Australia’s Nuclear Free Future: theme for January
Australia, with its enormous resources of sun, wind and wave, and of educated people, has a great opportunity to lead the world, – to:
- Take a positive role in combatting climate change
- Conserve its fragile environment, land and water
- Provide thousands of interesting, healthy, and forward-looking jobs
- Develop a thriving export industry in renewables and renewable know-how
Australia’s inconvenient flooding puts damper on nuclear power plans
Ziggy Switkowski, Martin Ferguson and the whole sorry band of Australia’s nuclear salesmen must be cringing at today’s article by Josh Frydenberg (Liberal Party federal member for Kooyong, Victoria.)
What bad timing! Apart from the fact that the article ignores the USA’s and UK’s nuclear waste crises, the German anti-nuclear mass movement, and the French commercial catastrophe of its new unfinished nuclear reactors, the article’s timing is just rotten luck for the nuclear power case in Australia. They’d be wiser to lie low for some time.
How would nuclear power plants, dotted along Australia’s East coast, (as planned) go in a flood period. What about those “cooling ponds” sitting there with radioactive used nuclear fuel rods? Are we sure they wouldn’t get mixed up in the flood waters? Christina Macpherson
(I sent a comment to THE AUSTRALIAN along these lines. Dunno if they’re going to print it.)
Renewables, not nuclear, for Australia’s future – theme for January
Renewable energy prospects, in the long term, should look good for Australia. Our vision for the future can be clouded by confusion over climate change action, and by an unprecedented push by the fossil fuel and nuclear industries.
Renewable energy and energy efficiency are becoming more popular globally, especially among younger people, and costs are coming down, with rapid developments in solar and wind technology.
Another global development is the growth in local, decentralised renewable power – small scale solar and wind technology, at the same time as centralised renewables grow, too.
Electric cars now become important – as they are eminently suited to renewable energy.
No wonder the nuclear lobby is desperately hyping its product. Time is running out for them, and the success of renewable energy is their biggest fear. No country is better suited to renewable energy than Australia, with its huge resources in sunshine, wind and wave power.
Is South Australia putting all its eggs into uranium mining basket?
South Australian Premier Mike Rann seems inordinately proud that his state is leading the supposed “uranium boom”. He boasts of not only the grand Olympic Dam (? biggest man -made hole in the world), but also Beverley North (largely owned by USA weapons maker Neal Blue) and other mines in the planning or exploration stage.
Trouble is – uranium mining is a huge waste of water – BHP guzzles millions of litres daily – for free – in such a dry State as S.A.
Problem could be – what if China really does make a go of its planned nuclear fuel reprocessing? What happens then to the grand future for South Australia’s uranium market? Bad enough that the commercial nuclear industry is on its last legs in USA, UK and Europe – but China has been the great yellow, and yellowcake hope for South Australia. Might be better for S.A. to diversify, put a bit more support into agriculture, manufacturing, service industries, and genuine support for renewable energy. – Christina Macpherson
Australia needs clarity from government and media on climate science
A timely sign for hope in the New Year. Obama ‘s new guidelines are aimed at preventing political interference in science. This has been sorely needed, following the censorship and interference in climate science done by the Bush administration.
“independent peer review by qualified experts” – this is especially needed, since the avalanche of climate change scepticism put out by supposed experts.
Australia needs this too. And the Australian media needs to wake up to the difference between the climate change spiel of Ian Plimer, and Lord Monckton, and the work of authentic scientists, such as Australia’s Chief scientist. Penny Sackett.
On the nuclear issue – the media might ponder why it gives such prominence 
to nuclear salesman, Ziggy Switkowski, when he pronounces on issues such as climate change, radiation and health, matters on which he clearly knows little.
Under the radar – the real news on Australia’s uranium industry
This week has seen some interesting revelations about BHP Billiton, and about Australia’s uranium mining industry. Wikileaks revealed the influence of BHP over the Australian government. How BHP sank Rio deal
BHP’s draft environmental impact statement update on the expansion of Olympic Dam mine went to government – but without any consideration of the (quite practical) option of Olympic Dam mine becoming a copper industry project, without need for uranium industry.
Also, the Australian government quietly approved US-owned and privately held Heathgate to develop its Beverley North uranium project in South Australia. Heathgate is owned by General Atomics, with its controversial CEO Neal Blue. General Atomics main business is in weapons manufacture, especially the predator drones currently used in Afghanistan. General Atomics is also notorious for its environmental misdeeds. At its uranium processing plant on an Indian reservation in Oklahoma, General Atomics for years covered up radioactive water and gas leaks.
Heathgate is not required to clean up its existing Four Mile uranium mine in South Australia
The approval for this new uranium project is the result of years of General Atomic spending $thousands’ lobbying and ferrying of USA politicians to Australia, , and Australian federal and state politicians to USA . Controversies involving Healthgate and General Atomics — Friends of the Earth Australia
When it comes to decisions on uranium mining in Australia, money talks much louder than ethics. – Christina Macpherson
Australia’s Julian Assange and the ethics of nuclear power
On nuclear-news we have already noted several nuclear issues shown by the latest Wikileaks revelations. From the point of view of nuclear discussion, this can only be welcome. The secrecy surrounding all things nuclear is one great source of unethical actions by the uranium, nuclear, and weapons industry.
The debate rages about the ethics of Julian Assange and Wikileaks – with arguments including the possible risks raised for USA undercover agents.
(Mind you, the USA govt was quite happy to “out” one of its own agents, Valerie Plume, when her husband Joe Wilson blew the whistle on USA’s aims in invading Iraq. – see the movie “Fair Game” Fair Game (2010) – IMDb)
Julian Assange is now being pursued with all sorts of allegations and attacks on his character. The ethics of his attackers are more questionable than his. Wikileaks next revelations are to be about the finance industry and big corporations. No wonder that they, and the nuclear industry are in a tizz about Wikileaks.
Ethics and Australia’s fight against nuclear power – theme for December
It is easiest to just adopt the good old “she’ll be right, mate” attitude, and to ignore the push for the nuclear fuel cycle in Australia. After all, some Australian make money out of uranium, and who cares if other countries make bombs out of it?
It’s also easy to please the powers that be, and go along with BHP Billiton etc, and Australian politicians in the drive for the nuclear fuel cycle here.
But, it takes courage to stand up for the environment, health, peace, against the push. Most courageous of all, the Aboriginal people who make this stand – against the propaganda, bribery, and threats of the pro-nuclear push.
THE AUSTRALIAN likely to change its attitude to Climate Change
While a highly qualified science writer, Julie Posetti, gave up on efforts to cover Climate Change properly at THE AUSTRALIAN newspaper, that paper’s view is likely to now do an abrupt u-turn in its coverage of climate change.
As Australia’s top right-wing voice, THE AUSTRALIAN is now urgently touting nuclear power for Australia. With no economic, environmental, (especially water) argument for nuclear power in Australia – THE AUSTRALIAN will now be forced to become a firm believer in climate change, climate change being now the only (supposedly) acceptable argument for nuclear power in Australia.
(It wouldn’t do to argue that nuclear power is in the interests of BHP Billiton and other uranium corporations, or the interests of slavishly following the USA, or the prospect of an Australian international radioactive waste business.) Christina Macpherson
NUCLEAR POWER and ETHICS – theme for December 2010
The unethical nature of nuclear power, nuclear weapons, and the entire nuclear fuel cycle is becoming more obvious, as its history unfolds. On grounds of nuclear weapons spread, unsolved wastes problem, health and environment, effects on indigenous and poor peoples, injustice to today’s and future generations – and even the sheer financial costs for now and the future – it is clear that “atoms for peace” is a false and unethical enterprise.
Why is it so rare for ‘important’ people to face up to the evil nature of the whole nuclear fuel cycle? It’s not just money. Is it that so much of their reputation, their work has already been invested in nuclear? just too much effort to change track
Like Shakespeare’s Macbeth, who said “For mine own good,
All causes shall give way: I am in blood
Stepp’d in so far that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o’er”
(Image from MACBETH IS A BAD, BAD MAN design by Dave Shanker&Danilo Groppa, Charles W. Flanagan High School, Macbeth – Webquest)
However, some notable Australians have changed track, and next week, this blog heading will take a more positive view of Australians and nuclear power
Australia’s nuclear lobby steps up the spin, in fear of renewables’ success
The nuclear lobby fears the success of renewable energy. This is a pressing reason for stepping up nuclear spin in Australia today.
The cheerleader of pro-nuclear, anti-renewables spin is THE AUSTRALIAN newspaper. Their “environment editor” Graham Lloyd, is more of an Anti Environment editor. Today’s edition (27 Nov) has no less than three articles promoting nuclear power, and rubbishing wind energy.
We have foot-soldiers of nuclear spin – Jennifer Marohasy, Janet Albrechtsen, Martin Nicholson, Tom Biegler and Barry Brook getting coverage in the mainstream media. And even Australian Radiation Protection Society getting lectures on how we need nuclear powered submarines, and the” ideal of having a national nuclear industry”
Minister for Resources, Martin Ferguson launched a technical paper that portrays nuclear power as an economic option for Australia
Internationally, papers are appearing on the theme of ionising radiation being “good for you”.
The nuclear lobby has very little time, (with most nuclear reactors soon reaching their close-down date) to market its product against its popular and fast-developing competitors – renewable energy and energy efficiency. – Christina Macpherson
Australia’s stupidity over skin cancer and radiation
Ain’t it great! Australia is the skin cancer capital of the world! You can see how stupid we are, at any beach, with bodies determinedly exposing themselves to ultra-violet radiation and skin cancer.
Well, the Australian government is either just as stupid as the public, or perhaps banks on the apathy of Australians. Australia is to compund our skin cancer risk by installing the radiation “back scatter’ scanning security at airports. bad luck for airline crews and frequent flyers. We won’t even get thge choice of a pat-down (that might be a bit embarrassing, but its not cancerous). If you keep up with news on the radiation scanners – their biggest risk is that of skin cancer.
But never mind – Australia can keep on winning in the world skin cancer stakes! – Christina Macpherson
Uranium company chairperson spruiks nuclear power to solve Australia’s water problems
Here’s a lovely bit of spin – from Erica Smyth, of Toro Energy uranium company, at Toro’s AGM yesterday. Of course, she’s on the board of ANSTO – Australia’s nuke-spruiking agency. and a member of Julia Gillard’s mining tax advisory panel.
Erica spruiks nuclear energy as a solution to Australia’s water shortage! Hers is a complicated story about combining nuclear energy with desalination plants.
She also advocates nuclear power for electric cars – well, we knew that particular spin was coming! But nuclear power to provide fresh water for Australia – that is indeed a new and wonderful spin. (And, let’s not forget – the uranium/nuclear industry is the most water-intensive, water guzzling, of all industries. – Christina Macpherson
Australians – all too NICE on matters nuclear and military
What a week of sycophantic subservience it has been!
USA’s Clinton and Robert Gates informed Australia of our increased role in America’s war strategy, with a new target for terrorism to be set up in W.A. And, Australians fawned and applauded.
Global airline pilots worried about radiation security scanning at airports, and the biggest international pilot union is boycotting them. But Australia’s airline pilots will apparently let the government assure them that somehow, OUR radiation scanners won’t pose the same cancer risk.
The media happily applauded the U.S. top level secret military mission, and Obama’s visit to India. What didn’t rate a mention were the big and passionate anti-U.S. protests that greeted Obama in India, and of course, the mass anti-nuclear action in Germany.
But them I forgot – this is the Australian monopoly mass media – and, Hillary and Julia had a lovely walk together. And, Tiger Woods is in town, too. – Christina Macpherson
Hillary Clinton talks sweet nothings to a tame Australian youth audience
The venue was secret. The audience members were carefully selected. The questions to Hillary Clinton were pre-planned.
Hardly a surprise then that nothing of critical relevance to Australia was discussed. And certainly not a heckler in sight, – heaven forfend! – in this reverential audience.
Sad, isn’t it? As Australia already hosts the world’s biggest secret USA spy base (Pine Gap), we’re about to get another one. You’d think that would be a topic, wouldn’t you? (Well, it will be, today, in top level secret talks with Robert Gates, Clinton, Rudd, Gillard. That, and a lot more.)
But, bear in mind – USA is looking like going broke – so, they gotta sell a lot of military stuff to Australia, India, Asian countries – anyone, really.
It’s not about war, and the danger of naughty China. No, it is about America’s need to be the world’s military police, but mainly, it’s just the money, stupid!
By the way, one little U.S. worry that might be discussed – possible export of U.S nuclear wastes to Australia. Even trickier, now that Europe has decided than nuclear waste is too dangerous to export.
1 This month.
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