Uranium mining abuses Great Artesian Basin
‘Corporate abuse’ hits Great Artesian Basin
The Australian. Michael Owen, SA political reporter | September 21, 2009
THE Great Artesian Basin — one of the largest underground water reservoirs in the world — is in danger of going the same way as the ailing Murray-Darling Basin because of reckless corporate abuse, aided by political ignorance, says South Australian senator Nick Xenophon. Continue reading
Australian uranium company slack on safety in Africa
Miner accused on slack safety
The Age TOM HYLAND S eptember 20, 2009 AN AUSTRALIAN company has begun production at its uranium mine in Malawi amid renewed controversy over the operation in one of Africa’s poorest nations. Continue reading
Australia’s plan to resolve climate issue
Australia moves to resolve climate issue
9 News Sep 21 200 A proposal to resolve thorny climate change issues dividing developed and developing nations is being proposed by Australia in the lead up to the Copenhagen summit in December.
Climate Change Minister Penny Wong will reveal that Australia has been working on a proposed legal structure that could appease developing nations unwilling or unable to commit to economy-wide targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The issue has been a key point of difference, and a sensitive one, in addition to talks on just how much richer nations should pay to help poorer nations adjust to the huge changes required to reduce carbon pollution.
In a speech to the New York University School of Law on Monday (NY time), Senator Wong will tell students the proposed structure would allow nations to choose how they’ll reduce emissions instead of imposing a set of economy-wide targets that must be met by all countries………….Nations would be able to choose from a series of legally-binding schedules that could include renewable energy targets, a technology standard or a target to reduce deforestation, submitting a schedule before December……………..
“Developed countries would be expected to record an ambitious economy-wide emissions reduction target.
“For developing countries, taking on international mitigation obligations for the first time is a big deal – but the flexibilities in schedules are designed to give them greater comfort.”
For example, Australia’s national schedule would include an economy-wide target to reduce emissions by up to 25 per cent below 2000 levels by 2020, the legislated carbon pollution reduction scheme and the renewable energy target.
Paul Howes to spruik for nukes at Liberal party seminar
Union leader speaking at Liberal energy symposium
ABC News 19 Sept 09A Federal Liberal MP says he is inviting a union leader to speak about nuclear power at a conference this weekend because there needs to be a bipartisan debate on the issue.
Michael Johnson is hosting an energy symposium in his Brisbane electorate of Ryan tomorrow.
The head of the Australian Workers Union, Paul Howes, will give a speech about his support for a nuclear power industry in Australia….
Mr Johnson said. “Paul Howes certainly has demonstrated vision and courage by speaking out in support of Australia becoming an exporter of uranium and going down the nuclear path.”
Mr Johnson says he hopes to generate a wider debate on the nuclear issue.
“If Paul Howes, a national figure, a leader in the union movement, if he’s got the courage to come out and talk about this, then surely Kevin Rudd can come out and talk about this.”
Union leader speaking at Liberal energy symposium – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Australian mining companies lack transparency in African projects
Oh, Africa!
New Matilda 17 Sept 09 Australian mining companies are being lured to Africa with a campaign that would make Tourism Australia proud, writes Tim O’Connor Continue reading
Clean coal stealing funds from renewables
Clean coal funds are robbing renewable energy
COAL MINING 16 September 2009 a2a_linkname=document.title;a2a_linkurl=location.href;CAPRICORN Conservation Council vice-president Ian Herbert says money spent on clean coal should be funding renewable energy technology.
Clean coal technology is an umbrella term used to describe technologies being developed that aim to reduce the environmental impact of coal energy generation such as carbon capture and storage (CCS).
Herbert claims clean coal is still unproved and Australia would be far more advanced if the funds were spent on developing renewable energy sources.
The representative says even if clean coal is proven, workable clean coal technology is still at least 20 years off.
Solar power’s bright new prospects
World wakes to new dawn for solar power
The Age PADDY MANNING September 19, 2009
WHEN Lindsay Tanner says greenies are ”obsessed” with solar energy, he’s right. And it’s obvious why.Clean coal is a myth. Nuclear has radioactive waste and security issues and (read Helen Caldicott) it’s not as efficient as they say. Continue reading
Renewable energy futures for Australia’s stock exchange
Australia’s ASX to launch renewable energy futures
Thu Sep 17, 2009
SYDNEY, Sept 17 (Reuters) – Australia’s futures exchange operator ASX Ltd (ASX.AX) plans to establish a futures market for renewable energy by the end of the year as the country seeks to quadruple green power generation by 2020.
ASX said on Thursday it hoped to list futures and options contracts on Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) before the year-end as demand grows for RECs to offset greenhouse gas emissions and as consumers seek greener energy.
“We’re just waiting for final regulatory approval but expect to make an announcement shortly,” David Kresvan, ASX’s manager of energy and environmental markets, told Reuters.
In Australia, RECs are a form of currency that can be earned by installing solar panels, wind turbines and micro-hydro plants. Each REC represents one megawatt hour (MWh) of electricity generated from renewable energy and can be traded once registered. http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSSP53326920090917
Workers’ anger at BHP’s chief officer pay rise
Workers angry at BHP CEO’s pay rise: CFMEU
Ewin Hannan | September 17, 2009
BHP Billiton has strongly defended the remuneration package of its chief executive, Marius Kloppers, after the coalminers union used his salary to declare “open season” on pay rises……
…Union delegates representing 5000 BHP employees will meet today to consider a push for significant pay rises and improved conditions, with officials saying any call for pay restraint would be met with contempt.
Tony Maher, the national president of the CFMEU’s mining division, said workers were angry at the pay rise awarded to Mr Kloppers……………..
US missile shield partly scrapped: role of Australia’s Pine Gap not clear
US to scrap part of missile shield
BRENDAN NICHOLSON, CANBERRA
September 18, 2009
THE US has abandoned key parts of its planned global anti-ballistic missile system, apparently to avoid offending Russia.
The Wall Street Journal said that the Poland and Czech Republic sections of the system would be shelved after a review ordered by US President Barack Obama.
It is not yet clear what that means for plans for the Asian sections of the system and joint experimental work being carried out by Australia, Japan and the US. That work is intended to thwart North Korea’s plans to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
In September 2007, then defence minister Brendan Nelson told Parliament the joint Australian-US facility at Pine Gap provided information on ballistic missile launches of interest to Australia and could be used in any US missile defence system.
”As such, this would be a continuation of a ballistic missile early-warning partnership that we have shared with the United States for over 30 years,” Dr Nelson said.
At the time Ron Huisken, a senior fellow from the Australian National University’s Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, warned that Australia’s collaboration on missile defence with Japan and the US could agitate the Chinese as well as the Russians.
Uranium mining shareholders unaware of problems
Christina Macpherson 16 Sept 09
Mega uranium is to start operations in Western Australia, with some funding from the WA government
Commenting on this Federal Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson, said that Australian was “committed to mining uranium with safe hands and only supplying uranium to countries which use it with safe hands”.
But just how safe is Mega?
Mega Shareholders
Megames, African September 15, 2009
Are the shareholders aware of the loses incurred by the public officers because of negligence :1. US$ 35,000 (LOSS) – Legal Fees – Lost court battle in SA and Mega Uranium subsidiary was liquidated
2. US$ 54,000.00 (LOSS) – Cash in bank – Mega Uranium subsidiary was liquidated
3. US$ 246,000.00 (LOSS) – Drilling Machine – Mega Uranium subsidiary was liquidated
This equates to a loss of more than US$ 335,000.00 LOSS which is a lot less than creditors were owed in SA for which Mega Uranium refused to settle.
So is this the way shareholders funds should be used?
Pro-nuclear Paul Howes seeking safe parliament seat
Union man may want my seat: retiring MP
Sydney Morning Herald September 15, 2009
Retiring Labor MP Julia Irwin has hinted that the leader of a major union may be gunning for her safe western Sydney electorat.She suggested Australian Workers Union national secretary Paul Howes, an advocate of nuclear power, may be planning a parliamentary career.”While any seat might do, he will not doubt be salivating to have a safe Labor seat, built up by another, with a margin like that of Fowler,” Ms Irwin said in a statement on Tuesday.
But Ms Irwin, a critic of Israel, said she did not expect a “constructive contribution” from Mr Howes on foreign policy, “or any other policy for that matter”…………………
Mr Johnson told parliament on Tuesday of a “courageous” speech Mr Howes had made in support of nuclear energy……………….
Ms Irwin, who was elected to the House of Representatives in 1998, announced on Monday she would not be contesting the next election.
Nuclear lobby in top gear, as nuclear “renaissance” failing
Review. Christina Macpherson 15 Sept 09
The nuclear lobby is pushing US and Chinese governments to get nuclear included, at Copenhagen, as a global warming solution. Meanwhile the development of nuclear power slows down, and uranium is in oversupply, with the price dropping.
In Australia, despite the anti-nuclear choice of the 2007 election, tax-payer money goes to an expensive survey of public opinion on nuclear power. No doubt the pro-uranium.nuclear media hype will be stepped up now, in preparation. John Howard planned a pro-nuke PR campaign. It seems that Rudd is carrying on the Howard agenda – review of the week that was
Leukaemia in young children near nuclear facilities
The medical and economic costs of nuclear power
OnLine opinion By Helen Caldicott – 14 September 2009A recent study sponsored by the German government (the KiKK study – Kaatsch P, Spix C, Schultze-Rath R, et al. Leukemia in young children living in the vicinity of German nuclear power plants. Int J Cancer. 2008; 1220:721-726,) examined children who lived near 16 of the country’s commercial nuclear power plants. The results revealed a strongly increased risk of all childhood cancers, particularly leukaemia, the closer the proximity of the children’s residence to the reactor. In particular, the study found that children less than the age five years, living within a 5km radius of the power plant exhaust stacks were more than twice as likely to develop leukaemia compared with those children residing more that 5km away. The KiKK team studied other carcinogenic factors which may be responsible for the cancer clusters but none were found.
Another large study (Baker PJ, Hoel DG. Meta-analysis of standardized incidence and mortality rates of childhood leukemia in proximity to nuclear facilities. Eur J Cancer Care. 2007:16:355-363) – a meta-analysis of the incidence and mortality rates of childhood leukaemia in children living near 138 nuclear facilities in Britain, Canada, Spain, Germany, the US and Japan also demonstrated a statistically significant rate of leukaemia in children less than nine years of age.
A further large review (Laurier D, Jacob S, Bernier MO, et al. Epidemiological studies of leukemia in children and young adults around nuclear facilities: A critical review. Rad Prot Dosim. 2008; 132:182- 190) of children and young adults living near 198 nuclear sites in 10 countries was found to be compatible with the study described above.
It is important to note that the sensitivity to the damaging effects of radiation in early embryonic and fetal life is much higher than in adults, and young children are also particularly vulnerable…………………….
In the light of these two studies it is difficult to understand how Kevin Rudd and the Labor Government can have no moral scruples about our uranium exports.
The medical and economic costs of nuclear power – On Line Opinion – 14/9/2009
Aboriginals exploited by new uranium laws
Uranium royalty changes ‘will exploit Aboriginals’
ABC News Sep 11, 2009Anti-nuclear activists in Alice Springs say changes to uranium royalties in the Northern Territory will make way for the exploitation of Aboriginal communities. Continue reading
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