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.
Pro nuclear spin now wearing thin
No surprise that Australia’s nuclear establishment is revving up propaganda at present – with falling uranium prices, and Fukushima, and even Chernobyl won’t go away.
Australia could just be waking up at last. Today, Helen Caldicott reminds us of the World Health Organisation’s subservient position to the International Atomic Energy Agency. A reminder of the current nuclear mafia’s “spin” about nuclear radiation being sort of OK, after all.
Australia can’t continue to get away with:
(a) selling uranium to Fukushima reactors, to Russia, China, – pretending the industry is safe, and not connected with weapons.
(b) Australian companies setting up uranium and rare earths industries in countries with poor environmental regulation – e.g Paladin in Africa, and now Lynas, in Malaysia
Ziggy Switkowski, Barry Brook, Michael Angwin, and a swag of Liberal and Labor heavies can try to put it over the Australian public, on the nuclear industry – but they just might not be succeeding any longer.– Christina Macpherson
Urgent need for Australians to wake up to nuclear “spin”
You must hand it to the Australian nuclear lobby. Frontmen Ziggy Switkowski, Barry Brook, Michael Angwin are crisscrossing the continent – bolstering the nuclear industry to selected forums of stuffed shirts.
Uranium companies – Paladin, Cameco, Toro – touting their wares, even as uranium shares plummet.
Feverish negotiating is going on to bribe Aboriginals to lease their land for uranium mining.
But to me – the big danger at the moment is the way in which the media allows the subtle downplay of the Japanese nuclear crisis. And more – this focus on Fukushima not being so bad -( indeed a stimulus for the nuclear industry?) – this focus is obscuring an important current trend:
As you will see, from items below – as nuclear stagnates, renewable energy is forging ahead.
Alexander Downer joins the push for an Australian nuclear waste import industry
There’s a determined little group that continues to push for Australia to import nuclear wastes.- John White (Australia Nuclear Fuel Leasing) Ron Walker and Robert Champion de Crespigny, (Australian Nuclear Energy) .
Now that ever smiling, former Liberal politician Alexander Downer joins them, as reported in today’s THE AUSTRALIAN
I mean – let’s face it – their plan would make an awful lot of money for a very small number of people. And the costs? – no problem – taxpayers from here to eternity will pay that! – Christina Macpherson
About Australia’s water, and about those naughty radioactive fish
Australia is a water scarce continent. Nowdays the technocrats are bleating about how we need Desalination Plants.
But let’s get it straight about who really needs desalination plants. Why it’s that rapacious old multinational corporation, BHP Billiton. BHP B has open slather, at no cost whatever, to its daily guzzle of 35 million litres, and BHPB plans to extract an additional 120 million litres of publicly-owned artesian water per day, every day, for the next 70 years.
Then the desal plant in South Australia. (Never mind that this will mean 
extinction for the unique and beautiful giant cuttlefish. Just another victim to corporate profit.)
Now to those naughty radioactive fish, with Cesium that lasts for 30 years. Well, 1. they don’t stay in one place – they swim elsewhere.
And 2. they get eaten by bigger fish, and so on, in each case concentrating radioactivity further, as predators take the radioactivity up the food chain. -it’s very concentrated by the time it gets to top predators. And shock horror – who are these top predators. Why – it’s US! – Christina Macpherson
1 This month
Help Aunty Sue Protect Her Land and Sacred Sites From Destructive Rocket Testing.
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PETITION – To: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Government
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