May 4: antidote to uranium lobby’s lies about tax benefits to South Australia
AUSTRALIA’S URANIUM EXPORT REVENUE IN PERSPECTIVE YELLOWCAKE FEVER Exposing the Uranium Industry’s Economic Myths , Australian Conservation Foundation ““…..In an assessment of the Olympic Dam royalties regime enshrined in South Australia’s amended Roxby Downs Indenture Act, journalist Paul Clearly wrote in The Australian in October 2011 that the regime “has robbed the state’s citizens and all Australians of the opportunity to share in the profits of what will become the world’s biggest mine”.
He added that the agreement “will unfortunately stand as a sad and enduring indictment of the weakness of our state governments when it comes to negotiating with powerful mining multinationals”….”. http://www.acfonline.org.au/sites/default/files/resources/ACF_Yellowcake_Fever.pdf
For Australia100% renewable energy is not as expensive as we thought
100% renewables for Australia – not so costly after all, REneweconomy. By Giles Parkinson 29 April 2013 An exploratory study into 100% renewable energy scenarios for Australia has concluded that its impact on consumer electricity prices over the next few decades may be no more than the increases in the last few years to support much criticised network upgrades and the introduction of the carbon price.
The report by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) – you can access the executive summaryhere and the draft report here – canvasses the potential costs and practicality of transforming Australia’s coal-dependent electricity system to 100 per cent renewables, by either 2030 or 2050. It creates two scenarios – depending on the pace of falls in the cost of renewable and storage technologies – but both are considered conservative.
It concludes that the cost could range between $219 and $338 billion and would require wholesale electricity prices of $111-$133/MWh (more than double the current price). Unfortunately, and somewhat controversially, AEMO was not asked to compare these forecasts with “business as usual”, but it does provide one interesting set of data that does put it into some perspective.
The first is the impact on retail prices. ….. http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/100-renewables-for-australia-not-so-costly-after-all-5021
The secret high cost of Australia’s fossil fuel energy
The dirty secret of fossil fuels: more expensive than you think Crikey.com LAURA EADIE | MAY 02, 2013
Fossil fuel fans say we can’t afford to switch over to renewables. But maybe we can’t afford not to. Laura Eadie, research director for the Centre for Policy Development’s Sustainable Economy Program, reports.
The fossil fuel industry must have hoped to keep its dirty laundry private a little longer: the Australian Energy Market Operator has confirmed that a switch to 100% renewable electricity by 2030 is technically viable. What the report neglected to mention is that the investment bill of $220 to $250 billion is pretty close to the $240 billion needed by 2030 if we rely on gas and carbon storage instead… (registered readers only) http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/05/02/the-dirty-secret-of-fossil-fuels-more-expensive-than-you-think/
Indian former diplomat agrees that Australia’s uranium would further India’s nuclear weapons
Selling uranium to India ‘would lead to military use‘ http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1761076/Selling-uranium-to-India-would-lead-to-military-us Selling uranium to India ‘would lead to military use’ A former diplomat has admitted the sale of Australian uranium to India would free up that country’s domestic reserves for military purposes.29 APR 2013, SOURCE: KAREN ASHFORD, SBS
A former diplomat has admitted the sale of Australian uranium to India would free up that country’s domestic reserves for military purposes.
For 30 years Australian banned uranium sales to India because of its failure to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, but negotiations are now underway on a uranium deal with a safeguards agreement.
“This issue has held to ransom Australia’s relationship and the economic interests with the world’s largest democracy for 40 years,” said Former Australian Deputy High Commissioner to India Rakesh Ahuja. But the energy strategist has admitted Australian uranium would free up India’s reserves for military use.
“That has always been the case, yes, I mean we sell to China, it frees up their domestic [use] for [military purposes], yes, it’s a fact of life,” he said….. the Greens warn of the consequences.
“India is a nuclear weapons’ state. They are on the record as saying they’re trying to buy foreign sources of uranium so they can lock up their domestic reserves for a nuclear arms race with Pakistan, so it’s a very volatile and dangerous security situation into
which to be selling uranium,” said Australian Greens senator Scott Ludlam.
“Paydirt” uranium conference in Adelaide – more like a funeral
Uranium industry more likely to bite the dust than hit Paydirt 29 April 2013. Today’s Paydirt Uranium Conference is a pre-emptive wake for the declining nuclear sector, Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said.
“With nuclear power in a terminal condition it is no wonder this year’s Paydirt conference has been downgraded to a one-day event. The world uranium price has dived from almost $US140 a pound in 2007 to just over $US40 a pound today. 150 nuclear stations in Europe are scheduled for closure. All the spin in the world can’t polish the nuclear industry.
“Despite the mineral commodities boom uranium remains a dud, accounting for a mere 0.29 per cent of the nation’s export revenue between 2002 and 2011 and for only 0.015 per cent of jobs. It’s a high risk, no reward racket; Australia – and the world – would be better off without it.
“There was Australian uranium in all four reactors at Fukushima, and more than two years on 160,000 people remain evacuated as a result, but the nuclear mafia and their supporters in Parliament have learnt nothing.
“Nuclear power is in retreat in Europe, Japan and the United States, so the industry is pursuing India – a country that has nuclear weapons, refuses to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and has an appalling track record on nuclear safety – as a customer.
“Another potential customer, China, is following the path of the former Soviet Union in building multiple reactor types in a huge hurry, with a poor safety culture and zero tolerance approach to whistleblowers and investigative journalists. The 27th anniversary of Chernobyl was last Friday, yet the lessons of history are lost on the nuclear cheer squad.
“It’s time to put an end to this deadly, moribund industry and focus on the future of power generation – renewable energy.”
Conservative White Males are destroying the planet, and some women are helping them
We are destroying the joint, REneweconomy By Carmen Lawrence on 26 April 2013 The Conversation
Without really knowing what he was saying, Alan Jones was right – we are “destroying the joint”.
Any dispassionate assessment of the state of “the joint”, both the corner we occupy and the planet as a whole, shows that we are making one hell of a mess of it. Increasing consumption and a growing population are accelerating the depletion of our finite resources, including our precious soils. We are polluting our air, land and water, destroying our heritage places and our communities, producing drastic changes to our climate and pushing out other species at an alarming rate. Human distress and inequality are on the rise, despite our increased material wealth. And all the while, most of us seem to be cheerfully – even wilfully – oblivious to the state we’re in.
But the “we” is not women, it’s all of us. And as a matter of record, since most women have not, until recently, occupied significant positions of influence and power, we should be judged less culpable than men.
Given that women are still in a minority in board rooms and executive positions, as well as in politics, I think it’s pretty rich to blame women for the current state of affairs. It’s fair to say that the responsibility for the mess we’re in resides mainly with those who’ve historically made decisions about the way we manage our societies and economies – privileged, powerful, Western white males.
It’s true, however, that many women now in positions of power appear to share the view that the planet’s resources are inexhaustible and that the only serious policy objectives are those which promote economic growth and material acquisition, with little eye to the social and environmental costs. Continue reading
Australia’s uranium industry a poor performer, poor job provider
Green group says uranium industry doesn’t stack up http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-26/green-group-says-uranium-industry-doesnt-stack-up/4652596?section=qld By Melinda Howells, 26 April 13 The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) says a uranium industry will not create huge revenue and job opportunities for Queensland. The State Government says Queensland’s deposits are valued at $10 billion and it is moving to re-establish the industry after after more than 30 years.
Campaigner Dave Sweeney says a new report compiled by the ACF shows the potential benefits have been overstated. “It is a $600 million industry that employs 650 people – 650 people,” he said. “There are not thousands of jobs in this trade, there are not billions of dollars in this trade.”
“It is a tiny contributor to dollars, an even smaller contributor to jobs, but it poses major domestic and international risks, legacies and problems. “We’re calling for a detailed independent cost-benefit analysis of this industry.”
Uranium, an underperforming industry has particular dangers for Queensland
Dave Sweeney ABC Environment 23 Apr 2013 Uranium mining may be attractive to those seeking to boost state coffers, but it leaves the land poisoned and communities divided. COMMUNITIES IN REGIONAL Queensland are increasingly concerned about Premier Campbell Newman’s decision to open the Sunshine State to uranium mining — and with good reason.
The decision was made behind closed doors in response to pressure from industry lobby groups and — by the Premier’s own admission — without reference to independent economic analysis or advice.
The decision also broke a promise. In a letter to the Australian Conservation Foundation dated 11 October 2012 Premier Newman stated: “I take this opportunity to reaffirm my statements, made before the last election, that the State Government has no plans to approve the development of uranium in Queensland”. Two weeks later the Premier put out the welcome mat for the uranium industry.
Queensland is no stranger to mining, but uranium is different.
Uranium is a dual use fuel — it can provide the raw material for nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. Its mining and export divides communities as well as atoms.
It is a high risk, low return sector that makes only a modest contribution to employment (around 0.015 per cent of Australian jobs) and economic activity (under 0.3 per cent of national export revenue) but brings significant and unresolved environmental, health and safety risks, and leaves significant toxic legacies.
Of particular concern in Queensland is the possibility of uranium being transported across the Great Barrier Reef. Continue reading
In Western Australia, opposition strengthens against Wiluna uranium project, despite Federal approval
In the Media – National Indigenous Times, Lateral Love Australia, 22 April 13, Wiluna and Tarlpa peoples face the fear of uranium poison as Burke gives green light to Toro Energy to mine in their country Western Australia will be exporting uranium within two years after the Federal Government’s Environment Minister, Tony Burke granted environmental approval to Toro Energy’s Wiluna project.
To many people this was unexpected, including to Wiluna’s Aboriginal peoples and to anti-uranium mining and anti-nuclear advocates nationwide. Aboriginal leaders have promised to put themselves in the line of fire to protect Country and the future for their children’s children. Continue reading
Toro Energy will face continued obstacles to its planned Wiluna uranium mine
In the Media – National Indigenous Times, Lateral Love Australia, 22 April 13, “…….Ms Pepper said there was still time to halt the push for uranium to be mined.
“It is a long way from a Federal approval to an operating mine and we will be there every step of the way contesting and opposing this uranium mine and any other proposed uranium mine in Western Australia,” Ms Pepper said.
“Uranium is different. It is radioactive and poses great risks to workers, communities and the environment.
“Uranium oxide can be very dangerous if ingested or inhaled. Other breakdown products of uranium can also be dangerous like Radon gas.
“Radon gas is the second biggest cause of lung cancer in the world.”
“The biggest concern with uranium mining is the long term impacts of radioactive mine waste on country and how that is contained, whether that will get into the groundwater and the food chain.
“There has never been a successful uranium mine in Australia. Each one has had its accidents, its spills, its leaks and its failed rehabilitation.
“The Aboriginal communities which will be near these mines have legitimate concerns on how uranium mining and potential radiation fallout will impact on the environment, the animals, bush tucker and their townships.
“Toro have done some opportunistic studies on road kill (dead animals) but they have not done detailed data analysis on the fauna passing through the region,” Ms Pepper said.
“Uranium is the asbestos of the 21st century. The World Health Organisation, the United Nations and other international agencies recognise the risks of radiation and they all say that safe dose of radiation.
“What they are saying is every dose of radiation increases the risk of developing cancer.”…….http://lateralloveaustralia.com/2013/04/22/in-the-media-national-indigenous-times-6/
Renewable energy storage for Australia
BYD Expanding Renewable Energy Storage into Australia The Green Optimistic Benji Jerew on April 15, 2013“….Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has noted their overseas neighbor’s increase in solar power installations, and is moving in to help with renewable energy storage, both on grid- and home-scale. Australia is abundant in sunshine and becoming more abundant in solar panel installations. Combined with BYD and Fe Batteries, consumers can save money by saving their renewable energy for the next night or the next week, instead of just letting it go to waste…..http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2013/04/15/byd-expanding-renewable-energy-storage-into-australia/#.UXG0X6JwpLs
Should Australians worry about a North Korean nuclear attack?
Could North Korea nuke Australia? (Yes, but don’t worry) Crikey DAVID DONALDSON | APR 12, 2013 It’s not completely impossible” that North Korea could deliver a nuclear warhead to Australia — although the rogue state may not have the technical capacity to do so and would have no particular reason to target us, experts have told Crikey. And they’ve warned we should probably be more worried about a nuclear exchange elsewhere…..(subscription only ) http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/04/12/could-north-korea-nuke-australia-yes-but-dont-worry/
Wind Energy in Australia threatened if Coalition wins September election
Vestas says lack of certainty will kill wind energy in Australia REneweconomy, By Giles Parkinson on 9 April 2013 The CEO of Vestas Wind Systems, the world’s leading wind turbine manufacturer, has reiterated his call for certainty over the country’s renewable energy policies, saying that lingering doubts would “kill” a capital intensive industry such as wind energy.
“I know you guys have an election in September. We will need to see what happens after the election……. Continue reading
Wind energy cheaper than gas. Solar catching up
Solar In Australia Will Be Competitive With Gas In 2015 or 2016, by Energy Matters, 11 April 134
Australia’s exports of gas will push up domestic prices, says New Energy Finances (BNEF). Wind energy is already cheaper than new gas for electricity generation – and solar isn’t far behind…..http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3684
West Papua Freedom Flotilla for indigenous rights, August 10 -14
Freedom Flotilla: Lake Eyre to West Papua http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=20130409202415335 10 April 13 Uncle Kevin (Kev) Buzzacott, a peacemaker from Arabunna Nation at Lake Eyre in South Australia, and Jacob Rumbiak (exiled Foreign Affairs Minister from the Federated Republic of Occupied West Papua) have announced a new action of creative resistance against the apartheid of colonisation and destruction caused by multinational mining companies on Indigenous land in West Papua and Australia.
The West Papua Freedom Flotilla is a journey that hopes to reunite the history and peoples of a land that was once geographically and culturally connected. “We were one people, we still are one people, we must uphold our cultural connection, the old land is calling us,” proclaimed Uncle Kev, Arabunna Elder. “We have a responsibility to care for our brothers and sisters from across the water. We must bring the water and the fire, the love and the music to heal the country and move in solidarity.”
This action has been called and endorsed by Indigenous Elders from both Australia and West Papua and is being actively supported by a coalition of environmental and human rights activists, artists and musicians from all over Australia. Continue reading
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 