaced the p53 mutant cells.

The results, published today (18 July) in Cell Stem Cell show that low doses of radiation promote the spread of cancer-capable cells in healthy tissue. Researchers recommend that this risk should be considered in assessing radiation safety. The study also offers the possibility of developing non-toxic preventative measures to cut the risk of developing cancer by bolstering our healthy cells to outcompete and eradicate cancer-capable cells…….

Dr Kasumi Murai, an author from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: “Giving mice an antioxidant before exposing them to low doses of radiation gave healthy cells the extra boost needed to fight against the mutant cells in the esophagus and make them disappear. However, we don’t know the effect this therapy would have in other tissues — it could help cancer-capable cells elsewhere become stronger. What we do know is that long term use of antioxidants alone is not effective in preventing cancer in people, according to other studies.” … https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190718150933.htm
 

July 20, 2019 Posted by | General News | Leave a comment

Federal Court Adani decision: Wangan and Jagalingou’s rights fight will continue

   https://wanganjagalingou.com.au/federal-court-adani-decision-%EF%BB%BFwjs-rights-fight-will-continue/  12 July 2019    ‘Near enough is good enough for Aboriginal rights’ under Native Title Act

Adani ILUA remains tainted, W&J to consider High Court action

Court decision will not silence dissent

THE Wangan and Jagalingou Family Council says today’s decision by the Federal Court dismissing their appeal confirms that when it comes to Aboriginal rights in Australia, “near enough is good enough” under the Native Title Act.

The Council says it will not give up, but instead consider grounds to seek leave to the High Court and work to build public pressure on the Queensland Government to accept their part in dividing their people and ignoring their rights.

The full bench of the Federal Court today dismissed the appeal brought by five W&J appellants against the certification and registration of the Adani ILUA.

The Council noted the decision hinged only on the question of whether the certification and registration of the Adani ILUA were handled according to the legal requirements of the Native Title Act. It did not ‘pull back the veil’ on the contested dealings leading up to and after the Adani meeting more than three years ago.

The Council says no one can draw any conclusion from this decision that those attending the Adani meeting were actually entitled under the laws and customs of Wangan and Jagalingou people to sign away their rights in land for monetary compensation.

Wangan and Jagalingou Council senior spokesperson, Adrian Burragubba said: “Today is NAIDOC. A day of celebration for our community, where we come together to share our culture, and our dreams and aspirations, with our families and friends, brothers and sisters. We join together in strength as First Nations people.

“But this is a day to remember. On ‘black fella day’ the Full Bench of the Federal Court denied us our right to stand up and say ‘that’s our land and we’re not going to give it away’.

“We don’t intend to give up. We will build public pressure on the Queensland Government to accept their part in dividing our people and ignoring our rights.

“In keeping with international law, there has never been any free prior and informed consent when it comes to this ILUA with Adani. A lot of our people were played into position by the Government and Adani and stitched up by a legal process they have no control over.

“We will continue our fight with the support of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, as demonstrated at NAIDOC here in Brisbane today,” he concluded.

Murrawah Johnson, a spokesperson for the Wangan and Jagalingou Council said: “Our Council will continue to pursue all legal and political avenues in opposition to the coal mine and the destruction of Wangan and Jagalingou Country.

“We will review the decision of the Federal Court and take legal advice. We will consider any grounds to seek leave to the High Court. The Adani ILUA has been upheld, as Justice Perry said, “notwithstanding any deficiencies which might have tainted the validity of the certification”.

“With Adani commencing initial works, our focus will shift to exposing the failure of the State Government in issuing the mining leases without an ILUA and without consent.

“Today’s decision does not retrospectively validate the Queensland Government’s abysmal conduct in backing Adani and stepping on our rights.

“We will challenge the issuing of environmental approvals, given without regard to First Nations cultural rights in our land and waters, and the plants and animals that depend upon them.

“We know we have always had a fight on our hands. That fight is not just with Adani, but with the Federal and Queensland Governments. It is shameful that the State delivered mining leases to Adani without an ILUA or our consent, and twice the Federal Government intervened in our cases to ensure Adani’s interests, including in this most recent appeal”, she concluded.

July 20, 2019 Posted by | aboriginal issues, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL | Leave a comment

Adani’s search for scientists’ names – pressure on scientists to shut up about climate change, water scarcity?

Adani has set a dangerous precedent in requesting scientists’ names, The Conversation     Samantha Hepburn, Director of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University
July 17, 2019  A freedom of information request has revealed Adani sought the names of CSIRO and Geoscience Australia scientists involved in reviewing groundwater management plans related to its proposed Carmichael mine.

Adani argued it required a list of people involved in the review so as to have “peace of mind” that it was being treated fairly and impartially on a scientific rather than a political basis.

Ten days before Adani’s request, Geoscience Australia’s acting director of groundwater advice and data reportedly raised concerns that Adani had “actively searched/viewed” his LinkedIn profile and that of a colleague.

Significantly, Adani’s request to the government was made before CSIRO and Geoscience Australia had reported their review findings back to the Queensland government.

While the federal Department of the Environment and Energy reportedly declined to hand over the names, the fact the letter was sent in the first place is concerning. It fundamentally interferes with the capacity of individual scientists to provide clear and informed evaluation………..

The letter sent by Adani requesting the names of scientists was allegedly grounded in concerns about the possibility of anti-Adani activism by expert reviewers. Despite this, Adani made it clear that it was not explicitly alleging bias. Its objective, the letter said, was a desire to be “treated fairly and in a manner consistent with other industry participants”.

The real purpose of the letter

If Adani was seriously concerned about a breach of procedural fairness in the review of their groundwater management plan, it would have sought a judicial review. It did not – because there was no breach.

The scientists working at CSIRO and Geoscience Australia are all experts in their disciplines. They were engaged in the important process of determining whether Adani’s plan for managing groundwater around their mine would meet the environmental conditions of their mining licence. In other words, the scientists were doing their job…….

As Adani has not brought an action for judicial review, the substantive purpose of the letter appears to be, as suggested by CSIRO representatives, to pressure scientists and potentially seek to discredit their work. The potentially chilling effect is clear.

Concern about climate change is not bias

The profound concerns raised by climate change and fossil fuel emissions are shared by many scientists around the world. The reports prepared for the International Panel on Climate Change make it clear that coal fired electricity must drop to nearly zero by 2050 to keep warming within 1.5℃.

This shared concern does not make scientists political activists. Nor does it prevent scientists from acting fairly and impartially when reviewing a groundwater management plan.

An acceptance of climate science and even a belief that coal-fired energy should be decommissioned does not constitute bias. A reasonable bystander would expect most environmental scientists to be concerned about climate change…….

The letter, sent before the review was handed down, sets a dangerous precedent. Not because it suggests the scientists were impartial or there was any procedural unfairness involved in the process. But rather, because it jeopardises the independence of our scientists who, in seeking to ensure the longevity of our water, food and energy resources, carry a heavy responsibility to the public interest.  https://theconversation.com/adani-has-set-a-dangerous-precedent-in-requesting-scientists-names-120487?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The%20Weekend%20Conversation%20-%201363812812&utm_content=The%20Weekend%20Conversation%20-%201363812812+CID_b76b199d2a9f41a0b97b5b71ad372c57&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Adani%20has%20set%20a%20dangerous%20precedent%20in%20requesting%20scientists%20name

July 20, 2019 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, civil liberties, politics | Leave a comment

High temperatures forcing shutdowns on nuclear power in France

Hot weather could force EDF to halt output at Golfech nuclear plant, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-electricity-heatwave/hot-weather-could-force-edf-to-halt-output-at-golfech-nuclear-plant-idUSKCN1UE0PW  19 July 19 

PARIS (Reuters) – French utility EDF may have to shut down electricity generation at its 2,600 megawatt (MW) Golfech nuclear power plant in the south of France from Tuesday July 23 because of high temperatures forecast on the Garonne river.

The power utility uses water from the river to cool the two reactors at the plant, but French meteorological services have forecast hot and dry weather next week, with a risk of a heatwave in the southeastern parts of the country.

“Due to the temperature forecasts on the Garonne, production restrictions are likely to affect EDF’s nuclear power plant at Golfech from Tuesday July 23,” the company said, adding that both reactors could be unavailable.

EDF operates France’s 58 nuclear reactors, which account for more than 75 percent of the country’s electricity needs. Its use of water from rivers as a reactor coolant is regulated by law to protect plant and animal life.

The company is obliged to reduce output from its reactors when water temperatures rise or when river levels and the flow rate are low.

Low flow rate for the Rhone river because of drought conditions has also curtailed power generation in recent weeks at EDF’s St. Alban, Bugey, Cruas and Tricastin nuclear power plants. St Alban has capacity of 2,600 MW while the other three each have 3,600 MW of capacity.

In a separate note on its website on Friday EDF said that power generation could be reduced by about 30 percent at its 1,300 MW St. Alban 1 nuclear reactor on Saturday.

Reporting by Bate Felix; Editing by David Goodman

July 20, 2019 Posted by | General News | Leave a comment

Ukraine’s nuclear power plans – serious doubts about safety

experts are still studying the cancerous, continent-spanning impact of the 1986 meltdown, which took place just outside the small town of Prypyat, some 150 kilometers north of Kyiv, and belched billions of radioactive particles into the wind.

In Ukraine alone, nearly two million people are estimated to have been victims in some way of the disaster, caused by cost-cutting and negligence. The Ukrainian government pays the price today: in compensation to the families of at least 35,000 people who died of Chornobyl related cancers. Across Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, fatality estimates reach into the hundreds of thousands

A major complaint is that Energoatom’s environmental impact assessments are unconvincing. Safety and security are insufficiently addressed, waste disposal is barely mentioned and plans to mitigate risks are severely lacking in detail..

Ukraine’s nuclear power disasters may not be over, experts warn, Kyiv Post, By Jack Laurenson. July 19 2019

Ukrainian nuclear power plants (NPPs) score poorly on security and are failing to meet some important International Atomic Energy Agency safety requirements. At the Khmelnytsky NPP, the planned addition of two extra reactors (supplied by a controversial, Kremlin-linked company) will go ahead, despite the strong concerns.

Continue reading →

July 20, 2019 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Strong opposition in Indonesia to the suggestion of nuclear power

Idea to develop nuclear energy receives strong opposition in Indonesia, The Jakarta Post
Jakarta   /   Fri, July 19, 2019  A lawmaker’s revival of an idea to build a nuclear power plant in Indonesia has triggered public debate over the pros and cons of the technology, particularly about its safety and efficiency.The proposal came from Kurtubi, a member of House of Representatives Commission VII for energy affairs, among others, who demanded the government include that type of energy generation in the 2019 to 2038 National Electricity General Plan (RUKN)……..

In response, Jonan said the government would be very cautious when considering the idea, while there were still many other energy resources in the country that had lower development costs than a nuclear power plant. “The prices of electricity from nuclear energy is less competitive,” he added. …….

Greenpeace Asia Tenggara’s climate change and energy head Tata Mustafa expressed his rejection of the idea, stressing that the country needed to focus on the development of other renewable energy resources.

“The potential of solar energy is 207 gigawatts (GW), while the potential of wind farm energy reached 66 GW,” he said as quoted by kontan.co.id, adding that he doubted the safety of nuclear energy, particularly because of the country’s position on the Ring of Fire that was frequently hit by earthquakes.

Institute for Essential Services Reform executive director Fabby Tumiwa also opposed the plan. He said he was particularly concerned about the management of radioactive waste. “The life span of a nuclear power plant is only 50 years, but radioactive waste will exist for thousands of years. Who will be responsible?” he asked. (bbn)  https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/07/18/idea-to-develop-nuclear-energy-receives-strong-opposition-in-indonesia.html

July 20, 2019 Posted by | General News | Leave a comment

NT government backs 10GW solar and storage plant, biggest in world — RenewEconomy

NT government throws its backing behind world-leading 10GW solar proposal, and gives it “major project status”. The post NT government backs 10GW solar and storage plant, biggest in world appeared first on RenewEconomy.

via NT government backs 10GW solar and storage plant, biggest in world — RenewEconomy

July 20, 2019 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

July 19 Energy News — geoharvey

Opinion: ¶ “Car Parts From Weeds: The Future Of Green Motoring?” • Cars are responsible for a lot of the carbon emissions that contribute to global warming, but their manufacture can emit as much CO₂ as all the fuel they burn. Could plastics made from weeds, modular designs, and other innovations help the motor industry […]

via July 19 Energy News — geoharvey

July 20, 2019 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Network plans for Victoria wind and solar sparks outrage from Taylor — RenewEconomy

AEMO outlines preferred network plan to unlock $10 billion of wind and solar farms, but Taylor jumps in to spark another rift with state government. The post Network plans for Victoria wind and solar sparks outrage from Taylor appeared first on RenewEconomy.

via Network plans for Victoria wind and solar sparks outrage from Taylor — RenewEconomy

July 20, 2019 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Fourth huge solar and battery project approved for South Australia — RenewEconomy

S.A. government green-lights EPS Energy plans to install a 280MW solar plus battery project near Port Pirie – the fourth huge solar and battery project in the state. The post Fourth huge solar and battery project approved for South Australia appeared first on RenewEconomy.

via Fourth huge solar and battery project approved for South Australia — RenewEconomy

July 20, 2019 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

NSW to loan up to $14,000 to homes for rooftop solar and batteries — RenewEconomy

NSW to offer households interest-free loans of up to $14,000 to install solar and storage, but concerns raised about cost benefits and if it will repeat problems in Victoria. The post NSW to loan up to $14,000 to homes for rooftop solar and batteries appeared first on RenewEconomy.

via NSW to loan up to $14,000 to homes for rooftop solar and batteries — RenewEconomy

July 20, 2019 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Solar industry fights back against surge of climate trolls on social media — RenewEconomy

The trolls are out and hunting in packs. One solar industry veteran has decided to fight back. The post Solar industry fights back against surge of climate trolls on social media appeared first on RenewEconomy.

via Solar industry fights back against surge of climate trolls on social media — RenewEconomy

July 20, 2019 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

FRV lands finance for Goonumbla solar farm, to deliver cheap power to Snowy — RenewEconomy

FRV lands finance for Goonumbla solar farm, as first of “landmark” pricing solar projects from Snowy Hydro tender gets under way. The post FRV lands finance for Goonumbla solar farm, to deliver cheap power to Snowy appeared first on RenewEconomy.

via FRV lands finance for Goonumbla solar farm, to deliver cheap power to Snowy — RenewEconomy

July 20, 2019 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Toxic Culture at Sellafield Nuclear Plant: We Need the Truth by Sellafield Whistleblower – Alison McDermott —

The following is a CrowdJustice plea for donations. I have personally donated to this as one of Radiation Free Lakeland’s first founders Duncan Ball was one such employee of Sellafield who was forced out of his job and jailed for trying to blow the whistle on the toxic culture at Sellafield. This is what Alison…

via Toxic Culture at Sellafield Nuclear Plant: We Need the Truth by Sellafield Whistleblower – Alison McDermott —

July 20, 2019 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

« Previous Entries