Japanese disaster-zone students visit WA, THE AUSTRALIAN , AAP August 03, 2012 A WEST Australian school community is offering a hand of friendship to Japanese students forced from their village by radiation from the
Fukushima nuclear plant disaster.
A group of 16 students from the village of Iitate, some 40km from the crippled reactor in northeast Japan’s Fukushima Prefecture, have arrived for a 10-day cultural exchange in WA. They will homestay with students of Great Southern Grammar School in Albany who have learned Japanese in the classroom…… http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/japanese-disa
Australians, and China, concerned about USA militarism here
Canberra needs to come clean on what’s going on
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/opinion/politics/canberra-needs-to-come-clean-
on-whats-going-on-20120801-23fp1.html#ixzz22Pt2puww August 2, 2012 Daniel Flitton Political correspondent for The Age ENOUGH of the cute codes and doublespeak. Making Perth home to a mammoth nuclear aircraft carrier fleet would amount to an American base in Australia, plain and simple.
The government needs to come clean with its military plans, given Australia has already agreed to host US marines near Darwin – and US bombers, spy drones and the existing ”joint facilities” often overlooked.
Time to stop pretending this is just business as usual. Are we preparing to help Washington use the threat of force to contain China in the region? That is certainly the impression. It is also the prevailing wisdom in Beijing. Continue reading
Australia’s Labor government failed to make the case for climate action
The reducing of the climate policy debate to a battle over a tax helped sceptics build doubt about the science and the case for carbon pricing. This week’s news might have had a bigger impact had Labor not squandered the advantage it once had on climate policy
Losing sight of climate shift in battle over tax, The Age, August 1, 2012 Labor’s narrow focus lost support for carbon pricing. AUSTRALIA and the US are isolated strongholds of scepticism about global warming. It shows in debates about whether recorded temperature rises are real, never mind the extent to which human activities drive such change.
Now a leading US researcher funded by sceptics to challenge climate science has been ”converted”. Yet so poorly has
the Gillard government prosecuted the case for its carbon tax that it may not benefit from the news.
US physicist Richard Muller commanded respect among sceptics three years ago for identifying issues with climate research that ”threw doubt on the very existence of global warming”. Backers of his research at the University of California included oil and gas billionaires Charles and David Koch, who believe warming is a hoax and provided a quarter of the Berkeley project’s funding. Last November, however, Professor Muller announced that rigorous analysis of worldwide data by his dozen researchers had forced him to conclude: ”Global warming is real.”
Now he has shed other doubts. The evidence convinced him ”prior estimates of the rate of warming were correct”: average land temperature rose 1.4 degrees over the past 250 years and 60 per cent of the rise was in the past 50. Critically, ”humans are almost entirely the cause”…… Continue reading
Northern Territory’s Daly River community helped to develop leadership in solar energy
Solar research will help wean remote NT communities off diesel power http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201207/s3557194.htm By Caddie Brain , 31/07/2012 The Australian Solar Institute is investing $500,000 to reduce the reliance of remote communities in the Northern Territory on diesel fuel.
In partnership with Power and Water Corporation and Charles Darwin University, the funding will used to write a guidebook on the best ways to increase solar uptake, and will use the Daly River community near Darwin as a case study.
Executive director of the Australian Solar Institute, Mark Twidell, says it’s all about reducing the costs of generating power.
“It’s getting to the point, or some might argue that it’s already past the point, where solar electricity is lower cost than diesel
electricity over the lifetime of the site,” he said.
“But you can only truly capture that value of lower cost solar when you know how to operate it effectively. “So this research will really help the Territory to lead both Australia and the region.”
Solar energy leasing recommended at Sydney’s Clean Energy Week
Clean Energy Week 2012 underway in Sydney, Ecogeneration, 27 July 2012 At the Clean Energy Week Conference in Sydney, Clean Energy Council Chief Executive David Green has told clean energy industry stakeholders “We need policy measures that are long, loud and legal”, while Federal Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Minister Greg Combet has outlined why Australia has to transform its emissions-intensive electricity system to cut carbon.
Taking place from Wednesday 25–Friday 27 July at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Clean Energy Week 2012 has played host to key political and industry leaders…
Today, conference participants heard from Australian Greens Leader Federal Senator Christine Milne and Sungevity President Danny Kennedy, who congratulated the Australian solar industry on the exponential growth it has made over the last five years.
“If there was a gold medal out there for residential solar – you won!” said Mr Kennedy. “You’re truly pioneers in what I call the rooftop revolution.”
Mr Kennedy recommended the process of solar leasing, such as in the United States where 75 per cent of the residential market is leased or under power purchase agreements, as a process that democratises solar…… http://ecogeneration.com.au/news/clean_energy_week_2012_underway_in_sydney/076602/
Australia’s Foreign Minister Bob Carr gungho about selling uranium to India
Australia working to ensure uranium supply to India: Bob Carr to SM Krishna http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-07-11/news/32632787_1_australian-uranium-australia-exports-uranium-first-australian-country-to-country-agreement
PTI Jul 11, 2012, Months after reversing its policy of not selling uranium to India, Australia today said it was in the process of working out internal arrangements to ensure supply of the yellowcake to New Delhi.
Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr conveyed this to External Affairs Minister S M Krishna during their talks here in the Cambodian capital on the sidelines of the ASEAN Ministerial meeting .
Lift Renewable Energy Target, urges Australian Greens
Greens urge push for renewable energy boost BY: SID MAHER The Australian July 27, THE Greens have called on the renewable energy industry to pressure the government to lift the Renewable Energy Target above 20 per cent by 2020.
Greens leader Christine Milne warned the $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation which has been established to bring on new generation technologies, that wind power could be squeezed out of the scheme by solar if the target is not lifted. Continue reading
Big Wind projects getting investment in Australia, decentralised solar getting cheap
if you want to decrease your own electricity bill, then you are going to install a solar panel on your rooftop
Wind power more likely than solar to attract investment, ABC Rural News, By Babs McHugh , 26/07/2012 A report on renewable energy investment has found wind power remains the most popular option. BCI Economics says $5.2 billion was spent on renewable energy technology in 2010-11, with the bulk of the investment in NSW, Victoria and South Australia.
Report author Franciska Mey says the number of solar PV panels on home roofs grew rapidly, but no large-scale commercial projects have got off the ground.
Ms Mey says unlike wind power projects, which offer a strong return on investment, big solar projects are struggling to find investors. Continue reading
Tony Abbott ignorant about China’s carbon pricing
Abbott less informed than communists: govt
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/abbott-less-informed-than-communists-govt/story-fn3dxiwe-1226434686272: AAP July 25, 2012 OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott has shown he knows less about market economics than China’s communist party, Climate Change Minister Greg Combet says. Mr Combet has used a clean energy conference in Sydney to sell the government’s carbon tax and accuse Tony Abbott of not knowing anything about China’s action on carbon pricing.
Mr Abbott had shown complete ignorance about the steps China was taking to price carbon during his recent trip to Beijing, Mr Combet said on Wednesday. “Even the Chinese communist party (has) a better grasp of market economics then the leader of the Liberal Party does,” he said.
Mr Combet said Australia would be left behind by 2020 if it didn’t put a price on carbon dioxide. “There will be binding obligations on all major emitters to reduce emissions from 2020 and we need to prepare for it,” he told the conference.
“If we do nothing we will be hit with the back of an axe.” To meet its 20 per cent renewable energy target by 2020, Australia
needed a carbon price as well as other schemes such as renewable energy targets and carbon farming initiatives, Mr Combet said. “Just as no single clean energy technology is a silver bullet, you can’t just pick one or two of these policies and drive to a clean energy future,” the minister told the conference.
So if Tony Abbott says the opposition will “get rid of the carbon price … it is not going to work.”
Australian and USA navies co-operating to use renewable energy
Australian Navy Explores Alternative Fuels with U.S. Energy Digital 25 July 12, The US Navy joins forces with the Australian Navy in an aggressive initiative to use more alternative fuels. The Royal Australian Navy recently signed an agreement with the US Navy to explore the use of alternative fuels in a quest to reduce their dependency on foreign fossil fuels.
A Statement of Cooperation, signed by Australia’s Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, AO, CSC, RAN and the US Secretary for Navy, Ray Mabus, recognized the benefits of alternative fuels and the importance of the project in terms of national security.
The RAN’s Fleet Commander, Rear Admiral Tim Barrett, AM, CSC, RAN described the project as having enormous potential at the signing ceremony on board the US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz on July 19th….., this project could lead to a cheaper alternative fuel.”…. http://www.energydigital.com/green_technology/australian-navy-explores-alternative-fuels-with-us
Costs of solar photovoltaic energy tumbling, as climate change action becomes more urgent
the cost of renewable energies was tumbling, with solar panel production costs down 70 per cent in the past year.
Tap solar and wind power or face catastrophic consequences experts warn http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/tap-solar-and-wind-power-or-face-catastrophic-consequences-warning/story-fndo48ca-1226432906666 Catherine Best AFP July 23, 20122:AUSTRALIA needs a bipartisan approach to climate change to seize opportunities in renewable energy and ward off the worst impacts of global warming, experts say.
The Climate Commission says now is the critical decade to get the policy settings right to encourage green-energy industries or risk catastrophic consequences for future generations. Its latest report, released on Monday, says Victoria – which has a heavy reliance on brown coal – receives enough sunshine to produce double its current energy needs.
The commissioners say there are untapped opportunities for solar and wind power generation, which is steadily becoming a more affordable electricity source.
But the industry needs certainty there will be the ongoing political will to support investment in green power. Continue reading
Australian Youth Climate Coalition’s Anna Rose speaking on Climate Change
Author urges climate change support, Examiner. 20 Jul, 2012 AUTHOR and environmentalist Anna Rose is in Tasmania urging the community to rebuild public support for strong action on climate change.
The 29-year-old co-founder of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition and author of Madlands: A Journey to Change the Mind of a Climate Sceptic will speak at a public forum on climate change and Australia’s clean energy future in Launceston on Monday night.
http://www.examiner.com.au/news/local/news/environment/author-urges-climate-change-support/2631081.aspx
Olympic Dam protest raising public awareness of the impact of this desert megamine
VIDEO Outback anti-mining activists packing up http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-18/anti-mining-activists-pack-up-at-olympic-dam/4138668 July 18, 2012 The number of anti-mining activists is dwindling near the BHP Billiton mine in outback South Australia as most make their way home. The numbers peaked at about 350 as they demonstrated about the mine’s proposed expansion.
There have been more than a dozen arrests and protest organiser Nectaria Calan says the activists have achieved much of what they set out to do since last weekend. “We have created more community dialogue about the issue,” she said. “I think our message is getting out there, I think we are raising more awareness about the impacts of the expansion and also just reminding people that it’s here.
“I think it’s almost forgotten, it’s too far out in the desert and people don’t think about it. It’s not a daily concern for them.”
Doctors oppose expansion of Roxby Downs uranium mine
MAPW’s particular concerns about the nuclear industry arise from the threat of nuclear weapons and nuclear war. MAPW also recognises the serious health impacts of all components of the nuclear chain, such as cancer, birth defects and death from nuclear accidents. MAPW opposes uranium mining for these reasons, and is especially concerned about the expansion of the uranium mine at Roxby Downs.
“No radiation is without risk”, Medical Association for Prevention of War (MAPW) 18 July 2012 Doctors are reminding the community about the dangers of radiation by attending the Lizards Revenge, a protest camp next to the Roxby Downs uranium mine gates. The protest aims to bring attention to the proposed expansion of the mine by BHP Billiton; the world’s largest mining company. The mine uses 200 million litres of water per day and is exempt from water restrictions, the Aboriginal Heritage Act, and the Freedom of Information Act.
Dr Hilary Tyler, from the Northern Territory Branch of the Medical Association for Prevention of War (MAPW) is at the protest camp. Dr Tyler says “Australia’s uranium has fuelled the Fukushima disaster. We are also deeply concerned about the long term health consequences from exposure to radiation. These can arise from mining, transport, from uses of uranium such as nuclear power and nuclear weapons, and from the enduring legacy of nuclear waste.” Continue reading
Australia’s secret service chief warns on danger of nuclear terrorism
Cold War eclipsed by modern threats, says secret service chief, July 19, 2012, SMH, Dylan Welch, Daniel Flitton THE threats posed by the Cold War will be outdone by the multifaceted dangers of the 21st century, according to a landmark speech by the head of Australia’s spy service today. The menace of terrorists acquiring chemical, biological or
nuclear-type weapons was one of the greatest threats to security…… http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/cold-war-eclipsed-by-modern-threats-says-secret-service-chief-20120718-22amo.html#ixzz2161UHfJj
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 