Sydney Nov 29: Malaysians will reveal true state of Lynas rare earths factory
Problems at Lynas factory can cause radioactive leaks, say experts The Malaysian Insider, 24 Nov 13, Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL), co-organiser of the seminar, announced that representatives of the group will head to Lynas’ headquarters in Sydney, Australia, tomorrow to attend the firm’s annual shareholders meeting on November 29.
“We will reveal to the shareholders the true conditions of the plant in Pahang,” said Tan Boon Teet, spokesperson of SMSL.
Meanwhile, Himpunan Hijau’s activist Wong Tack said that the lack of response from the government and Lynas is “frustrating” and that the NGOs involved with campaigning against the plant would give the company six months to cease operations.
“Six months from Lynas’s AGM, we will have a shutdown campaign and hold a protest to close Lynas’s operations,” he said, affirming that a major street protest would be held on June 29, next year. – November 24, 2013.http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/problems-at-lynas-factory-can-cause-radioactive-leakages-if-no-action-is-ta
On Country: Connect, Work, Celebrate is now showing at the National Museum of Australia.
■ On Country: Connect, Work, Celebrate is now showing at the National Museum of Australia.
Aboriginal art: On Country exhibition hopes to provide the big country picture Canberra Times, November 25, 2013 Sally Pryor Looking after a country is a serious business, and land management is hard. But, as a new exhibition at the National Museum shows, it is also life-affirming and gives hope for the future when it comes to adjusting to climate change and dealing with the challenges of an evolving planet.
With about 90 photographs taken around Australia, On Country celebrates how indigenous people use generations of knowledge to manage Australia’s land, rivers and oceans.
The photographs show how these communities are using traditional and modern land management techniques to manage cultural sites and heritage values, as well as fire regimes, feral animals, pollution and the impacts of climate change. Curator Barbara Paulson said she hoped people would come away from the exhibition understanding more about how hard indigenous people worked to maintain their connection to the land………….
Ms Paulson said while the museum had never shied away from telling difficult stories, this one had a positive message – that indigenous people never took their connection to country for granted.
”There is a real understanding that you borrow the country for the future,” she said. ”You don’t inherit it from your ancestors, you borrow it for future generations, for your grandchildren, and you look after it to make sure that it stays intact so that they can continue to live.” http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/aboriginal-art-on-country-exhibition-hopes-to-provide-the-big-country-picture-20131124-2y47d.html#ixzz2lghOVCVs
Australia gets praise from climate change denialists!
Graham Readfearn: Climate denialists congratulate Australia during Warsaw talks
Independent Australia, 22 Nov 13 Australia finally has a vocal cheerleader at the COP19 United Nations climate talks currently taking place in Warsaw — a climate denial activist think tank
http://www.independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/climate-denialists-applaud-australia-during-warsaw-talks,5910
Australia’s flag not representative of Australia today
Australia’s flag represents neither the nation’s past nor its present Paul Daley 21 November The Guardian, All right, jack? Hardly – it’s time for serious debate about Australia’s national symbol, separate from talk of a republic “…….., rid us of that awful colonial symbolism and give us a flag that really represents who we are today, not who we were in 1901.
Who we were?………. there was a terrible flaw in our nationhood that reverberates still: it was Australia for the White Man…… The worst colonial frontier violence against Indigenous people happened under the union jack, of course, flown by colonial military units and police forces. That’s a good enough reason alone to remove it from our own national flag, the blue ensign, with its southern cross and federation star…..
Of the current flag, Blaxland says: “As Jerry Seinfeld says, it is ‘the British flag on a starry night’. The dominant top left quadrant belongs to the flag of another nation, making Australia symbolically subordinate to Britain. This is an anachronism.”
He points out that changing the flag to remove the union jack is not intrinsically linked to republicanism. He cites the example of Canada, which changed its flag in 1965, ditching the red ensign with its union jack for the maple leaf. Canada remains, like Australia, a constitutional monarchy……http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/21/australias-flag-represents-neither-the-nations-past-nor-its-present
Doubts on future of ERA’s new uranium mine, after more safety breaches at Ranger
New NT uranium mine in question THE AUSTRALAN, NEDA VANOVAC AAP NOVEMBER 20, TRADITIONAL owners in Kakadu National Park have been rocked by a second security breach in two weeks at the Ranger uranium mine, and say the site’s radiation control measures are failing. Four uranium storage barrels were discovered in bushland outside of Darwin on Monday, outraging the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation (GAC), which acts on behalf of the Mirarr people.
The weathered and fire-damaged drums had apparently been there for some time, and a preliminary inspection by the Northern Territory Department of Health and mine operators Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) shows no radioactive material was detected.But the incident follows another two weeks ago when a controlled vehicle was driven off the site, allegedly through a long-standing hole in a fence, before being stopped down the highway by Ranger security personnel.
GAC CEO Justin O’Brien said Ranger’s radiation management plan is failing, in breach of the industry code.This may also be a breach of ERA’s mining authorisation, in which case the Rio Tinto subsidiary should be prosecuted, he said.
“To us it’s a no-brainer,” Mr O’Brien told AAP on Wednesday.”If you can steal a controlled vehicle coming from a contaminated part of the mine through a hole in the fence, if you can remove drums of the type used to store (uranium oxide) and store them in a public area outside Darwin, and both of these things occur under the nose and without the knowledge of the mining company, then you’ve got a problem,”
ERA is exploring a potential underground mining operation on the Ranger site, called Ranger 3 Deeps, but has undertaken not to begin any work without the permission of the Mirarr people.
“It’s profoundly disappointing that this comes at a time when we have on the table proposals for further mining at Ranger,” Mr O’Brien said. : http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/new-nt-uranium-mine-in-question/story-fn3dxiwe-1226764354951#sthash.QjIXBn42.dpuf–
Nuclear waste for Muckaty Station?
Crikey Clarifier: should nuclear waste be stored at Muckaty Station? Crikey, SALLY WHYTE | NOV 20, 2013
Newly minted NT Senator Nova Peris used her maiden speech to denounce plans to put a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty Station, raising concerns about the impact on indigenous people. Freelance writer Sally Whyte takes a look at the issue.
In her maiden speech last week, the first indigenous woman to be elected to federal Parliament, NT Senator Nova Peris, issued a call to arms over a proposed nuclear waste dump at Muckaty Station. Peris said the NT facility would inflict “profound grief, suffering and loss on Aboriginal people”. (registered readers only) http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/11/20/crikey-clarifier-should-nuclear-waste-be-stored-at-muckaty-station/
Rapid growth in signing of petition against “Solar Tax”
Petition Protesting Australian ‘Sun Tax’ Hits 16,000 Signatures http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=4032,, A potential looming threat to charge solar households for being energy efficient and improving Australia’s clean energy infrastructure will face stiff opposition from many of the 1 million solar households in Australia.
Solar Citizens, a grassroots group fighting for the rights of Australian solar owners and supporters,launched the petition late last month and at the time of writing the initiative was rapidly approaching 17,000 signatures.
“This sun tax is outrageous – over 1 million families in Australia have made the move to solar to take control of their energy production and reduce their energy bills. It’s unfair that families who have done the right thing would be penalised in any way,” states part of the petition statement.
While the so-called “Sun Tax” is by no means set in stone – it’s just an ill-conceived idea from some corners; a spark fanned by mainstream media reporting – early action now by the group will send a very loud and clear signal to the government that such a move simply isn’t on.
“We’re aiming to collect 25,000 signatures on our ‘Don’t Tax the Sun’ petition by the end of November, in time for when we take the petition to Parliament in Canberra to show the strength of the solar community in Australia,” says Nick Taylor, Solar Citizens Campaigner.
Solar Citizens says big energy companies are threatened by the rapid uptake of solar as it is hitting their profits.
“That’s why these companies are using their political power to try and see every solar home hit with additional fees and charges just for connecting to the grid…in simple terms, they are recommending we tax the sun.”
While electricity pricing reform is certainly needed, national solar provider Energy Matters believes solar is part of the solution, not the problem. The company has offered a series of recommendations it considers would constitutereal and fair electricity pricing reform.
Today’s news on climate change and the rallies across Australia
Tony Abbott rejects Commonwealth climate change risk fund
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has rejected a proposal from the 53-nation Commonwealth to establish a new fund to help poor and island countries to combat climate change.
http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-rejects-commonwealth-climate-change-risk-fund-20131118-2xplc.html
Shorten digs in for carbon tax battle
BILL Shorten will confirm the battlelines on the repeal of the carbon tax this week.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/shorten-digs-in-for-carbon-tax-battle/story-e6frg6xf-1226762108651
Bandt raises bushfires climate link again
THE Greens have used the Black Saturday bushfires, which killed 173 people, as evidence of climate change ahead of a debate on the carbon tax repeal.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/bandt-raises-bushfires-climate-link-again/story-fni0xqi4-1226761957588
Growing clamor about inequities of climate crisis.
Following a devastating typhoon that killed thousands in the Philippines, a routine international climate change conference here turned into an emotional forum, with developing countries demanding compensation from the worst polluting countries for damage they say they are already suffering.
http://nyti.ms/1bvVN9X
Filipino farmers most vulnerable to climate change.
Filipino farmers are highly vulnerable to climate change. Year in, year out, they see their crops mowed down by strong winds from storms that come during harvest season. Lack of irrigation infrastructure also makes them vulnerable to droughts.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/focus/11/17/13/filipino-farmers-most-vulnerable-climate-change
Climate change rallies staged across Canada.
Organizers say more than 130 protests against climate change were staged across Canada Saturday, with the largest gathering held in Vancouver where participants showed their opposition to Enbridge’s proposed Northern Gateway pipeline.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/climate-change-rallies-staged-across-canada-1.2428825
Guatemala’s Ambitious Project to Capture 1.8 Million Tons of Carbon
An ambitious agroforestry project to be developed over the next 20 years in a Guatemalan reserve for protecting water springs, seeks to capture 1.8 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) to help correct climate change on the planet.
http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=1191490&CategoryId=23558
Greenpeace lauds tech giants for green energy push.
As the planet warms, many eyes have turned toward the IT sector and the impact cloud computing energy requirements have on the environment. Tech giants like Google, Rackspace and Facebook can claim significant portions of their power comes from renewable sources like wind, hydro and solar.
http://www.sfgate.com/technology/article/Greenpeace-lauds-tech-giants-for-green-energy-push-4988145.php
Jim Casey: Climate change: a voice from the front line
As a firefighter, I can tell you things are not the way they used to be.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/climate-change-and-firefighting-a-voice-from-the-front-line-20131117-2xp25.html
Nicholas Reece: Behold one of history’s greatest policy failures
Abbott’s decision to abolish the price on carbon is bizarre.
http://www.theage.com.au/comment/behold-one-of-historys-greatest-policy-failures-20131117-2xp0g.html
Jonathan Leake: Population growth the culprit
DOES climate change cause typhoons like Haiyan? The IPCC says no.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/population-growth-the-culprit/story-fnb64oi6-1226762090030
National
Environment officials on tenterhooks with Hunt
Environment bureaucrats are deeply worried about their ability to develop a “working relationship” with their minister, so concerned they have refused a freedom of information request on the ground it could “complicate” the relationship.
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/environment-officials-on-tenterhooks-with-hunt-20131117-2xp11.html
Victoria
Power line works upgraded in Victorian bushfire danger zones
Dangerous power lines in highest bushfire danger zones are set to be upgraded or replaced.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/power-line-works-upgraded-in-victorian-bushfire-danger-zones-20131117-2xp48.html
Climate action rally attracts crowd of 30,000 at Treasury Gardens
Melbourne delivered the largest turnout for Sunday’s national day of climate action, with up to 30,000 gathering at Treasury Gardens.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/climate-action-rally-attracts-crowd-of-30000-at-treasury-gardens-20131117-2xp5v.html
Power fines for meter protesters
VICTORIANS resisting smartmeters could be slugged hundreds of dollars extra for electricity if they continue to reject the rollout.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/customers-resisting-smartmeters-risk-being-charged-more-for-electricity/story-fni0fit3-1226762074980
Energy bonanza for Latrobe Valley
POLLUTION from the Latrobe Valley could be halved and new jobs created under a plan to clean up coal-fired power stations.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/latrobe-valley-pollution-could-be-halved-under-abbott-plan-to-clean-up-coalfired-power/story-fni0fit3-1226762121660
New South Wales
Crowd braves rain for climate change rally
Under a sea of umbrellas and ponchos up to 10,000 protesters gathered in rainy Sydney to demand action by the federal government on climate change.
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/crowd-braves-rain-for-climate-change-rally-20131117-2xosu.html
Queensland
Let carbon tax axe fall
ALMOST two in three Queenslanders want federal Labor to get behind Tony Abbott’s carbon tax abolition and stop holding up the new laws in the Senate.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/poll-finds-one-third-of-labor-voters-interviewed-want-abbott-governments-carbon-tax-axe-to-fall/story-fnihsrf2-1226762129676
Crowds attend city rally on climate change
About 4000 Queenslanders joined singer John Butler belting out Australian protest song From Little Things Big Things Grow in the hope the federal government would listen to pleas for climate change action.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/crowds-attend-city-rally-on-climate-change-20131117-2xost.html
South Australia
Expert’s climate change warning
THE state must face up to the reality of climate change as it dramatically impacts on SA’s farming future, the new Conservation Council of SA head has warned.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/sa-could-be-world-leader-in-climate-change-incoming-conservation-council-of-sa-chief-executive-says/story-fni6uo1m-1226762102807
Rally demands climate change action
MORE than 1000 people converged on Elder Park today – joining tens of thousands of others nationally in calling for action on climate change.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/climate-change-rally-brings-more-than-1000-people-to-adelaides-elder-park/story-fni6uo1m-1226761977242
Tasmania
Rallies put heat on Abbott
THOUSANDS of Tasmanians joined more than 60,000 Australia-wide yesterday calling for climate change action.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/rallies-put-heat-on-abbott/story-fnj4f7k1-1226762105767
Rally urges action on climate
MORE than 250 people dressed in red and orange gathered in support of action on climate change in …
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/1914227/rally-urges-action-on-climate/?cs=95
Western Australia
5000 join climate change rally
National campaign draws big crown as Perth swelters through the hottest November on record.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/newshome/19884937/thousands-join-climate-change-rally-in-wa/
Queensland’s Aborigines do not have a fair say about mining on their lands
Qld Indigenous leaders demand more say in traditional lands management ABC News, By Chrissy Arthur 15 Nov 2013, Indigenous leaders says they want Queensland Premier Campbell Newman to deliver on a commitment to give Indigenous people a greater say in decisions over their traditional lands.
About 50 leaders from Queensland’s Gulf Country, western Cape, Channel Country and the central-west have organised a forum in Brisbane today and tomorrow, focusing on protecting land and water in Queensland.
Gerry Fogarty from Barcaldine’s Bidjara people in Queensland’s central-west says there have been some Government decisions which have ignored Indigenous concerns, including changes to the management of Lake Eyre Basin rivers.
“Aboriginal people want to be consulted on what happens on their land,” he said. “The big thing that is happening now is mining – we probably haven’t got a fair say in that…….http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-15/queensland-indigenous-leaders-demand-more-say-in-traditional-la/5094546
Incidents at Paladin’s uranium mines in Africa
Paladin Energy: Financial Report for Three Months Ended 30 September 2013 PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA–(Marketwired – Nov. 14, 2013) –
“………Tragically, on 30 July 2013 a workplace fatality occurred at the
Kayelekera Mine. The incident occurred in the mine’s motor vehicle
workshop where the worker was struck in the chest by a light
vehicle wheel he was inflating. Prior to this tragic accident,
Kayelekera Mine had operated for 489 days without an LTI.
— Post quarter, on 3 October 2013, there was a serious electrical
incident at Langer Heinrich Mine involving one employee and two
contractors being hospitalised. Two of the workers received
significant burns while the third worker received smoke inhalation
and has been discharged. The more seriously injured worker passed
away on 29 October 2013.
— The Company is investigating both these incidents, with the
findings and outcomes pending. A review of safety procedures
within the group was initiated in July and as a result of these
serious incidents, this has now been expanded to a full review to
Call to fight Queensland’s pro uranium government
No to Newman. http://workersbushtelegraph.com.au/2013/11/09/public-meting-no-to-newman-no-to-uranium-mining/ 11 Nov 13 No to uranium mining. In 1977 Bjelke-Petersen tried to stop the anti-uranium movement by banning street marches. Unionists and students launched a defiant campaign which gained community support. By August 1979 Petersen was forced to back-down.
Lost Film of the street marches in Queensland
Public Meeting: How unionists, students and environmentalists beat Bjelke-Petersen.
When: 6pm Tuesday 14 May
Where: Trades and Labour Council Building
L2, 16 Peel St, South Brisbane
Current and former activists speaking include:
Robin Taubenfeld, Friends of the Earth
Trevor Berrill, Sustainable Energy Consultant
Ian Curr, Leftpress
Dr Sigrid McCausland, lecturer
Meeting facilitator:
Jan Ryall, SEARCH Foundation
Hunter Valley needs to get going on renewable energy
Hunter urged to look at renewable energy options http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-08/hunter-urged-to-look-at-renewable-energy-options/5078014 Fri 8 Nov 2013,A Newcastle University professor says it is vital the region looks at renewable sources of energy in a bid to reduce the Hunter’s reliance on coal-fired power stations.
Professor Garry Wilgoose, who is the director of the University’s Centre for Climate Impact Management, will speak at a public meeting in Muswellbrook next week that is examining concerns with the region’s air and water quality.
Other speakers include public health physician Craig Dalton and Dr Gary Ellen from the University’s Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment.Professor Wilgoose says it is important alternative sources of energy are introduced sooner rather than later.
“We need them, mainly because we need to broaden the base of energy resources,” he said. “Looking into the future at carbon dioxide and methane and greenhouse, whether you believe it or not, and the evidence is pretty strong that it is happening, we need to get some runs on the ground in terms of serious installations that can go some way to offsetting the existing power stations.”
Risk -consequences balance make nuclear power completely unacceptable
Just because a big, powerful and wealthy industry conned a lot of governments into installing nuclear power plants, doesn’t mean the rest of us have to nod our heads and agree the matter is settled.
The risk might be very small – if you believe what those with a vested interest in nuclear power tell you. But the consequences if that small risk is realised are appalling.
Many nuke fans scoff at any safe potential alternative. But the fact is that one or two really decent technological breakthroughs in renewable energy could close the door on the nuclear power industry forever.
Nuclear fans forgetful http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1889060/greg-ray-nuclear-fans-forgetful/?cs=391 By Greg RayNov. 5, 2013 SAVING the world from climate change by embracing nuclear power may be a good idea.
In the same way that liberating a country from a repressive regime by blowing the whole place to bits is a good idea.
This week, just as I was well into reading Australian journalist Mark Willacy’s sobering book, Fukushima, and shaking my head at all the lies, all the cover-ups, all the dodgy deals, all the falsified safety reports and every other grotty piece of dirty linen associated with Japan’s nuclear industry, up comes some Aussie MP with the great idea that we talk about building reactors in Australia.
Liberal MP Jonathan O’Dea believes, unlike some high-profile party colleagues, that burning ever-increasing tonnages of coal is ‘‘undoubtedly contributing to damage to our oceans and atmosphere’’.
So we should instantly switch to nukes, because they are so reliable these days that the ‘‘probability of disaster is extremely small’’. It’s not a new idea, of course. Every few years somebody tries it on, with the familiar chorus of ‘‘cheap, clean power’’ echoing from the throats of the enthusiasts. Continue reading
Renewable energy subjected to a ‘Smear Campaign’ by Origin Energy
Report: Origin’s ‘Smear Campaign’ Against Renewables http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3992 23 Oct 13, 100% Renewable and Greenpeace say Origin Energy is engaged in a smear campaign against renewable energy in order to support what the groups say is the company’s ‘great gas gamble’.
In a report just released, the two groups state Origin’s campaign uses poor modelling and misinformation about the costs of renewables – including over-inflating the amount renewable energy programs add to electricity prices
“Origin’s Managing Director, Grant King, has repeatedly said the renewable energy target is a primary driver of increased energy costs,” says Lindsay Soutar, National Director of 100% Renewable.
“But, that is inaccurate, with the main cause of price rises – at over 70% – due to over investment in poles and wires.” The report also points out renewables are actually reducing wholesale power prices and without that influence, power bills would be higher. Continue reading
Western Australia’s Liberal government over-rides City of Fremantle’s effort to limit plastic bags
Liberals and Nationals join forces to strike out law banning use of non degradable plastic bags http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-30/plastic-bags-legislation-fails-to-pass/5058188 30 Oct 2013, Liberal and Nationals MPs have joined forces in the Upper House to strike out a City of Fremantle law which bans the use of non degradable plastic bags in shops.
Fremantle Council passed the law, which bans single-use plastic shopping bags, in January but had been waiting on advice before implementing it.The Upper House last night debated whether it was appropriate for the council to impose such a ban, and National and Liberal MPs voted against it.
Fremantle MP Simone McGurk says it is a lost opportunity. “It’s disappointing that the Upper House of the State Parliament has voted to disallow this initiative by the City of Fremantle to limit plastic bags within its boundaries,” she said.
“What it also would have done is given us a good trial to see how that would have worked in Western Australia.”
Labor and the Greens voted to keep the local law.
1 This month
Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes – A good documentary on Chernobyl on SBS available On Demand for the next 3 weeks– https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-program/chernobyl-the-lost-tapes/235274195556
20 May – Webinar – The dangerous world of AUKUS, US, military occupation and suppression of dissent
National Webinar, 20th May, 2026, 6.30pm AEST. Confronting laws restricting/suppressing protest speech and action
Speakers: Former Sen. Rex Patrick, Lawyer Nick Hanna ,Arthur Rorris ,Jorgen Doyle, Sen David Shoebbridge,
Facilitator Kelley Tranter.
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 