South Australia’s bright future for renewable energy jobs
Renewable Energy Jobs For South Australia, Renewable Energy News, by Energy Matters, 26 July 11 A visit by the federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Greg Combet and South Australian Premier Mike Rann to a wind turbine tower manufacturing plant in suburban Adelaide has highlighted the economic benefits from growth in renewable energy in the state.
Mr Combet said the recently announced new Clean Energy Finance Corporation will play a vital role in unlocking significant new private investment into clean energy projects and may include assistance for businesses manufacturing components for clean energy projects…..
South Australia to ban uranium mining in Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary
Premier Mike Rann announces permanent protection for Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, Herald Sun, By Greg Kelton and Sarah Martin , July 22, 2011 ARKAROOLA will be protected for all time from mining, South Australia Premier Mike Rann has announced during a visit to the wilderness sanctuary. Continue reading
A new variation on pro nuclear spin – from Flinders University
Check out the inflammatory heading and language in the item below. It’s no surprise that Professor Sykes’research is funded by the USA Departmnet of Energy (DOE) – a body that is wedded to nuclear power.
From Prof Sykes we learn how irrational we are, how we panicked, in our ignorance, being worried about low dose radiation. Why it prevents cancer!
She goes on to tell us that there is no leaukaemia,no solid cancers, no birth defects caused by low level Chernobyl radiation, (well they have a long lead time, new cases can be expected from 25 years on). She sheds doubt on the thyroid cancer cases. And goes on to enthuse about how low level radiation benefits diabetes and arteriosclerosis.
My oh my – no wonder the DOE wants to fund Prof Sykes’research!. – Christina Macpherson
Radiation response a meltdown in reason, Health Canal 14 July 11, The possibility that low doses of radiation may prevent or delay the progression of cancer is being explored by a Flinders University research team led by Professor Pam Sykes in a move that runs counter to the widely held perception that exposure to any radiation is harmful.
Professor Sykes, recently appointed to the University’s Strategic Professorship in Preventive Cancer Biology in the Flinders Centre for Cancer Prevention and Control says the public panic in responseto nuclear accidents such as that at Fukushima in Japan is the result of a general ignorance about radiation…..
http://www.healthcanal.com/cancers/18880-Radiation-response-meltdown-reason.html
Australian Labor Party strongly opposes nuclear power
Labor ‘not split on nuclear’. ABC News, July 13, 2011 , A South Australian Federal Minister says the Labor Party is strongly opposed to nuclear energy in Australia despite the pro-nuclear stance of some of its members.
In March, the state’s former Deputy Premier Kevin Foley backed a suggestion by Mineral Resources Minister Tom Koutsantonis that uranium be enriched in Australia.
But Federal Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, says advocates of nuclear energy within the party should consider whether they would like to live near a reactor.
“I would ask that of anyone who floats nuclear energy, whether they’re members of the South Australian Labor Party or the South Australian Liberal Party,” he said. “The national platform is crystal clear. We do not support nuclear energy as an option for Australia.” http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-13/labor-nuclear/2793474
Australia’s top hypocrite? Uranium prince Mike Rann
Today, South Australia’s Premier Mike Rann, is reported in The Advertiser – “a well-placed party source said the Premier was “just trying to limp through until next March when he can sign off on the Olympic Dam expansion as his grand legacy, and then he’ll quit”. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/from-media-mike-to-mr-invisible-the-premiers-new-style/story-e6frea83-1226077387415
In 1982, Mike Rann, evidently always driven by personal ambition, , wrote “Play it Safe”, a pamphlet released by the ALP to explain its opposition to uranium mining.
But that was before he saw the light – the light of where he could get influential backing to become important. Soon, Rann was pushing for ALP policy change on uranium mining – calling uranium “the fuel of the future”. But Rann did make one concession to anti-uranium feeling amongst wealthy consituents, opposing uranium mining in the Fleurieu Peninsula .
Otherwise – it’s been “All The Way ” with the Nuclear Lobby – for our top hypocrite, Mike Rann. – Christina Macpherson
BHP Billiton’s huge free water extraction from Great Artesian Basin, for Olympic Dam uranium mine
Save the Great Artesian Basin From Olympic Dam Uranium Mine, Save the Basin, 10 June 11 THE BLOGGER IS A BHP BILLITON SHAREHOLDER. On 13 May 2011 the company announced a proposal for six-fold expansion of Olympic Dam Mine in South Australia – to extract the most valuable single mineral deposit in the world. The mine will consume up to 42 million litres of water a day from the Great Artesian Basin for plus 40 years.
THAT USE OF THE GREAT ARTESIAN BASIN BY THAT MINE IS THE ISSUE WHICH THIS BLOG ADDRESSES.
The justification by BHP Billition for its ongoing demand on the Great Artesian Basin is set out at 4.3.4 of Chapter 4 of the company’s Final Proposal published on 13 May, 2011. …
…The company does intend to increase GAB extraction by 9 million litres a day as part of the mine expansion – to that extent therefore the reference in the second paragraph to “…significant improvements in water use efficiency…” is deceptive. Not a drop of the “significant improvements in water use efficiency” is offset against GAB demand by the mine……
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The protection of the GAB from the expanded Olympic Dam Mine can be achieved through the Approval Process that is now in the hands of the Federal and South Australian Governments – in the form of the Conditions of Consent imposed on the company through the Approval Process.
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This issue should now be brought to the attention of every Member of the Federal and South Australian Parliaments. Readers of this blog may consider passing on the details of this site to your own Member(s) of those Parliaments. Or contact the relevant State/Federal Minister – see ‘USEFUL CONTACTS’ on this site).IN BHP’s VIDEO PRESENTATION THERE IS NOT A SINGLE REFERENCE TO THE FACT THAT OLYMPIC DAM WILL TAKE UP TO 42 MILLION LITRES OF WATER A DAY FROM THE GREAT ARTESIAN BASIN EVERY DAY FOR THE LIFE OF THE EXPANDED MINE (MORE THAN 40 YEARS). http://www.savethebasin.com/
South Australia’s Legislative Council votes to protect Arkaroola from uranium mining
SA Upper House votes for permanent Arkaroola protection, Australian Conservation Foundation, 9 June 11, The SA Upper House has tonight passed a Greens motion calling on the SA Government to permanently protect the mountains of Arkaroola from mining.
This is the first time, after three previous attempts, that either chamber of the SA Parliament has voted in favour of protecting the iconic Arkaroola Wilderness sanctuary in the Northern Flinders Ranges.
Greens Parliamentary leader Mark Parnell, who moved the motion, said he was delighted it had passed.
“It’s clear that the Rann Government must now act to permanently protect this iconic part of South Australia.
“No longer can they ignore the overwhelming support in the South Australian community. I strongly urge them to get on with the task,” he said. Continue reading
Australian Conservation Foundation call to govt about Olympic Dam uranium mine
The debate over BHP Billiton’s proposed new Olympic Dam open pit mine is entering a new phase as the Minister for Environment assesses and makes a decision on the company’s Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in response to over 4000 public submissions.
The ALP Federal government should require BHP to address key public interests to avoid nuclear risks, to prevent environmental impacts and to commit to on-site copper processing.
BHP Billiton uranium impacts to drive down standards Australian Conservation Foundation, June 2011 BHP Biliton’s proposed new Olympic Dam open pit mine fails to comply with ALP policy commitments for the most stringent conditions
and to ensure world’s best practice standards in uranium mining. ACF calls on the Federal government to:
1. assess the option of copper mining and processing on-site, without uranium sales;
2. prevent leakage of tailings and isolate radioactive waste for at least 10 000 years;
3. extend the use of renewable energy from the desalination plant to all new operations;
4. re-locate the proposed desalination plant to prevent ecological impact from brine waste Continue reading
Health dangers of electromagnetic radiation
The first time that cell phones were associated with cancer risk was in 1997, following a study conducted by Michael Repacholi and his colleagues from the Royal Adelaide Hospital in South Australia that showed an increase in the occurrence of lymphoma in mice exposed to cell phone radiation over a long term.
WHO Rings The Alarm Bell On Mobile Phone? RTT News 2 June “………Mobile phones emit electromagnetic radiation in the microwave range.Over the last few years, there has been a growing concern over the possible health hazards of mobile phone radiation. Continue reading
Uranium mine expansion to damage marine life, leave huge radioactive wastes
plans for the desalination plant would pose a major risk to local marine life……..”Under no circumstances should the governments 
involved in the assessment of the supplementary EIS approve of this desalination plant,”
it will dump more than two cubic kilometres of radioactive tailings over an area measuring up to 44 square kilometres,” Senator Ludlum said.
“The new open pit proposed will leak over eight million litres of radioactive liquids every day.”
OLympic Dam Mine Expansion ‘Staggering’ ninemsn news, 31 May 11 BHP Billiton’s proposed expansion at its Olympic Dam mine in South Australia would make it the biggest mine in the world. The figures involved are simply staggering……….the whole site, with its production and support facilities, will cover an area of about 30 square kilometres, a fair chunk of Adelaide’s metropolitan area…… Continue reading
Gigantic scale of BHP’s planned uranium mine expansion
It’s the end of the world as we know it The Drum, Ben Eltham23 May 11,“……If you want to understand the impact of the “China and India story” on Australia’s economy, one way to do so is to have a quick glance at BHP Billiton’s plans for Olympic Dam.
This month, when the South Australian government announced it was giving a provisional go-ahead to the expansion of Olympic Dam, some of the provisional figures about this development were released. This astonishing feat of human ingenuity will see the excavation of a kilometre of rock in order to mine an ore body with the chimerical value of $1 trillion. Just getting to the ore body will take four years of digging, and at its peak, the mine will consume more electricity than the city of Adelaide – in fact, it will eventual consume about 60 per cent of South Australia’s entire electricity supply.
It will require so much water that BHP is building a huge desalination plant in the upper Spencer Gulf that will make 200 mega-litres of water every day.
The mine will operate for 100 years, producing mainly copper, a key raw material for the hungry Asian factories that make your laptops and phones. So important is it to South Australia’s economic fortunes that South Australian premier Mike Rann told The Australian Financial Review recently that that Olympic Dam was the single biggest demand on his time…..http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2725060.html
Point Lowly desalination plant – profit for BHP, destruction to environment
the Rann Government’s lack of foresight is being clouded by the short term financial windfall created by the mine. “It’s just the cheapest, nastiest alternative,” said Melville-Smith. “There is no planning for the future of South Australia,
The Point Lowly desal plant that’s got SA squabbling Crikey Esther Ooi 23 May 11: BHP Billiton refuses to back down from its controversial plans to build a desalination plant at Point Lowly, South Australia. The plant forms part of the proposed Olympic Dam mine expansion, but fears are growing over the possible risk of significant environmental damage.
“The fact is, it is just the worst place you could put a desalination plant,” Dr. Andrew Melville-Smith, chairperson of the Save Point Lowly group, told Crikey. He also says there will be severe ecological damage on Point Lowly’s recreational, coastal and living areas. Continue reading
Warning on expansion of Olympic Dam uranium mine – report from the ground
“Recent research from Monash University has demonstrated that the mine could operate profitably exporting copper, gold and silver but not uranium. We would like to see the radioactive risks left out of this mine expansion. It is incredibly disappointing that BHP continues to peddle the fiction that uranium export is necessary and unavoidable.”
ROXBY EIS CONCERNS ENVIRONMENTALISTS FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH 23 May 11, The annual Friends of the Earth’s Radioactive Exposure Tour has visited the Olympic Dam mine a week after BHP Billiton‘s Supplementary EIS was released.
The expansion plans which include a 3.5km X 4.1km open pit mine have triggered concerns with environmentalists from Darwin to Melbourne. Continue reading
BHP’s desalination plant a threat to Upper Spencer Gulf ecology
at left – the unique and beautiful Giant Cuttlefish faces extinction by the desalination plant
Green fears aired over Olympic Dam mine plans ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) May 20, 2011 Concerns have been raised about BHP Billiton’s plan to expand the Olympic Dam mine.A fishing group in Upper Spencer Gulf says BHP Billiton’s revised plans do not go far enough to protect the environment.In its revised environmental impact statement, BHP confirmed it will go ahead with a desalination plant at Point Lowly. BHP also plan to build an unloading facility to barge machinery further up the gulf.
Robin Sharp from the Coastal Homes Association says he is worried the region’s ecosystem will be in danger.”We’ve already got an invasive oyster up here that we believe has been introduced by shipping over the last 20 or 30 years, pretty much overrun the whole razorfish intertidal zone, so it will pretty much wipe out all the razorfish in this area,” Mr Sharp said.Green fears aired over Olympic Dam mine plans – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
The enormity of Olympic Dam’s planned nuclear waste mountain, and its cost
“………Mineweb has been detailing the enormity of this project of transforming a large underground mine into a massive open cut – particularly with there being a sterile cover of between 300-400 metres. However, the price for the development has escalated in the past eight years from original projections of about US$S3 billion, in itself a daunting figure for many mining companies….It has been long known that removal of the overburden and rock will create “mountains” in a landscape that is virtually a pancake. Now, Gottliebsen said the rock storage facility covers 6,720 hectares and eventually will be 150 metres high. “By 2050, when the mine has not even completed half its life, the pit will be 4.1 kilometres long, 3.5 km wide and 1 km deep,” …”. Mineweb, 18 May 11
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