Australia’s billionaires revolting again? Gina Rinehart and Ivan Glasenberg?
Last year, Australians nearly wept, as they saw poor Gina Rinehart, and other underprivileged mining billionaires out in the streets, rallying to save ASustralia from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s super profits mining tax. Their pain was relieved, as with the help of the media and a few Labor heavies, this cruel threat to their $billions was removed. Indeed, Kevin Rudd was removed, to the mining lobby’s great relief.
But now, poor Gina is threatened with a Carbon Tax. She will have torarlly the media and public back out into the streets again.
But this year, Gina, and Clive Palmer, and BHP and Rio Tinto will have help.
For now, out of the shadows emerges Ivan Glasenberg. You didn’t know that he is Australian, did you? This CEO of Glencore , despite being South African, and living in Switzerland, did adopt Australian nationality.
As international company Glencore gets set to take over Xstrata Australia, it’s had to become a public company. Perhaps a good thing for all that dodgy Glencore is now (more or less) a little more visible
Ivan Glasenberg will very likely be happy to spend just a little of his $8.8 billion, to join Gina and her $10.3 billion, to fight the Australian government in its efforts to do something about Climate Change. – Christina Macpherson
BHP’s planned Olympic Dam uranium mine – a monstrosity
THIS WEEK:- The Climate Commission reported on the urgency of the need to act now on Climate Change, while politicians squabble about the proposed carbon tax, and little is done to promote renewable energy.
- The Australian government introduces legislation to make illegal the activities of Julian Assange abroad – (I mean Julia said he acted illegally, and she was wrong – so let’s try and change things so that Julia looks right?)
- Australian government and our mass media pretend they don’t notice that an Australian company, Lynas, is going to dump radioactive wastes on Malaysia – where the environment rules aren’t so strong.
- BHP Billiton releases its wonderful Environmental mpact statement on the new Olympic Dam copper/uranium mine. But
Australia seems to be sleeping on – not recognising the gigantism of this plan – the world’s biggest man-made hole, and probably the world’s biggerst mountain of radioactive tailings. – Christina Macpherson
Expanded Olympic Dam uranium mine – South Australia: the waste dump AREA will cover 6720 hectares –
that is , an area that would fit 3360 Melbourne Cricket Grounds
The PIT will be – 4.1 km long , 3.5 km wide. 1 km deep
Nuclear Spin – theme for May 2011
Now the Fukushima nuclear disaster is sort of “off the radar”, as far as the mainstream media is concerned. (even though Fukushima is now turning into a health, environmental and economic continuing catastrophe ) A great relief to the nuclear lobby. They must be getting tired of telling us that ionising radiation is quite OK really, and that now we can look forward to those wonderfully safe new nuclear reactor designs.
Now the nuclear lobby can go back to its historically tried and tested spin themes
Australia’s Week: goodbye Penny Sackett, hello Ian Chubb
A busy week on many fronts:
- Dissension in Australian Liberal party over Climate Change
- Australian company Lynas chooses Malaysia for its Thorium wastes, because Malaysian environmental law is weaker than Australia’s
- As the take-up of small solar power has blossomed in rural and working class areas – State governments pull the plug on the solar feed-in tariff
- Australia gets a new Chief Scientist – a word now about this:
How long is Australia going to take Ziggy seriously?
I used to think that Ziggy Spinowski was quite bright. Then I heard him, 2 years ago, at Melbourne University, trying to answer questions on Climate Change. It was clear that he knew little about it. Perhaps he’s taken a few lessons since then.
Now, Ziggy is on about China selling nukes to Australia. Cheap! lovely!
Ziggy is apparently unaware that China is regarded as very unsafe in relation to its siting of nuclear plants, and lack of emergency procedures. China is planning nuclear reprocessing – a technology that the USA rejected years ago because of its danger, proliferation risks, and exorbitant cost. China has a murky record on selling nuclear materials, to places such as Iran. And an even murkier record on its treatment of nuclear workers, and communities where it chooses to dump radioactive wastes. And of course,there’s the little problem of secrecy, poor civil rights, and China’s deplorable treatment of dissenters.
And anyway, China’s now having second thoughts – it probably will need nuclear only for its growing nuclear weapons program. For civil energy, China is turning to renewables, especially solar power, in a big way.
Why does the Australian media adopt such a reverent attitude to this absurd spruiker, Ziggy Switkowski – treating his every spruik as “gospel truth”?
Deplorable nuclear/uranium developments as Australia ignores the renewable energy revolution
Under cover of the Budget brouhaha, the Australian government will next week continue its quiet, below the public radar, push to pass the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill – a draconion piece of legislation that will allow them to impose a nuclear waste dump on the Aboriginal community near Muckaty station. It will also give the Minister for Resources, Martin Ferguson, pretty much unfettered power to make the rules on the nuclera waste dumping process.
Meanwhile, BHP Billiton now trots out the same old flawed Environmental Impact statement, so that the South Australian Government can push through approval for BHP to make Olympic Dam the world’s biggest man-made hole – the world’s biggest uranium mine.
The sad part about this is that not only has uranium now got a very poor prospects as a profitable industry, but BHP BIlliton DOESN’T CARE IF ITS URANIUM LOSES MONEY! As long as the copper outlook looks good – BHP will flog off the uranium at a losing price. That’s easier for them than to undertake measures to keep our precious Australian environment safe from toxic radioactive wastes.
The backdrop to all this is the failing nuclear industry, and the rising renewable energy revolution. Germany leads the way. Now Japan seem set to follow, with European countries wavering, and USA and UK mired in nuclear waste problems.
Nuclear Waste Bill, BHP spin, Glencore
It’s a pivotal time for Australia, with the government now trying to get its draconian nuclear National Radioactive Waste Management Bill passed very quietly.
Nuclear spin continues, with today’s Age reporting BHP chairman Mr Nasser joining the pro nuclear chorus.
But BHP CEO Marius Kloppers has been strangely silent lately. It is rumoured that Kloppers might move to Glencore. Glencore plans to take over Australian coal and uranium miner Xstrata. Friends of the Earth has a legal action against Xstrata
Australia Sleeps on, While Nuclear Decisions are Made
Hardly a whisper in the mass media, as:
1. the Australian government moves to pass its National Radioactive Waste Management Bill – paving the way for Australia to impose a radioactive waste dump on Aboriginal land – and who knows, on any land later on.
2. the South Australian and Federal governments move to approve BHP Billiton’s grandiose plan for the world’s biggest uranium mine and uranium waste tailings mountain
3. Western Australian company Lynas continues plan to process Rare Earths in Malaysia – following in the good old Australian tradition of putting toxic radioactive wastes in another country- preferably one with weak environmental legislation. See below the effects of such an industry on the people of inner Mongolia.
Martin Ferguson, Rio Tinto – doublespeak on nuclear and uranium
Australia’s Nuclear Heirarchy are twisting themselves in knots as they urgently try to promote nuclear power and uranium mining, while at the same time pretending to look as if they care about Fukushima, the public good, and the environment.
Today’s news – perfect examples:
Martin Ferguson (who by the way, is also Minister for Tourism – and what a 
conflict of interest THAT is!) – anyway – Martin Ferguson still pushes the antique line that Australia can flog off uranium to anybody – who cares if they use it for weapons or to wreck the environment – not our problem.
Today, Ferguson piously pretends to support renewable energy, and assures us that Australia doesn’t need nuclear – but on the same day, also he champions the use of nuclear power.
Meanwhile as ERA’s Ranger uranium mine turns out to be an investment and economic, (as well as environmental) disaster, ) its ultimate owner, Rio Tinto predicts a nuclear future for Australia, and ERA struggles on with plans to expand the Ranger mine. – Christina Macpherson
Australians had better wake up FAST to the nuclear lies
In today’s news, we have the USA-Australia agreement that Australia can import nuclear technology from USA. And we have Martin Ferguson pushing
his nuclear masters’ barrow on uranium to India, against his own government’s policy.
We learn that sea levels are rising much faster than climate scientists had anticipated. Doesn’t sound like a good omen for Australia’s planned nuclear reactors – along the Eastern coast.
Australians are being conned big time, by the fossil fuel lobby and their political lackeys, as Climate Denial wins in the public airwaves.
But, under the radar of the carbon tax uproar, the nuclear lobby is working overtime.
The nuclear/uranium lobby must be pretty desperate. Interestingly, their
former top spinner, Ziggy Switkowski, has been strangely silent lately. Well,
that could be because Ziggy does like to be sure that he’s on the winning side.
Meanwhile Australia’s new top Nuclear Archbishop, Paul Greenfield, is already doing doublespeak as he regrets Fukushima, but pushes for “safer” new nuclear…Christina Macpherson
Risk of Al Qaida revenge – they seek nuclear materials
Yesterday, Australia’s Foreign Minister, Kevin Rudd, had a
long article in THE AUSTRALIAN, pushing for nuclear safety. ” The time has come – 25 years after the tragic accident at Chernobyl – to do all we can to prevent nuclear incidents” – says Kevin All very worthy, no doubt.
But there is a doubt.
Today, we learn that Osama bin Laden has been killed.
And – 9/11 Mastermind Reportedly Warned of ‘Nuclear Hellstorm’ if Bin Laden Killed – “…. Wikileaks cables show U.S. authorities uncovered a
number of attempts by Al Qaeda to obtain nuclear materials,….”- http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/05/02/11-mastermind-warns-nuclear-hellstorm-bin-laden-killed/
Now where do these world-wide “nuclear materials” come from? Why – Uranium – which Kevin Rudd’s Australia is selling as much as it can! – Christina Macpherson
South Australia to be radioactive industries hub?
Christina Macpherson, 3 May 11 Today’s glowing uranium industry news for South Australia carries the promise of future developments. South Australia has long
been suggested as the location for a radioactive nuclear waste import industry. Could this be a logical extension of its nuclear bomb testing past, and its uranium mining future?
Today, Mineweb tells us: South Australia seen as China’s next mining investment frontier. A mining conference in Adelaide today was told that Chinese mining and metal companies view South Australia as the world’s next mining frontier.
While Sydney Morning Herald enthuses about opening up of Woomera to uranium mining
the area was estimated to contain..about 78 per cent of the nation’s uranium… “jolt to drive further development in the future.”[ says Premier Rann]
SA hopeful of mining in Woomera zone, Sydney Morning Herald, Tim Dornin, May 2, 2011 , South Australian Premier Mike Rann says he’s hopeful of a decision soon from the federal government to unlock the mineral wealth in the Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA).
Western Australia’s gas project – a precedent for nuclear waste importing?
Australians seem to be preoccupied with their domestic lives, looking outwards now and then for football, rugby league, royal weddings, blessed popes..
It is a worry that in the bigger picture for this country, hugely important decisions are just not on our radar. An example is the Liquified Natural Gas industry. The maneuverings and manipulations in this might well be the precursor to maneuverings to bring about a nuclear waste import industry.
The background of the LNG development is one of a rushed process, lacking rigourous scientific and environmental study.
The main political players – W.A. Premier and Federal Resource Minister Martin Ferguson both show that their political ambitions and subservience to big corporations are their main consideration. Martin Ferguson’s conflict of interest is apparent.
The LNG project threatens the environment, and the substantial tourism and fishing industries, including existing Aboriginal enterprises.
The deliberate tying of of the location of the gas hub to the proposed ‘Indigenous benefits package’ for Kimberley Indigenous communities makes a mockery of the principle of “informed consent” for Aboriginal people – Christina Macpherson
Australia’s nuclear industries are getting rattled
The polluting industries might not have quite caught up with the Internet age, as information spreads about their unethical practices in “developing” countries.
Suddenly information is now coming out that shows that “Third World” countries are waking up to the way in which they have been exploited by Western corporations, Australian ones included.
Today – we learn that Malaysia now has the nerve to question an Australian company, Lynas, using Malaysia as a dumping ground for 300 year-lasting radioactive thorium wastes.
And Namibia is one of those African countries that no longer feel like being impoverished while Australian uranium mining companies like Paladin, and Extract Resources rip them off.
All this on top of uranium’s gloomy prospects, anyway !- Christina Macpherson
Australian government obliging BHP Billiton on environment
Now and then we get an insight on who really runs Australia. Chiefs of BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto accompany Prime Minsiter Julia Gillard on official visit to China.
BHP Billiton’s Don Argus heads the government’s mining tax task force.
And now – the recommended revamp of Australia’s environmental laws is strangely delayed – for 2 years!
That will give BHP Billiton time to get its Olympic Dam Uranium Mine through environmental laws, while the rules remain weaker.
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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