Just another example of Australian uranium companies mentally in La La land
Australian miner optimistic about prospect of Botswana’s first uranium mine Equities.com GABORONE, Oct 05, 2012 – Australian mining company A-Cap Resources developing Botswana’s first uranium mine said on Friday that it remains optimistic following the recent update of the Letlhakane project, 190 km west of the country’s second city Francistown.
The company announced the results from heap leach metallurgical optimization indicating recoveries of up to 77 percent of primary ore at Letlhakane.
A-Cap has invested considerable time and money into the metallurgical test work program and latest results demonstrated the high level of recoveries that can be expected, said Paul Thomson, chief executive officer of A-Cap Resources.
Rural Australia taking to small solar energy in a big way
Regions hungry for Solar power http://www.thesatellite.com.au/story/2012/10/03/regions-hungry-solar-power/ 3rd October 2012 MORE than half of all solar panels and hot water heaters are being installed in homes in rural and regional Australia, an analysis of renewable energy data revealed on Tuesday.
The analysis of data from the Clean Energy Regulator was completed by the REC Agents Association, an industry group which links solar providers and installers. It revealed 53% of all solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and solar hot
water systems were installed in rural and regional areas. Continue reading
Donna Mulhearn to talk in Mullumbimby on depleted uranium, peace, non nuclear
Frontline Film Foundation Donna Mulhearn will be speaking in Mullum and Byron 12th & 15th October
Friday 12 Oct Mullumbimby RSL talk and slideshow, Q and A preview of David Bradbury’s new anti-nuclear film, music donation $15/$20
Australians taking to energy efficiency and solar power
45 per cent said energy efficiency was now their biggest priority.
Frugal Aussies ‘are embracing renewable energy’ Mozo, 01 October 2012 It may seem frightfully obvious, but limiting the amount of energy we use in our houses can have a hugely positive impact on our finances. Unfortunately, some people are so stretched that they have little choice but to raid their savings accounts in order to cover their latest electricity or gas bill.
That said, it is encouraging to see so many Aussies starting to take control of their power consumption.
Basic measures such as going steady on the air conditioning gauge and switching TVs off when they are not being watched can go a long way towards saving Aussies significant sums of money.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 74 per cent of adults across the country are worried about the effects of climate change. In addition to this, a recent study conducted by Choice showed
that 55 per cent of the population are “very concerned” about their electricity bills, while 30 per cent said they were “quite concerned”.
With this in mind, it is no shock to see a greater number of people turn towards more sustainable energy sources like solar power. Continue reading
Australian Youth Climate Commission leads push for Port Augusta Solar Energy
Port Augusta supporters walk to Adelaide to show support for 
solar power plant http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/port-augusta-supporters-walk-to-adelaide-to-show-support-for-solar-power-plant/story-e6frea6u-1226484783475 IT is solar energy’s time to shine in Port Augusta, say 80 people who walked from the Spencer Gulf town to Adelaide yesterday. There they joined about 300 other solar supporters to rally at Parliament House.
The drizzle did not put a dampener on the rally, where Australian Youth Climate Commission national director Ellen Sandell said the walk was a message to State and Federal governments to support converting Port Augusta’s coal-fired power stations to solar-thermal energy.
“It’s better for the jobs, better for the health and better for the climate,” Ms Sandell said. Continue reading
Ross Garnaut makes a strong case for Australia to keep Renewable Energy Target
RET better than carbon pricing, Garnaut tells review http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/ret-better-than-carbon-pricing-garnaut-tells-review/story-fn59niix-1226483794496 BY: BRENDAN NICHOLSON From: The Australian September 29, 2012 THE federal government’s former climate change adviser, economist Ross Garnaut, has made a strong case for retention of the Renewable Energy Target in a submission to the Climate Change Authority’s review of the RET scheme. Continue reading
Port Augusta this Sunday – Rally for a solar South Australia
Rally For Solar in South Australia This Sunday http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3398 by Energy Matters A GetUp! supported rally is scheduled for this weekend to draw attention to the opportunity that exists in Port Augusta to help further reduce South Australia’s reliance on fossil fuel based electricity generation with solar power. Two of Port Augusta’s coal-fired power stations are shuttering and solar energy is being heavily favoured to replace them – not just by the community but also local government and business. Continue reading
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young calls for South Australia to lead on renewable energy
While our nation as a whole has committed to reaching a target of 20 per cent baseload power generation from renewable sources by the year 2020, SA has already achieved better than that with a 21 per cent renewable power supply.
SA is already leading the way in renewable energies Australia-wide. The question we have to answer now is: Do we want to lead the world?
Let’s lead the way again in green energy, says Greens Senator for South Australia 
Sarah Hanson-Young Herald Sun 28 Sept 12 AUSTRALIA is rich in natural energy resources that a clean and green. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young wants South Australia to lead the way.
AS we know, Australia is rich in natural resources. We’ve been exploiting our mineral reserves for more than a century now.
But there is a catch these resources are both finite and dirty. The good news is that we in South Australia have a plentiful supply of alternative natural resources to call upon in the form of solar power and wind energy.
Our state is perfectly poised to make hay while the sun shines and, when it comes to renewable energy alternatives, the economic sun is certainly breaking through the clouds in SA. Continue reading
First ever uranium sales pact outside Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty – Australia to India
Despite resistance from opponents, the landmark policy change was carried out, paving the way for the first Australian
country-to-country agreement to sell the yellow cake to a country outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
India, Australia nuclear pact likely to be inked during Australia PM’s visit EConomic Times, 26 Sept 12 NEW DELHI: India and Australia are likely to ink a civil nuclear pact during the visit of Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard here from October 15, within months of a positive reversal of the policy by ruling Labour party on supply of uranium to New Delhi. Continue reading
Queensland’s Liberal govt not concerned, not acting on Climate Change
Flannery questions Newman’s climate record, SMH, September 25, 2012 Australia’s climate change commissioner says it’s too early to say whether the Queensland Premier is taking global warming seriously enough.
Environmentalist Tim Flannery was in Brisbane today to launch the Australian climate commission’s latest report, which examines the impact of global warming on Queensland.
The Critical Decade: Queensland Climate Impacts and Opportunities warns that the state’s economic powerhouses of tourism and agriculture are at significant risk from rising sea levels and changing weather patterns.
Meanwhile, the Liberal National Party government, since gaining power in March, has wound back Labor’s solar power subsidies and scrapped eight carbon reduction programs to save money……the Queensland Greens said state Environment Minister Andrew Powell was on the record as questioning the science behind global warming.
The party’s Senate candidate Adam Stone said responsible action on climate change would protect communities and have economic benefitsthrough clean energy.
“But it is hard to be optimistic that our state government will seize that opportunity given their sorry record,” Mr Stone said in a statement. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/climate-change/flannery-questions-newmans-climate-record-20120925-26isx.html#ixzz27eB2Py2b
Fossil fuels subsidised by Australia- how much solar we’d have if they weren’t
How Much Solar Could We Have If Fossil Fuels Weren’t Subsidised? by Giles Parkinson, editor of RenewEconomy.com.au, 26 Sept 12 How much more solar power could we have installed if we had gotten rid of subsidies for fossil fuels, and pushed them towards a new technology? According to the European Commission, nearly 10 times more than we have now.
Fossil fuel subsidies have been a continuing sore point for international organizations. The International Energy Agency and various UN bodies have been campaigning for their removal, and even got the support of the G20 group of leading economies. But little has happened.
It is estimated that the world spent up to $7.5 trillion on combustibles, fuels and electricity from 2007 to 2010. Of this, the level of direct consumption subsidies and tax break to fossil fuels amounted to $1.8 trillion, according to a joint report compiled by the IEA, OPEC, the OECD, and the World Bank.
The EC, in a report on solar PV technologies released this week, says these subsidies would have been sufficient to install some 340 GW of PV systems world-wide at the prices prevailing at the time. At current prices, it would be enough to install 610 GW. To put that figure into perspective, Australia has just below 2GW of solar PV installed, and Germany is the leading country in the world with 30GW.
The IEA has been pushing for the removal of subsidies because it says that the energy game will change “quickly and substantially” once removed. “I see fossil fuel subsidies as the appendicitis of the global energy system which needs to be removed for a healthy, sustainable development future” IEA chief economist Fatih Birol told the Financial Times recently.
The joint study estimated that energy consumption could be reduced by 600 Mtoe (million tonnes of oil equivalent) or the combined current consumption of Japan and Australia – if the subsidies are phased out between now and 2020. That consumption cut would save the equivalent of the current carbon dioxide emissions of Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. …. http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3396
University of Queensland takes a step forward in renewable energy research
UQ start-up secures first Southern Cross Renewable Energy investment, University of Queensland, 25 Sept 12, Brisbane Materials, a UniQuest cleantech start-up based on University of Queensland (UQ) research, has closed its AUD$5 million Series A funding round with AUD$2.5 million from the first-ever investment of Australia’s new Southern Cross Renewable Energy Fund (SCREF). Continue reading
Christine Lins states the need for stability in Australian renewable energy policy.
Renewable Energy Investment – Stability, Stability, Stability http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3386 by Energy Matters, 20 Sept 12 Echoing comments made earlier this week by the Clean Energy Council, the producer of the world’s most frequently referenced renewables market report underlines the need for stability in Australian renewable energy policy.
In a speech to the Australian National Conference on Resources and Energy in Canberra on Wednesday, Christine Lins, Executive Secretary of REN21, will state a key requirement for significant and sustained investment in Australia is policy stability, which Australia needs to take into consideration in the current review of the nation’s 20 per cent Renewable Energy Target. Continue reading
Renewable energy deals: Pacific Hydro, ARENA, Hydro Tasmania.Suntech Power
GREEN DEALS: Pacific’s solution, Climate Spectator, 18 Sep 2012
Pacific Hydro
Pacific Hydro has this week launched its long awaited retail offering. The initial launch will be in Victoria and Tasmania and will focus on business customers. Continue reading
Julian Assange offered sanctuary by Sovereign Aboriginal Nations
Sovereign Aboriginal nations consider sanctuary for Julian Assange, Green Left , September 14, 2012 The Indigenous Social Justice Association released the statement below on September 14.
Several sovereign Aboriginal nations are considering giving Julian Assange refuge and sanctuary in their nations.
It was argued that as Julian is an Australian citizen he should be allowed to seek sanctuary in one of the sovereign Aboriginal nations in the lands known as Australia.
Whilst the federal government is held in thrall to the dictates of the US, we are not and are therefore quite free to support Julian in every way we possibly can. Offering safe refuge is but one way. Why should Julian be forced to seek refuge in a South American country and not his own?
Despite the ongoing protestations of the foreign affairs minister, Bob Carr, in reality the federal government is doing very little to assist Julian being press-ganged to the United States via Sweden. That is why Julian sought refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy.
Our Welcome to Aboriginal Land Passport Ceremony will take place from 11am to 4pm at The Settlement, 17 Edward Street, Darlington on Saturday, September 15.
We are honoured to be able to present to Mamdouh Habib and John Shipton on behalf of his son, Julian Assange, the Aboriginal Nations Passport for travel through the Aboriginal nations…… http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52227
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 