To 24 February – past week in Australian nuclear news
Not much has changed this week: the simmering North-Korean -USA nuclear continued to simmer quietly while the Winter Olympics were on: the global nuclear waste anxieties ratcheted up a little.
We got an insight into Donald Trump’s mindset about how to deal with teenage gunmen, (or anyone difficult?) . He suggests giving bonuses to teachers who carry guns into the classroom. As a former teacher, I shudder to think what might happen in some classrooms with a bunch of obstreperous kids.
Climate change: global sea level rise is inevitable, but more emissions will make it worse. Arctic temperatures soar 45 degrees above normal, flooded by extremely mild air on all sides.
AUSTRALIA
NUCLEAR. The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency asks for submissions, by 2nd March, on its draft Radioactive Waste Disposal Code. So far, they’ve published 16 submissions, all opposing the planned nuclear waste dump, except for one, from Denise Carpenter ( member of the Barndioota Consultative Committee. This Committee’s role is to help determine which is the best site for a National Radioactive Waste Dump.)
Meanwhile submissions to the Senate Inquiry into Selection for Nuclear Waste Dump Site close on 3rd April. The membership of this Committee is not known, but The Medical Association for the Prevention of War has written to Senators, outlining concerns about the dump site process.
Brewarrina residents step up campaign against proposed nuclear dump.
Hunters Hill residents still waiting on government to clean up uranium contaminated land.
Eleven members of the Turnbull Government openly support nuclear power for Australia.
Longterm slump in uranium industry looks like being permanent.
CLIMATE: ADANI COAL PROJECT Labor’s doublespeak about Adani coal mine plan. Townsville City Council censors documentary about Adani coal megamine plan. Ex-Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce bought up land near Inland Rail project.
ABORIGINAL ISSUES. Australia’s shocking cruelty to Aboriginal people with disabilities: Solitary confinement.
RENEWABLE ENERGY A renewable energy jobs boom is sweeping across regional Australia. Premier Jay Weatherill says that South Australia’s election will be a referendum on renewables. S.A. Labor shoots for 75 per cent renewables by 2025. Mark Parnell outlines The Greens environment policy for the coming South Australian election. Liberal Federal MP Warren Entsch urges Queensland Govt to promote renewable energy. Miles more at reneweconomy.com.au
To 18th February – the week that has been , in Australian nuclear news
A thaw in North Korea’s attitude, with the Winter Olympics. Cynics dismiss this as propaganda, but it has obviously brought some calm to the situation in the two Koreas, and perhaps even changed the equation North Korea v USA.
The nuclear news this week has been dominated by the global problem of nuclear waste – what to do with it? France’s EDF proposes a gigantic nuclear garbage pool. Japan has a glut of plutonium wastes. America’s Hanford wastes cleanup will cost $111 billion. The Swedish version of UK’s Radioactive Waste Management was rejected by Swedish Environment Court. Only now after 32 years, is Ukraine starting to remove the liquid nuclear wastes from the shattered Chernobyl reactor. Cumbrians are rejecting UK’s nuclear waste. The Australian government is quietly trying to bribe outback communities into hosting nuclear waste, with a deceptive tale about “medical needs” . As for Fukushima – don’t get me started.
Of course – none of the authorities in any of these countries has suggested the idea of stopping making radioactive trash!
AUSTRALIA
ICAN summary of the Peace Boat and Making Waves speaking tour..
The nuclear waste issue is simmering away, under the radar, with only a few outback towns getting very slanted and limited information from the National Radioactive Waste Management Project -(an arm of ANSTO and the nuclear lobby). National Radioactive Waste Management Project is deceiving local communities. The rest of Australia sleeps on. A Senate Committee is to examine the Selection Process for a dump site in South Australia, (could put a spanner in the nuclear works) . We don’t know who is on this Committee. It will not report until 14 August, (by which time the site may well have been selected anyway). Kimba or Wallerberdina Station could be stuck with Stranded Radioactive Trash.
Nuclear waste dump? A new abuse for Brewarrina’s Aboriginal people?
“Standing Strong” – the No Dump Alliance releases a book on the successful campaign to block an international nuclear waste dump for South Australia.
The machinations of Australia’s military-industrial-nuclear complex macho men.
Julian Assange loses bid to have UK arrest warrant withdrawn .
Natalie Cromb The case for treaty with Aboriginal people. Wangan Jagalingou oppose Adani coal mine expansion – NO EXTINGUISHMENT OF NATIVE TITLE.
RENEWABLE ENERGY. South Australia a global leader in clean energy: Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). New South Wales Liberal Premier Berejiklian is approving a solar energy revolution. And so much more – at reneweconomy.com.au
SOUTH AFRICA. Hopes that South Africa’s new president will scrap nuclear deal.
RUSSIA. Mayak area- Radiation levels last fall 1,000 times above normal. Residents of Russia’s Yaroslavl region got a “false’ radiation alert scare. Blow to Russia’s nuclear marketing ambitions – other investors back out of Turkey nuclear build.
ALGERIA. The untold story of Algeria’s victims of French nuclear bomb tests.
CHINA. China again delays building Westinghouse-designed AP1000 nuclear reactor, because of safety worries.
PAKISTAN. New types of nuclear weapons being developed by Pakistan.
The week that has been in Australian nuclear news
Same old same old, but new, angst about being close to the nuclear brink. Russia is upset at America’s new Nuclear Posture Review. Many commentator’s are alarmed as it escalates the arms race. No doubt, weapons companies are salivating at the thought of it, and America’s tax-payers ought to be concerned at its beyond $1.2 trillion cost.
I know that this newsletter is now supposed to be leaving out climate stories. But it’s hard. Here we are, worrying about nuclear bombs, – while climate change is bringing us its own “weather bombs”.
AUSTRALIA
Peace Boat with nuclear bomb survivors arrives in Sydney. ICAN founder Tilman Ruff calls US’s new nuclear policy ‘a blueprint for war’
Australia’s new weapons export industry – secret men’s business.
Most Australians do not want the government to limit charities’ ability to advocate.
Julian Assange remains stuck in London, still at risk of extradition to USA.
Australian Senate to inquire into process for nuclear waste dump site selection. This news item appeared only in the Adelaide Advertiser print version – thus making it available to some in South Australia, but not to Australians in other States. The Advertiser following the Australian government line – the pretense that this is not a national issue? South Australia’s peak environment body welcomes Senate nuclear waste dump inquiry. Senate Inquiry into Selection for Nuclear Waste Dump Site – the process and call for submissions. Senate Committee investigating nuclear waste project may already be compromised.
Regina McKenzie – I will say NO to the waste dump.
The nuclear industry lobbyists rule the Australian radiation regulator.
Australian uranium mining company Paladin: most shares in hands of creditors.
Yeelirree uranium project Court decision – “a bad decision, but not the end decision”.
The Adani Carmichael coalmine will not receive federal funding from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility for a vital rail line. Australians demand lawmakers #StopAdani from building the country’s largest coal mine.
So much is happening in Australia on RENEWABLE ENERGY, especially South Australia. Follow it all at reneweconomy.com.au
Latest in nuclear news Australia
Henry Kissinger, long term and still influential political adviser, told the Senate Armed Services Committee last week that a pre-emptive strike on North Korea was “tempting”and “a rational argument”. And, with Trump’s new Nuclear Posture Review, the world moves even closer to the brink. With the nuclear weapons race, is the unthinkable now becoming a comfortable idea?
I think of the “Me Too”movement – to change the situation of women being sexually exploited by predators, and of this being covered up by men in power. And it is surely now time for a “Me Too” movement – as insane decisions are being made about nuclear weapons by men in power.
AUSTRALIA
The “Peace Boat” continues its successful tour of Australian cities, continuing now from Hobart to Sydney.
Nuclear Racism in Australia.
Media silence on Julian Assange‘s precarious situation.
Federal nuclear waste dump plan for South Australia. ARPANSA considering components in radioactive trash dump– asking for public comments, by February 23. Australia’s history of mismanaging nuclear waste. Dishonest scare-mongering linking nuclear medicine and radioactive waste dumps. Keep Lucas Heights nuclear waste-at Lucas Heights, for the safety of all Australians. Any South Australian nuclear waste dump must have broad social consent and specific community consent.
Weatherill Government opposition to all nuke waste dumps in SA welcomed. South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill could take High Court action against proposed Federal Nuclear waste Dump. Australian Greens welcome Labor switch on nuclear waste dump.
Australia’s nuclear macho men always wanted nuclear weapons, and they still do. Australian women – no say in nuclear decisions. BUT – Women take the lead in Australia’s energy revolution.
Jim Green questions Electric Energy Society of Australia (EESA), on its pro nuclear seminar.
Labor Party branches want a new and more effective environment act and independent watchdog.
Turnbull govt to give $3,8billion to develop a weapons export industry.-Sisters of St Joseph speak out against Australian government plan for weapons export industry.
Native Title, the Wangan and Jagalingou people, and Adani Coal Mine Project. Adani mega coal mine – a threat to Australia’s most valuable water source. Polling shows that even Liberals now opposing Adani coal megamine project. Australia way behind on low carbon action – UN investor expert warns.
Great progress in renewable energy: see reneweconomy.com.au
20th January – nuclear news this week.
The climate of fear. An article by Tony Schwartz, biographer of Donald Trump, describes Trump’s main effect on the body politic , after a year in office: “Trump has made fear the dominant emotion of our times.” This culture of fear is now expressed in actions – USA quietly preparing for war with North Korea, Russia’s new underwater drone – a ‘doomsday’ weapon, United Nations: Secretary General warns on growing nuclear war danger.
End nuclear weapons and nuclear power – we owe this to our children.
I’m so sorry that I’m not now covering climate change issues – it’s not as if these are going away!
AUSTRALIA
The Peace Boat is on its way to Australia.
Nuclear waste dumping decisions promoted as just a “local” issue – Australia unaware.
Countering deceptive propaganda about Australia needing nuclear weapons. China is not heading for nuclear attack on Australia: no point in Australia getting nuclear weapons. Defence analysts suggesting that Australia might need nuclear weapons?.
Professor Hugh White warns on risks of an alliance between Japan and Australia.
Brett Stokes – a reminder about ANSTO and its zeal for the nuclear industry.
Minerals Council says it makes political donations to gain access to MPs.
India Enters Australia Group, Inches Closer to Joining Nuclear Suppliers Group.
The decline of journalism in the mainstream media.
South Australia –Cory Bernardi’s Australian Conservatives standing for South Australian election, with pro nuclear policy. Film company to abandon plans for production in South Australian area if Federal nuclear waste dump goes ahead? Lest we forget: South Australians consistently reject hosting a nuclear waste dump.
South Australia’s heatwave will not affect power supply. Tesla’s South Australian battery project – a rapid success. Coal unit trips in heatwave as Tesla big battery cashes in. Big solar boom kicks off in South Australia with completion of 6MW Whyalla project.
I can’t resist pointing out some of the very positive renewable energy news: Australian wind, solar investment hits record high as NEG threatens to push it off a cliff. Queensland could host Australia’s largest wind farm, in proposed renewables hub. Community to invest directly in wind power in New England. More at reneweconomy.com.au
To 14 January – the week in nuclear news Australia
International relations seem to become ever more complicated and risky. Donald Trump says ” I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un”. It is really hard to make sense out of Trump’s utterances, and the climate of “new media” makes that all the more difficult, and dangerous. Donald Trump’s national security adviser, H.R. McMaster thinks it’s about time to bomb North Korea. 17 former nuclear launch officers warn Congress about Trump’s power to destroy.
European powers urge US not to withdraw from Iran nuclear deal. If he did, it would certainly not help international efforts to persuade North Korea to cease its nuclear weapons drive.
AUSTRALIA
Defence analysts suggesting that Australia might need nuclear weapons?
Latest pro nuclear push in Australia shows the split in the nuclear industry. Former Big Nuclear propagandist Ziggy Switkowski is back – now spruiking for Small Nukes. Minerals Council puts in its bid to overturn Australia’s laws prohibiting nuclear power.
Australian Government’s rather secretive plan to dump Lucas Heights nuclear waste on outback South Australia Kimba Farmer Jeff Baldock looks to four times value of his land to host nuclear waste dump: others not so keen. New Corpse’s usually pro nuclear publication, Adelaide Now ran an opinion poll showing over 80% say “NO” to Kimba dump plan. Kimba town hopes to win top environmental award – but wants nuclear waste dump ? (Adelaide Now article and poll now removed from Internet)
Call to keep ANSTO’s deadly radioactive waste at Australia’s only accepted high grade nuclear waste dump, Lucas Heights.
Turnbull government’s duplicity on climate and greenhouse gas emissions.
Port Augusta area, South Australia, to get world’s largest thermal solar plant.
Latest pro nuclear push in Australia shows the split in the nuclear industry
When they resuscitate Ziggy Switkowski to promote nuclear, and when Anti-Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg comes out of his quiet environmental closet to promote nuclear – you know that the nuclear lobby is having a serious attempt to persuade Australians.
Trouble is – the global nuclear lobby mightn’t be so happy about this.
They do pretend to be a professional, unified, competent force in the world. But not really. Small Nukes better shut up as Big Nukes will not tolerate them being successful, might allow them in only as a foot in the door for Big Nukes
With giant companies like Toshiba, AREVA, EDF, China National Nuclear Corporation, Rosatom determinedly pushing their “conventional”nuclear reactors -there’s no likelihood that they are going to let new “little” nukes take over. They tolerate the media acrobatics of the Small Modular Nuclear Reactor companies – just as long as those companies claim (pretend) to be helping them.
In reality, there’s an absolute dispute between the two.
Australian politicians seem to be easily sucked in by the propaganda antics of the Small Nukes lobby –
The week in nuclear news – Australia
With regret, this newsletter is now going to focus mainly on nuclear issues. Climate change is no less important – indeed the harsh reality of climate change is worse than we thought. Climate change is being covered brilliantly by excellent websites, such as Radio Ecoshock and Global Weirding with Katharine Hayhoe. Renewable energy and energy efficiency are being left out, too, despite their huge importance. The new, narrower, focus is just because it’s all been getting, too much, too hard, and – newsletter too long.
My thanks to Lonnie Clarke of The Age of Fission– radio programme, (Missouri) for her information service, and for interviewing me this week . Also thanks to David Archer (TMI Podcasts) (Toronto) for the interview today.
With the Trump government now overturning net neutrality laws, it becomes ever more important for all the avenues of independent media to work together to spread information on the nuclear threat.
AUSTRALIA
Dr Margaret Beavis on the value of United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Nuclear wastes. Revealed – Some politics behind the failed South Australian push to import nuclear wastes- MPs paid by Taiwanese government to travel to Taiwan to discuss funding of nuclear waste facility. Taiwanese government denied claims by Investment and Trade Minister Martin Hamilton-Smith’s that Taiwan would fund the building of a waste facility.
Is the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Protection Agency (ARPANSA) dedicated to promoting the nuclear industry rather more than promoting public safety?
Aboriginal anger over lack of action to stop Scots nuclear waste transfers.
Cabinet papers reveal:
- In 1995 the Australian government knew that Sydney’s Lucas Heights’ high level radioactive trash was a problem.
- Australian govt prioritised BHP’s Olympic Dam mine’s business above the dangers of French nuclear testing. Australia’s eventual 1985 rift with France, over French nuclear testing, and the sinking of Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior.
Rare earths mining in Central Australia approved
Micro grids taking off in a big way In Australia.
In 2017 – some remarkable stories on Australian nuclear issues
Because my websites focus on nuclear news, many important climate stories were not covered there. A pity – now that the most accurate climate predictions are turning out to be the worst case scenarios. It is clear that climate change is a global emergency – NOW.
Some remarkable climate stories that we did cover: Rise of deadly heatwaves will continue. Food crops already affected. Lakes around the world are affected by heat from climate change. The importance of the Arctic – warm water being pushed to the surface, the disappearing ice, and its consequences, rapid spread of ocean acidification.
I’ve selected not the major news items, but nuclear stories that ought not to be forgotten.
The most impressive story of 2017:
brings together the climate and nuclear issues – Australian Mark Willacy’s text and visual coverage of the climate danger to the nuclear waste “dome” on Enewetak atoll.
Equally impressive
– USA’s Kate Brown and Ukraine’s Olha Martynyuk’s – investigation of the cherry-pickers of Ukraine “The Harvests of Chernobyl”.
AUSTRALIA
The current issue – that the government would prefer us not to know about – the plan for toting radioactive trash 1000s of miles across the continent, to set up as stranded nuclear wastes on outback South Australia :
AUSTRALIA’S RADIOACTIVE WASTE: WHAT TO DO WITH IT? WHERE TO PUT IT? WHERE DOES IT COME FROM? WHY KEEP PRODUCING IT? Senator Scott Ludlam probes the Australian government’s plan to dump Lucas Heights’ nuclear waste on rural South Australia. Undemocratic Nuclear Waste Law Disempowers Communities and Traditional Owners. ANSTO calls High Level Nuclear Waste – “Intermediate Level” – fooling the public.
Australian government very quietly signing up to join in Generation IV nuclear reactor development (GIF) : NO PUBLIC DISCUSSION! Australia’s Generation IV Nuclear Energy Accession. Compelling argument against Australia joining the Framework Agreement for Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems. ANSTO must be transparent on costs of its nuclear research: Generation IV nuclear reactors – high cost for little benefit.
Cameco’s uranium mining plans in Western Australia
History items – lest we forget: The plutonium abuse of an Australian child, by Argonne National Laboratory How Prime Minister Robert Menzies, and Sir Ernest Titterton sold us all out for British nuclear testing. A toxic legacy : British nuclear weapons testing in Australia.
Exposing the dishonest pro nuclear spin : academics refute Ben Heard’s attack on renewable energy
This week – nuclear and climate – the good news
Well, of course, it’s hard to find good news. I see that a “good news” media has just started up . I don’t like their chances – but that’s only because good news isn’t really news. News is about something unusual happening. The vast majority of human beings are going about their lives, trying to care for their family and friends, trying to live a decent life. That’s just not news. Particularly at this time of year, people are mostly making an extra effort to be kindly to others, – with Christmas, Hanukka, and at least 12 other religious celebrations. So – it’s the much rarer bad incidents that are news.
On climate, so many millions of people, and so many organisations are trying to save this planet’s quite fragile environment. Intergovernmental efforts continue, with the recent Paris Summit. Renewable energy is taking off across the globe, especially in China, but also in America, despite Trump.
The global nuclear-free movement continues to have successes, exposing the nuclear industry, working for nuclear clean-ups, and for dismantling nuclear power, and for preventing new nuclear development
The much maligned United Nations continues its work, with a huge number of positive agencies, including many humanitarian ones. Non government agencies join in this work
AUSTRALIA.
CLIMATE Throughout 2017, the team at REneweconomy have persistently publicised the many exciting developments in clean energy. South Australia, so recently threatened with a nuclear nightmare, is now the clean energy star.
The movement for climate action and clean energy is having successes – preventing the Adani coal megamine could be its great achievement for this period.
NUCLEAR. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons won the Nobel Peace prize – a global campaign that began in Melbourne, and was worked on steadily for 10 years, by dedicated Australians. The nuclear-free movement continues its steady work – with the umbrella group The Australian Nuclear Free Alliance, Aboriginal activists, and the hard-working federal and state conservation groups. They have prevented nuclear waste dumping in the Northern Territory. They have helped stop plans for importing nuclear wastes to south Australia. Now their challenges are to stop Lucas Heights nuclear wastes being dumped on rural South Australia, and working for a clean, uranium-mining-free Western Australia.
INTERNATIONAL
The Nobel Peace Prize Award to ICAN might appear to be ineffective. But to have 122 of the UN member states adopting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is a great symbolic start – in universal recognition that having nuclear weapons , planning to use them, and using them – are crimes against humanity.
Nuclear power began in America in the 1940s, with the Manhattan project to develop nuclear bombs. Of course it is till aligned with nuclear weapons, but now, “peaceful” nuclear power is dying in USA. France is moving away from nuclear power. In China, and India, as renewable energy booms, while nuclear power slows.
The global movement for a nuclear free world is active everywhere, but faces huge challenges, especially where the industry is tax-payer funded, and exceptionally secretive – as in Russia and China.
One nice little news item – the early release from prison of brave anti nuclear activist Sister Megan Rice.
I suppose that next week – I will resume the dreary recitation of all the bad stuff – because that’s what news is. In the meantime, many millions of people are being kind to each other, and wishing for peace – not news, but true all the same.
Pre -Christmas week: dancing on the climate/nuclear Titanic?
I know. It’s just not what you need to hear in the week before Christmas. Unfortunately, I am reminded by the wonderful Katharine Hayhoe that even if you ignore, or even disbelieve in scientific findings – they are still there, still real.
At the bottom of this newsletter, I attach my picture – my rather jaundiced view of Christmas preparations. My two big influences this week come from Radio Ecoshock. Firstly – we’ve underestimated global warming. Our current path heads to worst 5 degree warming. And, there’s suppression of climate facts, and some disinformation on global warming. My second – it’ s the same as last week’s – Future Earth may be home to grass, bugs, and maybe, – maybe – a few humans. It’s a hot radioactive world.
Well – on with the dance –
AUSTRALIA
NUCLEAR. “Significant radiation dose” received by Lucas Heights worker in nuclear accident.
Unrealistic call for rural Australians to host Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs).
Nobel Peace Prize to ICAN. “My people are still suffering from Australia’s secret nuclear testing” – Australia resists efforts to ban nuclear weapons, and Australian Prime Minister snubs ICAN Nobel Peace Prize win.
Federal nuclear waste dump plans. AUSTRALIA’S RADIOACTIVE WASTE: WHAT TO DO WITH IT? WHERE TO PUT IT? WHERE DOES IT COME FROM? WHY KEEP PRODUCING IT? Call For Senate Inquiry Into South Australia’s Proposed Nuclear Dump Sites Aboriginal custodians ‘in dark’ over nuclear waste dump plans.
CLIMATE. For Australia’s cities, climate change is already here. Despite the Turnbull government, Australia quietly waking up to the existential threat of climate change. Australia’s top companies ignore climate change, and we let them . AGL resists govt pressure, goes for gas, wind, solar – not coal.
Adani coal megamine plan. Traditional Owners Want To Delay The Government Removing Their Rights Over Land Adani Wants To Mine. Having won the Queensland election, Annastacia Palaszczuk will be vetoing the Adani coal megamine. Queensland Premier’s first act will be to veto Adani railway line loan. The Greens will not stop “until this mine is stopped’. Traditional Owners fighting Adani make demands of new Queeensland Labor Govt.
Audit office slams Australia’s dud investments in “clean coal”.
ENERGY. Any integrity Turnbull ever had is now blown as he kowtows to the Right on energy.
Clean Energy Finance Corporation passes 1GW big solar milestone, after backing two new projects. Tesla big battery goes the full discharge – 100MW – for first time . Byron bay’s world-first solar train gets ready to trundle. How Sydney could become a zero-carbon city. lots more at reneweconomy.com.au
Nuclear and climate news to December 8th – Australia
Can Humans Survive? Nuclear weapons and climate change both threaten our existence, but with different time scales and probability.
Closer to the nuclear brink: American air drills begin over the Korean peninsula. The human consequences of nuclear war: a new medical plea against war.
Nuclear news in America is getting more intriguing – with more being revealed about the shady nuclear deals done by Trump’s former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. It’s enough for Trump’s lawyers to be concerned, as Flynn is now co-operating with the FBI investigation into the Trump campaign and Russia.
On the climate front – when it comes to climate predictions – the most accurate ones are turning out to be the worst case scenarios. Even in rich countries, climate change is already costing us all financially, and it’s going to get worse.
AUSTRALIA
Turnbull govt might still try to restrict environmental groups.
NUCLEAR.
- Senator Claire Moore refutes arguments of Australia’s pro nuclear lobby.
- Over 1000 protest in Adelaide against Federal nuclear waste dump plan.
- Pine Gap: peaceful protestors sentenced to fines, not gaol.
- Significant wins by the Greens for the nuclear free cause in South Australia.
- Ipswich residents not all taken in by the pro nuclear hype. Salesman for Small ModularNuclear Reactors (SMRs) says Ipswich, Queensland, should have them operating by 2030. The ignorance of Australia’s nuclear pushers – Cory Bernardi and Co.
- Did thorium pollution cause cancers and deaths in the Tweed Valley?
CLIMATE. Banks warned of ‘regulatory action’ as climate change bites global economy. Climate change preoccupies the mind of Kevin Rudd.
Adani. Adani coal project in a financial pickle, as Australian and Chinese banks refuse funding. Greens Members of Parliament arrested at anti Adani coal mine protest. Greens MP to tour Queensland region to campaign against Adani coal plan. Adani referred to the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) over its misleading job promises. Traditional owners aiming to block native title ruling on mine site. Wangan and Jagalingou Aboriginal claim that Adani paid people to stack meeting.
ENERGY. Australia’s first offshore wind farm in Victoria, wins international funding. Lots of renewable energy news at http://reneweconomy.com.au/
The week to December 1, in nuclear and climate news – Australia
The Kim Jong Un – Donald Trump warlike bombast continues, when what is needed is restraint and diplomacy. North Korea unveils a ‘monster’ new intercontinental ballistic missile. Trump administration considers a‘preventive strike ‘ against North Korea – the very worst option.
Always a silver lining, though. Businessmen in Britain and South Korea are enthusiastically marketing new underground bunkers. Their Chumdan Bunker System chief executive officer Go Wan Hyeok said “I’m wishing that he presses the button and shoots the bomb! ” “I want to then open up showrooms in Europe and in the UK”
The twin threats of climate change and nuclear pollution join together, as rising seas caused by climate change are seeping inside a remote island nuclear waste dump.
University research indicates that global warming will accelerate as CO2 levels rise.
AUSTRALIA
Lidia Thorpe, Victoria’s first Aboriginal woman Member of Parliament speaks out.
Minerals Council pulls previous support for policies limiting advocacy by environmental charities.
NUCLEAR. Yami Lester’s daughters continue his fight against the nuclear industry. Aboriginal grandmother, survivor of Maralinga nuclear bomb tests, to Norway for Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.
News Corpse writers and politicians mindlessly parrot spin about Small Modular (Nuclear) Reactors (SMRs.) (I am preparing refutation of the quite extraordinary claims in The Australian’s recent article)
South Australia. South Australian law: government now prohibited from spending money to promote nuclear waste importing. Proposed Federal nuclear waste dump threatens South Australia’s environment and economy. Despite the hype, BHP’s Olympic Dan copper-uranium mine is not all that much of a money-spinner.
CLIMATE. Heating oceans make South East Australian hot spots. Centre for Policy Development urges companies to tell shareholders of climate change risks.
Adani coal mine ‘fundamentally not in Australia’s interests’ – could be a financial disaster. Queensland election result – an ill omen for the Adani coal megamine project. Support for Adani coal mine damaged Liberal-Nationals in Queensland election. Report finds that Aboriginal landowners would get little benefit from Adani’s coal mine expansion. Chinese Government denies receiving application to fund Adani’s Carmichael coal mine.
ENERGY. Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) – Australia has enough electricity for summer . Hot weather in South Australia: Tesla battery turned on a day ahead of schedule. Why South Australia must, and will, lead world on renewables. Rooftop solar set for record year. Australia can meet its 2030 greenhouse emissions target at zero net cost.
The week that has been in nuclear and climate news
It’s that crazy time of the year coming on again. so you will be relieved to find this newsletter relatively short. Climate news is just as scary as always, but I haven’t had time to keep up with it.
The most interesting nuclear story is about the radioactive cloud across Europe. First described as a harmless wafting of radioactive isotopes “over recent weeks”, this news seemed to become a bit of a worry, first of all, to air travellers. Then the realisation that even if this airborne plume of radioactive ruthenium 106 is supposed to be harmless, it’s not harmless to those close to the source. Now the source is identified, after weeks of contradictory Russian reports, to be the Mayak Nuclear Production Facility, with Russia still claiming that it is harmless. The locals are not so sure.
New research reveals that space travel permanently changes the human brain.
AUSTRALIA
6 Australian religious anti-war protesters may face 7 years gaol for peaceful Pine Gap protest. Only the ABC News, (and New York Times) covered this.
The Federal parliament is shutting down for a week – seems the best idea for a government in chaos.
Meanwhile the State of Queensland is having its election as we live and breathe. From the climate point of view, this is a pretty important election. It is is critical for solar energy, and for electricity consumers. Also important is the issue of the Adani mega coal mine project. The Liberal National party is all for it, of course. And nobody’s quite sure what the Labor government would do.
Australia needs special laws to protect its independent broadcaster – the ABC.
Australians fear nuclear attacks.
CLIMATE and ENVIRONMENT. Canberra stood out at Bonn climate talks as a progressive city, adopting renewable energy Australian Government’s White Paper warns on climate change dangers in our region.
Adani coal project. Australian government lending to Adani coal megamine? A bad look internationally! Wangan and Jagalingou Aboriginal land – ruthlessly pursued by Indian coal corporation Adani Adani. Farmers and graziers in Norther Queensland worried about environmental impacts of Adani coal mine project.
ENERGY. Turnbull govt’s National Energy Guarantee is inadequate and confusing. Chief Scientist Alan Finkel [that wild left-wing hippie?] says that Renewables could reliably contribute 50% to power grid.
NUCLEAR. Western Australia nuclear waste enthusiast Glenn Baker shows his ignorance of the real purpose of the planned nuclear dump, (to store Lucas Heights very radioactive spent fuel returning from France and UK). Australia’s nuclear propagandist Ben Heard, and “Generation Atomic” , fail at Bonn, so fall back on the “banana” argument.
Climate news, nuclear news, to 17 November -Australia
Today, the UN climate negotiations in Bonn, Germany, are wrapping up. The world’s diplomats discussed and developed national pledges, with USA’s Michael Bloomberg pledging American action by cities and States, in defiance of President Trump. Scientists reported that the plans are not enough to meet the Paris climate goal of holding the global temperature increase to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels. It is still worth acting to prevent extreme changes, but climate change impacts are already locked in.
To give an example of the kind of climate feedback mechanisms that might be happening, China has this year increased its carbon emissions, largely because of less availability of hydropower. Hydropower was in short supply because of drought, which, in itself, was probably exacerbated by climate change.
You would think it hardly possible that tensions could ratchet up any further around North Korea, but they have. China has sent a diplomat to North Korea, and has asked USA to stop the naval military drills around the Korean peninsula.
AUSTRALIA
Australian government helps business lobbies, while punishing charities.
Australia sells weapons to countries like Saudi Arabia, that perpetrate human rights abuses.
CLIMATE. Among 56 countries studied – Australia is close to worst on climate change action. Pacific Islanders call on Australia and other nations, as climate change submerges islands. Australian World Heritage sites at special climate change risk .
NUCLEAR. Lucas Heights is the obvious place for a National Radioactive Waste Management Facility. High level nuclear wastes, planned for South Australia dumping, but not mentioned by Australian Government. Federal radioactive waste in South Australia : three sites, two years, one message. South Australian government: local Aboriginal community has final veto on nuclear waste suppository Australian Aboriginal concerns will now be addressed in Scotland discussions on destination of reprocessed nuclear wastes.
Senator Cory Bernardi’s Nuclear Fuel Cycle (Facilitation) Bill – joins Tony Abbott in pro-nuke fervour.
Western Australia: Supreme Court begins Judicial Review of Environmental Approval for Yeelirrie Uranium Mine.
ENERGY. The Adani Carmichael Coal Mine: Introduction To A Special Five-Part Series. Financial peril for Adani’s Carmichael mine company. Australia’s dirtiest industry dealt another blow as Commonwealth Bank rule out new coal projects.
Australian Solar Council launches campaign againstQueensland’s Liberal National Party. Canberra homes battle to be energy champions. More at REneweconomy.com.au
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 