Doubts about the integrity of South Australia’s “Citizens’ Jury” nuclear waste plan
I am in fact, in favour of the Citizens’ Jury Idea. Instead of us being ‘talked down to’ by experts, (who are likely to have a vested interest in the nuclear waste import plan), ordinary non experts hear all the evidence and opposing opinions, discuss these, and come up with a sensible verdict.
After all, that is what we expect in a criminal trial. We do not trust the verdict to “experts” although we do expect their opinions to be heard.
My problem with the South Australia’s Citizens’ Jury on nuclear waste importing is that it doesn’t seem to be given a truly jury role.
The letter sent to potential jury participants says that their task will be to produce an independent guide to help every South Australian understand the recommendations raised by the Royal Commission’s report.
No mention of a verdict on whether or not the jury thinks that the nuclear waste import plan should go ahead.
The organisation running the process, newDemocracy, is using a trademarked definition of ‘Citizens’ Jury’ That trademark belongs to the Jefferson Center. They define the term;
The Citizens Jury convenes diverse groups of citizens to study an issue deeply, discuss different perspectives on the issue, and recommend a course of action or craft their own solutions to address the issue at hand.
I would like to give newDemocracy the benefit of the doubt. Their all too brief notes on this plan do end with this statement:
The first stage of the project will run from May through November 2016, and results in a gateway decision as to whether or not there is broad social consent to continue to pursue opportunities related to the Nuclear Fuel Cycle.
20 May – the week in climate and nuclear news
CLIMATE CHANGE. Australia’s coming election: climate change policy to be a vote changer. Australia’s political leaders ignoring climate change, in lead-up to election. Great Barrier Reef should be a central election issue – Tim Flannery. As sea levels rise fast, CSIRO sacks world sea level expert ! Sydney Peace Prize to go to Naomi Klein.
Corporations rejoice as Fairfax media sacks a top investigative journalist
SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Now that South Australia’s shonky Nuclear Royal Commission is over, the push for making Australia the hub of global radioactive trash moves into a new stage. And, I’m happy to report, it is a troubled one!
South Australian Premier creates two new Nuclear Advisory Agencies. Unfortunately their touted “independence” is already in doubt. Parry Agius – founding member of Uranium lobby group – should not be on a new “independent” Nuclear Advisory Board. The S.A. government sets up parliamentary inquiry on proposed nuclear waste importing
The Citizens Juries are being organised by New Democracy. I’ve had several emails from them, in response to my questions, and I do think that they are trying to do this nuclear community consultation honestly and fairly.
However , there is considerable distrust in South Australia, about this process. Global nuclear waste dump for South Australia is opposed by women and Labor voters. Premier Jay Weatherill could now be in a dither over nuclear waste dump proposal. Aboriginal groups demand better consultation on nuclear waste dump plan.
ALP National President Mark Butler states that there is no change to Labor’s policy against importing nuclear waste . Maritime Union of Australia will fight plans to import world’s nuclear waste. No Dump Alliance – an anti-nuclear advocacy group launched.
13 May Nuclear and climate news for the past week
SOUTH AUSTRALIA The Nuclear Fuel Chain Royal Commission South Australia announced its recommendations – no surprises, just as this spurious Commission had planned from the beginning – South Australia will get mega wealthy by importing the world’s radioactive trash. Submissions to the Commission show up 10 things wrong with its case.
The Turnbull government will back this nuclear waste dump import plan. Labor is silent. Of course it’s not an election issue!
South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill wasted no time in getting the ball rolling for this nuclear waste dump dream. He’s started a process of participatory democracy, though he doesn’t seem to understand the terms that he is using. Anyway, the kickoff is a so-called Citizens’ Jury (should be 12 people, but he’s choosing 50, or even 350)
However, the Citizens’ Jury or the Deliberative Poll (for larger numbers) could be a really useful democratic process, if it’s properly done.
Judging by the notoriously one-sided Nuclear Royal Commission, I expect this process to be another complete charade, run for the benefit of the nuclear lobby.
South Australian government officials are talking “informally” about BHP’s Olympic Dam as the site for the imported nuclear waste dump. However, BHP in its submission to the Royal Commission clearly states that it doesn’t want to have any involvement in storage or disposal of nuclear waste.
FEDERAL WASTE DUMP Federal radioactive waste dump siting is far from a sure thing, on an Aboriginal culturally and archaelogically significant area, and the certainty of resistance by indigenous and non indigenous people.
CLIMATE. NASA scientist and European Space Agency dismayed at CSIRO climate research cuts. Climate Change Authority report recommending ‘a mandatory carbon price’ held back until after election.
The week to 8th May, in nuclear news
This should be mercifully short, because I have been preoccupied with the Nuclear Fuel Chain Royal Commission South Australia, and mostly paying attention only to the 170 recent Submissions that have at last (May 2nd) been published on the Commission website.
Contrary to Commissioner Kevin Scarse’s dismissal of criticisms as ‘just opinion’ ’emotional’, ‘not fact-based’, many critical Submissions are thoughtful, reasoned, and evidence based.
On this website can be found significant extracts from a number of these Submissions.
Submissions came from individuals and organisations. Their criticisms focussed mainly on economic issues, and on indigenous rights. Other issues were safety, especially regarding transport of radioactive trash, security, employment, legality, climate change effects, environment, health, and democratic rights.
A pro nuclear group from Adelaide, anticipating the Commission’s Report, (to be published on Monday 9th May) went to Finland, and came back ecstatic about the prospect of South Australia setting up a nuclear waste import industry.
Woman arrested in SA nuclear protest Locals at nominated nuclear dump site share concerns in fiery public meeting
Just the mere $2000 – $4000 for every single Australian – the cost of submarines purchase from France. Liberal coalition plans nuclear submarine fleet so that we can fight China. Australia buying submarines from notoriously corrupt French firm
Liberal and Labor will downplay nuclear waste issues, until the election is safely over.
Biased Nuclear Fuel Chain Royal Commission – will it sink like a rock?
To make Australia the toilet for the world’s radioactive trash – this is an extraordinary aim!
To pretend that it’ s just a little local issue – to (supposedly) bring jobs to south Australia – is ludicrous!
By the way – those dirty and dangerous jobs wouldn’t come for decades. Meanwhile South Australia would miss out on its opportunities to be a hub of jobs in renewable energy and clean agriculture, fisheries wine-making, tourism. If South Australia were to become that global radioactive trash toilet – goodbye to its clean green image!
Of course it’s a National issue – however much our bought politicians of both Liberal and Labor pretend that it doesn’t matter – not an election issue – keep it hush hush till December.
Look out for all the pro nuclear tripe from those drinking at the corporate trough.
The week that has been in Australia’s nuclear and climate news
Late news flashes:
- Submarine purchase from France in cahoots with nuclear lobby‘s plan for expansion of nuclear industry, to be announced on May 6 by the sham South Australia Nuclear Fuel Chain Royal Commission.
- The seller, France’s corporation Direction des Constructions et Armes Navales (DCNS) is notorious for corruption.
Most impressive news item of the week – Central bankers, financial facts, bringing an end to the nuclear power era?
NUCLEAR. A quiet week on the nuclear front turned busy, just at the end. The Federal government suddenly announced the site chosen as a national radioactive dump, at Barndioota, South Australia,- a nice little bonanza for property owner former SA Liberal Senator Grant Chapman. Adnyamathanha Traditional Owners did not share his joy, and will fight nuclear waste dump plan. Communities from the five other proposed radioactive waste sites are supporting the Flinders community campaign against the dump.
In the coming week, the South Australia Nuclear Fuel Chain Royal Commission will recommend making Australia the world’s nuclear waste dump. The whole Commission was a setup job from the beginning. #NuclearCommissionSAust sets up a pro nuclear Committee for Adelaide overseas junket. South Australia’s pro nuclear tourists picked a bad day to visit Finland.
Meanwhile South Australia is in a frenzy of delight that there will be a submarine business there, supplied by France at $5 billion, (presumable good election value at $10 billion per each of the 5 marginal Liberal seats). Only it’s very costly, and they mightn’t be built in S.A. at all. But hey – the design is for nuclear submarines !- not fuelled by nuclear at this stage. Maybe later.
CLIMATE Turnbull’s climate policy deceptions – cut climate funds, then announce new policies. Urgent need to end $7.7 Billion Fossil Fuel Subsidies. Australia needs action, not just Turnbull’s words, to save the Great Barrier Reef.
RENEWABLE ENERGY. Canberra at the forefront in the new renewable energy era. First-ever council solar farm for Queensland – on the Sunshine Coast. Export industry potential for Victorian solar energy project, backed by Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
Submarine buyers in cahoots with the spurious Nuclear Royal Commission
And here was I, thinking that I was paranoid, for imagining that the Federal government’s choice of a submarine provider had anything to do with South Australia’s shonky Nuclear Royal Commission.
Yes, I did wonder why, after Tony Abbott promising Japan that they would supply the subs at $40 billion, the govt chose a $50 billion deal. (I thought that Turnbull must have been happy to spend the extra $10 billion just to nark Abbott)
I did wonder why the Royal Commission spent several days in France, conferring with officials and nuclear corporation AREVA, the very days when AREVA went broke, and had to be taken over by the also nearly broke EDF.
I did wonder why they chose a nuclear-powered design (to be fuelled by diesel) when better and cheaper non nuclear designs were available from Germany and Japan.
But now we know. The whole deal was done in collusion with the masterminds of the spurious Royal Commission, and its plans for the eventual entire toxic nuclear fuel chain in Australia.
23 April Past week in Australian nuclear and climate news
It has been a big week for climate news, with the New York signing, by a record 175 countries, of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
CLIMATE. I’d love to say that Australia was a big participant in the historic climate change meeting, and Agreement, in New York on 22 April. Sadly, not so. Yes, we signed up, but ratification, and any meaningful action – No! Indeed, Australia was not invited to high level climate group in New York – a meeting for “high ambition” climate action nations, not “low ambition” ones.
IF that were not bad enough, Australia’s Attorney General George Brandis publicly stated his doubt about the science of climate change, as did another Coalition Senator, Deputy Nationals leader Fiona Nash. Indeed, Australia at New York was the ultimate climate action hypocrite.
Steaming hot world sets more temperature records, especially in Australia. The dying Great Barrier Reef – due to Australia’s carbon exports. Traditional Owners’ rejection of Carmichael coal mine stands, despite Adani bank rolling bogus “land use agreement”
NUCLEAR. Australia to sell uranium to Ukraine? – insensitive timing, economic and security folly.
NUCLEAR ROYAL COMMISSION. Just where does South Australia’s charismatic Senator Nick Xenophon stand on nuclear waste importing?
Responses to the Commission’s ‘Tentative Findings’ included this telling one from Dan Monceaux, writing about the health of uranium and nuclear workers, and about the secrecy surrounding this.
Meanwhile the nuclear lobby has revved up its propaganda, prior to the Commission’s announcement on May 6th, that South Australia should start a nuclear waste import industry.
However, the nuclear lobby’s determined campaign to show the Commission as solely a matter for South Australia has not worked internationally. America’s influential Nuclear Information and Resource Service is running a petition Help stop A Global Mobile Chernobyl! supporting Australians’ opposition to the nuclear waste import plan.
Breakfast with the Toffs, after May 6th Nuclear Royal Commission announces wonderful waste import plan
Spin all over the place about Australia’s so wonderful opportunities in the uranium/nuclear industry! It’s all part of the leadup to the shonky Nuclear Fuel Commission’s unsurprising recommendation that South Australia should import radioactive trash.
I guess they had a good time with the charade of the Royal Commission, jaunts overseas for the nuclear shills, and the spurious business of taking submissions – of course, as Kev says, the antinuke ones were mostly “emotional, so they don’t count anyway.
Let’s begin with good old reliable nuclear stooge Kevin Scarce. For just the measly $67.50 , you can have brekky with him – a sit-down hot breakfast, layered berry yoghurt muesli shot, seasonal fruit, brewed coffee, T Bar teas and fresh juice.
Meanwhile, Kev will tell you how you beaut it will be when South Australia goes full steam ahead with importing radioactive trash and expanding the nuclear fuel chain. See more at Action Australia.
Anyway, it’s a suitable breakfast price. We do want to keep the great unwashed out, after all .
Meanwhile, back at the struggling, barely surviving uranium mining industry, they are putting on a bold face, too.
The Minerals Council of Australia’s Uranium Forum has today released a range of material that purports to demonstrate the potential benefits of further developing Australia’s uranium industry. ‘Uranium: Untapped Potential’ includes a poster, a series of videos featuring industry experts and voices, and social media material highlighting the untapped potential further growth of the uranium industry offers Australia. They’r on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube. linked in, as well as the usual mainstream media.
South Australia could save water by adopting India’s brilliant solar energy plan
Today’s story from India – about setting up solar panels over water channels – set me thinking about South Australia. I think South Australia is the most beautiful State, and with a proud and interesting history.
It is also, arguably, the nation’s most water stressed State.
It is so frustrating that the politics and economics of beautiful South Australia are in the hands of ignorant neanderthals. That want to damage the country, and extract even more water than BHP Billiton now does at Olympic Dam uranium mine, – by expanding the water intensive nuclear industry. And all this with the risk of radioactively polluting the precious groundwater.
India’s solar panels over water channels not only provide electricity. They also reduce evaporation. What a boon for a hot climate! South Australia’s SunDrop Farms have also made use of the water-saving abilities of solar panels.
South Australia has the expertise to lead the world in clean energy and water management.
What a pity it is run by deadheads!
The week in climate and nuclear news
Climate news, and renewable energy news have been coming thick and fast, over the past week. By contrast, it might appear that nothing is happening on the nuclear scene. However, things are happening, while the nuclear lobby intensifies its propaganda, both in mainstream news, and with renewed emphasis on “social media”
AUSTRALIA
NUCLEAR.
Greens manage to put some brakes on South Australian govt’s pro nuclear promotion. Business Council of Australia firmly in the grip of the nuclear lobby.
Michele Madigan remembers Bob Ellis and that other nuclear royal commission. Aboriginal nuclear test survivors to join Japan’s Hibakusha in Nagasaki.
ERA’s uranium mining at Ranger ends: ERA can afford rehabilitation of site.
Australian nuclear shill Ben Heard under fire from Canadian nuclear shill Patrick Moore.
Wangan and Jagalingou people taking further legal action, against Adani coal mining leases.
CLIMATE
Australia joins global climate action, in words, but not deeds. Since Liberal Coalition govt dumped carbon price, greenhouse emissions have soared. Climate denialist Maurice Newman might split the Liberal Party? As CSIRO slashes jobs, water science in South Australia a big loser.
Australian authorities covering up severity of Great Barrier Reef’s plight. Minister Greg Hunt did not impress David Attenborough, with his uninformed comments about the Great Barrier Reef.
Australian oil and gas lobbies spent up big, to discredit science of climate change.
Carbon Disclosure Project lists Canberra as a global climate change leader.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
- A solar world first for Perth: solar panels and battery storage on apartment buildings.
- Solar powered vehicles for Australia – energy utilities now supportive.
- Tasmania’s Bruny Island residents to sell solar power to the grid
- New board and chairman for Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
AND ALSO. Australia cuts aid to Africa, encourages Ugly Australian Mining Companies. Perth-based Mineral Commodities Limited (MRC) denies role in murder of South African activist.
11 April News on corruption, climate and nuclear power
This week, I stray even further away from the narrow focus on things nuclear. It’s impossible not to notice the achievements of investigative reporters, collaborating across the globe, to reveal widespread corruption in the oil industry, and in the finance industry. In both cases, hundreds of journalists worked for a year in bringing these facts together. I’m glad I’ve been watching the BBC series John le Carre’s “The Night Manager” – helped me to understand how corruption works, including legalised corruption. But I digress even worse.
There’s another massive global corruption going on, and this is the corruption of science. Our grandchildren and great grandchildren will have cause to blame us, as governments, industries, media, join in complacency, or even downright denial, of the reality of anthropogenic climate change. A major source of information on climate change is at http://www.ecoshock.org/ – where you will learn that that there really is no time to lose: climate change may be happening faster than we all thought.
Equally important, but “under the radar”, is corruption in the nuclear industry. That hasn’t been investigated yet, but are we to believe that the nuclear industry is squeaky clean? At least two aspects of science corruption are lies promoted by the industry – the lie that nuclear power will save the climate, and the lie that low dose ionising radiation is harmless, even good for you. I suspect that there is more to come.
AUSTRALIA
In the global oil corruption scandal, Australia is right up there in the thick of it. In the Panama financial corruption , we’re well represented there, too! Mining corporation BHP Billiton gets special mention. But – be comforted – BHP Billiton is not an Australian company – it is about 70% London owned, despite its boast to be The Big Australian.
IN BRIEF. Australia will sign the Paris climate agreement (not sure we’ll actually DO ANYTHING about it). Queensland Premier approved Andani coal project. Aboriginal people vigourously oppose this. But heck!. Does it really matter? Adani well knows that the Carmichael coal mine expansion is not economically viable anyway.
THE WORST news about Australia is in the switch of purpose for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Drastically cutting the climate research staff, CSIRO will no longer be devoted to research for the public good, but to research for money-making projects. Minister Christopher Pyne has the power to intervene in this, but he won’t.
That speaks volumes about the lack of moral purpose of the Australian government.
Transfer of radioactive trash across the globe is such a con job!
This transfer of wastes from UK to USA is such a con job. It’s portrayed as a “win win”, with the pretense of obtaining medical radioisotopes for diagnosis and treatment of cancer. . What a lie! What an unequal swap!
First of all, medical radioisotopes can be obtained without use of nuclear reactor, as Canada is now doing. By use of non nuclear cyclotrons – linear accelerators, these radioisotopes (most being very short-lived) can be made close to the point of use – a much more practical system.
Second, the whole transport idea is bizarrely unsafe – passing through or over communities, waterways – risk of accident, of terrorism.
Thirdly, it is madness to set up this “exchange” plan, in order to prolong this noxious industry, and with that silly figleaf of nuclear medicine tacked on top of it.
Blind Freddy could see that the number one priority is to stop making radioactive trash
The week that has been, in nuclear and climate news
It’s getting harder, and more ridiculous, to separate nuclear issues from fossil fuel issues. Nuclear and coal power are really intertwined, indeed depending on each other, and both contributing to global warming.
And now there’s the global oil corruption scandal, which really can’t be ignored. Australia is right in the thick of it.
Australian and Marshall Islander nuclear test survivors demand a ban on nuclear weapons.
CLIMATE and ENERGY. Urgent need to shift to zero carbon power – as soon as 2018. Axe over controversial Shenhua coal mine in New England. Australia’s home solar battery company launches new product. Australia wasting over $2.5 million investigating ‘wind turbine syndrome‘. China’s State Grid Eyes Australia
POLITICS. We assume that Julie Bishop will oppose radioactive trash import, as she fears nuclear terrorism
It’s wrong to sell Australian uranium to critically unsafe Ukraine. The country that fuelled Fukushima to sell uranium to the country that gave us Chernobyl
SOUTH AUSTRALIA changes to Aboriginal Heritage Act – a precursor to nuclear waste dumping?
Desert Liberation Front (anti uranium) to rally outside Olympic Dam
Nuclear waste dump plan
- See this short video, from Today Tonight Adelaide, explaining the South Australian nuclear waste dump proposal.
- Scarce determined to recommend nuclear waste import and dump for South Australia. Kevin Scarce buys expert pro nuclear opinions from Switzerland and Belgium.
- South Australia’s elitist Nuclear Fuel Chain Royal Commission ignores any arguments that are not pro nuclear.
- Sisters of St Joseph oppose nuclear waste import, defend sacred lands of Aboriginal people.
- Who will benefit from nuclear waste import scheme – international nuclear companies!
WESTERN AUSTRALIA Faults exposed with Mulga Rock uranium mining proposal
QUEENSLAND Federal solar funding switch to hurt state
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY funding battery storage in homes.
VICTORIA. At last Victoria might now get going, farming solar energy.
NEW SOUTH WALES. Origin energy buys power from Moree solar farm.
Nuclear news excluded or downplayed in Australian media
The terrorists’ initial aim to blow up Belgium’s nuclear reactors was explained on SBS World News, last night, but did not get a mention on ABC news. It was reported on Sydney Morning Herald, but that story appears to have been withdrawn.( – Brussels bombers considered nuclear site, changed their minds: report Sydney Morning Herald–24 Mar. 2016. )
I doubt that it was reported on the Murdoch dominated commercial media
Could Australia’s media be experiencing pressure to avoid uncomfortable nuclear topics, – heading in the self censorship direction now prevalent in Japan?
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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