Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

Promoting nuclear in the name of Climate Change

The farce in the name of climate change Promoting business interest by other means! Organiser By MD Nalapat -Dec 2009 “…………..All too many Climate Warriors are smiling all the way to the bank, as companies they have invested in get the benefit of the measures they propose……………What is the actual agenda of key delegations to the Copenhagen Conference? The first is the sale of expensive technologies to developing countries, primarily nuclear energy…… Continue reading

December 14, 2009 Posted by | 1, climate change - global warming, energy, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Global poll shows people want renewable energy

Investments in renewable energy seen as method to address climate change Renewable Energy Focus 13 December 2009 A global survey of 24,071 adults around the world shows majority support for government investments in renewable energy to address climate change. Continue reading

December 14, 2009 Posted by | 1, climate change - global warming, energy | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

India tests nuclear missile

India Successfully Tests Nuclear-Capable Missile Voice of America 13 December 2009 The surface-to-surface Dhanush missile was fired Sunday from a ship in the Bay of Bengal. India says it has successfully test fired a short range, nuclear-capable missile. Continue reading

December 14, 2009 Posted by | 1 | , , | Leave a comment

International “Don’t Nuke the Climate” protest

Nuclear power protested from Copenhagen to Washington FACING SOUTH 11 Dec 09 The nuclear power industry’s efforts to promote new reactors as a solution to climate change is inspiring creative protests by environmentalists. Continue reading

December 11, 2009 Posted by | 1 | , | Leave a comment

AREVA’s false nuclear case for Copenhagen

For Copenhagen, AREVA makes the false nuclear case Beyond Nuclear 12 Dec 09 In anticipation of the Copenhagen climate conference which began this week, Areva CEO, Anne Lauvergeon, stated during a French radio interview that nuclear power “does not release CO2” and that it “produces very little waste.”

These remarks were immediately condemned by the leading independent French radiological laboratory -CRIIRAD -who demanded that Lauvergeon take immediate steps to clean up the company’s contaminated African uranium mine sites in Gabon and Niger.

CRIIRAD also reminded Lauvergeon that (1) nuclear releases significant amounts of greenhouse gases, (2) that every stage of the nuclear fuel chain produces large quantities of radioactive wastes for which no safe storage solution has been found and (3) Areva has left populations to live on land or in dwellings contaminated by its activities.

Any decisions made at Copenhagen should not be based on erroneous information emanating from the nuclear industry, CRIIRAD said. From uranium extraction to enrichment, reprocessing and contamination of water supplies, Areva’s nuclear activities leave a virtually permanent trail of highly radioactive waste. The CRIIRAD press release is available in French and contains details of the radioactive contamination caused by Areva’s activities in France and overseas. And see also an article in English from Agence France Presse about Areva’s radioactive contamination in Gabon.

December 11, 2009 Posted by | 1, climate change - global warming | , , , , | 1 Comment

Price of uranium continues to drop

Half-hearted uranium price response to Olympic Dam incident

Mining Weekly By: Liezel Hill
12th December 2009

TORONTO  – The uranium spot price firmed in October, after BHP Billiton reported an accident at its Olympic Dam copper/uranium mine mine, in Australia, but has failed to find support at the higher level, Australian equity research firm Resource Capital Research (RCR) commented on Friday. Continue reading

December 11, 2009 Posted by | 1, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

US nuclear firms make sure that Indian taxpayers will cover accidents

“This legislation specifies that legal jurisdiction in the event of an accident will lie within India.

US nuclear firms close in on Indian market  Business Standard Ajai Shukla / New Delhi December 11, 2009, Stakes in India’s nuclear power generation programme are among the highest in the world………. Continue reading

December 11, 2009 Posted by | 1, uranium | , , , | Leave a comment

Tim Flannery: – ‘Australia will never need nuclear power

Tim Flannery on ABC Radio National Breakfast 3 Dec 09
Fran Kelly: Does Australia need nuclear power in your view?
Flannery: No it doesn’t and it never will. There’s no way we’ll ever need nuclear power in this country. That’s just another delaying tactic I’m afraid……

December 9, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, energy, spinbuster, uranium | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Aboriginal delegation to Copenhagen

Indigenous delegates head to Copenhagen ABC Indigenous  Dec 9, 2009 Representatives of Australia’s northern Aboriginal land councils will fly to the United Nations’ climate change conference in Copenhagen today. Continue reading

December 9, 2009 Posted by | 1, aboriginal issues, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nuclear power to be Australian election issue

Let the voters decide on nuclear power – Rudd Trading Room December 09 2009, 06:29AM

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has ruled out a change to the government’s stance on nuclear power, but suggested advocates of the industry support the coalition at the next election.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has called for the contribution of nuclear power stations towards efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

However, when questioned on the matter during a community cabinet meeting in Townsville, Mr Rudd was unequivocal in his opposition to the establishment of nuclear reactors on Australian soil.

“Mr Abbott recently said that the other side of politics is open to nuclear reactors around Australia,” he told the forum.

“Let the people decide when we come to the next election. Our position is clear … we have a position against nuclear power.”

Mr Rudd said Australia had already had a strong range of renewable and traditional energy sources at its disposal and said the government was focusing its efforts in developing clean coal technology.

He also said there were “unresolved questions” about nuclear power. http://www.tradingroom.com.au/apps/view_breaking_news_article.ac?page=/data/news_research/published/2009/12/343/catf_091209_062900_8605.html

December 9, 2009 Posted by | 1, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Review: Climate confusion, AREVA, UK nuke wastes ..

Review: Australia:Tony Abbott waffles, Liberals in Climate Change Denial, but want nuclear power in order to combat climate change – but no carbon price or tax – Work all that  out if you can! Government still won’t re-instate Racial Discrimination Act -( because it still plans nuke waste dump on aboriginal land ?). The terrorist who planned attack on Lucas Heights nuke reactor now out of gaol, (but banned from Australia). Small starts on solar energy in  WA and ACT.

International. French nuclear company AREVA in financial trouble – pinning its hopes on international sales of reactors. UK govt ignores its own experts’ advice on nuclear wastes.Pro-nukers try to overturn Wisconsin law.  French reactors with cooling problems. Anti-nuclear movement in Armenia. Depleted uranium. Iraqi govt officials suspect depleted uranium as cause of rising child cancers. –  the week that has been

December 8, 2009 Posted by | 1, climate change - global warming, uranium | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rudd govt promised to repeal Radioactive Waste Management Act

Nuclear is cleanest power source- senator ABC Alice Springs By Aislin O’Connor and Kirsty Nancarrow 4 Dec 09 -…….. an anti-nuclear group in Alice Springs says this week’s change in the Liberal Party leadership makes it even more likely that a nuclear waste facility will be forced on the Territory.

The Beyond Nuclear Initiative has reiterated its calls for the Federal Government to fulfil its 2007 election promise to repeal the Radioactive Waste Management Act.The group’s Natalie Wasley says it is a year since a Senate Committee recommended the laws forcing a nuclear waste facility on the Territory be overturned.”

And this comes amidst an increased push by the Liberal Party to develop and expand the nuclear industry in Australia,” she said.”So we believe that if the nuclear waste dump in the Territory goes ahead, there’ll be increasing pressure on those same communities to host an international high-level nuclear waste dump some time in the future.”

ABC Alice Springs – Nuclear is cleanest power source: senator

December 8, 2009 Posted by | 1, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Liberal MP joins pro nuclear chorus

Higgins’ new MP warms to hot topic of climate change Sydney Morning Herald IAN MUNRO December 7, 2009 Ms O’Dwyer, whose two-party vote improved slightly on the 2007 general election result, declared herself a believer in climate change. She added that nuclear power should be considered in securing Australia’s energy future……………

While the Greens, who in the absence of the Labor Party lifted their vote by 24 per cent, proclaimed the outcome a ”remarkable setback for the Liberals”,

Higgins byelection| Kelly O’Dwyer | Climate change

December 7, 2009 Posted by | 1 | , , , , | Leave a comment

More Renewable Energy to be linked to the Grid

Australia To Link More Renewable Energy Sites To The Power Grid Source: Government of Australia  The Gov Monitor  6th December 2009 “……..

The 21st meeting of the Ministerial Council on Energy met in Hobart today and agreed to accept a proposal to amend Australia’s electricity rules as recommended by the AEMC.

Ministers agreed that this proposal – together with the AEMC proposal to introduce inter-regional transmission charging arrangements – will encourage greater investment in infrastructure linking renewable energy generation sites to the existing power grid.   As MCE Chair, Minister Ferguson welcomed these developments.

The MCE agreed with the AEMC’s key finding that energy markets will generally be resilient to the challenges associated with the introduction of climate change policies but there was a need to refine existing frameworks to facilitate necessary investment.

Australia To Link More Renewable Energy Sites To The Power Grid | Gov Monitor

December 7, 2009 Posted by | 1 | Leave a comment

Insurance industry demaning action on Climate Change

What Copenhagen means for insurers Business Spectator, by John Heath7 Dec 2009  Because of the turmoil in the federal Liberal Party climate change is back on the agenda for Australian citizens. But who notices any possible effect on insurance? As much as I am sceptical about the climate change meeting in Copenhagen because I fear it is another meeting of poseurs, a huge, greater intelligent and more powerful force than many institutions in Australia – Munich Re – is demanding a result from global political leaders in the Danish capital.
In a new look at ‘The challenge of the 21st century’, Munich Re’s profoundly researched data shows climate change is having a visible impact on natural catastrophe losses.

The global reinsurer uses the data to enforce its demand that, “the world climate summit in Copenhagen must lay down the main cornerstones for an agreement.”

Its fact sheet says: “Global warming is real.” When we go through the information that comes to us from insurance companies such as Munich Re, Swiss Re, Allianz and global broking houses with the same warnings, you have to start believing “this is serious”.

When an organisation like Munich Re with global investments amounting to €175 billion (about A$287 billion) makes such assertions I feel this is more than a time for political wrangling…………..Insurance is concerned and is doing its best for mitigation of the exposures that are coming with climate change………….Add loss of income due to loss or damage in transit or other reasons, then every business in the world has exposures increased by climate change – the risk to viability is serious.

Business Spectator – What Copenhagen means for insurers – Blog – John Heath

December 7, 2009 Posted by | 1 | Leave a comment