This week in nuclear and climate news, Australia
While I’m supposedly focussed on nuclear news, it is really madness to ignore climate. The biosphere is being dramatically changed by human activities. Climate news has become ever more complicated. Last week, I struggled to explain the complexity of the Arctic currents of warm air, their effects on the polar vortex, and the extreme cold in Northern Europe and America.
At the same time, climate change is heating up the southern half of the globe.
Rapid Sea Level Rise Possible as Ocean Floods into Antarctica at up to 400 Meters Per Year. Antarctica’s great ice sheet being eroded by warm water circulating underneath. Drastic action on fossil fuels is needed, as the Poles melt – with unpredictable consequences.
Women, today and always, understand and fight the peril of nuclear war, nuclear pollution.
The carbon footprint of huge digital data centres.
AUSTRALIA
Australia needs an independent National Environment Protection Agency.
The latest sally in the fight to further dumb down the ABC.
We should be outraged at the silencing of Julian Assange.
NUCLEAR. Submissions to the Australian Senate on process for siting of nuclear waste dump . Well, I think that this is a disgrace. Apart from the Terms of Reference being so weighted, and with the assumption that it’s a fait accompli that the proposed dump must be in South Australia – apart from all that – their handling of the submissions is odd indeed. For many weeks they published only 5 pro nuclear submissions. those 5 looked suspiciously alike – all coached by the nuclear lobby?
Now they’ve published 19 submissions – that would appear at first glance to be heavily weighted pro nuclear. (they did not publish mine, by the way).
New South Wales National Party rules out nuclear power plan. They distanced themselves from their Deputy Premier, John Barilaro, who spruiked for “new nuclear”. Barilaro, practically unknown as a nuclear advocate, was publicised, in his tax-payer funded jaunt to an American nuclear conference, billed as “one of the biggest names in nuclear“. Barilaro is a stooge for the shadowy group “Nuclear For Climate”. (I will attach their map plan for nuclear reactors below this page). Labor MP Yasmin Catley calls for Premier Gladys Berejiklian to rule out nuclear power in New South Wales.
URANIUM- Aboriginal traditional owners warn that Rum Jungle uranium mine rehabilitation is jeopardised. 20 years’ anniversary of Mirarr traditional Aboriginal owners blockade of Jabiluka.
Worrying changes to Gippsland mining plan – risk of radioactive pollution.
ENERGY– Monash family calls for coal power politicians to change the name of their group (Monash Forum) Australian rooftop solar boom rolls on – 351MW in first quarter – and heaps more news at reneweconomy.com.au
Australia – CLIMATE and nuclear news this week
Easter – Passover – time for religious observances and/or to be helping that bunny, (or bilby) to hide those chocolate Easter eggs – or something fun like that. Probably bad timing to be talking about climate change, as the news is not good.
It’s so bad, in fact, that I aberrate here from things nuclear to draw attention to what is happening in the Arctic. Radio Ecoshock keeps us up to date, and the latest news explains the exceptionally cold Northern winter, the Arctic Meltdown, and the proposals for renewable power AND geoengineering.
Arctic temperatures have skyrocketed to 30 degrees celsius over the long-term average. Warm humid air going into the Arctic hits the dense dome of cold air, and bypasses it, going up into the upper atmosphere, even to the stratosphere. The high altitude Polar Vortex split, and a deep persistent jet stream trough over North America shifts, bringing freezing weather.The high Arctic warming in the spring, autumn, and throughout the winter results in melting ice. The complexity of atmospheric “rivers”brings streams of warm air to the Arctic, carrying water vapour , itself a greenhouse gas, which increases absorption of heat.
For a detailed explanation of the Arctic situation, see the youtube videos by Paul Beckwith:
- Hot Wet Atmospheric Rivers Ravage Arctic: Part 1 of 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5OifOXfJe0
- Warm Humid Air Penetrates Arctic Cold Dome: 2 of 4- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrUV21csBNc–
- Topsy Turvy Weather on a Planet in Peril: Part 3 of 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viw_5MlJoRE
AUSTRALIA
CLIMATE. Escalating bushfire dangers, as climate change brings record winter temperatures. Victoria: peat fires near Cobden could continue burning for months. Marine heatwave in Tasman sea breaks all records. Good climate policy is beyond the Australian government – and maybe it should be .
Many supporters rally to Julian Assange, after his access to Internat is cut off. The Age print version carried article – Supporters rally after Assange banned from net access – but it’s not available on the Internet
Opposition to planned Gippsland mine – risks of thorium contamination.
NUCLEAR. Submissions to the Australian Senate Inquiry on siting federal nuclear waste dump – deadline 3rd April . Senate Inquiry into Nuclear Waste Dump Siting. Australian Senate Committee has published only the PRO NUCLEAR submissions. ?ignoring the others. Submission for the public good – to Senate Inquiry on nuclear waste dump selection.
South Australia’s new Liberal MP Dennis Hood will push for nuclear dump.
Strong support for Sydney’s Aboriginal rally against Brewarrina nuclear dump plan.
RENEWABLE ENERGY. How renewables trumped brown coal and gas over Australia’s summer. Victorian government backs push for solar on all new-build homes. Write-downs and rebates: What states can do about gold-plated grid. More at reneweconomy.com.au
This week in nuclear news – Australia
Well, it’s been quite a week, with all the Cambridge Analytica stuff showing the power and influence of corporations and political parties in manipulating social media– We should not be so surprised, except for the speed and effectiveness of the Cambridge Analytica’s opinion-influencing campaigns.
Manipulation of public opinion has a long and dishonourable history. Following the 1945 bombing of Hiroshima, America launched a successful pro nuclear power propaganda campaign, resulting in the growth of the ‘peaceful’ nuclear industry, especially in Japan.
Hitler used the 1936 Berlin Games to ‘sell’ Nazi Germany as a fine culture. Currently, Putin is being accused of using the FIFA World Cup as a glorification of his Russian regime.
We can look forward now to two years of global hype over the 2020 Olympics in Japan as a glowing (though lying) recommendation of a now healthy Fukushima.
All this in the desperate effort to save the reputation of the global nuclear industry. However not everyone, even conservatives, are buying this, as the situation in Britain shows, with renewables gaining popularity.
Climate: social science research also shows the way in which conservatives are being won over to accepting climate change, and the need to work actively to slow its progress. Polar Anomaly Flip in an Abnormally Warm World: Arctic to Cool as Antarctica Heats Up.
AUSTRALIA
Global bank HSBC warns that Australia is especially vulnerable to climate change.
The new Trans Pacific Partenership (TPP) just as bad for Australia as the old one.
NUCLEAR WASTE DUMPING. The Senate is accepting submissions about this, with (narrow Terms of Reference). closing on April 3. So far only 5 pro nuclear submissions have been published on their site. Yet I know that several anti-nuclear submissions have been sent. I’m working on mine now, and I urge others to send submissions. Ask the Australian Senate to consider this: why was South Australia chosen – to house Lucas Heights’ nuclear waste? Best way to make submissions to the Senate Inquiry on Nuclear Waste Dumping.
Nuclear waste dump for South Australia? Deafening silence from politicians and journalists.
- South Australia rejects the nuclear industry – as shown in poor vote for Cory ‘s Australian Conservatives.
- South Australia’s new Liberal Premier Marshall backs nuclear waste dump, despite community discord. Greens leader Mark Parnell calls for Lucas Heights nuclear waste to be kept at Lucas Heights. Protect South Australia from Nuclear Trash – the fight continues.
- New York Times buys into ANSTO’s nuclear spin about Kimba?
- Pro nuclear enthusiasm in Ben Heard’s submission to the Senate.
- Dumping nuclear waste is illegal in South Australia: South Australians will resist imposition of dump.
- Busting the pro nuclear spin to regional South Australia, by the visitors from Lucas Heights. Nuclear propaganda tour across regional South Australia – AUSTRALIAN RADIATION PROTECTION AND NUCLEAR SAFETY AGENCY.
- Anniversary of radiation accident at Lucas Heights – a warning to South Australia. An angry response from Eyre Peninsula resident to media coverage of South Australia nuclear dump plan.
David Noonan’s Submissions to Senate regarding Reprocessing Nuclear Fuel and Safety of Intermediate Level Wastes.
Group of Montebello nuclear test veterans have no medical insurance, not entitled to gold card.
Minerals Council of Australia wants nuclear technology to be government funded as “clean and green”.
Supreme Court appeal lodged against Yeelirrie uranium mining approval decision.
Neighbours not happy as a man builds his nuclear war bunker in Victoria.
CLIMATE and RENEWABLE ENERGY. Can Stephen Marshall stop South Australia’s transition to clean energy? Probably not. South Australian Premier Stephen Marshall carrying out the Liberal agenda – Cuts Access To Solar Batteries For Low Income Households. South Australia’s new Premier vows to kill the Tesla battery storage plan. There’s miles and miles of mostly very good news about renewable energy. Find this at reneweconomy.com.au
Australian nuclear news – on anniversary of Fukushima nuclear disaster
Tomorrow, Sunday March 11, will mark the seventh anniversary of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. I’m not sure that the mainstream media will cover this properly – or even at all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHqbNmhx-d4 . . Radioactive debris piling up at Fukushima interim facility. The costly underground “Ice wall” to prevent radioactive leakage has not really been effective. Radioactive water continues to pour into the Pacific ocean. Exposures levels go up while environmental health protections are lifted: life is devalued. No. of children at time of Fukushima disaster diagnosed with thyroid cancer reaches 160. Fukushima Nuclear Fuel Release “Explicitly Revealed” In Wider Environment. Fleeing from Fukushima: a nuclear evacuation reality check.
The power of the people – Safecast gets the facts on Fukushima radiation.
Crucial US-North Korea talks – could defuse nuclear tensions? Donald Trump’s historic gamble on meeting Kim Jong Un – so much could go wrong.
A sad reflection on International Women’s Day – Climate change ‘impacts women more than men‘
AUSTRALIA
Seven years on, Fukushima still a disaster without a solution Toshiko Okada will be speaking at the Channon Market, NSW March 11
Nuclear waste dumping plan.
- New York Times – omissions in covering South Australia’s Kimba nuclear waste dump plan.
- Protesters unite against nuclear waste in Port Augusta.
- Best way to make submissions to the Senate Inquiry on Nuclear Waste Dumping.
- ANSTO spin and lies : Kimba nuclear fans shouted a visit to Lucas Heights.
- Which South Australian parties have the guts to say NO to the Federal nuclear waste dump plan? South Australia election: Greens OPPOSE, SA Best nearly oppose, nuclear waste dump in SA: Labor and Liberal vacillate.
Big global weapons corporations lavish gifts on Australian Defence executives and top military personnel.
Don’t Let Josh Frydenberg [ Minister for Uranium, Coal etc] approve Yeelirrie uranium mine or extinction!
Minerals Council lobbies for changes to native title laws .
RENEWABLE ENERGY/CLIMATE – lots of news at reneweconomy.com.au
To 4 March Nuclear News
The corporate-political-media machine now gears up the spin for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. This is no coincidence, as March will mark the seventh anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe. After the 1945 nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagsaki, the American government swamped Japan with propaganda for setting up nuclear reactors – and indeed, the world, for”Atoms for Peace”. So again, the deception now is that the Fukushima tragedy is over – solved – fixed.
The Winter Olympics are over. We now return to your regularly scheduled nuclear crisis.
CLIMATE: Record warming in the Arctic. Some of the world’s biggest lakes Are drying.
AUSTRALIA
Visit of New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern. 60 minutes duly focused their interview on her pregnancy, not her policies. Of course Australian PM did not agree with her on New Zealand’s policies – of signing the nuclear weapons ban, and helping climate refugees.
NUCLEAR WASTE DUMPING.
Greenpeace finds nuclear waste headed to Australia classified as high-level waste by France. Vitrified nuclear waste due to be sent from UK to Lucas Heights, Australia by 2022.
The Australian government, indeed the major parties, are complicit in the pretense that the “temporary”nuclear waste dump planned for rural South Australia is of concern only to the immediate local community, where some white Australian has volunteered his land, in the expectation of making big bucks. However, at long last, at least there will be a Senate Committee Inquiry about this.
A draft Radioactive Waste Code drawn up by The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) widens the waste types permitted, and prepares the way for nuclear waste to be dumped on South Australia. Responses to this have been overwhelmingly negative.
South Australia election – nuclear garbage dump IS an election issue.
South Australia Liberal Party – confused policy on nuclear waste dumping. The lunar right: Senator Cory Bernardi promises $445 billion for South Australia, if it hosts international nuclear waste dump.
New South Wales – Brewarrina nuclear dump protests send clear message to Council: “Keep Bre Nuclear Free”.
Climate Change. Labor wavers back and forth on the Adani coal mine question.
Renewable energy – miles and miles of interesting stuff at reneweconomy.com.au
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.
1 This month.
Australians deserve the truth
about
AUKUS – https://aukuspublicinquiry.com/
PETITION – To: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Government
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 