The nuclear week that was, in Australia
Once again, all the action is Australia is really about renewable energy. The nuclear/uranium lobby is very quiet – as well they might be, with the gloomy international news for their industry.
So – I might as well take this opportunity to report a little housekeeping news for my websites. They’re in a bit of peril. But I don’t really know how much, me being somewhat legally illiterate, and Luddite.
It’s a kind of tribute find myself on Roger Helbig’s “hit list” Lt. Col. RogerHelbig is part of a Pentagon disinformation campaign to prevent people from challenging the use of depleted uranium as a weapon. He specialises in discrediting some quite prestigious writers and in closing down anti nuclear websites. Yesterday Mr Helbig sent me a long email, threatening legal action, and he advised me that:
“I have already advised WordPress and I will make every possible effort to take down your WordPress blog and eliminate your ability to ever have another WordPress blog.”
Getting back to the real news:
- The Australian government has failed to exercise any duty of care, in the case of Australian citizen Ben Zygier, whoe died in gaol in Israel, in mysterious circumstances. As in the case of David Hicks, we were too scared to offend USA and Israel.
- 10 years after Australia undemocratically entered the Iraq war, highly regrded Australians now call for a Campaign for an Iraq War Inquiry – lest we make the same mistake again.
- Aboriginals’ status: Michael Anderson explains that what is needed is a Sovereign Treaty, not Act of Recognition
- Renewable Energy. Western Australian Greens release Energy 2029 – a plan for the State. Solar energy initiative in Kalgoorlie, calls for big solar initiatives solar in Port Augusta, and in Hunter Valley. Almost a million small solar panel systems in Australia. Australian solar consortium to develop 250 MW Indonesian project.
- Cameco admits that its Kintyre uranium project is not economically viable
Paladin, Ashurst – now Roger Helbig trys to shut down Antinuclear – we must be having an impact
Here’s what Roger Helbig sent me today: ” Your first immediate action is to take my name out of your
e-mail subject line. I have already advised WordPress and I will make
every possible effort to take down your WordPress blog and eliminate
your ability to ever have another WordPress blog.” along with a lot of other threats of legal action.
This humble little website is now in the company of some much more illustrious sites. For example – “It has come to our attention that an 
individual by the name of Roger Helbig, has been going to great effort to damage our reputation” http://www.salem-news.com/
There are dozens more .. you see, Roger Helbig makes a profession of harrassing and preferably shutting down, any voices that criticise the use of depleted uranium.
Also
Renewable energy is happening. Nuclear energy is not.
I think that I really ought to change the names of my websites (to Renewable Energy News). These websites are supposed to reflect the news – what is happening.
Well, nuclear power and uranium markets are just not happening. There’s a sorry sort of 21st Century colonialism going on. The over-developed countries, such as Australia, are trying to rip every resource, such as uranium, out of the ground in Africa, at the least benefit to the Africans that they can get away with. With France sending troops in, and Australia pondering on this – it’s a bit like the 19th Century “scramble for Africa”. Not that the uranium market is actually much good, anyway.
But the over-developed nations are pinning their hopes on selling nuclear reactors to the “developing” world – a colonial sort of version of Not In My Backyard. For all the hype – not much is actually happening there either. But then perhaps oil-rich, sun- rich United Arab Emirates figure that they might like to have nuclear weapons one day .
What is really happening globally is rapid growth in solar and wind energy, both centralised and decentralised. Worldwide surge in renewable energy, with costs falling http://nuclear-news.net/2013/01/25/worldwide-surge-in-
renewable-energy-with-costs-falling/
160 nations to double use of renewable energy http://nuclear-news.net/2013/01/19/160-nations-endorse-doubling-of-renewable-energy-irena/
Extraordinary that Australia, with its fawning subservience to America, is slow to pick up on what’s happening there in renewable energy USA: In 2012 49% of new energy capacity was renewable http://nuclear-news.net/2013/01/21/usa-in-2012-49-of-new-energy-capacity-was-renewable/
U.S. Establishes Renewable-Energy Zone on Public Land in Arizona http://nuclear-news.net/2013/01/19/renewable-energy192000-acres-of-government-owned-land-in-arizona/
While renewable energy grows in USA, Germany – in a big way, it’s also growing in many less powerful countries, especially in the use of small-scale power. http://nuclear-news.net/2013/02/09/local-solar-energy-making-a-huge-difference-in-rural-argentina/
Methinks Australia’s mining industry protests too much about corruption
Here is a strange headline.from The Australian Miners fear ‘dirt’ will hurt industry” Australia’s mining industry becoming very righteous about corruption in the NSW mining licences issue. They say it damages their international reputation.
Especially as regards Africa – one would wonder “What international reputation”.?
So many allegations, so many organisations critical of the way Australian companies do business in Africa. Especially Paladin uranium in Malawi, and Rio Tinto uranium in Namibia http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/miners-fear-dirt-will-hurt-industry/story-e6frgczx-1226574973649 (subscription only)
Latest nuclear news in Australia
Some good news. That rare event – all parties in the Australian Parliament support the Bill to include the beautiful World Heritage area of Koongarra into Kakadu National Park. JeffreyLees, traditional owner of Koongarra resolutely knocked back AREVA’s millions to mine uranium there. Lees donated his land to the National Park – “Money comes and goes, but the land is always here”.
Anti nuclear movement gaining strength as Australian Nuclear free Alliance kicks off with its National Nuclear Free Strategy conference, representing at least 20 national and state organisations across the country. I was lucky to be able to attend, and learn of the inspirational work of black and white Australians in these groups – that work on dedication and shoe-string budgets.
Queensland‘s Uranium Implementation Committee warns that uranium mining will not be happening any time soon – the major reason being the poor market prospects.
Climate Change. Al Gore warns that the Coalition’s climate action policy won’t work, and he praises Julia’s Gillard’s climate policy as an inspiration to the world.
Renewable energy. Bloomberg New Energy Finance predicts that renewable energy will take over in Australia, with wind power now cheaper than coal and gas, even without subsidy.
Wind power. Australia’s Environment Protection Authority’s study reported that infrasound from wind turbines was insignifican compared to infrasound from many other sources in the Australian environment
Paladin, Rio Tinto in Malawi and Namibia. Australia’s Foreign Minister Bob Carr has done it again! He really does excel in hypocrisy. Carr praised these uranium mining companies for strong corporate social responsibility. What a load of twaddle! With Paladin’s 10 years of no taxes in Malawi, as part of a deal all too favourable to Paladin, in this poverty-stricken country – with Rio Tinto’s environmental pollution in Namibia – with Australian overseas aid money going to Paladin for its public relations projects in Malawi – with many allegations against Paladin – these uranium companies look like the Ugliest Australians in Africa.
Worse – Australian Defence Force chief General David Hurley’s alarming indication that there might be a role for the ADF in protecting “Australian interests” in Africa?
Olympic Dam. The grandiose plans seem to have stuffed up badly, as BHP now cuts operations and slashes jobs.
Australian Nuclear Free Alliance – a force in the federal elections 2013
Christina Macpherson, 5 Feb 13 Australian politicians be warned! You’d better get clued up about uranium and nuclear issues. Because you will be put on the 
spot. These are not party political issues – they’re too important for that. The Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (ANFA) will be talking to, and scrutinising, politicians of all persuasions. And voters will want to know where the candidates stand , on these critical issues.
Yesterday I was privileged to attend Day 2 of the National Nuclear Free Strategy meeting, held in Melbourne by the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance. Quite an eye opener – to join these informed, capable and dedicated campaigners from many organisations, who came together from the Northern Territory and 5 States – all with the same goal – a nuclear free Australia.
I counted 19 different organisations represented, and in several cases, such as Friends of the Earth, and the Medical Association for the Prevention of War, several representatives and from different States.
Most of these organisations run on the proverbial shoe-string, yet have talented and competent members. and have already achieved much success.
ANFA now takes up the challenge of awakening Australia’s politicians, media, and public to critical matters for this election year:
- The Muckaty court case – and The ongoing saga of the Aboriginal traditional owners’ rights to oppose nuclear waste dumping on their land.
- The need to thoroughly review uranium mining, in the light of the continuing Fukushima radiation disaster, (not to mention the parlous state of the uranium industry), and to stop the development of uranium mining in New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia.
We will be hearing much more from ANFA, as the year progresses. And, we’ll be hearing, in each State, from the groups that make up ANFA – here are just a few:
- Gundjiheimi Aboriginal Corporation
- Western Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (strong Aboriginal presence)
- Japanese for Peace
- Environment Centre of Northern Territory
- Medical Association for the Prevention of War
- Australian Student Environment Network
- Radio 3CR – Radioactive Show
- Footprints for Peace
- Australian Conservation Foundation
- International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
- Friends of the Earth
- Beyond Nuclear Initiative
- Uranium Free New South Wales
- Conservation Council of Western Australia
- Australian Manufacturing Workers Union
- Electrical Trades Union
- Protest Barrick (Canada)
- Australian Greens – Senator Scott Ludlam
- another distinguished guest – Professor Richard Broinowski
The nuclear week that was, in Australia
Aboriginal issues to the fore this week. Yesterday an deal was announced between the Mirrar Aboriginal and Energy Resources of Australia, (ERA) after 14 years of negotiations, over the Ranger uranium mine. Highly respected senior traditional owner Ms Yvonne Margarula, has welcomed the agreements, and that’s good enough for me.
Still, this could herald the start of a persuasion process, by ERA, leading into their planned new underground mine, “Ranger 3 Deeps”. This project is not covered by the new agreements. Mining companies have been known to mine underground, in order to avoid the responsibility of native title issues on the surface.
Julia Gillard parachuted Aboriginal sports star Nova Peris-Kneebone into pre-selection for the Northern Territory Senate seat. Ms Peris joine dthe Labor Party only on Wednesday. Overlooked was a real Aboriginal fighter for Territory Aboriginal rights, Marion Scrymgour. The suspicion remains that Julia is expecting Peris to toe the Party line, while giving Labor a good “Aboriginal look”
Maralinga veterans and Aboriginal victims of the atomic tests have now been told that they have no case for compensation, in British courts. Yet there Is evidence of radiation harm, much of it covered up by teh Australian and British governments. Paul Langley has covered this extensively in his Nuclear History blog – http://nuclearhistory.wordpress.com/
Cyber Security was a big theme of Gillard’s latest speech. While there are certainly legitimate concerns for national security on the Internet, Senator Ludlam warned about “overkill” – the implications for privacy, copyright, and freedom of communication
Uranium to India. Bob Carr announced progress in these negotiations, as usual, oblivious to the way that India is ramping up its nuclear weapons, and cracking down on the thousands of rural anti nuclear protestors.
Victoria. Mildura area is to get two solar farms at Koorlong an Carwarp.
The nuclear week that was, in Australia
Nothing changes. In the 1950s, the Australian government allowed Britain to secretly test atomic bombs in South Australia. Today, The Australian government is again allowing Britain to secretly test in South Australia its 21st Century killing machines, the Taranis military drones.
Military testing – also in SouthAustralia. The Australian govt is said to be offering Aboriginal people, the Kokatha, $2 million to stop objecting to live firing in war games on their land
Australia’s unelected politician, Foreign Minister Bob Carr, gets my 2012 prize for hypocrisy in orchestrating votes for Australia’s seat on the UN Security Council. First, bribe other countries with the promise to increase funding for overseas aid. And, arrange to sell uranium to United Arab Emirates, so they vote for Australia. Having attained the UN seat, you then withdraw the funds for overseas aid. But you still will sell uranium to UAE, and Carr even hints at later taking back their nuclear wastes.
Australian government planning new submarines: they will not be nuclear powered.
ERA gearing up to start a new mine Ranger 3 Deeps tunnel apparently not needing a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), despite Ranger’s long history of leaks, spills and breaches
The ugly Australians? Malawi’s opposition Peoples Transformation Party (Petra) and the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) call for a better deal for Malawi between Australian uranium miner Paladin‘s and the Malawi government. on environmental and economic grounds.
Climate change. Despite compelling evidence, endorsed by reputable science bodies worldwide, Australia’s Liberal politicians, especially Campbell Newman, and the Murdoch press, continue to promote climate denialism. The newspaper THE AUSTRALIAN is prominent in this bias, but has had to admit its recent error about sea level rise.
Australia: Climate change action? Nuclear-free? 2013 is the critical year
Unless a new nuclear disaster occurs, the global nuclear lobby is set for a pretty successful 2013. Japan is to re-invigorate its nuclear industry, China is going ahead with a big nuclear plant, Fukushima is off the media radar, and the world is being subtly conned into loving low level radiation, and new gee-whiz nuclear reactors.
And yet – “If You Don’t Fight, You Lose” – so we antinukes press on, both against nuclear energy/nuclear weapons, and for real action on climate change. I, for one, want my grandchildren to know that I tried.
Matters nuclear would seem to be taking a holiday for the holiday season. Except for Lucas Heights Opal nuclear reactor being shut down due to the fire yesterday (08/01/13) – there would be little to report.
Bank hoax Am I the only one who wasn’t very keen on Johathan Moylan’s hoax pretending to be a press release from ANZ bank – about Whitehaven Coal share price? Seems to me that falsifying bank information, however daring, is a criminal offence, and can only lower public opinion of the environmental movement.
Climate The Australian media marks the new year with its usual huge emphasis on sport and trivia. Except now, for the bushfires, but we don’t connect them to global warming, now, do we? Especially as three East coast Liberal governments don’t really believe in global warming.
On the nuclear front – Australia now gets a new burst of pro nuke propaganda, with these main themes:
- Low level radiation is pitched as not harmful, (and nuclear solves global warming, too) – this headed by University of Adelaide’s pro nuclear front department “The Environment Institute” headed by Barry Brook and Ben Heard.
- China is touted as soaring away with new nuclear power, (though its own Environment Minister is dubious about its safety) Japan‘s government is all out for nuclear power – they’ll need Australian uranium again.
- New nuclear reactors touted. The Age Business section (8/01/13 )gives practically a full blown advertisement article on Thorium reactors – (no mention that they need plutonium fuel, too, and barely a mention , of their toxic wastes, their weapons proliferation danger, security hazards, – and not mentioned at all – their commercial non viability. Being small, they’re economic only if sold in mass quantities – which is highly unlikely)
The nuclear week that was, in Australia
First of all, thank you to all those supportive people who have sent messages, following my legal threat from Ashurst. I am grateful to investigative journalist Michael West. His knowledge of the law, and his passion for freedom of speech have helped me, and others, to be more secure in stating what we think, and what we believe in. http://www.theage.com.au/business/antinuke-campaigner-braces-for-legal-blast-20121219-2bm74.html
- Politics: Michael Angwin, of the Australian Uranium Association, is leading the charge, lobbying to get rid of Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act .
- Renewable Energy Target (RET) The government is standing firm on the RET, in spite of heavy pressure from the fossil fuel industries.This means that solar and wind energy still have that incentive needed to get these industries going strong in this country. But Bernie Fraser, former Governor of the Reserve Bank, warns that if Tony Abbott wins power, and is not able to get rid of the carbon tax, he will turn his attack on renewable energy, and close down the Climate Change Authority.
- The Coalition is now backing the anti wind energy Bill which Senators Nick Xenophon and John Madigan(DLP) are introducing in Parliament
- Julian Assange will start a Wikileaks political party in 2013, and stand for election to the Australian Senate.
The Lynas rare earths saga in Malaysia continues. There’s been a lot of propaganda saying that rare earths processing produces no radioactive waste Wendy Bacon has discussed the Lynas saga comprehensively http://aliran.com/11005.html
Uranium mining companies were jubilant about the (pro nuclear) result of Japan’s elections, but safety considerations and new regulatory system mean that it will be a long time before Japan restarts its nuclear industry, if it does at all.
Western Australia. Aboriginal groups in Western Australian Nuclear free Alliance were heartened by Minister Tony Burke’s refusal yet to approve Toro’s Wiluna uranium project. Toro’s newly appointed CEO Vanessa Guthrie is left to sort out the mess of Toro’s environmental plans.
Victoria. Two days after the USA’s school shooting massacre, Ballarat High School sent kids off to Beaufort Gun Club for shooting lessons. Great timing, doncha think?
Northern Territory. Mining exploration has dropped considerably, over 2012, with the poor market prospects for uranium.
Resuscitation of uranium market unlikely, despite Japan’s election result
Australia’s uranium lobby, ever ready to clutch at straws, already sees the Japanese election result as the signal for the salvation of that tottering industry.
There are many factors that make it unlikely that the poll result does mean resuscitation for the global nuclear industry.
In Japan, anti-nuclear opinion remains widespread. The nuclear regulator will not even start inspecting the shut-down reactors until June 2013. The LNG fuel supply is taking over in a big way in Japan. Renewable energy is developing there, (though the new government may succeed in stifling it). The Fukushima radiation problem does not go away.
Japan is not the be-all and end -all of nuclear power. The USA is more like that. USA has by far the greatest number of commercial (and military) nuclear reactors. Their commercial reactors are aging, and no sign of progress in new ones. USA – the world leader in nuclear power, has the potential to join China, as world leader in renewable energy.
Europe’s nuclear industry is well in decline, as Germany succeeds with renewable energy, and France wrestles with the difficult action of reducing its expensive dependence on its aged nuclear power fleet.
UK is in a very confused situation, as companies struggle to finance UK’s grand plan for new nuclear, and the government produces new, rather hidden, subsidies for this.
China’s much touted nuclear industry is slow to get going. (They’re not stupid. They see the problems elsewhere, and they’re racing ahead with renewables)
As for Asian, and Middle East countries – well, they saw what happened to Iraq – without nuclear weapons, and what is likely to happen , similarly, to Iran – so they want nuclear power -(the essential fore-runner to nuclear weapons).
So – why does Australia even want to sell uranium, increasing nuclear weapons proliferation – even if the uranium market does return from the grave? Christina Macpherson, 18 Dec 12
Recent nuclear news in Australia
The Northern Territory’s Labor Party lost the recent election, including several “safe” Labor seats. Just today, NT Labor’s conference unanimously passed a resolution opposing the Federal government’s Muckaty nuclear waste dump plan.
BHP is getting out of uranium mining altogether, shutting down its uranium section, due to the poor economic prospects for nuclear power. The mine at Olympic Dam will now focus on copper and base metals only. BHP is selling its Yeelirrie uranium project
Environmental Law. The Gillard government under great pressure from resource corporations, at the resecent COAG meeting, was all set to cave in, and relinquish its control over environmental protection – giving open slather to the States to permit projects. However, the government wavered, and now is delaying that decision (till after the Federal election?)
Toro Energy faces all sorts of obstacles in it Western Australian Wiluna uranium project, – not the least being the lousy market prospects for the product. They’re boasting about now having two women at the helm, with Dr Vanessa Guthrie as new CEO. A case of handing the poisoned chalice to a woman?
Coal Seam Gas, (CSG). Amid scary reports of runaway global warming, and a dismal Doha climate conference, – comes the news that Coal Seam Gas may well be an equally serious greenhouse gas emitter as coal – with its rapid release of methane affecting the atmosphere over a 20 year period
Toro Energy gives Dr Vanessa Guthrie the poisoned uranium chalice
It looks as if Toro Energy, with its planned uranium mine Wiluna, Western Australia might be following an Australian tradition – of giving “the poisoned chalice” to a woman.
Australia’s had quite a history of giving women impossible jobs – I’m thinking mainly here of some State Premiers – Carmel Lawrence, Joan Kirner, Kristina Keneally. But it can happen in industry, too.
At Toro Energy, Dr Vanessa Guthrie, with a background in environmental sustainability, joins nuclear enthusiast Dr Erica Smyth. Smyth has been advocating nuclear power for Australia, nuclear powered desalination plants, and she presided over Toro’s propaganda campaign, with Doug Boreham preaching low level radiation as beneficial to health.
“There are serious flaws in the state assessment process and the studies Toro provided to the State Government. The project is a long way from being approved and the company faces serious financing constraints.
“Under new mine closure guidelines Toro has to find 100% of the mine closure costs in order to get approval to mine. So Toro needs $150 million to close a mine even before it has raised the $300 million to open it. The combination of a uranium price in free-fall and rising mine costs make this project increasingly unviable.” – Mia Pepper
Toro Energy’s uranium mining push comes as proven miners, including BHP Billiton and Cameco, defer or get out of planned uranium projects in WA. – Christina Macpherson
Women lead in ASX first, The Age, Peter Ker, December 5, 2012 THE branding is positively male, but the executive ranks of Toro Energy are about to take on a feminine look. In what is believed to be a unique set of circumstances in Australia, Toro will soon have women occupying both the chief executive and chairman roles, after announcing the departure of long-serving chief executive Greg Hall on Tuesday.
The situation will be formalised on February 8, when Dr Vanessa Guthrie replaces Mr Hall in running the company that is close to developing Australia’s next uranium mine.
Her chairman will be Erica Smyth, who has led the Toro board for more than three years. While it is difficult to be certain, most gender diversity experts believe the change will make Toro the only ASX-listed company to boast the female quinella. Continue reading
The past week in nuclear news Australia
Climate Change news is very worrying, with latest research showing that the Arctic permafrost is thawing, and that this is likely to cause runaway releases of Co2, and irreversible global warming.
Uranium mining It has been a week of Annual General meetings for Australia’s uranium mining companies. Their announcements have been classic cases of ambivalence. Paladin uranium exploration company is the latest companies, to announce a freeze on exploration, stopping its plan to explore at Valhalla in Queensland. Paladin’s losses, ERA’s losses – don’t sound good. But all the uranium company CEO’s faithfully repeat the mantra of the “long term fundamentals: being so good.
Senior independent researcher Claire Aitchison talked up the great future for the uranium industry, But she made a bit of a boo boo, warning that another disaster on the scale of Fukushima could have a significant impact on the nuclear industry. The nuclear lobby all think such a thought, but you never should say it publicly!
Federal government and international politics. Well, Australia looks likely to obediently sign up to the Trans Pacific Partenership (TPP) – an American initiative to promote USA corporate and military power in South East Asia. Australia abstained from voting on a UN resolution on the dangers of depleted uranium. Julia Gillard, ever devoted to USA, was all for saying “No” to Palestine having a seat at a United Nations forum. To their credit, 10 Federal Ministers stood up for Palestine, and the result was that Australia abstained from voting. A small step, but one that heartens me that we are not yet ready to become the 51st State of USA.
Western Australia Rio Tinto and Paladin tried to scuttle Cameco’s uranium mining plans using their submissions to the Foreign Investment Review Board. As I write, Toro Energy is having its AGM, with a spirited anti-nuclear presence there, in Perth. Anti uranium demonstrations will follow in Darwin, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne.
Renewable energy – all sorts of ups and downs here, with the Victorian, NSW and Queensland State governments still impeding development. But good news, too, as renewable energy continues to go ahead, especially with initiatives in rural areas – e.g Whyalla, Port Augusta and Broken Hill.
The nuclear week that was, in Australia
This week, it’s been all about the Australian government’s confusion – over its nuclear waste dump plan, over renewable energy, even over climate change.
Nationally, it’s becoming clear that the Australian government is in a muddle over its plan to set up a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory. The legal case brought by traditional Aboriginal owners, against the dump, continues. Australia is obliged to take back from France and UK, its nuclear wastes that originated at the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor. They could be stored at the Lucas Heights location. The nuclear reactor is not primarily for nuclear medicine, (that was always just an add-on) and medical radioisotopes could be obtained without that reactor.
The Muckaty site is uncomfortably close to an earthquake fault. Confused information is coming out about a plan to site the dump elsewhere, in the same area.The government’s nuclear illiteracy has come into focus lately – on this issue, among other muddles, such as its general ignorance about BHP’s intentions regarding a new Olympic Dam uranium mine, and the implications of Cameco’s plan to mine uranium close to Alice Springs.
USA military and corporate plans for South East Asia and the Pacific have been given two big boosts this week, at the AUSMIN talks in Perth. One boost was – strengthening the Trans Pacific Partnership (aimed at favouring USA business and excluding China ). The other – increasing USA’s military presence here – at the Stirling naval base, South of Perth, and increasing the already huge Talisman Sabre war games .
The federal government’s confusion is also shown in its approach to renewable energy policy. While it looks like keeping the Renewable Energy Target, it has caved in to the fossil fuel lobby, in abruptly closing its Solar Credits scheme, throwing investors into solar panel industry into uncertainty.
The uranium lobby continues its hype. Example, Marmota Energy’s chairman enthusing today about “clean nuclear energy’ and its “strong future”. Most of the hype now hangs solely on China – touted now as the great white hope for nuclear. Yet, its nuclear industry, like just about all of China’s business and politics, is mired in secrecy and corruption.
Lynas rare earths company faced Malaysian and Australian protestors, at its AGM in Sydney. Lynas’ plans for its Malaysian site’s radioactive waste management are still uncertain, though it has applied to regulators to return these wastes to Australia, (a statement probably mainly designed to try and pacify the Malaysians).
Climate change. Very worrying reports from the World Bank on impact of climate change on Australian agriculture. but what is our government doing? Well – it’s not sending a Minister to the international climate change negotiations. Sounds as if the government doesn’t see climate change as all that important.
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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