Young Australians can rejoice as government takes action on climate change
Red-letter day in fight against warming, SMH, Sarah Hanson Young, November 8, 2011 Today will be a great day for Australians who have waited years for their government to take our warming planet seriously. After years of talk and a few backward steps, the Senate will pass a suite of legislation that will put a price on pollution from July next year.
Australians — who in 2007 and 2010 voted for politicians to back widespread community support for taking action — will be able to finally say that most of their elected representatives listened and acted.
Their Parliament has taken action in response to hundreds of thousands of people, especially younger Australians, who sent letters, danced in flash mobs, signed petitions or attended rallies in cities and towns across the country urging that we heed the warnings of climate scientists.
As I told the Senate last week in my speech on the historic bills, it is an honour to be a senator at the time the federal parliament is finally taking this historic reformist step in the defence of our biosphere and all the creatures living within it…..
: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/blogs/gengreens/redletter-day-in-fight-against-warming-20111107-1n3hk.html#ixzz1dA6K6EZE
Australian Red Cross takes aim at nuclear weapons
Australian Red Cross ‘Making Nuclear Weapons The Target’ Microsite Launch, November 04, 2011 – Australian Red Cross Australian Red Cross has launched a microsite demonstrating the devastating humanitarian impact of a nuclear explosion, as part of its campaign urging Australians to lead the world in calls to ban the use of nuclear weapons.
‘Nuclear weapons don’t discriminate and a nuclear war would have catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences, which would span generations,’ he said.
Australian Red Cross is calling on Australians in cities, towns and rural communities across the country to log on and join the push to ban the use of these weapons. It has just launched a new microsite, which includes an online referendum, at www.targetnuclearweapons.org.au.
For media enquiries or to arrange interviews contact Red Cross media adviser Kim Batchelor kbatchelor@redcross.org.au
Marius Kloppers to Adelaide to direct South Australian govt on Olympic Dam new uranium mine
Marius Kloppers pushes case for Olympic Dam expansion, BY:VERITY EDWARDS AND REBECCA PUDDY From:The Australian , October 31, 2011 BHP Billiton’s chief executive, Marius Kloppers, will fly into Adelaide today to meet new South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill to discuss the expansion of its Olympic Dam mine, including the importance of passing the indenture agreement before Christmas. (Sorry – no more – I haven’t paid up for THE AUSTRALAN – C.M.)
Fighter jets fly over, riot police, horses – over 3,000 police block Perth’s peaceful CHOGM protestors
Queen opens CHOGM as protesters go peacefully, PerthNow , October 28, 2011
- THE Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting has kicked off with a lavish opening ceremony in Perth, amid unprecedented security across the CBD…….
- Large police presence halts protest marchPerth’s CBD went into security lockdown for what is the largest meeting of world leaders Australia has ever hosted. Nonetheless, hundreds of protesters gathered in central Perth with plans to stage a sit-in near the summit venue.
CHOGM Action Network spokesman Alex Bainbridge said he understood that police would tolerate the sit-in and not try to remove protesters. But planned protests were carried out peacefully without incident. Several hundred protesters marching towards the venue of the Commonwealth leaders meeting in Perth were halted by police at a road block and told they could not go further.
Just after midday the protesters approached an intersection in the city centre where they planned to stage a sit-in but they were blocked beforehand with a fence and lines of riot police were waiting with hands crossed in front of them. A senior police officer told the halted marchers through a loud hailer that the road was closed and they could not advance further…..
Police officers on horseback and foot had preceded the march on Friday as a police helicopter hovered overhead. After a rally in Forrest Place protesters made their way along to central city shopping malls towards the Perth Exhibition and Convention Centre where the summit is taking place.
Protest groups included anti-nuclear, refugee rights, environmental and anti-corporate greed movements….. Police were swarming over central Perth with the main business district in lockdown for the official opening.
Reports estimate around half of the state’s 6000 officers are involved and about 800 extra police have been flown in from around Australia and New Zealand to assist in the security operation. F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets have also been flying over the city…. http://www.perthnow.com.au/perth-prepares-royal-welcome-for-the-queen/story-fn6mh6b5-1226179051663
Britain’s Conservative Prime Minister praises Australia’s carbon tax
Carbon pricing is best way to go: David Cameron, THE AUSTRALIAN, BY:MATTHEW FRANKLIN, CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT , October 29, 2011 BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron has backed pricing carbon as an effective way of dealing with climate change, marginalising Tony Abbott’s ongoing rejection of Julia Gillard’s carbon tax.
Mr Cameron, who had previously written a letter of support to Ms Gillard over her policy, said in Perth last night that while it was up to individual nations to determine their own action on climate change, he believed in a market-linked mechanism.
“We have put a carbon floor price in through our budget and I think other countries are looking at this,” Mr Cameron said.
“If you want to get control of global emissions, if you want to deal with this issue, then the market is an effective way of doing that. It’s often not enough on its own. There are changes in rules and regulations you also need to make.”
Mr Cameron believed there were opportunities in the creation of green jobs stemming from pricing carbon…. Labor’s $23-a-tonne carbon tax will take effect from July 1 next year. The opposition has continued to run a strong campaign against the change and the Opposition Leader has promised an incoming Coalition government would scrap the levy. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/carbon-pricing-is-best-way-to-go-david-cameron/story-fnapmixa-1226180040326
Labor must retain sensible policy not to sell uranium to India
28 Oct PERTH: The Australian Conservation Foundation has called on the Labor Party to keep its policy not to export uranium to India while India refuses to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
“The Labor Party has a long-standing, prudent and sensible policy of not supplying uranium to countries that will not sign the international nuclear non-proliferation treaty,” said ACF nuclear free campaigner Dave Sweeney.
“The non-proliferation treaty, while imperfect, remains a key international legal mechanism in restricting the spread of nuclear weapons technology. “Uranium is a dual-use fuel – it can be used in reactors and it can be used to power the world’s worst weapons.
“Australia, as a significant global uranium supplier, has a responsibility to acknowledge that India is a nuclear-armed state that obtained its weapons capacity in breach of international commitments. “Adding Australian uranium to the mix would not ease the long standing tensions between India and its nuclear-armed neighbours or improve the effectiveness of the global nuclear safeguards regime. “There is no compelling or convincing reason for Labor to change its policy.”
ACF opposes uranium sales to nuclear weapons states and has long campaigned for Australia to phase out uranium mining and exports, including to Russia, China and India.
Roxby Downs Indenture Bill Committee faced by giant radioactive waste barrel
GIANT RADIOACTIVE WASTE BARREL MARKS SELECT COMMITTEE HEARING 27 Oct 11, Anti-nuclear activists erected a 7 metre tall radioactive waste barrel opposite Parliament House this morning to coincide with the first hearing of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the amended Roxby Downs Indenture Bill, which was introduced into both houses of Parliament last week.
“Today’s hearing will only hear presentations from BHP Billiton, the Olympic Dam Taskforce, and the Chamber of Mines and Energy,” said Nectaria Calan of Friends of the Earth Adelaide.
“It is unclear at this stage if other stakeholders and members of the public who have requested to be heard in person will be included in this process. This raises concerns that the Select Committee will simply rubber stamp the Bill after only hearing from parties with vested interests in supporting the expansion and the associated Indenture Agreement.”
“The committee has an opportunity to use its powers to investigate the social, environmental and cultural impacts of the Indenture Bill. It has an obligation to look further than representatives of the mining industry,” continued Ms. Calan.
Heavy handed police action against “Occupy Sydney”
Occupy Sydney Shut Down – But Not Over, New Matilda By Lauren Carroll Harris, 25 Oct 11 “……. Then came Sunday. The until-now peaceful occupation was raided by riot police — many without name badges — at 5am when the CBD was empty and the media asleep. Unlike Friday’s Melbourne assault, campers were given only a few minutes warning. Police rummaged and through many protesters’ belongings. Forty people were arrested and four were charged. Otherwise, there was the unprovoked brutality that many activists expect: bloody noses, elbows to the neck and the like…..
Occupy is not merely a stand-alone demonstration or delayed response to the corporate greed that led to the global financial crisis, but part of a longer continuum of social justice. …. http://newmatilda.com/2011/10/24/occupy-sydney-shut-down-not-over
Marathon anti uranium walk will culminate at CHOGM in Perth, Western Australia
Environment: Uranium mine protests in Australia, Summit County Citizens Voice, October 11, 2011 by Bob Berwyn Activists protest by marching from Wiluna to Perth SUMMIT COUNTY — Together with activists from around the world, a group of native Aboriginal custodians is marching 1,200 kilometers across Western Australia to protest plans for a new mine by Toro Energy in Wiluna.
Concerns about uranium mining have heated up in Australia recently, following government approval of the Olympic Dam mine, which would be the world’s largest open pit uranium mine.
“(It’s) is a very sad day for South Australia and Australia. Many people around the world will also be appalled at this decision by the Labour Party,” said Footprints for Peace organizer Marcus Atkinson.
“In December 2003, Footprints for Peace, having walked from Olympic Dam uranium mine to Hiroshima in Japan, learnt from Traditional Custodians about the destruction of sacred sites and the enormous amounts of water being taken from the Great Artesian Basin,” Atkinson said.
“In Japan we stayed in Fukushima and heard from locals about the dark future they envisioned for their community. This community’s nightmare has come true in a much more terrifying way than anyone could have imagined. An environmental ministers job should be to protect the environment, but as Tony Burke has demonstrated today it is more about big business and little to do with the environment and our children’s future,” he added.
The latest march, billed as the “Walk away from Uranium Mining”, is to inform the community of the dangers of this industry. The walk began August 20 in Wiluna in Western Australia, the proposed uranium mine site of Toro Energy and will finish in Perth on October 27, coinciding with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting meeting. Continue reading
The definitive story on the new BHP Billiton Olympic Dam uranium mine
Complete with photos of the region’s dust storms, and videos of David Bradbury’s latest film, videos about water use, videos from Gavin Mudd and Scott Ludlam .
Uranium mine expansion to unleash radioactive dust storms across Australia
http://www.independentaustralia.net/2011/politics/uranium-mine-expansion-to-unleash-radioactive-dust-storms-across-australia/
Independent Australia, 19 Oct 11 Environment correspondent Sandi Keane takes an in-depth look at the troubling implications of the Olympic Dam uranium mine expansion before asking: “Is Occupy Roxby Downs a possibility?”
“….. take-home messages that will haunt you after watching David Bradbury’s new shocker,Wake Up. Filmmaker, Bradbury, is lauded by critics for his superbly made documentaries. With five AFI awards, two Academy Award nominations and countless international film festival prizes under his belt, the horrific consequences of BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam expansion are told in chilling, graphic detail. Invest 12 minutes of your children’s future and watch it….
The Federal Government’s crucial environmental approval of the expansion of BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam uranium mine at Roxby Downs was cynically announced on the eve of the historic Clean Energy Bill’s vote in the lower house — with good reason. To bury it. Last week’s reported sighting of Premier, Mike Rann, in Canberra at the Federal government’s tax summit, signalled a fast-track decision by the Environment Minister was in the wings. A week later, Premier Mike Rann signed the agreement with BHP just days before departing politics on 20thOctober
Rushed isn’t the word for this disgraceful lack of process. For what? So Premier Rann can have his name on a piece of paper and a plaque at the site? Or be catapaulted into the lucrative world of the “pale, male and stale” brigade of political retirees on multinational mining boards? read more at: http://www.independentaustralia.net/2011/politics/uranium-mine-expansion-to-unleash-radioactive-dust-storms-across-australia/
Australian Greens may yet put a spanner in the works of expanding Olympic Damn Uranium mine
Greens threaten BHP deal, BY:MICHAEL OWEN ,The Australian ,October 14, 2011 KEVIN Foley, who for six years led the South Australian government’s negotiations with BHP Billiton over its planned Olympic Dam expansion, has slammed the Greens for threatening to stall the passage of an indenture agreement through parliament in a spat over royalties.
- The indenture, signed by the former treasurer and Premier Mike Rann with BHP chief Marius Kloppers in Melbourne on Wednesday, fixes royalties at the current 5 per cent for uranium and 3.5 per cent for other minerals for the first 45 years of the project.
- The indenture needs to be ratified by the state’s parliament and a bill will be introduced on Tuesday, but there is no guarantee of a swift passage through the upper house, where the Labor government does not have a majority.
Greens upper house MP Mark Parnell yesterday vowed to move amendments to the royalty deal. “All companies want security, they love to know things that will be set in stone forever but . . . royalties go up and down, mostly they go up,” Mr Parnell said. “A lot of states are thinking of putting theirs up higher, so to lock in a company with its own special act of parliament to not have to pay any higher royalties for 45 years I think is wrong and I think we have sold ourselves short.”.. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/greens-threaten-bhp-deal/story-e6frg9df-1226166214071
Australia’s carbon tax – an economic opportunity for regional businesses
it’s really in our interest economically to start becoming more efficient and do more with less.
How to stop whingeing and get with the carbon program, ABC Rural News, By Caddie Brain, 13 October 2011 Many businesses in regional Australia are concerned about higher energy costs under a carbon tax.
But Jon Dee, the founder of Do Something! and a former NSW Australian of the year, says it’s not all bad news.
He says the carbon tax presents an opportunity for businesses to innovate and become more efficient. Continue reading
Australia’s opportunity to work to make renewable energy cheap
There is a better way. Instead of trying to make fossil energy more expensive, Australia should work to make clean energy cheap.
Australia’s carbon tax battle: where it fits into the global war, Crikey, October 6, 2011 Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus :“…….the Left and Right parties in Australia have adopted virtually wholesale the positions taken by Left and Right parties in America.
The Labor Party has borrowed from American Democrats the strategy of giving out money to win over consumers, powerful industries, and unions. The Liberal Party has borrowed from American Republicans the strategy of attacking climate scientists and mobilising a populist backlash. Continue reading
Martin Ferguson, Australia’s Minister for Uranium Mining, confronted by clown protestors
Clowns tell big-wigs to stop messing around. 1057 ABC Darwin, By Clare Rawlinson.6 October, 2011 A group of ‘Kakadu clowns’ have surrounded the Darwin Convention Centre this morning as the NT Mining and South East Asia offshore conference begins. The clowns – protestors from the NT Environment Centre – aim to highlight environmental risks associated with uranium mining in the Kakadu national park.
Minister for Resources Martin Ferguson and delegates from mining big players Inpex and Connoco Phillips avoided the protestors as they arrived this morning, walking directly into the convention centre as the clowns enacted the destruction of the national park caused by mining.
“We’re here to send a message about Kakadu and uranium mining,” organiser Cat Beaton said. ”Kakadu is Australia’s largest National Park – it’s very precious to everybody…Uranium poses a lot of risks.
“We want to send a message to resourse Minister Martin Fergus that we really need to rethink this industry and surely in the NT we can do better. This is an industry that poses risks to workers, to transport, and, you know, on a good day it will end up as radioactive waste and on a bad day it can end up in nuclear weapons.”… http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2011/10/06/3333604.htm
Around Australia by electric car
George’s electrifying mission, GLEN George is a man on a mission. Daily Mercury, Jessica Grant, 27th September 2011 The former solar power manufacturer aims to be the first person to circumnavigate Australia in an electric car in an effort to raise awareness of renewable energy. (picture at left, of a solar car – is not accurate regarding George’s car)
Mr George, who was in Mackay yesterday, set off from Perth on August 21, and if everything goes according to plan he should make it back on November 13. With the Guinness World Book of Records keeping a close eye on George’s progress, he is trying to keep his carbon count as low as possible……
SPECS
The car’s name is ‘Lectric’
It cost $25,000 to rebuild
Runs on 45 Lithium ion batteries
It takes nine hours to fully recharge
An approximate range of 110km
Costs about 2 cents per km
http://www.dailymercury.com.au/story/2011/09/27/electric-car-drives-into-the-record-books/
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 