Nuclear Power Lobby in a Bigger Mess Than I Thought
by Christina Macphers
on 9 April 2010, Some big corporations have an obvious interest in Australia promoting nuclear power. But which sort? Better not get Fourth Generation nuclear reactors – or the whole uranium industry is stuffed!
Today, thanks to Renfrey Clarke (3 items from him below) I learned about:
Second Generation Nuclear Reactors – those presently in use (Pressured Water Reactors – uranium-intensive and so ultimately producing lots of greenhouse gases, and not very safe, )
Third Generation Nuclear Reactors – still being built – updated versions of the Second Gen, super-expensive, a bit safer, but same waste and proliferation problems
‘Fast Breeder’ Reactors and Fourth Generation Nuclear Reactors – the latter still at the design stage, carry serious fire and radioactive waste risk. Worst of all, for Australia, they won’t need uranium mining , as they could use existing huge stockpiles of depleted uranium
I do not mourn the death of Australia’s only pro-nuclear political party
by Christina Macpherson 7 April 2010, I don’t know whether you’ve noticed this – BUT – over the past year, just about every environmental news site for Australia has been carrying an advertisement for “Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy”.
Somebody must have spent many thousands of dollars on this publicity. It’s rather heartening to know, coming from this antinuclear angle, with no funding whatsoever – to see that money can’t always buy opinion and political support.
Review: nuke waste dumping, nuke disarmament
Review. Australia: The week has been dominated by the Muckaty nuclear waste dump plan, which clearly has caused disruption in Northern territory aboriginal communities.
But should decisions on nuclear waste dumping be made entirely the responsibility of local aborigines anyway?
Is this not a National problem for Australia? And why is the mainstream media pretty much silent on this critical issue?
International: World awaits nuclear disarmament talks. America in continued chaos over their nuclear waste problem. But at least they talk about it, while other countries keep mum on the unsolved disaster of radioactive wastes.
Australia needed for that two-faced nuclear security summit
On the one hand – yes, it’s a good idea to promote the world’s security from nuclear terrorism and nuclear weapons.
On the other hand, the summit is also aimed at promoting the nuclear industry by a global cartel – the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, to which Australia is signed up.
Australia could very well end up endorsing a system whereby Australia’s uranium is “leased” – i.e it comes back to Australia in the form of nuclear wastes.
Review: Nuke waste, “nukes for peace”, Climate Change, Iran
Review: Australia. A critical time for Australia – Senate Inquiry into Muckaty nuclear waste dump plan, but local community excluded from attendance. W.A plan to use Oakajee port for uranium shipments. Alarming report from CSIRO – Climate Change well underway in Australia. “Climate Sceptics” influence grows.
International: U.S. safety worries with aging nuclear reactors,while France’s cost-cutting threatening safety of new reactors. Nuclear power being promoted as part of nuclear non proliferation! Iran building more nukes? – Israel threatening action on Iran. Continuing legal and financial battles for U.S. nuclear industry. A political move to thwart California’s renewable energy industries. – the week that has been
Beware nuclear energy linked to peace
Christina Macpherson.29 March 2010 In April-May there will be international conventions and conferences aimed at reducing the spread of nuclear weapons.
Unfortunately the nuclear lobby is well and truly on this bandwagon. The “peace” message will be joined with the message to increase “civil” nuclear energy, and the George W. Bush initiated plan of “cradle to grave” nuclear fuel cycle of leasing uranium. Australia is still signed up to the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership – meaning that the plan is to lease uranium – nuclear wastes to be returned to Australia
Never mind that scientific opinion has already discredited nuclear power as neither “safe” nor “clean”, and discredited George W. Bush’s plan – the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, The GNEP is still being touted as the magic formula that will not only “solve” the nuclear waste problem (by returning wastes to their uranium mining origin). Now the GNEP is going to promote
Australia’s contribution to nuclear war
Australians complacently think that big corporations, like BHP Billiton, and ERA, and others, can keep on digging up and selling off uranium, for “peaceful purposes”, without Australia playing any part in the dirty radioactive waste problem, or the even dirtier nuclear weapons proliferation. – our theme for April 2010 – NUCLEAR POWER and PEACE
Review: waste dump, uranium to Russia, U.S. waste problem, depleted uranium
Review: Australia: A big week with the Howard-Rudd government pretending that all is well with Muckaty waste dump plans, despite growing opposition. Rudd govt also intending to follow Howard’s deal on uranium sales to Russia. Concern rising over unnecessary medical radiation .
International: Nuke waste problem threatens “nuclear renaissance”. Canadian doctors oppose uranium mining, UK fears of radioactive terrorist attack. More revelations of cancer, birth deformities, from depleted uranium. Impoverished Niger a magnet for uranium miners
Hypocrisy of Rudd government on selling uranium to Russia
Never mind that they got elected on promises to repeal Howard’s plans to dump nuclear waste on Northern Territory aboriginal land.
Never mind that the Rudd government’s own Senate inquiry recommended that selling uranium to Russia was unsafe, could increase nuclear weapons proliferation.
But – the sheer hypocrisy of Kevin Rudd, posing as the world’s great disarmament leader (with another old pro-nuker, Gareth Evans), and then deciding to send nuclear fuel to Russia!
Right at the time when the world tries to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, and while Russia is now supplying Iran’s nuclear power plant!
Aboriginals and Uranium Mining – Quiet Deals Going On?
Just who are the Kokatha Mula Land Nations Council Inc and the Kokatha Olympic Dam Agreement Association Inc?
No, they are not the Kokatha people, but a newer and vaguer mob.
Anyway, they’re having their “Annual general Meeting” on March 27th
Do I smell a BHP Billiton front rat?
Review: Nuclear waste dumping, nuclear’s costs and safety
Australia: Others join Maralinga veterans’ court case. Mounting opposition to NT nuclear waste dump, while both major parties push for it. Movement for sustainable energy becoming nationally organised
International: Questions in U.S. Congress about financial risks of Obama’s nukes policy, as States become anxious over costs and safety. Pro nukes enthuise over “clean”, “renewable” nuclear energy Safety risks raised over UK’s planned French nuclear reactors, while France mounts push to sell nuke reactors to 3rd World. Practicality and popularity of renewable energy continues to grow.
“Robust” a wobbly word for discussing nuclear industry?
The forthcoming visit of President Obama is indeed very low key in the Australian media. Amongst the issues to dicuss, we learn that the talk will be “robust”
“Robust” – another one of those Wobbly Words – that serve to obscure meaning – e.g meaning about possible plans for the US to Lease uranium from Australia, thus returning nuclear wastes to ….where?- well, of course – aboriginal land in the Northern Territory
Deliberate deception about “need” for nuclear waste on aboriginal land
In the item below, we learn that medical radioactive waste is negligible as a long term storage program, compared to nuclear reactor spent fuel waste. The radiologist kindly suggests that Martin Ferguson, (Australia’s Minister For Promoting the Nuclear Industry) is “confused”.
It sounds to me more as if Ferguson is determined to impose nuclear waste dumping on Aboriginal land in the Northern Territory – as part of the campaign to open up Australia to international nuclear waste dumping.
Ferguson peddling lies about nuclear medicine
Martin Ferguson is now pushing the idea that there must be a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory if Australians want to have nuclear medicine
What utter nonsense! Sure – the nuclear wastes that originated at Lucas Heights in Sydney, and the medical radioactive wastes that exist in hospitals around the country – have to go somewhere. And that could be anywhere – e.g on Commonwealth land in South Australia, or perhaps on site at Lucas Heights.
One day, Australia and the rest of the world, will have to face up to the growing problem of medical radioactive waste. But to say that aboriginal land in the Northern Territory is the only solution, – that is just a straight-out lie.
Review- Australia:nuke waste dump, USA states’ opposition to nuclear industry
Australia: Nuke waste dump for aboriginal land, but opposition is growing.. S.A. govt to subsidise BHP’s Olympic Dam uranium mine, Rudd govt improves (we hope) Renewable Energy legislation.
International: While Obama rewards his corporate backers with $8 billion in nuclear loan guarantees, legislatures in 3 states knock back nuclear power- Vermont to close nuke reactor, West Virginia to retain no new nukes policy, Arizona refuses to include nuclear as “renewable”. Bloody political coup in Niger welcomed by uranium industry.
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 