Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

Australian govts not promoting solar power industry

the government is clearly more focused on supporting “clean coal” technology in order to protect coal and gas exports.

New French owner committed to Ausra’s solar plans | The Courier-Mail Kerrie Sinclair 14 Feb 2010 While European solar plant companies look to expand into Asia, Australian peers struggle. Continue reading

February 15, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy, solar | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Northern Territory Intervention all about Uranium and Nuclear Waste Dumping

Stop the Intervention – Neil E Gillespie, Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement Inc – 9 February 2010 “I find the continuation of the racist NT Intervention by the Rudd Government disappointing.

I remind everyone that the Intervention is about access to Aboriginal land by business interests (mining) and the location of a dump for uranium waste.

SA, WA and Qld will not accept uranium waste so we are deluding ourselves the Intervention is anything but accessing Aboriginal land in the NT.

It has NOTHING to do with children.If it was about children, then the Intervention would have occurred elsewhere due to the undeniable fact that child abuse per capita is not as significant in the NT as it is in another State. NT is well down the pecking order.My question is why not have an Intervention in that State rather than the NT? The answer is simple. The Federal Govt does not have the Constitutional power to invade a State like it has in the NT.

Stop the Intervention – Neil E Gillespie, CEO, ALRM 9-2-10

February 12, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics, uranium | , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Australia’s Maralinga Nuclear Veterans dying out, while they wait for justice

Nuclear veterans want better compo deal Sydney Morning Herald MAX BLENKIN 11 Feb 2010

“Australian veterans are dying. The longer the government waits, the less of us they will end up having to compensate.”

Britain exploded seven atomic bombs in the South Australian outback in 1956-57 but continued the nuclear test program through to May 1963 with a large number of minor trials of items such as nuclear initiators. Continue reading

February 12, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, legal, uranium | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Highly radioactive leaking water continues from Ranger uranium mine

Uranium mine leak ‘5400 times normal level’ – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) By Emma Masters  Feb 9, 2010 Contaminated water seeping from a mine in Kakadu National Park has a uranium concentration more than 5,000 times the normal level, a Senate estimates committee has heard.

The Office of the Supervising Scientist is the environmental regulator of the Ranger uranium mine, which is owned by Energy Resources of Australia. Continue reading

February 11, 2010 Posted by | environment, Northern Territory, uranium, water | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wind power going ahead in New South Wales

Hunter Valley energy farm to power homes Sydney Morning Herald February 9, 2010 A $190 million renewable energy farm that will provide power for 47,000 Hunter Valley homes has been given planning approval by the NSW government. Continue reading

February 11, 2010 Posted by | 1, climate change - global warming, energy, New South Wales, wind | , , , , , | 1 Comment

Cogeneration energy plant for Queensland sugar mill

Sweet news for Mackay Sugar Cogeneration Project  EcoGeneration  10 February 2010

Mackay Sugar has issued contracts for the construction of a $120 million cogeneration power plant at its Racecourse Mill in Queensland. Continue reading

February 11, 2010 Posted by | energy, Queensland | , , , | Leave a comment

Western Australia makes modest start on promoting renewable energy

WA Gov puts up $10m in funds for green energy tech Third round of funding to encourage the development of sustainable, low-emission technologies  Computerworld Staff * 10 February, 2010 Continue reading

February 11, 2010 Posted by | climate change - global warming, energy, solar, Western Australia | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Abbott’s Climate Policy very costly – Financial Analyst’s Report

the Coalition proposal would exacerbate the problem and ”put the final nail in the renewable energy industry’s coffin”

Report blasts Abbott climate plan Sydney Morning Herald ADAM MORTON February 10, 2010THE Coalition’s climate change policy would cost taxpayers more than twice as much as the government’s emissions trading scheme, an analysis has found. Continue reading

February 11, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy | , , , | Leave a comment

Martin Ferguson says No Uranium Sales to India

Australian minister rules out uranium export to India DAWN.COM By Afshan Subohi , 11 Feb, 2010 CANBERRA: The Australian government does not intend to export uranium to India, according to Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism Martin Ferguson. Continue reading

February 11, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics international, uranium | , , , | Leave a comment

Olympic Dam uranium mine’s very costly accident

Olympic Dam accident may cost $228m Matt Chambers  The Australian  February 11, 2010 THE failure of a hoist at BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine last October that sent a full skip of ore plummeting hundreds of metres was caused by a computer braking system fault and could cost the company more than $US200 million ($228.6m) in lost profit………
The October 2009 incident has rendered the Clark shaft unusable and sliced 75 per cent of capacity from the big mine at Roxby Downs in South Australia.

Olympic Dam accident may cost $228m | The Australian

February 11, 2010 Posted by | business, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

BHP reduces Yeelirrie’s proposed uranium by an ‘uneconomic’ third

BHP cuts Yeelirrie uranium estimate  Matt Chambers : The Australian  February 09, BHP Billiton has cut projections for its proposed Yeelirrie uranium mine in Western Australia by nearly a third, ruling out a heap acid leach component at the site as uneconomic. Continue reading

February 9, 2010 Posted by | business, uranium, Western Australia | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Small, beautiful, renewable energy cars

a bright future for a spectrum of ‘micro’ electric vehicles

Meet Trev: A two-seater renewable energy vehicle, by Phil Hart , February 6, 2010 , The Oil Drum: ]Major auto companies are now close to bringing their first electric vehicles onto the market. Continue reading

February 9, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy | , , , | Leave a comment

Australia’s voting system distorts Climate Change action

Queensland and particularly Western Australia, which both have strong fossil fuels industries, relatively rural dwelling patterns, and populations of about 2m and 4.5m respectively.’……….

The climate policy disconnect: It’s rural voter over-representation  Financial Times February 8,  by Kate Mackenzie “………..a new paper finds that over-representation of regional voters can make a significant difference to public policy on both gasoline taxes and international climate change agreements… Continue reading

February 9, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, politics | , , , | Leave a comment

Rudd’s chance to truly address Climate Change

Fortunately, Rudd has been thrown a political and environmental lifeline by the Greens who have proposed the government take up the recommendation made by the Garnaut Report to introduce a transitional carbon tax of $20 a tonne for two years between July 2010 and July 2012.

Rudd missed opportunity to dump failed emissions scheme The Age, Kenneth Diavidson,  8 Feb 2010 February 8, 2010

Continue reading

February 8, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy | , , , , | Leave a comment

Government Report has vision for Sustainable Northern Australia

The Taskforce points the way for a sustainable future for the north of Australia – one that must include Aboriginal people at the heart of it.

Greens Challenge Government over Northern Australia   Rachel Siewert  8th February 2010, The Australian Greens have challenged the Government to commit to implementing the vision outlined in the Sustainable Development in Northern Australia report released today. Continue reading

February 8, 2010 Posted by | Northern Territory, politics | , , | 2 Comments