Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

TODAY. Australia is STILL America’s Deputy Sheriff

And we thought. by getting rid of the bullying blustering Scott Morrison and his war-mongering muse Doomsday Dutton, we were at last to have an intelligent administration, that recognised Australia’s position in the Pacific region, and did not automatically jump to the whim of the American military-industrial-corporate. Albanese sounds like a more diplomatic. intelligent P.M

But no – on our TV screens we witnessed Albanese in Spain, fawning all over NATO. Now, NATO seems to be expanding its great reach to the Southern Hemisphere. Next thing, we’ll be joining NATO , and revving up the warmongers plans for attacking China. AUKUS is the start.

For a while there, China and Russia had some disagreements. But good old NATO is now succeeding in joining them together. I mean, why fight Russia, or ight China, if you can take on both of them at once?

Does that make sense? Does Australia really have to make enemies of both Russia and China?

These days – we seem to a be afflicted with Prime Ministers intoxicated by being seen on the big stage with the US President, kow-towing to whatever is the current USA whim.

June 30, 2022 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

Nuclear news in Australia and beyond

Mercifully brief this week, as I have had the flu

A bit of good news –  Fiji joined over 86 states to adopt a treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons and take the first step back from the knife edge of Armageddon.  Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama eloquently set out the reasons for the treaty, and the need to heal the wounds of the dark legacy of nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific. The best explanation i”ve yet read, on the value of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

AUSTRALIA

Greg Barns: Julian Assange and the Albanese Government – Enough is enough! China accuses the US and UK of hypocrisy on press freedom for calling out Beijing’s crackdowns while putting Australian Wikileaks founder Julian Assange on trial for espionage.

A new era as Australia joins historic UN nuclear ban meeting. MP Susan Templeman represents Australia at landmark nuclear weapons ban treaty in Vienna. “Truly historic” First Meeting of States Parties concludes! -UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Richard Broinowski on Australia’s Nuclear past and future.

Nuclear test survivors’ plea for Australia to sign treaty, as they speak at UN meeting.

big win for Yeelirrie.

Climate change minister Chris Bowen says nuclear is too slow and expensive.

Australia has a once in a lifetime chance to break stranglehold fossil fuels have on politics .

Kean goes deep green with budget that links climate action with future prosperity.
Moderate Libs flag revolt against Dutton’s climate stance
 .

Ransom Notes: pay us to keep our old power plants running or else, say fossil fuel majors.

INTERNATIONAL.

Let us move towards a world without nuclear weapons. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Members agree a plan of action in response to renewed threats of nuclear weapons use. A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought .

After lying for months, the media are preparing the public for Ukraine’s military collapse. Glenn Diesen: As propaganda about a Ukrainian ‘victory’ retreats, is a split emerging in the West? Western Officials Admit Ukraine Is Crawling With CIA Personnel.

European Pressurised Water Reactors (EPRs) – a nuclear economic fiasco in Finland, France, UK and China.

The United States-the Pacific bully.

Welcome to the ‘Pandemicene‘..

World facing real risk of ‘multiple famines‘ this year, UN chief warns.

UKRAINE. West’s Ukraine fantasy will spell doom for the Ukrainian nation.A despicable Ukrainian PSYOP in Bucha. No Western ”boots on the ground” in Ukraine? Just commandoes and CIA agentsAs world leaders promote nuclear power as SAFE, a dangerous situation develops at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant _- Zaporizhzia in Ukraine ! Panic as Russian missiles pass CRITICALLY close to nuclear power plant, as Putin’s ‘grave health worsens’.

June 27, 2022 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

TODAY. To survive, the human species must heed the voices of small nations, and of babes and sucklings

We really don’t have time for the antics of the big tough men that run the world – on corporate greed, vying with each other for power and importance. They’ve brought us global heating, planetary and even space pollution, and their next trick is nuclear war.

They don’t seem to ”get it” that if you blow the other lot to smithereens, it doesn’t actually help your lot at all.

I recall that the King of Siam as played by Yul Brynner way back, reflected that ‘‘Unless some day somebody trusts somebody – there’ll be nothing left on Earth excepting fishes

The King of Siam was an optimist – as human stupidity and greed are already bringing about the end of the fishes.

BUT – the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is right now being discussed and worked on by representatives of over 100 governments. 122 governments are in favour of it, 86 have signed up to it, and 65 have ratified it. It is wisely designed, allowing even nuclear state to join, with reasonable steps.

But no. The big boys of the weapons corporations and the military run the show, so of course, they spurn this Treaty, and the opinions of the little nations. After all, the little nations are expendable, like all the ordinary little folk that are going to be obliterated by weather extremes, and by a nuclear weapon, however ”successfully” that weapon might be used.

Today, as Fiji joins the Treaty, we hear a wise and sensible opinion on the way forward. We need to learn from those ”unimportant” little nations, from indigenous peoples, from ”ignorant” children and young people – because we sure ain’t getting any wisdom from the world ”leaders”

June 24, 2022 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

Nuclear news – Australia and more

A bit of good news –  this  week Vienna, Austria, is hosting the First Meeting of States Parties, UN member states that have agreed to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Over 100 governments will participate. The great majority of the world’s representatives — 122 countries — voted their approval of the TPNW in 2017, and 62 have since ratified it. The treaty has entered into force, and only the tiny minority of nuclear-armed governments and their military allies continue to reject it. In the midst of all the doom and gloom news, we need to remember that thousands of people in many nations are working for a better world.


Otherwise – the week has been a perfect storm of awful news. The coronavirus pandemic has not gone away – far from it!  Global heating is striking – the poles are melting at a fast rate, floods in India and Bangladesh, extreme heat in Europe, wildfires in Germany, Greece, Spain and New Jersey. USA.   USA and UK determined to punish Julian Assange forever –   let that be a warning to any journalist who exposes USA military atrocities !

AUSTRALIA.

Can Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese save Julian Assange? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ_9WoWVm-g&t=12s If Albanese asks for Assange’s freedom, Biden has every reason to agree: Bob Carr. Julian Assange and family suffer as unjust detention continueshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs0cKFeRko0&t=12s Federal government lobbying behind the scenes for Assange’s freedom.

Australia yet to sign up to treaty banning nuclear weapons but will attend UN meeting as observer. ICAN Australia welcomes government decision to attend the first Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as an observer.

Why nuclear energy won’t work in Australia. D’oh! David Littleproud’s nuclear comments insult our intelligence.

No decision yet on choosing USA or UK nuclear submarines, but a USA Bill to train Australian submariners! – writer.   Australia’s Opposition Leader Dutton Says US Can Provide Two Nuclear Subs by 2030.

Albanese locks in Australia’s higher 2030 emissions reduction target . “Australia is under new management”: Bowen tells clean energy investors.

BP takes 40% stake in vast $30bn Australian renewables project. “The problem is not renewables:” Bowen puts Uhlmann back in his coal box. More than 1GW of battery storage to replace coal in world’s biggest isolated grid.

INTERNATIONAL

Assange Is Doing His Most Important Work Yet. The UK’s Decision to Extradite Assange Shows Why The US/UK’s Freedom Lectures Are a Farce.

The deteriorating nuclear order. The Nuclear Weapons Treaty Ban in the Footsteps of 1982’s Million-Person March.

Nuclear-armed nations spent $82.4bn on weapons in 2021From all continents: mercenaries from 55 nations serving in Ukrainian army.

Pope Francis again says that the West provoked or failed to prevent Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Rosatom Exemption: How Russia’s State-Run Nuclear Giant Has Escaped Sanctions.

Bank group accused of exploiting loopholes and ‘greenwashing’ in climate pledge.

UKRAINE. The US-led bloc is unwilling to fight Russia directly and treats Ukraine as a proxy, Dutch PM admits. Ukraine vows to reclaim Crimea with US weapons. Ukraine killing civilians in ‘unprecedented’ shelling on Donetsk ignored by Western media and politicians. Profit in a time of war? The madness of more reactors (from Westinghouse) in Ukraine.

ANTARCTICA. Antarctic “doomsday glacier” melting at faster rate than in past 5,500 years.

June 20, 2022 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

Can Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese save Julian Assange?

New Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, said he couldn’t see any purpose in keeping Assange in gaol, stating “enough is enough”. In the first week of the Albanese Government, the ABC reported: ‘Mr Albanese is also a signatory to the Bring Julian Assange Home Campaign petition.’

Questioned by The Guardian – Albanese replied that it was his position that “not all foreign affairs is best done with the loudhailer”.

So – we are now getting used to an Australian Prime Minister who values thinking and diplomacy rather than bull-dozing and bullying tactics . So there’s hope.

On the other hand, there’s the determination of the U.S.military-industrial-complex, which rules U.S. politics – to punish Julian Assange for exposing U.S. military’s war crimes. And the subservience of the U.K. to USA, now vested in just oned person Home Secretary Priti Patel, who shows no sign of having the integrity to stand up for justice.

It is ironic that everyone is now (rightly) jumping up and down about Russian military atrocities, and praising reporters who reveal these – but it seems it’s OK to persecute Assange forf revealing U.S. military atrocities?

June 16, 2022 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

This week Australian and overseas nuclear news

Some bits of good news    Two key  committees of the European Parliament strike down EU plans to label nuclear and gas as green investment .   – G7 countries to stop funding fossil fuel development overseas. Canada Introduced Sweeping Gun Law Reforms.

AUSTRALIA.

Julian Assange is still in jail, but the new Australian government has the power to act to help him. Assange: Albanese must act where the Coalition failed.  Julian Assange’s wife Stella Moris reveals how they raise children together while he is in jail waiting an extradition decision. Another episode in the unlawful spying and harassment of Julian Assange and his legal team, by the UK and USA governments. 

Nuclear Waste Dispute in Court Wednesday 15 June. 

Australia’s Energy Minister rejects nuclear power push. Nuclear energy does not stack up economically– Labor Senator Tony Sheldon . The National Party is getting whackier and whackier in pushing for nuclear power. Opposition leader Peter Dutton hints at controversial shift towards nuclear power. The Liberal National Coalition’s flirtation with nuclear energy will not be well received by the electorate, especially in Gilmore on the NSW South Coast. Chasing unicorns’: NSW Liberal minister rejects federal opposition push for nuclear power. Disgraced Victorian Liberal MP Tim Smith – quitting politics – backs Dutton’s call for nuclear power. Kerry Schott: why new coal or nuclear plants are a dumb idea.

Defence faces budget blowout with Aukus nuclear submarines to cost more than scrapped French project. Peter Dutton’s claim he planned to buy US nuclear subs is ‘political point-scoring’, defence experts say. Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull labels Peter Dutton a ‘belligerent blusterer‘ over nuclear submarines claim. 

A huge Atlantic current is slowing down. If it collapses, La Niña could become the norm for Australia.

Australian warming outpacing global average by 35pc: IEA . Australia to update UN climate submission.

Sky News Australia is a global hub for climate misinformation, report saysForgotten fuel: Australia’s failure on energy efficiency is a global embarrassment

INTERNATIONAL.

The unpalatable truth in Ukraine.

  Geo-political readings on the Russia / Ukraine conflict 8.6.22 —Global nuclear arsenal could grow for the first time in decades, think-tank SIPRI warns.

Non-carbon emissions could ‘bump’ global temperatures above 1.5C within seven years, research warns.

Human-made heatwaves are getting hotter

Climate action is going in the right direction, but what now? What is a realistic aim? ‘‘Climatenomics” – new book -climate crisis is the REAL economic worry.      Carbon dioxide levels are now 50% higher than during the pre-industrial era. World can make massive energy savings, reduce emissions through energy conservation measures. International Energy Agency stresses that energy efficiency must be at the forefront of energy and climate policies. 

Mother Nature: Economic growth is sending her bankrupt.

UKRAINE. Ukraine’s high casualty rate could bring war to tipping point, Ukraine bars IAEA nuclear regulator from visiting Russian-occupied power plant ! Ukraine slams planned IAEA mission to Russian-occupied nuclear plant.

 

June 15, 2022 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

Nuclear news – Australia and beyond

Some bits of good news –  European Cities Are Turning Rooftops Into Community and Sustainability Hubs: ‘A revolution in urban planning’  Dr. Jane Goodall on climate change, planting trees, and nurturing hope.  Golden bandicoots haven’t inhabited outback NSW for more than a century, until now.

AUSTRALIA

The National Radioactive Waste Management Act is racist and the Act must be amended or repealed and replaced. Indigenous owners call on the Labor government to scrap the nuclear waste dump plan. South Australia nuclear waste storage facility legal battle continues.

Despite the evidence that nuclear power is failing, and small nuclear reactors don’t exist, Australia’s right-wing politicians cling to their dream. New opposition leader Peter Dutton says that nuclear energy is not Liberal Party policy. New National Party leader pushes for small nuclear reactors. Barnaby Joyce removed as leader of the National Party, goes out spruiking for the nuclear industry. 

Australia’s nuclear submarines and nuclear proliferation obligations – how many angels can dance on a periscope? Book. Fact or Fission? The truth about Australia’s nuclear ambitions. 

No demotion for Plibersek: Deputy PM – Tanya Plibersek – at last – an Environment Minister who does care about the environment. After the Coalition’s failure, there is no higher duty than being Australia’s environment minister . Environment report ‘hidden’ by Coalition should be released immediately: Greens

‘Canaries in the coal mine’: Frogs face an uncertain future, and that’s bad news for us as well

INTERNATIONAL.

 The need for a negotiated settlement to end the Ukraine war – Western allies discuss this.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85JcUZe7kk0

Weapons designed to mass murder civilians, terrorize the world, and enable impunity for war crimes can no longer be relied on to “prevent war.”

Washington: NATO chief meets with Biden, Blinken, Austin, Sullivan to prolong Ukraine war .

Erdogan: Turkey will be in the forefront of the space war.

Turkish drones in Ukraine as model: Japan, U.S. to produce drones for use against China, Russia .

Small nuclear reactors may produce more, and more toxic, wastes than large ones do – new research. Nuclear waste from small modular reactors.

Current policies will bring ‘catastrophic’ climate breakdown, warn former UN leaders. 30 years on from Rio Earth Summit not that much has been achieved.

Time to Start Reducing Consumption! — harben post — Barbara Crane Navarro

There’s a scream building up in young people.

UKRAINE.   U.S. Army: Ukraine is laboratory for new warfighting doctrine.

EUROPE. Members of European Parliament and experts condemn plan to label nuclear as ”green”.

June 6, 2022 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

Nuclear news as May ends – the problems keep getting worse 

Some bits of good news –  INDIGENOUS INSIGHTS ON HEALING LAND AND SKY.       Cuban Farmers Fight Land Degradation with Sustainable Management.

It’s a worrying thought that everyone might just get ”Ukraine fatigue” and let this cruel war grind on.  In the meantime, the global nuclear industry is suffering all sorts of upsets, while Elon Musk and the rest of the space war enthusiasts are carrying on, as if there were no problems at all.   Hard to single out the most significant nuclear failure, but I think that it would have to be France, where the financial and safety problems just keep getting worse.  

AUSTRALIA. 

Julian Assange’s family says Australia’s election result brings renewed hope for WikiLeaks founder’s release. Labor urged to act to prevent Julian Assange extradition.

Nuclear.    Sydney University radiation case shows the need for stronger environmental laws, with wider scope. Stop Deep Yellow: No uranium mining on Upurli Upurli Nguratja country. Australia’s new Prime Minister backs the UN Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty. Australia’s weapons-buying binge from USA continues . 

Climate.  Albanese commits Australia to stronger 2030 target, starts climate reset .     The political and media establishment ignored climate – but voters didn’t.   The 2022 climate election: unpacking how climate concerned Australians voted        Months of more rain likely as BOM report links global warming to flood disasters.   

‘I’m so angry, I’m wild’: the never-ending wait to clean up asbestos town Wittenoom

INTERNATIONAL.

What to do about humanity entering “a spiral of self-destruction” – a UN Summit now on in Indonesia.   The U.N. “Sustainable Development Goals”- just ”greenwashing” – claim experts.   Why nuclear power can’t solve climate crisis – in fact makes it worse- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7rG7-P7E5M&t=306s

When Henry Kissinger gives advice on ending the Ukraine conflict, the West should listen.     Ukraine, Taiwan: Biden trip designed to recruit S. Korea, Japan into global anti-Russia/China bloc. They’re Just Outright Telling Us That Peace In Ukraine Is Not An Option.

 Book Review: ”Atoms and Ashes’‘ – A Timely History of Nuclear Catastrophes.

Asianization of NATO: China, Russia react to Biden visit   War for Taiwan, nuclear war for Japan: Biden pushes two-front campaign against China, Russia.       Like the rest of Europe’s few remaining non-members, Ireland being prepped for NATO .         Expanding NATO – it’s a $quillion bonanza for the U.S. weapons industries!!     Why environmentalists are pushing back against nuclear energy .

Nuclear is already well past its sell-by date.    After the meltdown.

Billionaires from USA and Denmark have inordinate influence on public opinion about molten salt nuclear reactors’.     Caitlin Johnson, rogue journalist, on corporate control of the media.

“Don’t work for climate wreckers:” UN chief warns young people off fossil fuels.

Curbing other climate pollutants, not just CO2, gives Earth a chance.

Experts call on governments to start including animal welfare in sustainable development governance.

UKRAINE. For the first time in history, nuclear sites have been caught up in the middle of warfare. Ukrainian negotiator rules out deal with Russia.

May 30, 2022 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

Anthony Albanese has the power to save Julian Assange. But will he?

We’re all enormously relieved that the corrupt #ScottyFRomMarketing has gone.

And we like Albanese, I think.

But – will he have the guts to help our Australian hero, Julian Assange?

Albanese had the perfect opportunity in Tokyo on Tuesday, meeting the U.S. president. He could have raised the matter with Biden.. But he didn’t.

When will he? Will he speak up for Assange at all?

Now is the time for Australia to intervene, and to demand the repatriation of Julian and an end to his persecution. It’s about time our mealy-mouthed and pathetic media and politicians broke their silence and cringing subservience to the USA.

May 26, 2022 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

Nuclear news this week – Australia and beyond

A bit of good news.  Australia – the leper of world climate politics, – is a leper no more. Beyond all expectations, we turfed out the corrupt and anti-environment Morrison Liberal Coalition government. The driving forces in this election were the Greens, and the very climate conscious ”teal” independents.  It seems that intelligent Liberals who care about the environment defected to the ”teals”, while intelligent Labor people who care strongly about the environment defected to the Greens. Either way –   Australia at long last will have a government that might work for the cause of a clean planet, and for addressing global heating, and climate justice.

Pandemic–  WHO chief: The COVID pandemic is ‘most certainly not over

Climate – New IPCC Report: Addressing Climate Change Is Now About Damage Control 

AUSTRALIA

Will Anthony Albanese and Labor have the guts to free Julian Assange?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8zYQp3rrG8&t=13s

Nuclear More scathing comments from readers, about Scott Morrison’s foolish nuclear submarine deal. Clive Palmer and his United Australia Party guarantee a nuclear reactor for South Australia if they hold the balance of power..

 Climate.      Albanese, Wong to take South-East Asia and climate policies to Quad meeting.    Labor’s election win – Green investors tip renewable revival          Climate voters herald an irrevocable change to politics 

Australians have voted for bolder climate action and integrity in politicsThe teals and Greens will turn up the heat on Labor’s climate policy. Here’s what to expect.        Australia’s rightwing government weaponised climate change – now it has faced its reckoning.         Painful defeat of Australia’s right-wing Morrison government, as new Labor government vows action on climate change. National Party to dictate Liberal Coalition policy on climate – Nats set to dictate Coalition policies 

Albanese pledges to get Australia out of climate ‘naughty corner’. A new climate politics: The 47th parliament must be a contest of ideas for a hotter, low-carbon Australia, In a year of endless floods, why isn’t disaster governance front and centre in the election campaign?

 Bushfires, reef bleaching, animal extinctions — Australia’s environment is under threat. But are our politicians paying attention?It’s election time! For one party the environment is not a priority. For the other, it’s not something to talk about. — Sustainability Bites

Former Kiribati president slams Australia’s ‘politicisation’ of climate action and power of fossil fuel lobby

INTERNATIONAL

Extraditing Julian Assange would be a gift to secretive, oppressive regimes.

War in Ukraine is getting complicated, and America isn’t ready 

Ukraine War Has No End in Sight.    Ukraine Contact Group: war used to expand global NATO.

NATO doubles members since 1999, completes sweep of Nordic nations IT IS FOOLISH FOR FINLAND AND SWEDEN TO JOIN NATO.      Up to 100 U.S. nuclear weapons surround Russia’s border.       Disinformation’ Label Serves to Marginalize Crucial Ukraine Facts.

Switzerland: NATO swallowing Europe’s few remaining former neutrals .

Nuclear Bomb Blast Map Shows What Would Happen if One Detonated Near You.

New book – does nuclear power have a future?. Tritium isn’t harmless.

The Arctic Council (AC) and NATO aims conflict with no climate change mitigation.

 COP26: No countries have delivered on promise to improve climate plans. 1.2 billion people threatened by escalating heat due to climate change. Climate change: The global climate crisis is also a health crisis

UKRAINE. Chernobyl nuclear fears as forest near Exclusion Zone in FLAMES – emergency triggered      Ukraine controlled by US and UK – Russia. Injured troops to be evacuated from Azovstal – Moscow. Nuclear lobby happily predicts a bright and beautiful future for new nuclear reactors in Ukraine.

Continue reading

May 23, 2022 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

Will Anthony Albanese and Labor have the guts to free Julian Assange?

I am astonished that in all the brouhaha of Labor kicking out the truly awful Morrison Liberal Coalition government, so far no media noise about the scandalous persecution of Australian citizen Julian Assange.

OK, kindly, I suggest that there’s a lot to digest, a lot to overturn and untangle, in the state of corruption left by the Morrison government.

But now, if ever, is the time for Australia to stop cringing, and stand up to our supposed friend, the USA.

War atrocities happen. Right now there’s a legal case on, all about atrocities committed by Australian soldiers. We have to face up to that. America should have the decency to face up to atrocities committed by its military, instead of viciously persecuting the journalist who revealed them.

Australia could stop its pathetic subservience to the uSA and UK, and stand up for an Australian journalist.

We kowtowed 75 years ago, when Australian journalist Wilfred Burchett revealed the humanitarian horrors of Fukushima. Now, with a decently oriented Labor government, Australia could do the right thing and demand Assange’s freedom. The USA and UK might even respect us for that.

May 23, 2022 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, Christina reviews | Leave a comment

Australia gets rid of the crooked, incompetent bible-bashing #ScottyFromMarketing government

It’s not just the angels who are rejoicing. All Australians who care about the environment, the climate, the children’s future, are now breathing that much-needed sigh of relief. Not to mention our shame at the way the government has treated refugees, and the appalling neglect of Julian Assange.

I hope that Albanese and co. realise that they got into government not because people wanted a Labor government, but because people couldn’t stand smirking dissembling, corrupt Morrison any longer.

The job now, for The Greens, the Independent Teals, and others who care – is to teach Labor to care about the environment, and our children’s future, and to do something about that.

May 22, 2022 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

TODAY. This morning at the polling booth – Australian election

No – these ”Teal” supporters of Zoe Daniels on the left were not all present at the Goldstien polling booth this morning. But some of them were, and the mood was one of intelligent optimism. I was handing out ”how-to-vote-Green”. But there was a happy camaradie between the many Greens and Teals.

The atmosphere on the Labor side was more muted, and the few Liberals seemed on the defensive. The United Australia Party had just one lacklustre poster, and no-one there to hand out.

A general feeling among the many Teal and Green supporters that tonight, there’s a chance that Australia might get rid of its current anti-environment and corrupt government.

May 21, 2022 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

TODAY. The Australian election – yawn! Where the most important issues are not mentioned by the major parties

Yay -it’s all about interest rate rises, the deficit, house prices, wages – yes these ARE important matters. (Maybe not the deficit so much – because good, positive policies would bring about community confidence and effort, resulting in a productive economy – leading to reducing the deficit.}

But what are Liberal and Labor NOT TALKING about? THE PANDEMIC, CLIMATE CHANGE (Labor – a bit) THE MILITARISATION of this country in the service of American weapons companies.

Intelligent Australians are hoping that The Greens and the Independents will make their mark, in this election on 21 May. And fearing that the ultra-right groups might also do so.

May 19, 2022 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

This week, nuclear news and more

Some bits of good news –    Removal of over 200 dams in Europe has restored free flowing streams and migratory fish.   Norway turns its back on gas and oil to become a renewable superpower.

Curiouser and curiouser. In Australia, and presumably in other ”developed” countries, the focus on squabbling political personalities, and on sporting celebrities, pretty much dominates the news, except for the continued coverage of Ukraine, seen through an American filter.   Meanwhile, strangely lost in the background is the pandemic story, with new case numbers rocketing world-wide. Then there’s global heating – noted effects in California and Northern Australia –  but what about India, Pakistan, Kenya, Bangladesh?

It is strange, and worrying, that the pandemic, climate change, and the heightened nuclear dangers have  somehow slipped below the radar of public consciousness – but those threats are still there, even if it’s not nice to talk about them.

AUSTRALIA

Radioactive: Inside the top-secret AUKUS nuclear submarines deal. AUKUS nuclear submarine fallout: double-dealing and deception came at a diplomatic cost.

Australian readers condemn the Morrison government’s AUKUS deal     Biden demanded bipartisan support before signing AUKUS. Labor was not told for months. Extraordinary’: Albanese slams Morrison for not briefing him on subs deal,  

Remote NT community not told about $5m contract to fix uranium in water supply

Young voters will inherit a hotter, more dangerous world – but their climate interests are being ignored this election.     Political leaders ignoring the biggest threat to our national security

No, Mr Morrison. Minority government need not create ‘chaos’ – it might finally drag Australia to a responsible climate policyMeet Zoe Daniel: Journalist turned independent fighting for climate, integrity and gender equality.     Greens voter exhausted from constantly being right – satire The Shovel

Democracy in danger State capture’ by private interests

The end of Adani? Investment giant says coal miner has revealed Carmichael closure plan.

The day one person was left to monitor nine river systems as floods swept the state

INTERNATIONAL.

The Danger of Ignoring Julian Assange https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6bVl47kdNk

Ending the War of Attrition in Ukraine.    Forgetting the apocalypse: why our nuclear fears faded – and why that’s dangerous.

Strategic partnership: U.S. pushes ASEAN to join crusade against Russia, China, Myanmar.   

The Insanity Of Expanding Nuclear Energy.       Poisoned legacy: why the future of power can’t be nuclear.

John Kerry warns a long Ukraine war would threaten climate efforts

Underwater drones could be the end of nuclear submarines. Underwater drones herald sea change in Pacific warfare.

UKRAINEThe horrible dangers of pushing a US proxy war in Ukraine – Atomic energy chief: Ukraine’s nuclear safety situation ‘far from being resolved‘. UN: There is ‘credible’ information Ukrainian forces are torturing Russian POWs  .We Think).   

May 16, 2022 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment