Nuke Ban: Former Statesmen, et al Promoting — limitless life
Open Letter in Support of the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Under embargo until 21 September 2020, 00:00 UTC This open letter in support of the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons has been signed by 56 former presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers and defence ministers from 20 NATO member […]
Nuke Ban: Former Statesmen, et al Promoting — limitless life
Anything but wind or solar: Taylor’s technology plan is “roadmap to nowhere” — RenewEconomy
The Coalition’s latest energy policy labelled a ‘roadmap to nowhere’, after sidelining wind and solar and failing to set a post-2030 emissions target. The post Anything but wind or solar: Taylor’s technology plan is “roadmap to nowhere” appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Anything but wind or solar: Taylor’s technology plan is “roadmap to nowhere” — RenewEconomy
Money talks, BS walks: It’s global comedy hour, with a special Australian segment — RenewEconomy
The federal government energy and climate policy has turned into complete farce. The post Money talks, BS walks: It’s global comedy hour, with a special Australian segment appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Money talks, BS walks: It’s global comedy hour, with a special Australian segment — RenewEconomy
Technology roadmap delays climate action by denying rapid deployment — RenewEconomy
To hit climate goals we need to accelerate deployment of mature technologies beyond the ‘natural’ rate of build. The technology roadmap doesn’t do that. The post Technology roadmap delays climate action by denying rapid deployment appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Technology roadmap delays climate action by denying rapid deployment — RenewEconomy
Australians suffer $2 billion health bill from summer bushfire smoke, researchers say — RenewEconomy
Researchers estimate smoke related health costs from summer bushfires at almost $2 billion, warning climate change will make the future worse. The post Australians suffer $2 billion health bill from summer bushfire smoke, researchers say appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Australians suffer $2 billion health bill from summer bushfire smoke, researchers say — RenewEconomy
September 21 Energy News — geoharvey
Opinion: ¶ “Climate Intelligence Is Business Intelligence” • Politicization of climate change is clouding public perspective on the subject. Nevertheless, some leaders in the “real economy” are aligning with policymakers and civil society on the urgency of quickly slowing humanity’s contribution to accelerating climate change. We have a tool to support that. [CleanTechnica] ¶ “Trump […]
September 21 Energy News — geoharvey
Richest 10% Emit Double The Carbon Of The World’s Poorest — Stanisland
A new report by Oxfam has revealed the world’s richest account for 52% of global emissions
Richest 10% Emit Double The Carbon Of The World’s Poorest — Stanisland
Pandemic, climate, nuclear – very bad news, and some good news
Well, all news, by its very nature is likely to be bad. (Good behaviour is pretty ordinary, not news.) But there’s bad news, and there’s very bad news. And this has been a week for the very bads.
Start with the pandemic. The global death toll exceeds 957,000. cases nearly 31 million. India’s coronavirus cases pass 5 million as hospitals scramble for oxygen. A second wave grips Europe. UK cases could grow exponentially, if no action taken. Most of the US is headed in the wrong direction again with COVID-19 cases as deaths near 200,000.
Climate. Weather extremes are more frequently with us now, and as with the pandemic, the longer term future is unceetain: abrupt changes could bring interconnected tipping points.
Economics. The FinCEN files: Dirty little secrets of the world’s banks revealed in mass US government leak.
BUT – some good news. East Asian countries – China, Taiwan, Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore Malaysia -have learned, through their previous SARS epidemic, how to structure their health systems to plan for and manage pandemics, mount particularly effective responses to COVID-19, and reduce the death rate.
Why harsh COVID-19 lockdowns are good for the economy.
World’s Biggest Rooftop Greenhouse in Montreal is as Big as 3 Football Fields – Now Can Feed 2% of the City.
AUSTRALIA
CORONAVIRUS. The State of Victoria has achieved remarkable success in bringing down the infection rate to 11 in one day, death toll 2. This is the result of the strict lockdown regime imposed by Prmier Daniel Andrews, despite vicious attacks on him by the opposition party. You know the good result is true, when even the Murdoch Press has to admit it, and its opinion poll backs the Premier.
NUCLEAR
- Not welcome, not needed: Community alliance united in response to divided Senate report on Kimba radioactive waste plan. Senate inquiry recommends passing nuclear waste site at Napandee, South Australia. Critical mass in Canberra puts nuclear dump in doubt. Did she lie to the Senate? – Samantha Chard, Chief of National Radioactive Waste Management Facility Taskforce. Words Before Waste: South Australians Call for More Consultation on Federal Radioactive Waste Plan. Call to Australian Labor Party to state its position on Napandee nuclear waste dump plan. Broad support for nuclear waste dump at Napandee? Senate report shows that is a lie. The process for selecting Napandee nuclear waste site – flawed and divisive. Australian Nuclear and Science Organisation distancing itself from the Napandee nuclear waste dump?
- Australia is to develop new small nuclear reactors in partnership with China (does Parliament know?).
- A mixed blessing – the sudden departure of Australia’s nuclear high priest, Dr Adi Paterson.
CLIMATE. Young Australians call for COVID-19 recovery plan with climate jobs. See this graphic exposure of the coal, oil, gas, corruption in Australian government. Scott Morrison turns to socialism, with his new religion, not coal, but “gas-led recovery”. Morrison thinks gas is the new coal, and it’s just as big a climate threat. ‘Gas-led recovery’ may actually deter energy investment: Experts. Australia’s mainstream media dutifully parrots out Government spin about gas.
Australian government never intended to follow the advice of the review on environmental law.
Killing the virus comes at enormous cost — doing nothing will cost more. News Corp, Facebook and disinformation about climate and pandemic.
Coalition to divert renewable energy funding away from wind and solar.
INTERNATIONAL
Julian Assange was offered a pardon, if he would name a source. Julian Assange exposed “a very serious pattern of actual war crimes”. Assange insisted on not revealing names of informants. Julian Assange case: Witnesses recall Collateral Murder attack: “Look at those dead bastards,” shooters said. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNFEXvyZdyU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYaxBVzHJHs
David Attenborough now wants us to face up to the state of the planet. In tropical areas, increasing heat and humidity will make life almost unbearable. Importance of the ocean’s biological carbon pump. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4aQkyJrlWs
What Frogs Can Teach Us about the State of the World.
53 million tons of plastic could end up in rivers, lakes and oceans every year by 2030. The persistence of plastic.
The coronavirus pandemic and the increased safety risks for nuclear reactors.
Nuclear exposure standards discriminate on the basis of sex .
Why NuScam and other ”small” nuclear proposals just don’t make any sense.
The hidden stumbling block to progress on nuclear weapons.
BHP betrays international safety efforts.
Australian Nuclear and Science Organisation distancing itself from the Napandee nuclear waste dump?
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I wonder how many people have put TWO AND TWO together yet and realize that ANSTO is distancing itself further and further away from the dump! ANSTO will be in fact VERY HAPPY to have THEIR waste off their books!! Remember that ANSTO does NOT have to pay to use the dump – nor does any other Commonwealth entity! And ARWA has already said they will only use ANSTO for advice if necessary …
“ARWA is a Commonwealth entity, initially established with the department, and subsuming the National Radioactive Waste Management Facility Taskforce. Over the next two years, ARWA’s capability will be developed and it will become a non-corporate Commonwealth entity under its own legislation. ARWA will continue to work closely with ANSTO, who provide their support and extensive expertise.” – Sam Chard August 2020
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A mixed blessing – the sudden departure of Australia’s nuclear high priest, Dr Adi Paterson
I am reminded of Hilaire Belloc’s advice to the young – ”Always keep a hold of Nurse, for fear of 
finding something worse”.
Among other sycophantic tributes, Dr Adi Paterson is lauded for encouraging women into the nuclear industry.
Adi Paterson spent several years in South Africa, trying to establish Small Nuclear Reactors. It turned out to be Tan expensive and useless exercise. Then he came to Australia, with the same dream. He quietly signed Australia up to the Framework Agreement for International Collaboration on Research and Development of Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems, without any consultation, discussion in Parliament (which rubber-stamped this later).
He quietly organised Australia’s participation with China in developing small nuclear reactors.
He rubbished renewable energy at a solar conference.
He went to Kimba to do propaganda for the nuclear waste dump plan, but admitted that there was no economic benefit in the low level waste dump, so the intermediate level waste was the real intention.
Leadership changes at ANSTO, Statement from the ANSTO Chair: Dr Annabelle Bennett 9 Sep 20, Dr Adi Paterson has resigned as CEO of ANSTO slightly ahead of time of his term. He has decided to take a period of leave before formally finishing. ……..
Mr Shaun Jenkinson will continue as acting CEO, while the Board undertakes a global search for a permanent CEO. https://www.ansto.gov.au/news/leadership-changes-at-ansto?fbclid=IwAR0cLOwne84D7XJP9UGwrf1aVAxyXgStAB6502zPYUgsqxdbjUuyUR3MYjo
Adrian “Adi” Paterson is a South African scientist and engineer best known for his work on Pebble Bed modular reactor research and development. He was appointed CEO of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) in 2009
He emigrated to Australia in 2008 and was appointed Chief Executive Officer at ANSTO in March 2009.
Australia is to build new nuclear reactors, in partnership with China (does Parliament know?)
Republishing again, in view of Dr Adi Paterson’s departure from Ansto.
Republishing this one, in view of news from the UK, that a British-China nuclear research programme may be siphoning UK tax-payers’ funds off into China’s military projects.
Australia is back in the nuclear game, Independent Australia, By Noel Wauchope | 24 March 2019, One of Australia’s chief advocates for nuclear power Dr Adi Paterson, CEO of Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, (ANSTO), has done it again.
This time, he quietly signed Australia up to spend taxpayers’ money on developing a new nuclear gimmick — the Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (TMSR).
This new nuclear reactor does not physically exist and there is no market for it. So its development depends on government funding.
Proponents claim that this nuclear reactor would be better and cheaper than the existing (very expensive) pressurised water reactors, but this claim has been refuted. The TMSR has been described by analyst Oliver Tickell as not “green”, not “viable” and not likely. More recently, the plan has been criticised as, among other things, just too expensive — not feasible as a profitable commercial energy source.
Paterson’s signing up to this agreement received no Parliamentary discussion and no public information. The news just appeared in a relatively obscure engineering journal.
The public remains unaware of this.
In 2017, we learned through the Senate Committee process that Dr Paterson had, in June 2016, signed Australia up to the Framework Agreement for International Collaboration on Research and Development of Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems (also accessible by Parliament Hansard Economics Legislation Committee 30/05/2017).
This was in advance of any Parliamentary discussion and despite Australia’s law prohibiting nuclear power development. Paterson’s decision was later rubber-stamped by a Senate Committee……..
Dr Paterson was then obviously supremely confident in his ability to make pro-nuclear decisions for Australia.
Nothing seems to have changed in Paterson’s confidence levels about making decisions on behalf of Australia.
Interestingly, Bill Gates has abandoned his nuclear co-operation with China. His company TerraPower was to develop Generation IV nuclear reactors. Gates decided to pull out of this because the Trump Administration, led by the Energy Department, announced in October that it was implementing measures to prevent China’s illegal diversion of U.S. civil nuclear technology for military or other unauthorised purposes.
Apparently, these considerations have not weighed heavily on the Australian Parliament.
Is this because the Parliament doesn’t know anything about Dr Paterson’s agreement for Australia to partner with the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP) in developing Thorium Molten Salt Reactors? https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/australia-is-back-in-the-nuclear-game,12488#.XJWdhxDqitc.twitter
The process for selecting Napandee nuclear waste site – flawed and divisive
Womankind arise! — Beyond Nuclear International
Still no equal protection under radiation law
Womankind arise! — Beyond Nuclear International
Nuclear exposure standards discriminate on the basis of sex
By Linda Pentz Gunter, 20 Sept 20,
As we mourn the passing of Supreme Court justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, we look back at her landmark victories against discrimination “on the basis of sex” and wonder how nuclear regulations might have stood up to her legal scrutiny. As things currently stand, the nuclear power industry gets away with “allowable” radiation exposure levels that discriminate against women……….
And despite RBG’s immense contribution to our greater wellbeing, as women, we still face discrimination in so many walks of life. That could be about to get worse.
That discrimination remains most infuriatingly true when it comes to the nuclear power industry which is not, it turns out, an equal opportunity poisoner, as we have shown in our earlier articles about Native American and African American communities.
Women and children, and especially pregnant women, are more vulnerable — meaning they suffer more harm from a given dose of radiation than the harm a man suffers from that same dose.
One should quickly add here that scientists still agree that there is no completely safe dose of radiation. In fact, when a dose is described as safe, it doesn’t mean harmless. It means something called “As low as reasonably achievable”, which means as safe as we are prepared to protect for — or, really, as safe as the nuclear industry is willing to pay for.
So not really safe then, and when they say “safe”, the question women must ask is: safe for whom?
In the US, that means safe for someone called Standard Man or sometimes Reference Man. That is on whom the “allowable” radiation exposure standards are based.
Who is Standard Man? ….
Discrimination strikes again here, on the basis of race and age, because the amount of radiation exposure that is considered “safe” for an individual in the US is based on what would be safe for a healthy, robust, 20-30-something white male…….. more https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/72759838/posts/2922365220
Julian Assange case: Witnesses recall Collateral Murder attack: “Look at those dead bastards,” shooters said
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Witnesses recall Collateral Murder attack: “Look at those dead bastards,” shooters said, WSWS, By Thomas Scripps and Laura Tiernan, 19 September 2020New Zealand investigative journalist Nicky Hager testified in Julian Assange’s extradition hearing yesterday morning. Hager has extensive experience in reporting imperialist violence and intrigue. In 2017, he released the book Hit and Run with co-author Jon Stephenson exposing the killing of civilians by New Zealand and United States forces in Afghanistan. He worked with WikiLeaks in the release of US diplomatic cables from November 2010 and made use of other releases in his writing.
Hager explained that serious journalists routinely make use of classified materials when reporting on conflicts and potential state crimes. This, he said, was “generally impossible … without access to sources that the authorities concerned regard as sensitive and out of bounds. Consequently, information marked as classified is essential to allow journalism to perform its role in informing people about war, enabling democratic decision making and deterring wrongdoing.” The Iraq and Afghanistan war logs and US embassy cables obtained by WikiLeaks, Hager said, were documents “of the highest public interest—some of the most important material I have ever used in my life.” Referring to the “Collateral Murder” video, which District Judge Vanessa Baraitser intervened to stop him describing in full, he said, “After the shooting, the pilot and the co-pilot were heard saying ‘Look at those dead bastards,’ with the other replying ‘Nice’ … My belief is … the publication of that video and those words was the equivalent of the death of George Floyd and his words ‘I can’t breathe.’ They had a profound effect on public opinion in the world.” The Iraq and Afghanistan war logs and US embassy cables obtained by WikiLeaks, Hager said, were documents “of the highest public interest—some of the most important material I have ever used in my life.” Referring to the “Collateral Murder” video, which District Judge Vanessa Baraitser intervened to stop him describing in full, he said, “After the shooting, the pilot and the co-pilot were heard saying ‘Look at those dead bastards,’ with the other replying ‘Nice’ … My belief is … the publication of that video and those words was the equivalent of the death of George Floyd and his words ‘I can’t breathe.’ They had a profound effect on public opinion in the world.”……………. Yesterday’s cross-examination centred on the scope of the Espionage Act, with US prosecutors making clear that journalists and media outlets are now a legitimate target—especially those which are deemed “non-conventional.” …….. Throughout the hearing, US prosecutors have claimed the “Collateral Murder” video is not part of their case against Assange. But as Fitzgerald argued, after taking instruction from his client, the “Collateral Murder” video is connected “indivisibly” from the Iraq Rules of Engagement published by WikiLeaks and named in the US indictment. It was on the basis of these Rules of Engagement that Apache’s crew member “Crazy Horse 1-8” fired on civilians, leaving 18 dead and horrifically injuring two children. The hearing continues on Monday. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/09/19/assa-s19.html |
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Scott Morrison transfers his love affair with coal, to gas
Our coal-fondling PM switches his prop to gas, but is anything really different? Jacqueline Maley, Columnist and senior journalist, The Age, 20 Sept 290 In February 2017, Scott Morrison walked into Parliament to perform a piece of coal-centred theatre that became one of the defining moments of his political career. “Mr Speaker, this is coal,” he pronounced, brandishing a black lump. “Don’t be afraid, don’t be scared. It won’t hurt you!”
As was pointed out at the time, the coal must have been lacquered – touching raw coal covers you in black dust. Morrison didn’t want to get his hands dirty. He just wanted to score a political point.
His speech was not about the benefits of coal so much as it was a gleeful attempt to wedge Labor over the electability problem it had, and still has – the insoluble tension between its heavy industry-reliant, blue-collar voter base, and its urban voters, who want meaningful climate action.
No one feels this tension more than Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, who is old-Labor in his sensibilities, but whose inner-Sydney electorate is under siege from the Greens…………
It was always the Coalition, of course, that had the ideological attachment to coal as an energy source. The Nationals, in particular, appear to be moving away from representing farmers to supporting what is buried in the earth beneath their crops.
It is Labor that has always had the political problem with coal. It needed to convince its blue-collar base it cared about jobs and electricity prices, while also being serious about emissions reduction. But Labor is also the only side of politics that has ever been effective on emissions reduction, instituting in 2012 the only sensible mechanism to bring emissions down – a carbon price and emissions trading scheme.
It worked, in the short time it was operational, before being abolished by Tony Abbott, elected in a 2013 landslide to do exactly that.
The energy prop has changed now, with Morrison this week announcing he wants a “gas-led recovery” for the post-COVID-19 future. He is backing slowly away from coal.
In a speech in the Hunter Valley – a carefully chosen location given its significance in Labor’s own climate wars – he said there was “no credible energy transition plan for an economy like Australia that does not involve the greater use of gas”.
Details of his plan were scant. It is a plan for a plan. Morrison issued an ultimatum to electricity companies, saying if the industry did not back “dispatchable” electricity generation by next year, taxpayer money would be used to build a gas-fired power plant in the Hunter Valley, replacing the near-defunct Liddell coal plant at Muswellbrook………
Most Australians are too stressed by contemporary events, and fatigued by the climate wars, to follow the detail, which is complex. But Morrison will be able to use his “gas-led recovery” rhetoric to hedge.
His government no longer has to fight a rearguard action in defence of coal, an energy source that markets have firmly turned away from, and which public opinion is swaying against. But his party can still keep its distance from the renewable energy sources to which it seems to nurse an ideological objection. It remains to be seen if the plan will work to reduce emissions, or ensure low electricity prices.
Meanwhile, business continues to move ahead faster than the government. On Friday, BlackRock, the world’s largest investor, with $US7.32 trillion in assets under management, released a report showing that more than 1000 global companies and other organisations had signed up to the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure standards.
………Morrison’s plan for a plan will stand in for an energy policy, for now, from a government that has thoroughly betrayed the electorate on this issue for the seven years it has been in power. In that time, the earth has warmed further, and Australia has had a good taste of what is yet to come in terms of climate devastation. https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/our-coal-fondling-pm-switches-his-prop-to-gas-but-is-anything-really-different-20200918-p55ww9.html
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AUKUS – https://aukuspublicinquiry.com/
PETITION – To: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Government
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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