Exposing the wrong case for nuclear power put by Professor Barry Brook
As the Fukushima nuclear disaster unfolded in March 2011, Brook maintained a running commentary in the media and on his website insisting that the situation was under control and that there was no reason for concern.
[Brook] is silent on the problem of long-term cancer deaths from exposure to radioactive fallout
Nuclear Power Isn’t A Green Bullet, New Matilda, 12 Mar 2012 By Jim Green “…… When a scientist with the best of intentions and a prodigious intellect argues that the risks of nuclear power have been overstated and that nuclear power is an essential tool in the battle against climate change, his arguments need careful consideration. The Brook/BNC mantra is this: “it’s nuclear power or it’s climate change”.
[clean energy:] However numerous studies exist that map out the options to sharply reduce emissions without recourse to nuclear power. One of the most practical Australian studies was produced by a group of scientists for theClean Energy Future Group (CEFG)…. University of NSW academic Mark Diesendorf, who contributed to theCEFG study, has proposed a more ambitious scenario that replaces all coal and gas with renewables.
[nuclear weapons:] Barry Brook has shown himself willing to trivialise the repeatedly demonstrated connection between nuclear power and weapons. … Brook claims to be concerned about nuclear weapons proliferation but the evidence suggests otherwise. …
Brook claims that the integral fast reactors (IFRs) he champions “cannot be used to generate weapons-grade material.” The claim isn’t true. To quote George Stanford, who worked on an IFR research program in the US: “If not properly safeguarded, they could do [with IFRs] what they could do with any other reactor — operate it on a special cycle to produce good quality weapons material.”
The misconceptions pile up. Continue reading
In the interests of their fossil fuel backers, Liberal Party attacks wind energy
Is Rowan looking after the interests of his constituents, or of the fossil fuel industry? He is correct, as I understand it, in pointing out that there are times when the generated wind power loads the SA grid to its limit, and that there will be a need for more interconnection between SA and the eastern states if wind power is to expand much further. However, the Liberal Party’s systematic attacks on sustainable energy and support for the fossil fuel industry in its campaign to stop the rise in sustainable energy shows a complete abandonment of ethical standards…
More Coalition attacks on wind power and renewables, Independent Australia, 08 Mar 2012 Liberal MP Rowan Ramsay is yet another Coalition MP keen to promote fossil fuels over renewables — especially wind. Environmentalist Dave Clarke responds to a speech Ramsay made recently attacking wind power projects in South Australia. Rowan Ramsey gave a speech in the Australian Parliament in mid-February 2012, which was biased against wind power. In this speech he made a number of claims and inferences that were questionable at best and false at worst. Continue reading
Australia’s ex-ambassador reveals fears of “complete chaos” in Japan in March 2011
Mr McLean revealed that Australia and other nations began compiling elaborate evacuation plans amid growing concern and uncertainly as the Fukushima plant began to explode.
The former ambassador confirmed Australia had evacuation plans in place but voiced the uncomfortable truth that, in reality, greater Tokyo (population 35 million) would have been almost impossible to evacuate.
Ex-ambassador frustrated by post-tsunami silence BY: RICK WALLACE, TOKYO CORRESPONDENT The Australian March 10, 2012 AUSTRALIA’S former ambassador to Japan has told of his frustrations with the Japanese government for keeping its close partners in the dark about the extent of the damage to the Fukushima nuclear plant at the height of the crisis almost one year ago. Continue reading
Protests against Serco – involved in nuclear weapons, as well as detention centres
Occupy protests target Serco, THE AUSTRALIAN, AAP March 09, 2012 A SERIES of protests have been held across Sydney, Melbourne and Perth against multi-national British services company Serco, which runs Australia’s immigration detention and other public facilities…… private firms such as Serco were not transparent, nor as accountable as government entities, and were more concerned with shareholder profits than responsible public service.
Serco made a pre-tax profit of Stg262.2 million ($391.9 million) on revenue of Stg4.64 billion ($6.94 billion) last financial year.m Its international services include everything from running public and private transport, to aviation, military and nuclear weapons
contracts, detention centres, prisons and schools…. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/occupy-protests-target-serco/story-fn3dxity-1226295328548
Grandiose tower for grandiose BHP and its biggest uranium mine in the world
discussions between major developers and BHP about a new $250m office tower in Currie Street, for which the company would have naming rights….
BHP plans office tower linked to Olympic Dam expansion, BY:MICHAEL OWEN:The Australian March 09, 2012 BHP Billiton is looking at teaming with a major developer to build a new office tower in Adelaide ahead of the planned expansion of its Olympic Dam mine in the far north of South Australia.
It is understood BHP is in talks with several developers and construction companies about a new office tower that could be worth up to $250 million.
The high-rise development, potentially slated for Currie Street, in Adelaide’s CBD, would provide the company with a significant visible presence as it launches a mammoth project with an estimated mine life of more than 100 years. Continue reading
Premier Baillieu out of step with voters, on climate chnage
Voters call for action on climate change, The Age, Adam Morton March 9, 2012 AS THE Baillieu government prepares to reveal the future of Victoria’s climate change laws, a poll has found two-thirds of Coalition voters think the state has a responsibility to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The Essential Media poll of 1009 Victorians, commissioned by conservation group Environment Victoria, found 76 per cent believed the state government should cut emissions and not leave it to the federal government to take action through a carbon tax or other steps.
Among Coalition voters, 66 per cent said the state had a responsibility to cut emissions.
Victorians want the state government to act despite belief in climate
change being split between those who think that it is caused by human
activity (47 per cent) and those who think it is either due to natural
variation or not happening at all (44 per cent).
The poll comes as the state government is due to this month release a
review of the Climate Change Act introduced by the previous Labor government, which includes a target of cutting Victoria’s emissions by 20 per cent this decade.
The Baillieu government has wound back some clean energy programs and fuelled expectations the target could be reduced or scrapped.
Other findings from the poll conducted in December and January were:
■ Just 22 per cent of voters consider wind farm laws that give households right of veto over turbines within two kilometres of their house fair. Fifty per cent said the laws were not fair. ■ A majority said they wanted fewer coal-fired power plants (63 per cent) and more renewable energy (78 per cent) and energy efficiency (82 per cent). : http://www.theage.com.au/environment/climate-change/voters-call-for-action-on-climate-change-20120308-1un7y.html#ixzz1ofcfEu4I
New South Wales Liberal Premier pleased about Clean Energy Finance Corporation for Sydney
NSW wins multi-billion dollar clean energy deal http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-wins-multi-billion-clean-energy-deal-despite-opposition/story-e6frfkw9-1226291960573 By Malcolm Farr, National Political Editor news.com.au, arch 07, 2012
Sydney to host Clean Energy Finance Corporation
Premier O’Farrell happy despite opposition to clean energy fund
“This is good news whichever way you look at it”
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell is torn between opposing the Federal Government’s carbon pricing and his pride in Sydney’s selection as host of a multi-billion dollar clean energy fund. Continue reading
Malaysia to ensure that Lynas is fully accountable for radioactive wastes and any mishap
AELB: AGC to ensure Lynas is legally liable. The Malaysian Insider 08-03-2012 By Yow Hong Chieh DENGKIL, March 8 — Lynas Corp’s letters of undertaking have been forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) for review to ensure the Australian miner can be held accountable in the event of a mishap. Continue reading
Malaysia might breach international law by sending Lynas’ radioactive wastes back to Australia
Science minister to hear appeal against Lynas licence, The Malaysian Insider, By Yow Hong Chieh, March 08, 2012 KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — The science, technology and innovation minister will hear the appeal made by Save Malaysia Stop Lynas chairman Tan Boon Teet and five others to review the rare earth plant in Gebeng.
The appeal to review the decision by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) to grant Australian miner Lynas a temporary operating licence (TOL) was made under section 32 of the Atomic Energy Licensing Act.
AELB is supervised by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation…… Several thousand anti-Lynas protestors thronged an opposition-backed rally led by Himpunan Hijau two weekends ago in the single largest protest yet against the rare earth refinery, which is expected to fire up operations later this year.
Critics of the refinery want government to halt its construction and direct AELB to reverse its decision to grant Lynas a TOL, which will let it embark on a two-year trial run. They alleged that the Australian miner has not given sufficient assurances on how it will handle the low-level radioactive waste that will be produced at the plant in Gebeng, Kuantan.
Putrajaya has been under pressure from anti-Lynas groups to shut down the rare earth project over safety concerns….. Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai told the Sin Chew Daily this week Lynas will have to send the waste produced at Gebeng back to Australia, even though the Western Australian government has said it will not accept any residue from ore mined from Mount Weld in the state.
But critics have charged that Malaysia risks breaching international laws if it ships Lynas Corp’s rare earth waste out of the country. The Sydney-based company maintains that waste from its rare earth refinery will not be harmful and can be recycled for “commercial applications”. http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/science-ministry-to-hear-appeal-against-lynas-licence
Call to National Party M.P. to back Clean Energy Finance Corporation
Stawell Climate Action Group call to build big solar Stawell Times, 09 Mar, 2012 STAWELL – Stawell Climate Action Group, got to work this week building a huge sign spelling out the words ‘big solar’, to show their support for the development of large scale solar power in Australia….They gathered at Central Park, Stawell with overalls, hardhats and tools to
build the big solar sign… .
They are calling on John Forrest to get behind a new $10 billion fund for renewable energy. Continue reading
Computer bug collecting, by Australian govt spies
Australian spies buying computer bugs: sources, SMH, Cynthia Karena, March 8, 2012 Cyber criminals are not the only ones buying software flaws, say sources. The Australian government is buying computer security weaknesses found by hackers before they are sold on the black market, as part of its defence strategy, claim those at the coal face of cyber security.
“The Australian government has developed these capabilities as part of ASIO, DSD [Defence Signals Directorate], CSOC [Cyber Security Operations Centre] and possibly others. But they are purely for research and defence,” says an Australian security consultant who wishes to remain anonymous.
He says while the government won’t admit it, buying vulnerabilities is an obvious part of “gathering intelligence”…..Stuxnet , a virus that is said to have crippled Iran’s nuclear arms program in 2010, exploited four zero-day vulnerabilities in Windows. Iranian authorities and security researchers believed the US and Israeli governments were behind the attack. http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/security-it/australian-spies-buying-computer-bugs-sources-20120307-1ujlb.html#ixzz1of1Wq5TH
Australian non government organisations’ message to Japan
Statement from Australian National Nuclear Free movement Representatives from the following non-government environment and health organisations met over the weekend of March 3-4 2012: Environment Centre NT, Conservation Council of Western Australia, Beyond Nuclear Initiative, Friends of the Earth, Japanese for Peace, Medical Association for the Prevention of War, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, Footprints for Peace, Australian Conservation Foundation, Greenpeace, Yellowcake Road Collective. The meeting sends this message of support to the people of Japan.
As we approach the one year anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that lead to the ongoing nuclear emergency at Fukushima, we wish to express our profound sympathy for the people of Japan.
A senior Australian Government official acknowledged last year that “Australian-obligated nuclear material was at the Fukushima Daiichi site and in each of the reactors”[1]. In light of this we express our deep sorrow that uranium from Australia bought by TEPCO is contaminating your sea, water, food chain and community.
On a good day uranium from Australia becomes radioactive waste. On a bad day it becomes nuclear fallout. The human impacts of the Fukushima nuclear emergency are wide ranging and long term. We regret that around 100,000 radiation refugees are displaced by the disaster and unable to return to their homes.
We cannot stop earthquakes and tsunamis. We can – and must – stop nuclear dangers.
Despite the ongoing emergency at Fukushima Australian governments at state and federal levels are pushing ahead with this toxic industry. The two biggest uranium mines in this country: Olympic Dam and Ranger have plans in place for new developments, exploration proposals continue and the Federal Government is working to advance uranium sales deals to India, China and United Arab Emirates.
We are determined to stop sales of uranium from Australia. Uranium mining causes environmental and cultural damage in Australia and leads to long-term damage overseas. Continue reading
Australia’s Future Fund, and its investments in nuclear weapons
A Future Fund with a chequered past. news.com.au 8 March 12, IT is yet to celebrate its sixth birthday, but Australia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Future Fund, has long attracted criticism….. Last year it emerged that the Future Fund had invested heavily in a string of companies that made parts for nuclear weapons. It defended its move on the grounds the investments did not contravene the nuclear non-proliferation treaty……. The Future Fund argues its strategy ensured a strong performance during the darkest days of the global financial crisis.
A spokesman said its focus was “on an appropriate mix of investment opportunities to achieve mandated returns with acceptable but not excessive risk”. http://www.news.com.au/business/a-future-fund-with-a-chequered-past/story-e6frfm1i-1226292987866#ixzz1oYXYgjRb
The right policy mix – Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC)
Luckily, in Australia, we are developing precisely such a [correct] policy mix. R&D support is taken care of by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), a price on carbon starts in mere months, and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) focuses on rolling out clean energy projects.
If subsidies are an economic evil, then let’s deny them across the board. Let’s wind back the billion dollar depreciation subsidies for oil and gas and wind back the billions in fuel tax exemptions for the mining industry for a start.
Right track for a clean energy future Climate Spectator, 8 Mar 2012 Simon O’Connor “…….that policy option, [supporting renewable energy combined with a price on carbon] is far and away the most cost-effective climate change mitigation strategy, delivering emissions reductions at significantly lower cost..
….. At a time when most economies are blindly groping for industries that will create jobs and open new markets, the renewable energy industry is a global superstar. Over $260 billion was invested globally in renewables last year, with more renewable energy infrastructure built than fossil fuels since 2010.
Germany is the world’s biggest market for solar power, producing about half of all solar output in 2010, and was recently responsible for lodging around a quarter of the world’s patents for renewable energy technologies. Considering the more than $40 billion invested there last year in the midst of a tumultuous eurozone economy, and the 370,000 jobs in the renewable sector, it seems odd to suggest that support for clean energy has been poorly targeted.
German growth in this sector has without doubt been primarily due to strong government support. Having nurtured the industry to the point that it is becoming genuinely commercially competitive, the German government is now slowly unwinding its support. Far from a demonstration of the failure of public support, this is a textbook example of how innovation should be considered a public good, one that should be supported then left to stand on its own two feet once mature. .. Continue reading
Let’s not forget that other cancer causer – UV radiation
Students in NSW not sun safe, Sky News, http://www.skynews.com.au/health/article.aspx?id=725215&vId= March 4, 2012 New research shows students in NSW have amongst the poorest sun protection in Australia. The state came second last in a nationwide review of the sun protection policies in government schools by the New South Wales Cancer Council.
It’s now calling for an urgent overhaul of the state’s outdated sun policy so students receive the same sun protection measures as schools in other parts of Australia. Skin cancer prevention manager Vanessa Rock says state schools in NSW were failing to implement basic sun protection measures.
As part of the survey, each state and territory was marked on a list of key sun protection requirements, such as wearing a sun safe hat and using SPF 30+ sunscreen. Queensland, the NT, Victoria and ACT all scored top marks while Tasmania, which has much lower levels of UV radiation, came in at the bottom of the list.
Models banned from tanning, SMH 1 March 12, “….Sue Heward, SunSmart’s manager, calling on Victoria to follow the NSW Government’s decision last month to ban solariums by 2015. ”Not only is solarium use harmful to your health but it can prematurely age the skin making it coarse, pigmented, leathery and wrinkled. It is suggested that 80 per cent of wrinkles are due to overexposure to UV radiation from either the sun or solariums.”
The thinking goes that if the fashion industry sets an example that a tan is not stylish then young women, who are particularly resistant to health warnings, might be persuaded of the dangers of tanning….
.. It has been estimated that each year in Australia, 281 new melanoma cases, 43 melanoma-related deaths, and 2572 new cases of squamous cell carcinoma can be attributed to solarium use.
http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/beauty/blogs/beauty-beat/models-banned-from-tanning-20120301-1u4ff.html#ixzz1oYa4mwyR
1 This month
Help Aunty Sue Protect Her Land and Sacred Sites From Destructive Rocket Testing.
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PETITION – To: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Government
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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