The US election is a vote on climate change for the whole world
The US election is a vote on climate change for the whole world, By Helen Regan, Ivana Kottasová and Drew Kann, CNN November 2, 2020 The climate crisis has become a key issue not just for American voters in this US election — but people across the world.
Australian doctors accuse government of failing on climate change
“We are also united by our concern about the climate crisis and the impact it is having on the safety and wellbeing of Australians and our neighbours. Public health is inextricably linked to climate health. Climate damage is here now – and it is killing people.”
The doctors accuse Mr Taylor of failing in his ministerial duties by directing public money to fossil fuel projects, failing to adequately reduce Australia’s emissions obligations and by not committing Australia to a 2050 net zero emissions target…….
In the letter the doctors said there is already a noticeable health impact from increased frequency and intensity of bushfires, floods, dust storms, drought and extreme heat in Australia.
“As a result, Australians are already seeing higher rates of respiratory illness, diarrhoea and morbidity requiring hospital admission during hot days, and higher rates of suicide in rural areas during drought years.
“The burning of fossil fuels such as coal and gas that drives global warming is also a major contributor to air pollution – this silent killer is linked to the premature deaths of 3000 Australians each year. Higher levels of air pollution are also associated with increasing illness and death related to ischaemic heart disease, chronic obstructive airways disease, lung cancer and asthma.” …..https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/australian-doctors-accuse-government-of-failing-on-climate-change-20201101-p56ajj.html
North of Australia is headed for a severe heatwave
 Severe heatwave could break record temperatures in the Top End, ABC By Chelsea Heaney and Amy Culpitt 2 Nov 20, Temperatures across the Top End are set to soar, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting a severe heatwave is here to stay.Key points:
After sticking out a sweaty weekend, with temperatures climbing up and over 40 degrees Celsius across various parts of the Top End, there appears to be no relief in sight and no concrete signs of any big wet season storms. Senior meteorologist Billy Lynch said the heat and sunny skies were “unusual” for this time of the year. “Darwin got up to 36.3C [on Sunday] and the rural area got up to about 39C. Then in inland parts, we saw Jabiru get to 40C and Katherine 41C,” he said. “Those temperatures are a few degrees above average, the November average for Darwin is 33C. “For Katherine the average is about 37C and we’re looking at 41C and 42C, so it’s nearly 5 degrees above average. “It is a little unusual to see temperatures getting this high at this time of year.
It’s these temperatures that have many outdoor workers worried………. Report reveals NT economically vulnerable to climate change The data comes as new research by Deloitte revealed that Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia would be the most negatively affected economically because of climate change. In the NT, the services, mining and tourism industries would be hardest hit. By 2070, the Territory could see a drop in 12 per cent of its gross domestic product and 5 per cent fewer jobs because of the impacts of climate change, the report states. Heat expert Matt Brearley urged people to reconsider their plans during the current hot spell, especially those involving the outdoors. “Those producing heat, such as people exercising or working, out camping or having a fish in the boat, they’ll lose less heat and potentially cook themselves,” he said…….. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-03/severe-heatwave-record-breaking-temperatures-northern-territory/12840316 |
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Another USA organisation abandons its involvement in NuScam’s small nuclear reactors
Heber Light & Power Take The Off Ramp On Nuclear Power KPCW, By CAROLYN MURRAY , 2 Nov 20, The Heber Light and Power Board voted to terminate their investment in the Nu Scale nuclear power program resulting in a total loss of a little overdue to off ramp fees and the original investment.
Australia hits 50pct renewables again, despite shut down of seven solar farms — RenewEconomy
Australia’s main grid reaches more than 50 per cent renewables share on Tuesday, despite closure of seven solar farms and a major wind farm for grid maintenance. The post Australia hits 50pct renewables again, despite shut down of seven solar farms appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Australia hits 50pct renewables again, despite shut down of seven solar farms — RenewEconomy
Australia hits 50pct renewables again, despite shut down of seven solar farms — RenewEconomy
Australia’s main grid reaches more than 50 per cent renewables share on Tuesday, despite closure of seven solar farms and a major wind farm for grid maintenance. The post Australia hits 50pct renewables again, despite shut down of seven solar farms appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Australia hits 50pct renewables again, despite shut down of seven solar farms — RenewEconomy
Analysis: US 2020 election: what is at stake for clean energy in this election cycle? — A greener life, a greener world
Who is the clean energy industry hoping will win this election?
Analysis: US 2020 election: what is at stake for clean energy in this election cycle? — A greener life, a greener world
Australia’s gas-led recovery is flogging a dead horse — RenewEconomy
With LNG worse for the climate than coal, Australia must adjust to the fact that its export markets are shrinking. The post Australia’s gas-led recovery is flogging a dead horse appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Australia’s gas-led recovery is flogging a dead horse — RenewEconomy
Ardern names two Greens ministers, including climate, despite landslide win — RenewEconomy
Ardern appoints two Greens ministers, including for climate change, despite her landslide win that gave Labour majority government. The post Ardern names two Greens ministers, including climate, despite landslide win appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Ardern names two Greens ministers, including climate, despite landslide win — RenewEconomy
November 2 Energy News — geoharvey
Opinion: ¶ “The US Election Is A Vote On Climate Change For The Whole World” • The climate crisis has become a key issue not just for American voters in this US election, but people everywhere. The next president’s actions during his term in office will have a profound impact on the whether the world […]
November 2 Energy News — geoharvey
Fishers and farmers fear impact of Fukushima water release — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
Storage tanks holding water contaminated with radioactive tritium at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in 2019 October 30, 2020 Fishermen and farmers in Fukushima Prefecture have voiced concern about the risk of further harmful rumors about produce from the area if the government allows Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. (Tepco), the operator […]
Fishers and farmers fear impact of Fukushima water release — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
Dumping Fukushima’s Water into the Ocean… Seriously? — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
By Robert Hunziker October 30, 2020 For nearly a decade the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant has been streaming radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean. As it happens, TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Co.) struggles to control it. Yet, the bulk of the radioactive water is stored in more than 1,000 water tanks. Assuredly, Japan’s […]
Dumping Fukushima’s Water into the Ocean… Seriously? — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
269 compensation claims linked to Fukushima plant work — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
269 compensation claims linked to Fukushima plant work deemed in Japan October 29, 2020 TOKYO, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) — A total of 269 cases related to the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant work in Japan have been deemed as job-related accidents and covered by compensation since the nuclear disaster in 2011, labor ministry officials said Thursday. […]
269 compensation claims linked to Fukushima plant work — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
To November 3, nuclear, climate, coronavirus news – Australia
Pandemic As that election day arrives, US coronavirus cases break global daily record with just under 100,000 new infections. Protecting nature is vital to escape ‘era of pandemics’ – report. Urgency to protect nature, or up to 850,000 animal viruses could be caught by humans.
Climate. In all the hooha about the American election, and all the very important coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, – global heating moves on inexorably, with relatively little media coverage of its effects. But the effects are there – in the melting Poles, in continuing wildfires, droughts, extreme weather. Effects are worsein developing countries that have not themselves been the emitters of greenhouse gases. Droughts and floods force populations to leave their homelands.
Nuclear. Not a lot of media coverage on nuclear issues, though some still about the Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. But here’s one important one:
Investigative journalism -The tangled web – well-being of communities has become dependent on the nuclear weapons industry.
Meanwhile, media coverage of nuclear issues continues to be mainly propaganda for the industry.
Some bits of good news – Chameleon last seen a century ago rediscovered in Madagascar. 14-Year-Old Girl Wins $25,000 For a Scientific Breakthrough That Could Lead to COVID-19 Cure. Couple Turns Barren English Estate into Conservation Eden, Rewilding to Attract Rare Species of Astonishing Biodiversity.
AUSTRALIA
NUCLEAR. International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)- from a tiny group to an International Treaty. Superannuation funds are leaving investments on nuclear weapons. Australia should stop selling uranium to nuclear weapon states and not sell uranium into unstable regions.
South Australian Upper House reaffirms the State’s law opposing nuclear waste dump. Australian Labor Party aims to amend the Nuclear Waste Bill, remove the stipulation of Napandee as the dump site. Time to rethink Australian government’s flawed plan on nuclear waste dumping. Problems re the planned nuclear waste dump: Some tough questions for the Kimba Council.
CLIMATE.
A Joe Biden victory could push Scott Morrison – and the world – on climate change. International team tracks record-setting smoke cloud from Australian wildfires. Bushfire royal commission’s final report issues warning to Australia over climate change. Australia is on the frontline, in the new age of fire. New report on Australians’ attitude towards climate change and energy .
British Prime Minister urges Scott Morrison on climate action: Morrison twists the message. $3 trillion and 880,000 jobs to be lost, if Australia continues inaction on climate change. Long-term research shows ocean acidification ramping up on the Great Barrier Reef. Adani hires spying on activist’s daughter on way to school.
The Greens had a remarkable win in Australian Capital Territory elections. In the Australian Capital Territory, (ACT), Labor to share power with The Greens.
Malcolm Turnbull signs Kevin Rudd’s petition challenging News Corpse media dominance.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Businesses and State governments lead the transition to renewable energy. South Australia’s global milestone -100 per cent of energy demand met by solar panels alone. The pandemic and the prospect of zero interest present a massive opportunity for clean energy development..
INTERNATIONAL
The new Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty supports existing agreements, and in no way conflicts with them. Archbishop Tomasi has led the Vatican’s fight against nuclear weapons.
Documentary history from the perspective of radiation victims.
Plutonium: How Nuclear Power’s Dream Fuel Became a Nightmare.
Despite propaganda from nuclear front group ”Third Way”, research shows that nuclear power as carbon reducer is counter-productive.
The world’s banks must start to value nature and stop paying for its destruction.
Space exploration – to lead to dangerous nuclear-armed totalitarian societies?
Super power: Here’s how to get to 100pct wind, solar and storage by 2030. Renewables, not nuclear, are the solution, for a cleaner world..
The very real risks of radiation accidents on Earth, from nuclear reactors in space.
Superannuation funds are leaving investments on nuclear weapons
 Disarmament treaty drops bomb on super funds investing in nuclear weapons, Michael West Media , by Margaret Beavis | Nov 2, 2020 Many superannuation funds exclude investment in “controversial weapons” but astoundingly this definition does not include nuclear weapons. However, this will change once the Nuclear Disarmament Treaty becomes international law, writes Dr Margaret Beavis. With two of the largest pension funds in the world already having divested, Australian funds are on notice.
It would probably come as a surprise, and a disappointment, to most Australians to hear that some of their superannuation is invested in nuclear weapons. Especially given the strong community backing for nuclear disarmament, with two surveys in 2018 and 2020 (IPSOS) showing that between 71 and 79% of respondents supported Australia signing and ratifying the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Yet the vast majority of superannuation funds have holdings in companies involved in the manufacture and maintenance of nuclear weapons. While many funds exclude investments in “controversial weapons”, astoundingly this definition often still allows nuclear weapons investment. But this is about to change. With the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which was endorsed by 122 countries at the United Nations in 2017, having just reached the milestone of 50 countries ratifying it, the treaty becomes international law in less than three months. Nuclear weapons, the worst of the weapons of mass destruction, will finally be on the same illegal footing as chemical and biological weapons. This means assistance of any sort, including financial assistance, towards nuclear weapons becomes illegal under international law. Only 26 companies support these weapons. Boeing, for example, the second largest weapons producer in the world, has contracts worth more than US$1.7 billion: building new nuclear weapons for the US, key components for the long-range nuclear Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles system, sustaining the UK Trident II system and making tail-kit assemblies for the new B61 bombs. Divestment is accelerating. Globally, major investors are already ceasing their exposure to nuclear weapons activities. This includes two of the top five pension funds in the world, the Norwegian Government Pension Fund and ABP, which have divested from the 26 companies tied to nuclear weapons. Deutsche Bank and KBC are also divesting. In Japan, 16 banks (including three mega banks) have flagged ceasing investment in nuclear weapons companies. With accelerating divestment, the risks of holding nuclear weapons stocks increases. Superannuation funds in Australia are starting to consider the financial risks, reputational risks and ethical imperatives surrounding investments in nuclear weapons. Some, like Australian Ethical, Future Super and Bank Australia have already acted……… As with climate change, there is little point accumulating funds on behalf of the community if they contribute to the deaths of billions and a severely damaged future. Quit Nukes, an Australian-based campaign launched late last year, is working to get super fund portfolios out of the financing of nuclear weapons. The campaign members have met with senior executives at more than a dozen funds, the regulator APRA, several banks, index setters and a number of industry bodies. Blackrock, MSCI and other index setters have recognised the increasing demand from the public for ethical funds and have created products to suit. The full list of funds that have already acted is on the Quit Nukes website. Consumers are increasingly concerned about their funds being invested in destructive and unethical industries and super funds need to respond. https://www.michaelwest.com.au/disarmament-treaty-drops-bomb-on-super-funds-investing-in-nuclear-weapons/ |
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1 This month
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Australians deserve the truth
about
AUKUS – https://aukuspublicinquiry.com/
PETITION – To: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Government
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
