LINLEY GRANT, Mercury November 17, 2016
A MOMENTOUS resolution was passed recently by the United Nations to convene a 2017 conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons.
At last, great news. Yet, the newspapers scarcely mentioned it. TV stations said nothing. What happened?
Was this because our Government’s representatives at the UN voted against the resolution? Why the silence? Some Australians knew the resolution was being debated and were awaiting the result yet there was no mention of our Government’s decision or speeches, like those from Tasmanian Labor Senator Lisa Singh, in favour of the bid. Continue reading →
November 18, 2016
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Australia’s politicians seem more concerned with protecting the coal industry and promising that the fossil fuel will be part of Australia’s energy mix for “many, many, many decades to come.”
By doing so, they are not only steering Australia to a hotter, more dangerous, and less healthy future, but also cheating Australians out of the positive co-benefits of transitioning away from coal and other fossil fuels.
it’s clear that physicians and public health professionals understand the climate-health nexus better than Australia’s politicians. Mr. Turnbull should act for the health and wellbeing of all Australians.
Malcolm Turnbull must address the health risks of climate change https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/15/malcolm-turnbull-must-address-the-health-risks-of-climate-change Michael Marmot Sir Michael Marmot is the former president of the World Medical Association. 15 November
The public health impacts of climate change are playing out in Australia while politicians ignore the evidence. Two reports out this week should change that. Last week, the Paris climate agreement officially entered into force, with the landmark global climate deal ushering in a new era of international climate diplomacy and sustainable development. This week, delegates from over 190 nations are convening in Morocco, seeking to build on the spirit of cooperation born in Paris, and working to convert the broad aspirational commitments into action.
While building on the architecture of the Paris agreement, national governments should keep the public health implications in mind.
Climate change is now recognised in the medical field as a clear and present danger to public health. The World Health Organisation’s director general has called it “one of the greatest health risks of the 21st century,” and the 2015 Lancet Commission concluded that climate change poses “an unacceptably high and potentially catastrophic risk to human health.”
In Australia, where I studied medicine, these risks are already all too clear. This week, the Lancet, one of the world’s most prestigious medical journals, is launching a new research collaboration dedicated to tracking these risks in Australia and around the world. The Lancet Countdown: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change, will check in annually on countries’ progress on climate change and calculate the direct health impacts of the transition to a low carbon future.
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), meanwhile, is also releasing three position statements on health and climate change. These statements are informed by some dire observations.
Over the past half-century, average temperatures across the continent have steadily increased, bringing more frequent heatwaves that are longer and hotter than any in recorded history. Exposure to high temperatures over a prolonged period brings heightened rates of ailments such as dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke, and worsens existing health conditions like heart and potentially even kidney disease. These heatwaves have caused more deaths over the last century in Australia than any other natural event. Tragically, children and the elderly are most vulnerable.
The public health impacts, however, go well beyond heat-related threats. Changes to precipitation patterns are causing both severe droughts and intense floods, which together have taken the lives of thousands. Over time, new rainfall norms and warmer temperatures are expected to alter the burden and distribution of infectious disease throughout Australia, as mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever and the Ross River virus take hold.
Beyond these harms that warmer temperatures deliver, the combustion of climate warming fossil fuels creates other direct threats to public health. Air pollution from the burning of coal for electricity generation and from road transport presents a particularly worrying challenge, resulting in twice as many deaths as motor vehicle accidents (over 3,000 per year).
In urban areas, smog from tailpipes contains ground-level ozone, dangerous particulates, and other pollutants. Ozone irritates the lining of the lungs and exacerbates asthma, and is actually made more potent on hot, sunny days, which are anticipated to be more frequent as a result of climate change. By 2050, ozone-induced hospitalisations in Sydney are expected to double. Continue reading →
November 16, 2016
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Conservation SA, the state’s peak environment body, has reacted with dismay at today’s announcement by the Premier that he intends to continue his nuclear waste dump push in the face of mounting opposition with a referendum.
“This is a Dead Plan Walking,” said Craig Wilkins, Conservation SA’s Chief Executive.
“With so much opposition across the community and across Parliament this plan is going nowhere.
“This will fall over through a lack of support in Parliament for a referendum, or a failed state-wide vote. Either way it is doomed.
“Community opposition will only grow. We intend to fight it all the way. Because, ultimately, we know there is a better way for SA.
“Nothing divides communities like nuclear. Rather than showing respect for Aboriginal communities and their clear and consistent opposition, the
Premier is doing exactly what his Citizen Jury said he shouldn’t: ignore the views of Aboriginal people.
“Every day we spend needlessly debating the option to turn ourselves into the world’s rubbish tip is one less day we have to crack on with creating jobs and turning our state around,” he said.
For the same-sex marriage plebiscite, the Federal Government agreed to provide equal financial support to both sides of the debate.
“If the Premier is genuine about his support for democracy through this referendum, he will guarantee equal financial support for those who are for and against this proposal.
“We are proud citizens of a proud state. A referendum will fail because we citizens know we can do so much better than become the world’s toxic dump site,’ he said.
November 15, 2016
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Ian Fisher The Premier Of Sth.Australia Has Just Announced A Referendum Will Be Held To Decide If His Insidious, Insane, Underhanded, Deplorable,Idea Of His To Dump The Worlds High Level Nuclear Waste In This Pristine State Of Sth.Australia. I Draw His Attention
That This Must Be For The Entire Population Of Australia. And Not Just For South Australians. ??
I completely agree – if there’s to be a referendum on importing nuclear waste – then it has to be put to the whole of Australia.
I am so puzzled. Why is Premier Jay Weatherill committing political suicide with this slavish obedience to the nuclear lobby? What does he owe them?
November 14, 2016
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Dave Sweeney, 14 Nov 16 SA Premier Jay Weatherill’s decision to keep pursuing the unpopular plan to ship, store and bury high level international radioactive waste in South Australia is deeply disappointing and divisive, the Australian Conservation Foundation said.
“Premier Weatherill had an opportunity today to make sure a bad idea doesn’t become a forever mistake, but he opted to continue with the stress and division caused by this proposal,” said ACF nuclear free campaigner Dave Sweeney.
“Today was the day the Premier should have accepted that this controversial proposal does not enjoy community support.
“The Citizens’ Jury, a body established by the Premier, gave this plan a clear red light.
“Today was the day to understand that no means no.
“Unfortunately the Premier doesn’t seem prepared to accept either the jury’s decision or the reality that there is no state or federal bi-partisan political support for this risky idea.
“South Australia can do far better than be a dumping ground for some of the world’s longest lived and most dangerous poisons.
“ACF will continue to work with South Australians who want a bright future, not a glowing one.
“We will support Aboriginal people who want to protect their country and communities from the threat of radioactive waste.”
On Friday last week ACF joined with other environment groups and Aboriginal leaders to present Premier Weatherill with more than 35,000 objections to the dump.
November 14, 2016
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Helen did not hold back, explaining that nuclear war means “blindness, burning, starvation, disease, lacerations, haemorrhaging, millions of corpses and an epidemic of disease”. Helen’s dramatic and blunt style reduced many in her audiences to tears. She always ended her talks with a call to action – especially to parents – as she strongly believes that nuclear disarmament is “the ultimate medical and parenting issue of our time.”
To those who would claim New Zealand was not a target she had a short reply: “Trident submarines in ports are targeted. They are a first strike target. It is much easier to destroy subs when they are in dock than it is when they are submerged in the ocean.”
The new Labour Government of 1984 passed the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament and Arms Control Act in 1987, the world’s first national nuclear-free legislation. Dr Helen Caldicott’s influence had culminated in the passage of the cornerstone of New Zealand’s foreign policy.
Marilyn Waring on the Australian hero of nuclear-free New Zealand http://thespinoff.co.nz/society/14-11-2016/the-australian-hero-of-nuclear-free-new-zealand/ By Marilyn Waring November 14, 2016 The former National MP whose decision to support anti-nuclear legislation led to the 1984 snap election writes on the transformative influence of the passionate Australian physician Helen Caldicott, who speaks in Auckland this week Continue reading →
November 13, 2016
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Premier Weatherill, all smiles and charm, thanked Emily Jenke and her team, for all their good work with the Citizens’ Juries, several times mentioning her company as “New Democracy”. I guess that Jenke had to just grin and bear it.
Her group who did that marathon of hard work, running those Citizens’ Juries, was that small all-women South Australian team of DemocracyCo. No doubt the big-time Sydney crowd New Democracy was happy to take all the credit.
November 6, 2016
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Ian Fisher, Nuclear Citizens Jury Watch South Australia, 6 Nov 16
Today is the last sitting day of the Jury for The Worlds High Level Nuclear Waste for Jay Weatherill and the Government of Sth Australia’s Insidious, Thoughtless, Unthinkable Idea to Dump this DANGEROUS Waste in our wonderful “Food Bowl,” state of Sth.Australia. So after having Atom Bombs dropped in our State of Sth Australia Enough is Enough.? The Dangers to all life on this Planet Earth will be Horendous for Thousands of years to come.No matter what the Evil waste is stored in will eat its way out and into The Eco system.!! When the Atom Bombs were Detonated at Maralinga the wind carried the fall out cloud East.!! Today there is more people with Cancer and related illnesses per head per population in 
Sydney than any other large city in the World. So I say to you other Jurors We owe it to all the People of Sth Australia, To all the People of Australia and to the Entire Population of this Planet NOT To allow this to Proceed Any Further. “GOOD. LUCK PLANET EARTH.” https://www.facebook.com/groups/1172938779440750/
November 6, 2016
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Nuclear dump modelling biased: Greens The Greens say economic modelling for a nuclear waste dump in SA is a sham and the SA government should drop the idea. SBS News, Source: AAP 3 NOV 2016 –The Greens say the South Australian government should stop considering building a nuclear waste dump in the state because its economic modelling is biased,.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is calling on the state government to drop the idea after it was revealed two contributors to a royal commission on SA’s involvement in the nuclear cycle were leaders of a nuclear industry lobby group.
Association for Regional and International Underground Storage President Charles McCombie and Vice-President Neil Chapman were two of six authors of a cost analysis and business case for storing nuclear waste in SA.
The case was referenced in the royal commissions final report, delivered in May, which recommended SA consider establishing a dump because of the potential economic benefits.
Ms Hanson-Young says the ARIUS leaders’ contribution to the commission’s economic modelling means it is a “sham”.
“It’s not surprising that a pro-nuclear organisation would come up with economic modelling that supports turning SA into the world’s waste dump,” she said in a statement on Thursday.
“This agenda driven and biased modelling formed the central plank of the government’s push for nuclear storage which should now be dropped, once and for all.”…….http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/11/03/nuclear-dump-modelling-biased-greens
November 4, 2016
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Professor Derek Abbott, a physicist and electrical engineer at the University of Adelaide, Australia, shows why the pipe dreams of the pro-nuclear propagandists are precisely that. Using a wealth of empirical data illustrating global trends, he also ably debunks the pro-nuclear arguments. Read the full article, written in accessible, lay language.
http://www.beyondnuclear.org/home/2016/9/28/nuclear-power-game-over-new-analysis.html
October 31, 2016
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With wind, communities can win http://www.examiner.com.au/story/4258396/more-people-realising-that-with-wind-we-can-all-win/?cs=97 30 Oct 2016 You’ve probably come across the term NIMBY – the people who say “not in my backyard” when it comes to certain types of development in their neighbourhood.
But what about the YIMBYs? The people who are saying: “Yes please, put a wind turbine in my backyard”?!
I have met people who trim their hedges to see wind turbines spin around, and nanas who sew turbines into quilts. Communities across Australia are full of YIMBYs.
Wind turbines are powerful symbols of opportunity. The opportunity of new income for a struggling regional area. The opportunity of clean, renewable energy. The opportunity of an ethical, local investment. The opportunity to act on climate change.
Community-owned wind energy projects enable everyday Australians to co-own and directly benefit from wind developments.
In Denmark, Western Australia 116 people – most of whom are locals – built and now run two 800kW turbines. Last year, they received a 9 per cent dividend on their investment, on top of the satisfaction of knowing they supply their town with clean electricity that helps to secure its energy supply. The wind farm pumped $20,000 into local projects, too, ensuring the profits stay in and benefit the community.
Wind farms mean different things to different people like: “a symbol of what our community can achieve together”; “a great investment!”; “much-needed source of grants”; and even: “I use them to check the wind conditions before I head out for a surf”.
Research has shown that people embrace living near wind turbines when they have an opportunity to be genuinely involved in its design, the decision-making process and if they benefit. What other power source can do all of this? YIMBY, please!
Jarra Hicks is co-director of the Community Power Agency and her PhD is on the impacts community-owned clean energy projects have on regional Australia.
October 31, 2016
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Re-Powering NSW 2016 Conference: As long as it is coal, gas and nuclear [good graphics] Independent Australia 27 October 2016 Lachlan Barker reports on the fossil-fuel-driven agenda of the NSW conference, Re-Powering NSW 2016, which concludes today.
THERE’S A conference currently on in NSW looking at the future of power supply in NSW.
Titled Re-Powering NSW 2016, at first glance one might have thought that this would be a sensible look at integrating greater percentages of renewable power into the NSW energy mix, however those thoughts quickly vanish once we took a close look at the program and see the rubbish being put up.
Clearly this logo [on original] is out to create the impression that this conference is closely linked to the NSW Government.
This is not the case. In reality, it’s the fossil fuel mouthpieces who are running it.
However, since the NSW government of Mike Baird considers only gas and coal viable energy sources for NSW, the similarity of the logos doesn’t surprise. Nor would it be a surprise if we subsequently learn that a graphic designer working for the NSW Department of Resources and Energy did the artwork for the conference.
So to the conference program……..
Then on to the afternoon of day one, by which time, all pretence has gone and we learn that the true title of this conference should have been: How do we keep burning coal and gas so a small number of monopoly companies can retain their profit margins……
Kieran Donoghue and Miles George get to present their ideas. But before anyone can run away with the idea that genuine renewables are the answer, the panel is brought back to “normality” by hearing that if we want zero emissions, it has got to be nuclear……..
Anyone who has attended a conference like this will know that by the time Ed from Powershop and Iain from UNSW come on, it is winding down to the 5pm close of the conference, so the bulk of attendees will already have gone home. Those still there will be eyeing the bar and another “networking” session over a few glasses of ale.
There are some positive bits scattered here and there but, quite frankly, any conference that discusses the DICE engine, carbon capture and storage and nuclear power as even remotely serious options reinforces what the agenda of this conference was: only coal, gas and – I choke as I type – nuclear are viable options for power in NSW.
Sheesh (for the last time).
Lachlan Barker blogs at cyclonecharlie88.blogspot.com.au. You can follow him on Twitter at @cyclonecharlie8. https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/re-powering-nsw-2016-conference-as-long-as-it-is-coal-gas-and-nuclear,9646
October 29, 2016
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Australia’s economy is particularly tied to the fossil fuel industry.
PF This isn’t about stopping the economy from growing. It’s about how we get the maximum sustainable growth rate. It’s about making people more fuel efficient. It’s about making sure energy prices properly reflect the costs that are imposed on society, not just whatever the market price would otherwise be. This isn’t anti-Australia or anti-Australian industry, it’s about what you have to do to get Australian business working on a sustainable basis … given what’s happening to the planet. A lot of people are working behind the scenes quietly with firms to try to get the right position.
MS Nonetheless, we will see a lot of stranded assets here, won’t we?
PF Possibly, but the longer it’s left and the less is done, the more of those stranded assets you get……
Once it moves to the financial sector, as it has now, ideology’s out the window
Veteran UK banker Paul Fisher on climate change and the financial sector, Saturday Paper, 29 Oct 16 MIKE SECCOMBE
A veteran of Britain’s central bank, Paul Fisher says climate change will have a massive impact on the global financial sector. He talks about managing the risks.
Paul Fisher recently retired as deputy head of the Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Authority, after a long career in financial markets, financial stability and monetary policy. In September 2015 the bank released a report on the risks to the financial system of dealing with climate change……
Anybody who is a long-term asset-holder potentially is exposed to climate risk. You can divide the risks two ways; there’s physical risk if the climate does change, or as it does change, and that’s fairly easy to think about – floods or whatever. But more interestingly you’ve got the transition risk, and two things are going to happen. [First] the economy will need to restructure in order to try to minimise climate change and that will present both new opportunities for new businesses to grow, and it will be a threat to some existing business models. So you’ve got that structural change. But perhaps even more importantly you’ve got the policy change.
Continue reading →
October 29, 2016
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Antinuclear 