Australia’s Minerals Council ASKED for national profit based tax
The Australian media – ever true to its corporate masters, and 
its own slackness, is giving the big miners, and their mouthpiece, the Liberal Party, full sway with an attack on the Australian government’s newly announced super profit resource tax.
BHP Billiton’s CEO Marius Kloppers is the leader in this breath-taking hypocrisy.
1. The Minerals Council of Australia, in its submission to the government Dec. 2008 specifically requested a change to a national “profit-based” tax.
2. BHP and its ancillary industries now kick up a fuss about reduced activities, job losses, etc at the Olympic Dam uranium mine at Roxby Downs. But Olympic Dam has been functioning at about a quarter capacity for many months, due to a shaft accident, – nothing to do with the resource tax. And all probably quite convenient, in the present climate of low uranium prices.
Australia at the Nuclear Non Proliferation Conference
as ever, Australia agrees with promoting nuclear technology. Australia keeps its focus on its own lucrative role, as uranium supplier, in the global nuclear cycle which makes nuclear weapons possible.
The U.N Nuclear Non Proliferation Conference in New York looks like becoming something of a non event. Continue reading
Radioactive dust and BHP’s Great Big New Uranium Mine
Government, media, corporations … tum ta da … all happy with the “resources boom” – Never mind the question of uranium wastes, when BHP Billiton sets up its Great Big New Uranium Mine. I mean – where will the radioactive dust go?
Oh dear – to Antarctica, and perhaps a few other places, too – like Australia’s capital cities. What about the towns and regions near Olympic Dam?
Women oppose nuclear power and nuclear weapons
Women and Nuclear Power, Nuclear Weapons – our theme for May 2010
When it comes to opposing nuclear power, the toughest and most active and conspicuous resistance has been among women.
If women had been asked if nuclear power should be used for energy production or if nuclear weapons should be produced there would hardly be any nuclear power stations in the world and no nuclear weapons. Women represent half of humanity. Our voice must be heard! – Ulla Klötzer, WISE – Nuclear issues information service
Australian government credibility on the line
A South Australian government official promises that Australia will change its rules, so as to sell uranium to India, even though India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Meanwhile, fears of radiation exposure grow, in India, for India has no security safeguards for radioactive materials.
The Australian government prepares to sell uranium to Russia, even though Russia is furthering Iran’s nuclear technology, and despite Russia’s continuing bad record on nuclear security.
Nuclear lobby a powerful influence on Nuclear Non Proliferation decisions
The big pitch to get “nuclear security” (now there’s another oxymoron) is being taken up by the nuclear lobby, with fervour. Let’s get new gee-whiz reactors that can use the old nuclear weapons fuel!
The world still ends up with even more toxic waste from these reactors. And the transport of the enriched uranium and plutonium? Still plenty of scope there for somebody to get hold of it and make a bomb. Even a “dirty bomb” will do. – our theme for April – Nuclear Power and Peace
In uranium-producing Australia, beware of governments bearing gifts
Could it be that the Australian and South Australian governments are getting just a little bit rattled, about their slavish devotion to the uranium/nuclear industry?
Goodness knows, the mainstream media are doing everything they can to help them. Nary a word about the scandalous betrayal of Labor policies and promises on nuclear waste dumping in the Northern territory.
Nary a word about the crumbling uranium price, the stalled Olympic Dam mining. and very little on BHP Billiton’s alleged involvement in corruption.
Meanwhile the South Australian government seems to be aiming at enhancing its green credentials, with environmental grants. Or could it be that they would like the organisations receiving those grants to just shut up about the environmental degradation caused by uranium mining?
Big welcome for aboriginal anti-nuclear protesors in Martin Ferguson’s electorate
at left, Dianne Stokes. by Christian Macpherson 22 April 2010. The Northcote Town Hall right in the heart of Martin Ferguson’s electorate, was packed last night, as local and Melbourne residents welcomed two courageous Aboriginals from the Tennant Creek area in the Northern Territory.
As Martin Ferguson hides in the safety of his Melbourne bunker, not having the guts to visit the local residents of the Muckaty Station area (planned nuclear waste dump) – well, Diane Stokes and Mark Chungaloo came to visit Ferguson’s area.
Melbourne heard of the strong opposition of four aboriginal clans, of local non-aboriginals, and of the Northern territory government – to the new National Radioactive Waste Management Bill – – which is intended to override all their rights, and impose a nuclear waste dump on their land.
Perhaps Martin Ferguson, Australia’s Minister For Promoting the Nuclear Industry, will have a few voters to worry about, come the federal election.
Of course, Australia’s mainstream media, ever subservient to their corporate mining links, ignored this as large and attentive crowd was informed about this issue, Dr Bill Williams spoke on the health dangers of ioinsing radiation,. Natalie Wasley and Dave Sweeney spoke on the draconian legislation planned. Alex Bhathal, Greens candidate for the electorate of Batman, received warm applause
Review: nuclear waste, Security Summit, Non Proliferation
Review. Australia. Government and media doing a fine job keeping quiet about the Senate Inquiry into Radioactive Waste Management Bill, while opposition mounts locally to the Northern territory nuke waste dump plan. South Australia’s Rann govt embarassed at $million cost likely from its court defeat regarding uranium protestors. Confusion in the uranium mining lobby, as prices tumble. Even more confusion about the Nuclear Security Summit plan to promote recycled uranium. Meanwhile ANSTO salivates at the thought of setting up a lucrative nuclear waste management business, and ANSTO’s baby, Silex promotes its dangerous laser nuclear technology.
International: Some 20 countries or more join up to Nuclear security Summit plan to send their enriched uranium to USA or to Russia, for recycling. Anxiety over earthquake risks in this plan. Much confusion over Recycling, Reprocessing, Fast Breeder Reactors, Integral Fast Reactors. Nuclear lobby gears up, with AREVA promoting its products at Nuclear Security Summit. More nuclear power promotion for upcoming Non-Proliferation talks. India grappling with problem of nuclear insurance, and of a dramatic radiation exposure incident
“Peaceful Nuclear Power” – it’s an oxymoron
Harmonious relationships between people and nations cannot survive in a nuclear power society, with its atmosphere of secrecy, surveillance , suspicion, fear, and ever-present real danger. Nuclear Power and Peace – our theme for April 2010
Can we trust nuclear scientists to tell the truth about nuclear technology?
Yes, it’s all very exciting. Obama’s Nuclear Security Summit has made some moves in the direction of nuclear security.
And, yes, it’s a blow to uranium mining shares, now that old weapons fuel is going to be turned into low enriched uranium, and sold cheaply as fuel for nuclear reactors.
BUT – what an opportunity for nuclear scientists, like say ANSTO, to spruik their wares – in recycling, reprocessing technology! And now we’re gonna need some gee-whiz answer to highly radioactive wastes – like say ANSTO ‘s Synroc. (Never mind that all countries decided over 30 years ago that it really wouldn’t work)
But anyway, Gareth Evans is right about nuclear fuel recycling.
In a perfect world. the plan to send enriched uranium and plutonium to USA and Russia, to fuel nuclear reactors, might be part of a good move. That would be the move to wind down all nuclear power plants. ( but I doubt that this is the intended plan)
It would also put a stop to the dirty dangerous industry of uranium mining.
However, Gareth Evans points out that recycling nuclear fuel simply creates new stockpiles of very dirty, very dangerous, radioactive wastes. Sure, Gareth Evans’ point of view promotes Australia’s uranium mining companies. But he’s right, anyway.
Review: Nuclear Security Summit, India’s radiation contamination
Review: Australia. A puzzling week as Australia pretty much ignored the Nuclear Security Summit. Uranium prices plummet with Obama’s plan to use old nuke weapons for commercial fuel. Traditional Muckaty owners front Senate Inquiry. BHP’s Olympic Dam still severely disabled. Legal victory for S.A. uranium protestors.
International. Nuclear summit – some progress, but not on disarmament. USEC company gets a boost with ‘Megatons to Megawatts’ (dead nuke weapons fuel for reactors). India has two incidents of radiation leaks and poisoning.
Yes, why isn’t Rudd at the Nuclear Summit?
Not much Australian media coverage of the Nuclear Summit either. Not a word on ABC Television last night.
Could it be that Rudd’s corporate backers, like BHP Billiton, are not very keen on Obama’s plan to get old nuclear weapons turned into fuel for commercial nuclear reactors? Perhaps Rudd would rather not be seen to be joining in undermining the uranium mining industry?
Nuclear disarmament program could spell the end of uranium mining
Back in 2009, President Obama ordered a measure to help the ailing uranium industry – to lift the price of uranium.
He ordered a halt to the program to use weapons grade uranium from old nuclear weapons as fuel for copmmercial nuclear reactors.
Now, that program is to be re-started, and with the aim of spreading this use of old military uranium as nuclear fuel – to Russia , and the world – as part of the nuclear disarmament program.
In which case, – nobody would need new mined uranium!
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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