“Clean” nuclear power now a bribe for weapons non proliferation?
Could it be that the nuclear powers are in so deep that they just don’t know how to get out? Despite the cost, despite the mounting unsolved waste problem, despite the countries seeking nuclear weapons, the Big Powers forge on with the myths of “clean” “cheap”, “climate friendly” nuclear power. From the statement of Gordon Brown, and the US China joint statement (both quoted below) it looks as if the myths will continue to be perpetrated, and that even the failed idea of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership might get a re-run.
‘We can lead construction of a new global order’ Public service.co.uk November 17, 2009 The UK can shape the world of the future by leading in global co-operation, the Prime Minister said in his annual speech on foreign policy at the Lord Mayor’s banquet. Gordon Brown – “………..Britain must continue to lead the renewal of a grand global bargain between nuclear weapon and non-nuclear weapon states. A fair and balanced deal in which non nuclear weapons states must accept clear responsibilities to end proliferation by renouncing nuclear weapons in return for the right to access civil nuclear power;…..
‘We can lead construction of a new global order’ – Public Service
U.S.-China Joint Statement CBS News Political Hotsheet by Brian Montopoli November 17, 2009 Following President Obama’s meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao, the White House released a joint statement on the relationship between the two countries,
………The two sides welcomed the establishment of The U.S.-China Energy Cooperation Program (ECP), a partnership between government and industry to enhance energy security and combat climate change. The ECP will leverage private sector resources and expertise to accelerate the deployment of clean energy technology.
The two sides agreed to work together to advance global efforts to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy. They welcomed the recently-concluded Third Executive Committee Meeting of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, and the commitment of the partnership to explore ways to enhance the international framework for civil nuclear energy cooperation. They agreed to consult with one another in order to explore such approaches — including assurance of fuel supply and cradle-to-grave nuclear fuel management so that countries can access peaceful nuclear power while minimizing the risks of proliferation.
In Full: U.S.-China Joint Statement – Political Hotsheet – CBS News
Review: Maralinga land, USA and UK nuclear ‘push’
Australia: Four Mile uranium mine mired in a legal mess. Rudd anxious to sell uranium to India? Aborigines get back contaminated Maralinga land. Regional push for renewables, while New South Wales starts solar gross feed-in tariff, and smart grid could include small, decentralised, energy sources. Australian book provides detailed evidence that could form the basis for atomic veterans’ legal action.
International: USA politicians pushing hard for nuclear to be part of Copenhagen global warming ‘solution’. Meanwhile new nuclear proving wildly expensive. UK govt pushes ahead to reduce incentives for renewables, and prevent local power to stop nuclear.plants. Calls for UN to properly investigate depleted uranium’s effects in Iraq. Calls for tracking patients’ radiation screening. – the week that has been
Review: fossil fuel puppets, ANSTO’s poll, France’s nuclear doubts
Review. Australia: Fossil fuel lobbyists using their muscle on Rudd govt to further weaken the already pathetic Emissiosn Trading Scheme. Meanwhile Rudd govt ignores Australia’s chance for solar energy leadership. ANSTO’s latest opinion poll results show overwhelming opposition to nuclear power. A Labor politician claims that South Australians wants a nuke waste dump, just to add to their existing radioactive contamination.
International: world-wide push by well-paid puppets of fossil fuel industries, in order to ruin December’s Copenhagen talks. Continued agonising in USA over mounting nuclear waste. Japan embarks on dangerous trip towards fast breeder nuclear reactors. France’s nuclear export industry has dubious future as safety concerns rise. – the week that has been.
The strange mentality of some nuclear commentators
In a week of dubious comments from fossil-fuel and nuclear industry puppets, it’s been hard to choose the weirdest comment.
But I like the one from Northern Territory Labor MP Damien Hale. Apparently, Hale’s view is that if a state is already contaminated with radioactive pollution, then it’s just fine to go ahead there and add more pollution. Is South Australia stuffed already, as far as radioactive contamination goes – so it can be open slather for nuclear waste in S.A.?
The Labor Member for Solomon, Damien Hale, .. says there is political support for the dump to be built in South Australia.”Now we all know there’s areas of Australia that are already contaminated through radioactivity,”Territory MP wants nuke waste dumped in SA – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Review: BHP under scrutiny, ANSTO rigs poll
Australia. Lucas Heights nuclear waste has to be returned to Australia; Rudd govt pretty sure to dump it on aboriginal land. China buying up big into Australian uranium mining. S.A. govt very little restriction likely for Marathon’s uranium mining in Arkaroola, and no obligation for Four Mile to clean up after u-mining ends. . Melbourne and Perth protest rallies mark BHP’s AGM. ANSTO caught out crookedly rigging opinion poll.
International. Iran avoids international agreement to prevent it developing nuclear weapons.
US Hanford nuclear workers to be compensated for their cancers. Alternative annual report launched for BHP Billiton’s AGM. Iraq now seeking to have nuclear power. French nuclear plant has critical buildup of plutonium. – the week that has been
Why Ziggy Spinowski doesn’t mention radioactive wastes
Have you noticed how nuclear spruikers, such as Ziggy Spinowski, never talk about the “back end” of the uranium and nuclear industries? It’s all about the “front end” – the wonderful “cheap, “clean” “best practice” mining and reactors. But what does everybody do with their wastes, (apart from shutting up about them)?
Well, that’s a mystery. Mountains of radioactive uranium tailings – Polluted towns and areas – Dead reactors – too “hot” to move for decades, perhaps centuries?
Mostly – radioactive wastes just sit there – in cooling ponds, in containers. But then where to? Dumped in some “Third World” country? Or in the ocean- but always in or near the land of some indigenous peoples, who won’t have the financial, legal, media or whatever sort of resources you need to stand up to nuclear corporations.
Review: a good week for skulduggery and secrecy
Review: Australia; it was a good week for skulduggery and secrecy, even not counting ANSTO’s opinion poll debacle
Defence Dept keeping quiet about planned “termporary” nuke waste dump at Woomera. Martin Ferguson’s secret deal with some NT aborigines over NT nuke waste dumping. BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam disrupted for months, keeping quiet over probable job losses. Greens asking awkward questions about radioactive spill at Lucas Heights. ERA keeping quiet about radioactive leaking at Ranger uranium mine.
Internationally: Obama being ambiguous about nuclear, as nuke lobbying continues over U.S.A’s Climate Bill. Chilean veterans suing govt over radiation harm. Iran being flighty over nuke deal offered to them. AREVA’s “flagship” nuclear reactors limp on expensively. IAEA trying to solve Chernobyl’s still radioactive cooling pond. Sellafield cleanup costing billions with no end in sight. – review of the week that was
Review: Uranium and nuclear skulduggery
Australia: – Corrupt dealings over Marathon’s uranium exploration. Telstra closes down nuclear veterans’ website – under govt pressure? The case against the govt’s plans for radioactive waste dumping in NT – is taken internationally. mainstream media wrongly portrays Peter Beatties as pro-nuclear. A High Court ruling further limits aborigines’ land rights
International: Nuclear lobby aims to take over US Climate Bill. Revelations of France and Germany’s unsafe radioacttive waste dumping in Siberia. AREVA’s half-built nuclear reactors in Finland and France are plagued with problems, lawsuits, and ever-escalating costs. French govt not likley to compensate Polynesian nuclear bomb test victims. – the week that has been
Review: opinion polls, BHP, Greens, and nuke-hype
Review of the week that has been. In Australia, 2 opinion polls – one showing that women are 4 times more opposed to nuclear power than are men. One showing that 49% of Australians think that the govt should consider nuclear power, and 43% are conmpletely opposed to it. (Hardly a ringing endorsement of nuclear power!).
BHPB rushing ahead with uranium mine in WA, with the help of an outdated, and too narrow assessment process. BHP B keeping quiet about a prolonged shutdown of Olynpic Dam uranium mining (at 20% capacity) following an accident.
Greens come up wilh a forward-looking plan for the government’s Emiisions Trading Scheme.
Gareth Evans aiming to get “peaceful” nuke power into the Non-Prolifertaion Treaty. Meanwhile, overseas, US senators John Kerry and Lindsay Graham try to get nuclear into US Climate Bill. France’s nuke salesman, Sarkozy, spruiking everywhere (Bulgaria this week, Australia when?)
Pro nuke hype hotting up inAustralia
Fairfax newspapers come out today with headlines about Australians wanting nuclear power. In fact, Australian were asked if they thought the Federal Government should “consider” nuclear power. Not quite the same thing as wanting it. Continue reading
Review – Gareth Evans – weak sop, and so on
Well, well, Gareth Evans, ? champion of nuclear disarmament has now come out in favour of Australia taking in everybody else’s dirty washing – i.e. nuclear wastes. I always though he was a weak sop, anyway.
Australia’s Paladin uranium company hopes nobody is noticing that it mucks up Malawi’s drinking water, and that it attacks the Malawi Catholic Commission for Peace and Justice – (bet it wouldn’t dare have a go at Australia’s)
BHP is lying low – hoping we’ll all forget about the predicted dust storms, as we have apparently forgotten about Maralinga. Russia plans to join forces with Cameco, in Australia uranium mining.
The nuclear industry is quietly worrying about the falling uranium price, and dimming prospects for commercial nuclear power – hence the increased nuclear hype. Marshall islanders fear sea level rise, to add to their radiation-induced problems.
Some really interesting ideas coming on in how energy efficiency, and smart grids, combining with renewables have great potential for Australia’s energy future. That’s some of the week that has been………….
Gas beats nuclear, and it’s a good transition to renewables
I realise that I am out of step with many environmentalists, but I am a fan of gas as an energy source. We cannot just shut down all our big fossil fuel industries. Nuclear power just adds damage and danger, along with its greenhouse gases. Continue reading
Nuclear hype, but nuclear future uncertain
Review, by Christina Macpherson. It’s been an interesting week. Internationally – two blatant lies are being taken up by prominent world leaders:
1. that developing nuclear power is an essential part of nuclear disarmament
2. that nuclear power is the solution to global warming.
Meanwhile, the global nuclear energy leader, AREVA, is in debt as “poster boy” new reactors in Finland and France continue to have troubles. Thousands of Russians protest against a new nuclear plant.
In Australia, Liberal party MP’s disagree on nuclear policy. The nuclear lobbyist Ziggy Spinowsky is frantically busy pushing nuclear, (as uranium prices remain low). In W.A., BHP is gently “advised” to consider the Ngalia people’s views on uranium developments. Dust storms, with more predicted, raise fears of radon gas reaching millions of Australians and New Zealanders.
Weak WA govt message to BHP on uranium and aborigines
Christina Macpherson – With BHP Billiton’s poor international track record on care and concern for indigenous peoples, I wouldn’t put much faith in their pious statements to the W.A. govt.
Sure, it’s great that the Ngalia people’s ecological knowledge has been publicly recognised, but there won’t even be a rap over the knuckles if BHP Billiton completely disregards this at the Yeelirrie uranium project. Note the wording of the article below – “…………..…..state Environment Minister Donna Faragher did not order BHP to consult the Ngalia, she made it clear they should..………”
pro-nuclear hype, Italy and France’s nuclear wastes
In Australia, Paul Howes the very right-wing union leader, and hopeful ALP politician, is to speak on nuclear power, at a Liberal Party seminar! ANU to pursue nuclear research with ANSTO. Ziggy Spinowski spruiking nuclear power for Australia.
Internationally, the push to include nuclear at climate talks continues. The nuke lobby, (including Ziggy) tout Italy and France as winning nuclear examples. But Italy is in the throes of a nuclear waste scandal – ships scuttled in the Mediterranean . In France AREVA’s finncial problems continue, and its nuke waste disposal is coming under scrutiny, too.
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