The global radioactive toilet – a plague species fouls its home
Time was when Europeans emptied their toilet pans out of windows, into the street.
Now we think that’s disgusting. But – now no problem with the oceans. We’ve been dumping sewage, plastics and all sorts of rubbish into the seas for decades.
Now – the ultimate insult to the oceans – it’s OK to dump radioactive water. This could be a precedent for future nuclear waste problems. I’m sure that the nuclear establishment will be happy with that – if we are.
Don’t let the nuclear industry make an April fool of you
AS the Fukushima tragedy unfolds, the uranium/nuclear lobby redoubles its unethical pr0paganda.
Not only are they telling us that uranium will be a boom industry – in the face of all the economic indications to the contrary, but they now proclaim that ionising radiation is not so bad, even good for you in low doses!
They point to Chernobyl – and proclaim taht the health/death toll from that is small.
Yet reputable health experts tell us that 2011 – 25 years after the accident, wis the key year for fatal cancers to emerge, from the population’s wide exposure to low level ionising radiation. – Christina Macpherson
‘Regulatory Capture’ and ‘Objectivity’ – important words
First – a new term –‘ Regulatory Capture‘ – came up this week, in the documentary “Inside Job”. Here, it was used to show how Wall Street executives got their agenda into financial regulations, and into University courses on Economics.
Well, the same must be said about the nuclear industry. Nuclear physicists and nuclear company men manage the rules, and pronounce on matters nuclear.This is Regulatory Capture. (It’s about as impartial as expecting the Pope and Cardinals to decide whether or not God and the saints exist.)
Second – ‘Objectivity‘. This is a very worthy word, used by a top BBC executive recently to explain the BBC’s approach to current issues. It means that they weigh up opinions, and decide to focus on the ones with credible evidence.
If only Australia’s ABC and media had that focus. Instead, we get ‘Balance” – meaning that however crackpot and minority a view may be, it must get equal coverage with the opposing scientifically credible view.
Perhaps this is one cause of Australians’ lamentable lack of understanding on the issue of climate change – as our media makes sure to give plenty of coverage to the likes of Lord Monckton and Ian Plimer – Christina Macpherson
Earth Hour’s message towards a Conserver Society
Some environmentalists dismiss Earth Hour as pretty much irrelevant to the global
warming crisis, and to the issue of nuclear energy.
But I think that they are wrong. Earth Hour in itself might mean just a temporary drop in energy use, worldwide. But during Earth Hour, people realise how they can manage quite well, using less energy.
This is a subversive message – for it contradicts the whole “philosophy” behind society’s present rampant consumerism,
and ever-growing need to use more energy.
If the Consumer Society were to change to a Conserver Society, then the planet and its atmosphere would be treated with respect. Greenhouse gas emissions would diminish, and it would be obvious that nuclear energy is not needed. The nuclear lobby thrives on ever-growing consumption of energy and material “goods” – Christina Macpherson
Nuclear Marketing: theme for March: ‘spinning’ Japan’s emergency
Above all – it will be argued that this incident shows the stability of new nuclear power plants. Despite a record earthquake, they are said to be not seriously damaged – no threat to the public. Somehow the incident shows the success of new designs. Any small flaw that let this happen will now be rectified in all future models, and we can all sleep peacefully, near a nuclear reactor
The nuclear marketeers have started the spin already– Christina Macpherson. You will hear Barry Brook, Ziggy Spinowski and many others, crapping on about how wonderfully safe are “3rd Generation nuclear reactors”. They will pay a little lip service to renewable energy, while subtly rubbishing it.
1. We are already being told that “background” radiation is minimal – so that 8 times that much is unimportant. Continue reading
Lies and blind greed about Australia’s carbon price, and uranium sales
Oh dear, oh dear -Have you noticed what is going on in Australian politics, and in the marketing of uranium?
First there are the blatant lies against carbon pricing. We have the Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott all out to stop Australia “leading the world” on a carbon price. Yet a carbon price has been operating very well in 30 countries, creating jobs and saving $millions of Euros,
Then there’s the amazing disregard for the danger of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. We have the Australian government touting for uranium sales to United Arab Emirates, and an Australian company helping Egypt to get a nuclear reactor. Yet the Middle East is in uproar, and there’s no knowing what kinds of regimes are going to result there. –
There’s also Rio Rinto’s ERA uranium mine at Ranger – desperately being kept going despite climate threats of flooding, in the hopes of expanding and of booming sales to the Middle East. Christina Macpherson
Political paralysis over Climate Change and Nuclear
Australia, this forlorn outpost of Western culture, is now experiencing a burst of American Tea Party -style incitement to stupidity, and perhaps even, to violence -against the government’s carbon tax plan.
Democracy surely is in danger, when loutish radio “shock jocks” like Glenn Beck, in USA, and Alan Jones in Australia, can front for powerful polluting industry lobbies. Australia’s mainstream media in general, is also now once again used to conduct a barrage of attacks against any action to address Climate Change.
We saw it in 2010, where somehow or other, billionaires were portrayed as poor grassroots activists, against the Resources Super Profits Tax- and where our elected Prime Minister was vilified and removed from office.
The goal of the small number of billionaire individuals, polluters of the environment, is to stop any environmental action. Obama’s administration is practically paralysed. Australia’s government is now likely to become paralysed, at best. At worst, it could be removed, removed, in favour of an Abbott-led administration, absolute lackey of the polluters.
As usual Nuclear Waste crisis is NOT covered in the Australian news media
As the Australian government rushes to impose a nuclear waste dump on the Northern Territory, (against Northern Territory law) the Australian media chooses to see this issue as about gay marriage.
Euthanasia, gay marriage fears over Greens bill, Sydney Morning Herald, 4 March 11, “…….The Greens bill proposes to remove the ability of a Commonwealth minister to veto laws passed by a territory government.Instead, both houses of Federal Parliament would have to agree to a veto, making territory laws more difficult to overturn…….the bill had the potential to pave the way for euthanasia and gay marriage.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gillard is off to the USA to talk with US administration about what? Will the USA’s nuclear waste dilemma be discussed?
The USA nuclear waste problem has been swept under the carpet by a curious new rule from its Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This is the “WASTE CONFIDENCE RULE” – which argues that the problem is presently unsolved, but the NRC has faith that it will be solved some time later, thererfore new nuclear power can go ahead? (Even the Pope, who is infallible, might blush to make such a statement) – Christina Macpherson
Marketing nuclear to Australians – theme for March 2011
2011 is NUCLEAR MARKETING YEAR for Australia. It is not like marketing nukes to other countries. Why not?
The marketing of nuclear power to Australians is a charade – just a matter of marketing the IDEA of nuclear power, without seriously planning the reality. Because everyone knows that Australia has plentiful coal and abundant renewable energy resources. Everyone knows that the cost of nuclear for Australia is completely prohibitive. So – nuclear power’s not going to happen, anyway, for a very long time, and more likely, never.
BUT – nuclear power must be marketed to Australians, because the supposed uranium boom requires Australia to sign up for the full nuclear cycle. And another boom has John White and others salivating – the projected boom in importing international radioactive wastes. Why not? – We’ve got plenty of Aboriginal land for the dumping.
As a distant, poorly informed, cultural colony of the Big Powers, Australians are sitting ducks for the media marketing push about to be unleashed in the famous “Nuclear Debate”
Some others in the nuclear marketing dance troupe: John Howard ( former PM), Dick Smith, (entrepreneur), Colin Barnett (WA Premier), Julie Bishop (Deputy Liberal leader), Ian MacFarlane (Liberal Energy shadow minister). Hugh Morgan (former CEO Western Mining), Ron Walker (Former Melbourne Lord Mayor), Warren Mundine (former ALP President, Josh Frydenberg (Liberal MP for Kooyong). Not one of them knowing much about health or environment
And – let’s not forget the nuclear lobby’s Australian poster boy – Barry Brook.
the Marketing of Nuclear Power – theme for March
The nuclear lobby spends undisclosed amounts on spreading its gospel. The message must appeal to all sorts of people. But, importantly, the nuclear message must be spread through “credible” avenues – so, the money and the message are directed towards particular, respectable, sectors.
In this world of global nuclear recession slowly recovering, donations from big corporations are gratefully received, careers are enhanced, pro nuclear people are promoted, grants for nuclear research are given. Grants to the arts enhance the respectability of the nuclear/uranium corporations.
‘We’ve seen it all before, in the tobacco industry promotion – but the nuclear marketing is more urgent, more desperate, as the nuclear industry is waning, rather than reviving.
About Civil Liberties, and About Climate Change, in Australia
On Civil Liberties. I can’t help noticing how Australian mainstream media, and the Australian government, make a huge fuss about the rights of their convicted drug dealers in Asian countries. Also about an Australian Rio Tinto executive, convicted of bribery, in China.
But what happens when it’s an Australian citizen, who is not charged with any crime, but who has managed to offend the sensibilities of Australia’s master – the USA? So – not only is Julian Assange’s plight ignored by Australia’s mass media and government – but Prime Minister Julia Gillard denounced him, and actually said that he had acted “illegally”.
On Climate Change. I wonder whatever Tony Abbott will make of the new carbon tax plan. We know that he’s a Climate Change Denier. BUT, – as a pusher for nuclear power, surely Abbott should be toeing the BHP Billiton line – about nuclear power being the solution to climate change – therefore action on carbon emissions is good? – Christina Macpherson
Latest moves by Australia’s nuclear pushers
They put the cigarette and drug pushers to shame – with the speed and breadth of Australia’s nuclear power marketers.
Today (22/2/11) the Australian Federal Government will hastily vote, without debate, on Martin Ferguson’s National Radioactive Waste Management Bill, – a piece of legislation which will give that same Martin Ferguson pretty much unfettered power in all decisions surrounding nuclear waste. But more importantly, it will beat the Aboriginal legal action, due to be heard in court on 25/2/11.
Also today, the launch of nuclear front group ThinkClimate’s campaign to promote nuclear power – starring pseudo environmentalists Barry Brooks and Ben Heard.
Also today, a silly little nuclear promotion and attack on solar energy, from a new kind of pusher – yes, we have an American style shock jock, at Noosa News.
Words are weapons in pro nuclear marketing war
Two examples in today’s news. The words “National Park” make it sound as if no uranium mining will happen in Arkaroola Wilderness Sancuary. But in fact, if Arkaroola did become a National Park – uranium mining could still be permitted there. (- just a bit of “spin” to make the Rann government look good?)
Then there’s the federal government’s announcement on closing the Green Car scheme. A family style electric car is being developed. Good. But what does “green” mean? Does it mean powered by renewable energy? (Or does the government count nuclear as “green”)
Another way to use words is to leave out the important one. On the front Business section of today’s The Age. A glowing article about Rio Tinto’s copper mining in Mongolia. Hard to find a mention here that in fact, it’s uranium that is the big thing n this project. ( The word “uranium” might put off a few investors? But even then, several “ethical” funds, count uranium as “ethical”)
Contradictions in Australia’s BHP and nuclear hype
First BHP. The news is full of BHP Billiton’s massive profits and future prospects. Yet within all this, a small sobering note. Floods in many countries, including Australia, have hampered BHP’s mining activities.
And these floods were not one-offs. Also in today’s news, scientists now have evidence that global warming is increasing these extreme climate events. Not such a good forecast for coal and uranium mining.
Second – contradictions in Liberal Party policy. On the one hand, it’s the party of climate denial. On the other hand, they have the doctrine of “Nuclear Power As the Solution to Climate Change”.
As for Labor – well – there seem to be few contradictions there – all snouts to the big mining corporations’ trough – Christina Macpherson
Pro nuclear marketing push under way in Australia
I really thought that it wouldn’t start until March 2011. Seeing that the ALP national conference is not on until later this year.
But – it’s off and away already. The push to market the IDEA of nuclear power to Australians has now begun, with top marketing men Martin Ferguson and Paul Howes leading the way. And of course, BHP Billiton is right in there. But at least it is CEO Marius Kloppers’ paid job to market uranium mining. The other two are supposed to have the interests of the Australian workers and their families at heart, not the interests of the nuclear lobby. – Christina Macpherson
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