Climate and Nuclear – the news this week- Australia
This week, Katharine Hayhoe, climate scientist and evangelical Christian, sends a powerful message to other Christians, on the urgent necessity to act on climate change. Scientific warnings have intensified over recent month. It used to be “a problem for our grandchildren“, but climate change is here, now. With a new urgency, the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2019 will be held from 2-13 December in Madrid.California wildfires signal the arrival of a planetary fire age.
Mainstream media has been silent on the threats, and indeed the impacts, of extreme weather on nuclear facilities. There is minimal (and all too reassuring) coverage following on the effects of Hurricane Hagibis on Fukushima’s collections of radioactive trash. There is not a mention of the threats to nuclear facilities, in the reporting on the Californian wildfires. For example, there are fires in Ventura County, which has the notorious nuclear Santa Susana Field Laboratory – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn8xyr7CYXs
A bit of good news – the Living New Deal Project.
AUSTRALIA
Is climate change playing a role in Australia’s drought? Hotter and drier- Australia’s weather records set to be broken this year.
CLIMATE.-Dry weather set to return after thunderstorms bring temporary relief. Climate change is bringing more extreme weather events to Sydney and Melbourne.
Coal from six biggest miners in Australia produces more emissions than entire economy. Coercion is coal’s only friend. Australia’s surging diesel emissions from cars and utes cancel out wind and solar gains.
Scott Morrison’s threats against climate activists – getting a bit sinister. Scott Morrison doesn’t like even the “quiet people” speaking up. Scott Morrison delivers a speech that sounds very like an attack on democracy. Morrison’s crackdown on climate protests could have unintended consequences.
Energy Minister Taylor’s ‘expert panel’ in search of emissions reductions shuts out clean energy sector. Coalition’s carbon market plans at risk from low quality “grey” credits.
It’s time that the Australian government declared a water emergency. A national approach needed to a national river system.
NUCLEAR.
- Nuclear waste containers in transit to South Australian dump, could be vulnerable to bushfires. Aboriginal leaders prominent at the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance conference in South Australia. “Have Your Say” on nuclear waste dump – just a window-dressing exercise by the Australian govt.
- In Western Australia. South Australians do not want their state to become “the wasteland state”. Shire of Leonora deputy president says NO to importing nuclear waste.
- Australia’s secret hazardous radioactive military leftovers.
- Australian company Worley Parsons joins the international throng trying to sell nuclear power to Saudi Arabia.
- Australia’s nuclear bomb lobby. Nuclear weapons and Australia’s hypocrisy about them.
- Australian film-makers to join in 10th Uranium Film Festival in Rio de Janeiro May 2020.
RENEWABLE ENERGY. Renewable energy target now overshot by nearly 1GW, says regulator. Victoria 50% by 2030 renewable energy target voted into law. South Australia had lowest cost of supply in main grid in October. Hydro Tasmania pushes “battery of the nation” plan, will unlock wind and solar. Hydro Tasmania pushes “battery of the nation” plan, will unlock wind and solar. Carnegie Clean Energy set to resume trading, with big plans for CETO wave power. Coalition gives $1bn to CEFC for 24/7 reliable renewable power.
INTERNATIONAL
Ruthless and relentless – USA-UK destruction of Julian Assange.
Fukushima is not safe for 2020 Olympics, nuclear scientists warn.
The human species at threat of wipeout – nuclear war in space.
A Global Review : Threats o f Nuclear Conflict. How an India-Pakistan nuclear war could start—and have global consequences. United Nations adopts Japan’s nuclear disarmament resolution.
Argentina’s Rafael Grossi chosen to head UN nuclear agency.
No, thorium nuclear power is still not a viable energy technology.
Greta Thunberg and Leonardo Di Caprio join forces in climate crusade.
To 30 October – nuclear news Australia
On October 24, seven Catholic peace activists were convicted on all counts for their 2018 protest against nuclear weapons. They face 20 years in gaol. This case is symbolic of where we are at – in the nuclear weaponisation of our planet. At the same time, Julian Assange, in solitary confinement in UK, faces extradition to USA and a life sentence- for exposing the truth on U.S. military atrocities.
Climate change is going to be even more costly than we thought. In California, the severity of wildfires signals the future climate situations.
A bit of good news – The cleanest waste-to-energy power plant in the world.
AUSTRALIA
Australia’s media under threat. ABC challenges the validity of Federal Police raids. Australian Federal Police put their case at Federal Court hearing about their raid on ABC. Attorney General Christian Porter backs laws that restrict journalists’ reporting. A new court order is being abused in order to harass a journalist. Australia’s environment department is unlawfully withholding documents from the public.
CLIMATE CHANGE. 85 fires burning across New South Wales Iconic Macquarie Marshes on fire. Climate change and the prospects this year for the Darling River. Some good news for a change: Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions are set to fall.
Why we can’t trust Scott Morrison – his REAL climate policy. Australian Prime Minister Morrison’s attitude to Pacific Islanders – “Take the Money and Shut Up about Climate Change”. Angus Taylor repeats misleading claim on carbon emissions yet again.
240 conservation scientists call on Australian government to strengthen environmental protection laws. 47 experts urge NSW government to defend NSW law and climate.
NUCLEAR.
- Voting begins in Kimba as nuclear waste issues divide the community. Farmers, traditional owners and ratepayers unite in anti-nuclear rally. South Australian Labor comes out swinging against nuclear waste dump selection process. Can the Australian government impose a nuclear waste dump on South Australia?
- MP Sonja Terpstra and Victoria’s Labor government stand by existing bans on nuclear activities. New political party Reform WA wants nuclear power as an option for Western Australia.
- Radioactive liquids in Olympic Dam waste pools are killing native birds.
Tilman Ruff discusses radiation risks regarding Olympic events at Fukushima.
RENEWABLE ENERGY. Jobs and growth: Albanese recasts Labor’s planned clean energy revolution. Morrison and Taylor’s little big grid plan not quite what it seems. Building Tasmania’s future on renewable energy. Another 162MW solar farm gets connection approval in Queensland. Townsville shopping centre builds “Australia’s biggest” solar car park. ARENA-backed project trials all-electric “net zero energy” homes in Melbourne. Big wind farm and even bigger battery approved for South Australia.
World Nuclear Waste Report (WNWR) to be launched 11th November.
A young Hannah Rabin was the peace movement’s Greta.
Over 300 financial institutions put $748 billion in to nuclear weapons companies.
The hazards of nuclear submarines.
Offshore wind to become a $1 trillion industry by 2040.
Science journalism – dominated by white males.
The week in nuclear/climate news Australia
It seems that it takes the very young and the very old to grasp the world’s climate emergency, and have the guts to demonstrate this to the world. Greta Thunberg and her family are paying the price for her outspoken courage. David Attenborough, (in the past constrained by the BBC) now speaks boldly about the planet’s environmental crisis.
Nothing dramatically new in the nuclear area.
Freedom of information, press freedom, civil liberties, – might not be directly linked to climate/nuclear issues, -but, indirectly, they’re linked to everything. In London, a judge denies Julian Assange a delay in extradition hearings, as he, having been effectively in solitary confinement, struggles to meet the power and resources of the US government. His own country, Australia, spinelessly backs the USA, as usual. Meanwhile the Australian media is launching a concerted campaign against Australia’s exceptionally repressive laws that target. journalists
AUSTRALIA
Growing calls for Australian government to defend Julian Assange.
The government seeks to intimidate the media. Australian media push for press freedom – a culture of secrecy – the right to know. Regional News Media join the campaign for freedom. Australia needs a Media Freedom Act. New involvement of Attorney General in press freedom.
NUCLEAR –
- Keep Australia’s ban on nuclear power – Noel Wauchope at Federal Inquiry Hearing. South Australian government says: “nuclear power remains unviable now and into the foreseeable future.”-No benefit to Australia in planning for nuclear power – Tilman Ruff. Nuclear Power Uninsurable and Uneconomic in Australia.
- Federal govt trying to con Australians that a national nuclear waste dump is a “local” not a NATIONAL ISSUE. Few permitted to vote on nuclear waste dump. A new bribe given on the eve of Kimba and Wallerberdina nuclear waste dump ballot. Public excluded from Delloitt Risk Assessment report for the radioactive waste repositary. Federal govt open door to international high level nuclear waste dump.
- Aaron Patrick in Australian Financial Review subtly slants a story in the pro nuclear direction. ANSTO’s nuclear medicine problems. South Australia: ballot on nuclear waste dump: Labor reaffirms anti-nuclear policy.
CLIMATE. Australia’s climate crisis: destruction of forests. Independent MP Zali Steggall to propose climate change bill to parliament . Government blocks crossbench motion to declare a climate change emergency. Morrison’s flimsy climate plan laid bare in strained Senate hearings.
Scott Morrison on the drought (“Climate” is a dirty word). Morrison government’s drought policy mess. Building dams and praying for rain is not a drought policy. Australian government’s “entrenched” anti-climate attitude – John Hewson. Barkindji people have title to Darling River area – but their river is dying, killed by drought, and whiteys’ mismanagement. Severe fire danger for northern New South Wales.
RENEWABLE ENERGY. AEMO provides glimpse of future grid: Not much fossil fuel, even less “base-load”. Wind and solar output beat brown coal in Australia for first time in September quarter. Victoria bill to lock in 50% renewable target passes through upper house. Huge wind and solar pipeline could make coal power ‘extinct’ in Australia by 2040. Meralli rolls out another “small but smart” solar farm in South Australia.
The week in nuclear news Australia
Again – climate and nuclear news collide. In Japan, Typhoon Hagibis re-spreads nuclear contamination far and wide – nuclear workers at heightened risk. Low lying Marshall Islands, victim of nuclear testing, now declares a Climate Emergency.
AUSTRALIA
NUCLEAR
- Clean Energy Council slams Federal Nuclear Inquiry as “distraction” from real energy challenges. Dr Jim Green addresses Australia’s Federal Nuclear Inquiry.
- Navy chief looks to nuclear submarines for Australia.
- Kalgoorlie Mayoral Candidate John Katahana wants a Small Nuclear Reactor for the town.
- Government study found Kimba and Flinders Range areas to be unsuitable for nuclear waste dump. More bribery to Kimba and Hawker communities as nuclear waste dump ballot nears. Federal nuclear waste dump plan- it’s really High Level wastes! Wildly exaggerated economic claims by Australia’s National Radioactive Waste Management Taskforce.
CLIMATE. David Glynne Jones on the unwisdom of nuclear power for Australia in a heating climate. The role of climate change in A ustralia’s early bushfire season. Bushfires continue burning across Australia, destroying homes. Northern Territory Aboriginals call out for climate action as mangroves dieback with heat. Weather experts predict more heat and fire risk coming, though fewer cyclones. Climate change – heat -drought – more mass fish deaths to come.
Greens seek to outlaw coal use by 2030, push climate emergency as Labor wavers. Don’t nuke the climate Australia.
Dick Smith, Julian Assange, and USA’s “outrageous” claim to “universal jurisdiction over every person on earth”.
Civil Liberties – Media Freedom Barnaby Joyce and former foreign minister Bob Carr urge stoppingt extradition of Julian Assange to USA. Pamela Anderson to confront Scott Morrison and plead for Australia to help Julian Assange.
RENEWABLE ENERGY. Is Energy Minister Angus Taylor on a one-man mission to stop wind and solar? EnergyAustralia calls for “unity” to enable “inevitable” transition to renewables. Solar reaches 80 per cent share of demand in South Australia on Saturday. Clean-energy hub Adelaide a drawcard for local and global innovators. Queensland approves new 180MW wind farm, with possible battery. Massive 5,000MW solar and wind projects set to fuel WA’s hydrogen expansiono wind turbines. AEMO’s Zibelman calls for system plan, says ‘just in time’ investment won’t work.
INTERNATIONAL
Revealed by Wikileaks – facts about nuclear weapons and the nuclear industry.
Climate Scientists urge protestors to keep on going with Extinction Rebellion. Google publicly decries climate change, privately donates to climate denialism. Massive Carbon Tax is needed– International Monetary Fund. U.N. officials on how Nuclear Power is irrelevant to climate action. The woman who was first to scientifically show, in 1856, how atmospheric C02 caused global warming.
The impossibility of nuclear power solving climate change. Mainstream media fails to cover news on military carbon emissions.
Physics Nobel Laureate predicts NO Migration to Other Planets.
Nuclear news Australia for first week in October
Radio Ecoshock, which (along with Paul Beckwith) I regard as the best information source about climate change, devoted its most recent programme to Australia. Australia does stand out – as both the “canary in the coal-mine”– for climate change, and as the top climate-denialist country.
In today’s Australian news I find an item which illustrates this. Australian country towns are in drought, losing their water supplies. But the national obsession with sport goes on. Thousands of litres of water were trucked in to the now waterless town of Pooncarie – to settle the dust on the race track, for the annual racing carnival. Australia’s P.M. Morrison criticised Greta Thunberg, and Australia continues to take no real action on prevention of, or adaptation to, climate change.
AUSTRALIA
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young defends the right to peacefully protest. New involvement of Attorney General in press freedom.The government seeks to intimidate the media.
NUCLEAR –Ballot dates confirmed for Flinders Ranges on nuclear waste dump issue. Nuclear waste dump for Kimba? Residents to vote soon. A Kimba resident says there’s no going back: a plea to vote NO to nuclear dump.
A nuclear industry for Australia would be a huge cost to taxpayers Queensland Liberal National Party opposes nuclear power. Queensland conservatives emerge as voice of reason in nuclear debate. Seriously!. Labor challenge to nuclear power fan MP Keith Pitt – where would you put nuclear reactors?.
Energy Efficiency the FIRST FUEL – a top Nuclear Submission from Brenda Hugget. Incidents related to transport of radiation instruments in Australia.
CLIMATE– Australia’s drought disaster a political disaster too, for its climate-sceptic Morrison govt? Climate emergency petition surges towards 200,000 signatures, but will Morrison listen? With temperatures heading for 40C, New South Wales and Queensland at bushfire risk. Climate change the essential factor in planning about droughts. Black swans – the bushfires of the future are already here. Government caught out lying on emissions, and solar installs at record high
RENEWABLE ENERGY Horizon first utility to pull down power lines and replace with renewable micro-grids. Tasmanian renewable energy projects tipped to pour $6.5 billion in state’s economy. Experts want air-con “clunkers” replaced to soften Victoria demand peaks, cut bills . XXXX! Hundreds of pubs slash energy costs through Lion deal on solar.
Red flags across the grid: New technologies hobbled by old thinking. Fourteen new big battery storage projects proposed for NSW. Tesla Model 3 electric vehicle smashes sales records, recasts Australia car market.
INTERNATIONAL
Bill Gates is wrong. Nuclear power will not save the climate.
How nuclear power powers the bomb.
Australian nuclear news- week to end of September
Greta Thunberg gave an impassioned speech at the United Nations Climate Summit, . It has resulted in some quite vicious media attacks on her, while it has highlighted the inability of world leaders to take effective action to stop or slow global heating.
It has also sparked a new burst of climate denialism. Nevertheless, science persists in uncovering the unwelcome facts. The French National Center for Scientific Research has just released a report warning that Earth could warm 7 degrees C by the year 2100. Numerous scientific bodies warn on increasing greenhouse gases, and increasing pace of global heating.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyYpExl8AJU
The World Nuclear Energy Status Report 2019 was launched on September 24. Some brief notes on its findings are here. They indicate that the commercial nuclear industry is in decline.
AUSTRALIA
CLIMATE. Sir David Attenborough slammed the Australian government’s response to climate change. Scott Morrison and Donald Trump happily together against action on climate change. Scott Morrison on climate change: he just doesn’t “get it. Behind closed doors: Australia pushes reputation as world’s leading fossil fuel dealer. Minerals Council of Australia makes global top 10 climate policy opponents. Australian schoolgirl attends United Nations Youth Climate Summit.
NUCLEAR. 50+ groups sign joint civil society statement on domestic nuclear power. Submission for the public good: to Federal Nuclear Inquiry – Noel Wauchope. Lyn Allen and Richard Ledger’s nuclear submission – for the public good. Nuclear submarines for Australia? Dangerous, would require costly taxpayer insurance. NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro wants to “normalise”nuclear power.
Nuclear waste dump ballot to go ahead in Kimba, South Australia.
RENEWABLE ENERGY. Clean Energy Finance Corporation and National Farmers Federation back ready-made clean energy solutions for Australian farmersTwo huge renewable hydrogen projects planned for Queensland. Small but “smart” Kanowna solar farm comes on line in northern NSW. Australia’s main grid copes just fine with minimal amount of coal.
INTERNATIONAL
Leaders of world’s largest emitting economies do not have real plans to meet goal of net zero emissions.
Nuclear weapons an unacceptable danger to humanity – U.N.Secretary-General António Guterres.
Weapons proliferation risk of nuclear power in space.
Climate change makes nuclear waste even more of a deadly threat. Nuclear power is on the skids: it’s really not going to help address climate change. Nuclear energy too slow, too expensive to save climate: report .
Uranium industry in permanent collapse? And thorium industry probably no better.
To 23 September – Nuclear (and Climate) News Australia
It’s been an important week for the world’s climate. Today, the world’s leaders meet in New York for a Climate Action Summit. The United Nations is trying to pressure the world into faster action on climate change. On Friday, millions, led by children demonstrated in cities around the world, for action, for abandoning fossil fuels https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXXAkt2492c. I was at the Melbourne protest, and I have never seen a rally so massive, paralysing the central business district. So many children! It’s their future.
Some good news – The ozone layer is repairing – international co-operation pays off.
AUSTRALIA
NUCLEAR.
- Trump tries to pull Scott Morrison, ‘man of titanium’, into a military coalition. A dilemma for Scott Morrison, as Trump suggests that Australia join USA in a possibly nuclear war with Iran.
- Controversial MP Barnaby Joyce on the pro nuclear campaign trail. Nationals MP Sam McMahon lashes renewable energy as ‘hoax’ and ‘fraud’ but says nuclear will help solve energy crisis,. The well-named Liberal Senator Antic goes all out for nuclear power and waste importation.
- Australia must not become a missile base, a nuclear target – Young Labor.
- Australian Workers Union join National Party’s push for nuclear power.
- Exposing misleading evidence to the federal nuclear inquiry.
Found – historic film of Aboriginal resistance to uranium mining
CLIMATE. Australian children, and adults who care, march in their hundreds of thousands, for Action on Climate Change. Resources Minister Matthew Canavan blasts ‘hypocritical, self-indulgent activists’ holding back mining sector.
Coal’s servant, P.M. Morrison makes Australia an international pariah at UN Climate Summit. He is in USA, but won’t attend the Summit. UN bars coal nations from climate stage. (especially Australia). Setting only long term zero carbon targets is code for “we’re doing nothing now”. National Party disdains report from Farmers for Climate Action.
Australian Labor Party standing firm on its climate policies.
Climate change already damaging Australia’s ecosystems. Hot, dry summer to increase Victoria’s bushfire risk . Australian Capital Territory leads the nation in the climate emergency.
Rare earths. Morrison and Trump open new front in China trade war with rare earth ‘action plan’.
RENEWABLE ENERGY. Revealed: Josh Frydenberg was behind the strange Environment Department decision to block wind turbines on Lord Howe Island. ANU to explore renewable energy exports for Australia, with Taylor’s backing.
Australia’s capital to be first city outside Europe to transition to 100% renewables. ACT’s 100% renewable electricity target is saving households cash.
Victoria solar demand still sizzling: another 3,250 rebates gone in 20 minutes. Victoria locks in new solar farm planning guidelines. Another solar farm starts up in Queensland as daytime prices stuck near zero.
INTERNATIONAL
Nature is being exterminated: the Climate Strikes are just the beginning of our fight back. Climate Emergency – ‘We’re losing the race’. From space, the human impact on the Amazon is clearly visible. The good, the bad and the ugly: the nations leading and failing on climate action.
The health impacts of climate change.
Rising temperatures, rising seas – the growing climate change menace to nuclear power.
The catastrophe that would be a “limited nuclear war“. Dramatic rise in the risk of a US-Russia nuclear war, which would kill mega millions.
The ‘advanced’ nuclear power sector is dystopian..
Nuclear and (some) climate news to 17 September
This newsletter is intended to be about matters nuclear. It IS, BUT, again this week, climate change is the overwhelmingly big issue. I cannot do justice to it at all. Thank goodness, we have Covering Climate Now, and other great media, taking up the cause.
A bit of good news – What Was Once One of the Most Polluted Landscapes on Earth Now Has Some of the Cleanest Air in the Region.
AUSTRALIA
CLIMATE.
- Temperatures 10C above average forecast as 130 bushfires continue to burn.
- Climate crisis confronts Prime Minister Morrison. Coalition returns to climate denial roots as Morrison dodges UN summit. Fear of drought, flood and fires leads farmers to plea for urgent action on climate change . Climate change pushing Queensland’s bushfire and cyclone seasons on a collision course. Australians fear extinction and drought, food, water problems from climate change.
- Extreme heat a killer for Australians.
- Energy Minister Angus Taylor wants coal generators to stay on line and “run at full tilt”. Why pay thermal generators to stay online? It’s totally nuts.
Australians concerned about climate change: few support nuclear power. Climate change deniers favour nuclear power!
NUCLEAR.
- Labor Party highlights Liberal Coalition’s recommended sites for nuclear reactors.
- Medical isotopes without a nuclear reactor: it’s time Australia modernised nuclear medicine.
- The politics of ANSTO’s nuclear isotopes – mainly for export, not for home use.
- Is Australia to be guinea pig for NuScale’s non existent, untested, super-expensive not-so-small nuclear reactors?
- Minerals Council of Australia again pushing pro nuclear propaganda. Push for nuclear power is a dangerous distraction from real action on climate change.
- An Australian’s memories of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
Submissions to Federal Inquiry into the prerequisites for nuclear energy in Australia were received up until 16 September. Summaries of 58 so far published submissions are available. Up until 7 September, submissions to Federal Nuclear Inquiry were 50/50 pro and con.
Some examples: Arnaud Coquillard’s submission to Federal Nuclear Inquiry rejects nuclear power, calls for care for the planet. Eric Gribble’s submission to the Federal Nuclear Inquiry in favour of nuclear power. Barrie Hill explains how Australia’s tax-payers must fund nuclear power development. John Quiggin sets out a very unlikely course for nuclear power in Australia.
Kimba or the Flinders Ranges – nuclear sacrifice zone? Potential impact of radioactive wastes on water activities in the Spencer Gulf.
RENEWABLE ENERGY. Fact Check: Malcolm Turnbull says renewables plus storage are cheaper than coal and nuclear for new power generation. Is he correct? Network giant says renewables transition will deliver lower prices and cut emissions. Wind overtaking brown coal is only a matter of time. New investment fund targets small solar and wind farms in Australia. AEMO slashes output of five big solar farms by half due to voltage issues.
INTERNATIONAL
The poles in climate crisis, and that includes “third pole” the Mingyong glacier. Forest fires destroying vital buffer against climate change. UN warns that climate crisis is the greatest ever threat to human rights.
Frightening new simulation of a US-Russia war triggered by one ‘tactical’ nuclear weapon.
The danger of government secrecy and cover-ups: Kate Brown’s “Manual for Survival: A Chernobyl Guide to the Future” illuminates the truth about radioactive legacy of nuclear industry.
How to warn distant future generations about nuclear waste?
UN Move the Nuclear Weapons Money campaign calls for divestment.
The ‘advanced’ nuclear power sector is fuelling climate change, and Weapons of Mass Destruction. Much touted “advanced” nuclear reactors nonexistent and just not practical. The costs and the risks are too great. Small nuclear reactors safe? Not so.
This week in nuclear and climate news Australia
In an extraordinary article in the New Yorker, Jonathan Franzen predicts that the climate apocalypse is now inevitable, and that main goal should preparation rather than prevention. He makes a persuasive argument, but has aroused the ire of climate scientists.
In nuclear news, the problem of Russia’s recent nuclear explosion lingers, as abandoned boats and beaches near the accident area are found to have high levels of radiation. Also lingering are the catastrophic effects of radiation and chemical poisons unleashed on Iraq, with thorium, a product of depleted uranium decay, still causing birth defects.
AUSTRALIA
NUCLEAR.
- One week left to put in submissions to Federal Nuclear Inquiry. Greig Myer’s fine submission to Inquiry into the prerequisites for nuclear energy in Australia.
- Former Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull calls nuclear power a “loopy” fad. Labor Party urges Prime Minister Scott Morrison to rule out nuclear power. Labor wants Liberal Coalition to come clean on planned sites for nuclear reactors.
- Scrutiny on proposal for thorium nuclear reactors for Australia.
- Minister Canavan and Department of Industry Innovation and science ready to spoil beautiful, sacred, and arable land – for nuclear trash.
- Australia is complicit in the new nuclear arms race.
Australia sells weapons to Saudi-led coalition, is complicit in human rights abuses.
CLIMATE. Climate change now brings Queensland into a new era of bushfires. Record warming coming to Eastern states because of sudden warming of air above Antarctica. Australian Medical Association labels climate change ‘a health emergency’. Minerals Council of Australia doesn’t like tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes, with his statements about climate. The Morrison government’s scandalous deception about “Kyoto credits” and climate change.
RENEWABLE ENERGY. Australia has met its renewable energy target. But don’t pop the champagne. Tasmania wind farm delivers Australia renewables target. But what’s next? Wind, solar and storage prompt re-design of Australia’s energy market. ‘Bold’ scheme launches to power every property on SA’s Eyre Peninsula with solar. Victoria’s boosted rooftop solar rebate fully subscribed in minutes. Australian Energy Market Operator looks at role of rooftop solar to help manage Electric Vehicles on the grid. The new normal: EV sales double in Australia, while petrol car sales slump. EDL’s Coober Pedy Hybrid Renewable Project wins at 2019 Asia Power Awards.
INTERNATIONAL
Global catastrophe ever closer as nuclear arms race revs up.
‘All of us are in danger’: John Pilger delivers warning from Julian Assange.
UN warns on need for global action – treaty – as the world’s oceans are in dire trouble.
To 2 September -Nuclear and Climate News
It’s not that climate change is getting any better – it’s just that there were fewer news articles about it this week. There was a pretty desperate call from Pope Francis for governments to act.
One weather news item that is getting a lot of coverage is Hurricane Dorian -. not necessarily caused by climate change, but exacerbated by it. It’s of particular interest because of the St. Lucie and Turkey Point nuclear power stations on alert in Florida, potentially in its path. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YERxqsFXRQ0
August, the month when we remember the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,– has been an ominous month for bringing us all closer to World War 3. Donald Trump moved to trash all the nuclear arms agreements, that might put the brakes on international conflict. Pentagon experts recommended Artificial Intelligence to control nuclear weapons. There have been at least 3 occasions when the imagination and intuition of a human being has just narrowly saved the world from a nuclear holocaust. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGsrO3klcAs
A bit of good news. Spanish group gives summer holidays to kids from Chernobyl’s polluted region.
AUSTRALIA
NUCLEAR
- Western Australian Labor joins Queensland Labor in clearly rejecting nuclear power. Both major parties in Queensland now oppose nuclear power.Australian Government
- Nuclear Inquiry is told that renewables, not nuclear, are the best option. Small Modular Nuclear Reactors and Australia’s laws prohibiting the nuclear industry.
- Despite Australia’s laws prohibiting nuclear activities, ANSTO’s already chosen nuclear reactor types for Australia.
- Dr Jim Green explodes the Australian Financial Review ‘s propaganda promoting Small Modular Nuclear Reactors. Aaron Patrick of Australian Financial Review misrepresents economist John Quiggin on nuclear power. Nuclear
- lobby launches its “grassroots” push for nuclear power in Australia.
- Ziggy Switkowski’s doublespeak pushes the nuclear lobby’s barrow. Nuclear power in Australia not realistic for at least a decade, Ziggy Switkowski says. Risk of ‘catastrophic failure’ if Australia adopts nuclear energy: Switkowski.
- Is the push for nuclear power a covert push for nuclear weapons? Australia’s nuclear research reactor was always intended as the first step towards the nuclear bomb.
- Is Australian govt’s plan for “temporary” nuclear waste dump really part of drive to IMPORT NUCLEAR WASTES?
- Australia’s foremost climate scientist Tim Flannery used to favour nuclear power – not any more!
CLIMATE. Queensland extinguishes native title over Indigenous land to make way for Adani coalmine. Indigenous landowner challenges Environment Minister Sussan Ley’s decision for coal mine.
RENEWABLE ENERGY. NSW coal city, Newcastle, sets sights on 100 per cent renewables. Victoria government triples number of home solar rebates for September. Solar and giant “water battery” to slash university’s grid consumption by 40%.
They are trying to break Julian Assange “physically and psychologically”. Injustices to Julian Assange in British prison. (Why is Australia making a huge fuss about an Australian detained in China, but ignoring Assange?)
Climate change is destabilising the Earth’s marine environment. ‘12 Years to Act on Climate Change’ – what does this really mean?
Nuclear winter – the global threat to life. A freezing and deathly aftermath would follow a US-Russian nuclear war.
BRAZIL. International calls for urgent action on climate, as new fires rage in Amazon forests.
(Reposting this important one)Ziggy Switkowski’s doublespeak pushes the nuclear lobby’s barrow
Noel Wauchope 31 Aug 19 He’s an expert at it.
What the nuclear industry wants is the removal of Australia’s Federal and State legislation that prohibits the nuclear industry in Australia.
Ziggy delivers.
Sure, he makes motherhood statements about nuclear dangers, about costs etc. He even gives a subtle little tick to that distracting fantasy – small modular nuclear reactors.
But Ziggy faithfully conveys the central message of the global nuclear lobby to Australia:
To 26 August – Nuclear and Climate News
The thing about climate change is – it’s all happening faster than we expected! Only a few days ago, MEDIA MATTERS was highlighting the way that mainstream media was practically ignoring the Amazon forest fires. That is changing. World leaders are now alert to this international tragedy.The Amazon fires bring to the fore the awful dilemma facing climate scientists in telling the public the truth about the world’s climate crisis.
The recent Russian nuclear accident cast a bit of gloom over Russia’s launching of its floating nuclear reactor for the Arctic region. Questions are still flying around about the radioactive illnesses and deaths involved in that accident. Also – a general recognition of the Russian government’s record of secrecy about nuclear accidents.
I suspect that the USA and UK nuclear industries are getting pretty desperate about their commercial future, and the necessity to export new nuclear technology. There’s a hasty push going on in Australia to buy Small Modular Nuclear Reactors. In a rater undignified rush, there are no less than 4 separate Parliamentary Nuclear Inquiries going on, with abnormally short times permitted for Submissions.
AUSTRALIA
NUCLEAR Queensland Labor and Liberal Coalition say NO to nuclear power.
Nuclear weapons – the underlying aim in the new push for nuclear power?
Brief notes/summaries on pro nuclear submissions to Federal govt. Early submissions to Australian govt Inquiry slightly favour nuclear power.Economist John Quiggin on Submissions to Parliamentary Nuclear Inquiries. One gem from the pro nuclear Submissions to FEDERAL. Inquiry into the prerequisites for nuclear energy in Australia. EcoEnviro’s great submission to ‘Inquiry into the prerequisites for nuclear energy in Australia’. 17 submissions now published to Federal Nuclear Inquiry. Nuclear submissions: people are “doubling up”? Sending the same submissions to 2 different Inquiries. About the CURRENT NUCLEAR SUBMISSIONS.
Reaction against Robert Parker’s nuclear reactor plan for Ipswich, Queensland.
Council announces dates for Kimba radioactive waste ballot. Flinders Ranges Council delays nuclear waste dump ballot. Secrecy in Sinister Matt Canavan’s meeting with nuclear waste dump organisations in Hawker, South Australia. Resources Minister Matt Canavan in Kimba : pressing for a ‘Yes” vote in nuclear waste dump ballot? South Australian law – No public money towards nuclear waste dumping facility.
Lynas’ radioactive waste – still a toxic issue in Malaysia.
Wiki cables show Australia thinks Iran is not the aggressor.
CLIMATE
- Labor urges Morrison govt to pressure Brazil to protect Amazon forests.
- One year on, how good is Morrison’s climate and energy denial? Australia losing credibility with Pacific nations, as Morrison supports coal, not climate action.
- Scott Morrison’s failure in diplomacy: the Pacific Forum and climate change. Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack is an international embarrassment.
- Bass Coast Shire Council declares Climate Emergency.
- Ageing coal plants put Australia on map of global air pollution hotspots.
RENEWABLE ENERGY Solar sends Queensland wholesale day-time prices to zero six days in a row. 5B plans solar “speed record” for 10GW plant in north Australia. Prices hit zero again across the grid as renewables output tops 10GW. Coalition MP Keith Pitt wants Queensland to leave main grid! Schwarzenegger-backed start-up helps Australia wind farms duck negative prices. Landmark deal to power Coles underpins three NSW solar farms. Global industrial giant Molycop turns to wind and solar for half its electricity needs.
INTERNATIONAL
Distinguished scientist Martin Rees – world must fight climate change, don’t waste tax-payers’ money on space travel.
Massive wildfires are burning across the world- July was hottest month ever. New fires – hundreds – in Amazon rainforests. Life on Earth threatened by climate change – loss of Amazon Forests.
Sea level rise only half the story – climate change is altering ocean waves.
Chinese Academy of Sciences warns on the safety hazards of new nuclear .
Nuclear news to 19 August
The repercussions of the Russian explosion at a missile test centre continue. However, the radiation release was brief, and did not extend beyond the region, and not to neighbouring countries. There was confusion and secrecy following the explosion and Russian doctors were kept in the dark about patients being nuclear accident victims.
Attention has moved to questioning the missile project, – a mystery new nuclear weapon, dubbed Russia’s ‘flying Chernobyl’. What is clear, is that, in the month when we commemorate the nuclear tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, – the world, led by Donald Trump, is ripping up arms control measures, and ramping up nuclear weapons development.
I haven’t been able to keep up with the news on climate change – extreme weather events in various countries, the UN report including humanitarian effects, the costs, injustices, and inability to meet the goal of confining temperature rise to 1.5 C. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHdcpxmJ6vg In a powerful symbol, Iceland holds a funeral for the first glacier lost to climate change.
A bit of good news: a win for Aboriginal people in the abandonment of uranium mining in Australia’s Northern Territory. Mirrarr people to lead the Kakadu region’s transition.
AUSTRALIA
Australians need to rally in support of Julian Assange.
Time that Australia stopped blindly following USA into wars.
$40 billion a year needed for infrastructure to catch up with our population growth.
NUCLEAR. False statements on nuclear power by Federal Liberal National Party MP Keith Pitt. Victoria parliament decides to hold its own nuclear power inquiry. DELAY is the most salient reason why Small Modular Nuclear Reactors can’t work in Australia.
Nuclear waste: 21 August Senator Matt Canavan to hold closed meeting , then 2 open ones, in region designated for nuclear waste dumping. Kimba committee even discussed transitioning out of the site selection process. Why is the Australian government planning a nuclear waste dump in an earthquake zone? Nuclear waste dump: Barngarla group says indigenous ballots won’t fix its worries over vote discrimination,
CLIMATE. Pacific islander nations fed up with Australia’s inaction on climate change. Australia tells Pacific Islands to “reflect” on climate action, dial down “crisis” talk. Australia demands Paris targets be removed from Pacific Islands communique.
South Australian students plan more climate action -“No jobs on a dead planet”. Reserve Bank issues another warning to companies to take climate risks seriously. Bankrupted traditional owner vows to keep opposing Adani.
Investigative journalism: Australian investigative journalist Mark Davis explodes the myths around Julian Assange. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZkyLoaMvRg
RENEWABLE ENERGY. Solar investors give Australia wide berth, thanks to Morrison’s lump of coal.
INTERNATIONAL.
Climate change killing nuclear power? nuclear reactors can’t cope with water needs, as temperatures rise.
Cyber wars – as dangerous and deadly as nuclear wars ? Warning of 10 year totally dark Earth. – after a nuclear war between the US and Russia.
The Anthropocene is not an epoch. It’s a passing blink in geological time.
Nuclear news – week to 12 August
NUCLEAR. This week , the spotlight has been on Russia, as conflicting and ambiguous reports come out, about a Russian rocket test explosion that caused radiation levels to spike in the Arkhangelsk region. The Russian nuclear agency Rosatom finally admitted its involvement. Russia honours as ‘national heroes’ the 5 nuclear scientists who died in this suspected secret testing of a nuclear-powered cruise missile.
CLIMATE. While governments and the older generation in general continue on their merry way with business as usual, young people are ever more concerned about climate change. It’s THE issue at this week ‘s International Congress of Youth Voices, in Puerto Rico. High school students are organising Youth Climate Strikes. Why stay in school if our planet will die?
AUSTRALIA
Three Parliamentary Nuclear Inquiries are now underway, with short deadlines for submissions. (You can bet that the nuclear lobby’s well-paid shills have sent theirs in already.)
National Radioactive Waste Management Facility Taskforce’s heavy-handed, repressive, approach to community consultation. It’s even more undemocratic than the one in Wales, UK. Federal nuclear waste management “consultative committees” – secretive – a farce? Nuclear waste: residents near proposed dump told to sign draconian code of conduct. Bangarla people call on Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt to intervene in support of their vote on nuclear waste dump.
Jervis Bay and previous governments’ secret plans for nuclear weapons.
Does Energy Minister Angus Taylor REALLY believe that nuclear energy would be viable in Australia. Energy Minister Angus Taylor orders inquiry into nuclear energy – a distraction from Australia’s climate policy failure?. Australia’s Liberal Coalition government still dreaming about nuclear power.
Australia’s strategy for ‘new nuclear’ – based on non-existent plant! Small Modular Nuclear Reactors don’t operate anywhere yet – but USA companies are keen to sell them to Australia. Nuclear advocate Switkowski admits that Small Modular Reactors have big problems.
Australia needs intelligent long-term energy policy – nuclear does not ‘stack up’. Pro nuclear promoter Warren Mundine back on the propaganda trail.
CLIMATE. Australian coal lobby plans another multi-million PR campaign. EnergyAustralia plunges into red after massive writedowns, coal problems.
RENEWABLE ENERGY. Queensland officially opens its first completed large scale wind farm. Stunning low costs inspire Alinta to ramp up renewables push, sees early coal exit. Rooftop solar slashes demand levels and emissions across main grid . AGL plans more storage as it eyes $200 billion energy transition opportunity, Finley solar farm starts sending power to NSW grid.
INTERNATIONAL
How the viewing public was ‘protected’ from seeing what the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombing did to people. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uas1WtocwOo Hiroshima nuclear bombing, and the birth of the Doomsday Clock.
Another expensive nuclear weapons race about to take off. Putin And Trump are ‘normalising’ the increasing numbers, and the use, of nuclear weapons.
Wildfire cloud study sheds light on the processes of ‘nuclear winter”
Harm to astronauts’ brains from space radiation.
Even the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is concerned about radioactive trash management from Small Modular Nuclear Reactors.
Hiroshima – Nagasaki week – nuclear news Australia
There’s a not at all funny irony in that significant nuclear weapons decisions have been made by USA and Russia in this anniversary week.USA formally withdraws from nuclear treaty with Russia and prepares to test new missile. Putin warns that Russia will follow if USA develops new nuclear missiles. A dangerous nuclear arms race likely to follow, if the New Start Treaty is not renewed. USA Democrats struggle with Senator Elizabeth Warren and others’ determination to change America’s present “presidential first use” policy, and make it official U.S. policy not to be the first to use a nuclear weapon.
Intense heat waves have swept Europe this summer, breaking temperature records in at least a dozen countries. Scientists have warned that the world should expect more scorching heat waves and extreme weather due to climate change. July confirmed as the world’s hottest month ever recorded. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhquFHITt8Y
AUSTRALIA
NUCLEAR. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says no USA missile base in Australia – (not YET, anyway).
Former High Court judge Michael Kirby urges Australia to sign up to nuclear weapon ban treaty.
Angus Taylor, Australia’s Minister for Coal and Nuclear, wants to launch Inquiry into nuclear power. Nuclear power in Australia to be examined by multi-party parliamentary inquiry. Small modular nuclear reactors for Australia? Labor demands that the federal government outline potential locations for nuclear power plants. No investment appetite for nuclear- says Ziggy Switkowski. Barnaby Joyce’s fantasy for Australia– nuclear unicorns?
Paul Richards refutes Heiko Timmers’ push for Australia to import nuclear wastes.
What would it really take, for Australia to get “its own nuclear deterrent”?.
New South Wales Parliament inquiries on uranium, nuclear, and energy.
Yeelirrie uranium project court outcome shows environment laws in need of urgent repair.
Australian govt ignored nomination panel, appointed uranium industry’s Vanessa Guthrie to ABC Board.
Looks as if Malaysia will let Lynas keep its radioactive wastes there, after all.
CLIMATE Emissions auction flop rams home climate policy failures as Taylor blames election timing. Australia’s government, lackey of the coal industry, in denial over climate change. – says former Liberal leader.
water. Drought-stricken NSW braces for an early bushfire season with not enough water to take them on. Australia’s one great river system – Murray-Darling Basin Plan ‘untenable’ – corrupt? Water shortage hitting Queensland town Stanthorpe.
RENEWABLE ENERGY. Windlab’s sol ar-wind-battery project finally connected to Queensland grid. AGL shows off what will be Australia’s largest wind farm. Victoria solar rebate “disaster” as August quota fills in 90 minutes.
INTERNATIONAL
Samantha Smith – a 10 year old who acted to reduce nuclear weapons.
The Myths, the Silence, and the Propaganda That Keep Nuclear Weapons in Existence. Collapse of the INF treaty could be followed by the expiry of New Start. What Exactly Is Nuclear ‘No First Use’?
Nuclear power will ‘lumber into extinction,’ ex-regulator says. Nuclear power has never been financially viable.
Major problem for astronauts – radiation damages mood and memory?
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 