Nuclear industry “dead in the water”- poor outlook for WA uranium
“Nuclear has been around for a long time and there are fewer reactors now than there were five years ago.
“Nuclear is not a resurgent industry, the only people interested in this energy is uranium mining companies.
WA’s uranium industry – on shaky ground?, ABC News, 19 July 11,Louise Merrillees“…..Even in a pro-mining state, uranium mining has had a chequered past…… Greens MP Robin Chapple says nuclear energy is dead in the water. Continue reading
Australia’s carbon tax plan – leadership on tackling climate change
I think it will give momentum to the global talks to know that a country as resource-dependent in terms of fossil fuels as Australia is, is now prepared to adopt emissions trading, is prepared to go with an economywide approach and is prepared to lift its level of ambition for 2050 to an 80% reduction……
The main problem is that the same people who run
campaigns for Big Oil and Big Tobacco have been involved in a campaign of climate denial, really post-the U.N. Copenhagenconference — we had the climate denial before then, but it’s really taken on a life of its own since then. And so we’ve had massive investment by the big fossil fuel lobby in Australia in generating doubt and undermining the science.
Australia’s carbon tax plan ‘a big turning point’, By Jennifer Bennett, Los Angeles Times, July 15, 2011, Greens party Sen. Christine Milne says plans for a carbon tax of $24.65 a ton, aimed at discouraging the use of fossil fuels and increasing investment in renewable energy, could blaze a trail for other nations in lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Continue reading
Prime Minister Julia Gillard sets out vision for Australia’s renewable energy future
We talk about “baseload power” today but smart grids and distributed energy production may fundamentally reshape the way we move energy from the production point to the power point. In less time than we can know, millions of homes may be powered by renewable energy…… Revenue from the carbon price will be funding new investments in clean technology…..
Julia Gillard’s National Press Club speech, Canberra Times, 14 July 11 The issues that have brought me here to the Press Club as Prime Minister have been big ones. Laying out my vision for Australia in a national election campaign and making my case in the leaders’ debate. Reflecting on the formation of a new Government and announcing our plan to rebuild Queensland.
I come here again today because pricing carbon is surely as important as these………
I want every Australian to know why I am pursuing this
Yes, climate change is a threat to our environment. Yes, being left behind as the world moves is a threat to our economy. But I am not just doing this to protect Australia against threats.
I am doing this because I see a great opportunity we can seize.
I see a great clean energy future for our great country
Within a few years, we’ll be seeing big changes on the energy supply side, big changes in industrial production, changes among consumers and households as well.
Energy producers investing more and more in gas and in renewable, manufacturers and commercial buildings and hospitals converting boilers from coal-fired to gas. Tenants chasing space in energy-efficient buildings and chemical plants installing “scrubbers” to reduce nitrous oxide emissions…….
We talk about “baseload power” today but smart grids and distributed energy production may fundamentally reshape the way we move energy from the production point to the power point. In less time than we can know, millions of homes may be powered by renewable energy.
Tidal in WA, solar in Queensland, wind in New South Wales, geothermal in South Australia, clean coal in Victoria, cogeneration in Tasmania. But behind all those changes, behind what we do see, will be the big reform – the price on carbon pollution.
Revenue from the carbon price will be funding new investments in clean technology…..
Remembering the atomic test victims of Emu Field and Maralinga
EXCURSION TO THE NUCLEAR WASTELANDS OF EMU FIELD AND MARALINGA, REMEMBRANCE DAY – FRIDAY 11 NOVEMBER, 2011 . Paul Langley’s Nuclear History Blog, 13 July 11, (from “Atomic Fallout”, Vol 4, No. 11, June/July 2011, pp 14: 15, the organ of the Atomic Ex-Servicemen’s Association A.C.T. Inc.}
“The traditional Aboriginal Owners of the Maralinga Lands, South Australia, have given permission to allow former atomic test participants and their friends to visit the regions and to hold a Remembrance Day ceremony on Friday 11 November, 2011, to commemorate the nuclear disasters and service in memory of the event. Continue reading
Australia has more international credibility with new carbon tax plan
”Until now, we have always been on the back foot in these type of negotiations, because we turn up and say we’ve done nothing and we expect other countries to do something.”
Australia will have renewed authority in next global talks, Sydney Morning Herald, Ben Cubby,July 13, The carbon price plan is likely to have more of an impact in global climate negotiations than Australia’s ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, international law experts believe. Continue reading
South Australia will gradually transition to renewable energy
Clean Energy Council director of strategy Kane Thornton said large-scale solar-thermal power, wind power and bioenergy would become cost-competitive once the cost of fossil fuel electricity generation increased. In the more distant future, geothermal and wave energy were also contenders…..
the $23 a tonne price on carbon was unlikely to tip the balance toward nuclear energy in Australia. “Plus, it is illegal to build nuclear power stations in Australia and, with developments in Japan, it’s unlikely to be popular.”.
Alternative power to the people, Adelaide Now, Sarah Martin , July 14, 2011, THE proposed carbon tax has turned the spotlight on alternative energy sources needed to fill the void. As regional South Australia digested news this week that the Government’s proposed carbon tax would likely close Port Augusta’s Playford B power station, a small Adelaide company was testing its flagship geothermal project in the State’s north…..
EnergyQuest director Graeme Bethune said the most likely outcome for Playford would be for the power station to be converted to gas. “I would be surprised if the closure of that and replacement with gas had a material impact on energy prices (in South Australia),” he said. Continue reading
Australia joins South Asian nations in nuclear-free movement
“The Fukushima disaster has not changed the situation for uranium mining in Australia, but it has had some effect. Public opposition to uranium mining has strengthened in Australia. A recent poll found 50% opposition to uranium exports compared to 44% support……“Friends of the Earth Australia joins our colleagues in South Korea, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Japan, and all our brothers and sisters in the Asia Pacific region to build a nuclear free Asia Pacific and create a clean energy future for the next generations.”..
Natalie Lowrey Friends of the Earth Australia 30 June 2011 Seoul, Korea“Radioactive by-products of Australian uranium have been spewing into the atmosphere from Fukushima” reported Natalie Lowrey of FoE Australia at the recent FoE Asia Pacific meeting in Seoul, Korea.
“BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto export uranium from Australia to TEPCO’s Fukushima nuclear power plant from the Olympic Dam and Ranger mines in Australia, respectively. Heathgate Resources, operator of the Beverley uranium mine in South Australia, has probably also supplied TEPCO.
“Approximately 70% of uranium used in nuclear reactors are sourced from the homelands of Indigenous minorities worldwide, this is no different in Australia. Aboriginal communities in Australia have publicly announced their sadness at the uranium that has be taken from their lands without their consent and resulted in the nuclear disaster in Japan. These Aboriginal communities know too well that the nuclear industry has lead to sickness, divided communities and contaminated land. Continue reading
Residents concerns stalling Lynas’ rare earths project
Rare earths plant stalled amid worries, By Lou Kilzer, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, July 1, 2011 “…….The Malaysian plant near Kuantan is owned by Australia’s Lynas Corp., a company set to begin large-scale mining of rare earths from a site called Mount Weld in Western Australia. There is widespread concern among Malaysians about possible radiation exposure because the ore from rare earths often contains radioactive thorium
Soo Jin Hou of the Kuantan Environmental Watch Group predicted on Malaysia Today, a popular news blog, that the plant “will cast a shadow over Kuantan town. Real estate prices will plunge, residents who are able to relocate will flee and those who are not will be in constant fear of radiation exposure.”….Rare earths plant stalled amid worries – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_744730.html#ixzz1QvwLbYF8
Australia’s Future Fund investing in 15 international nuclear weapons companies
Australia’s Future Fund investing in nuclear weapons?
It is a well-known fact Australia is a vocal opponent of nuclear weapons and their manufacture.
So, it comes as a complete surprise that the Australian government-owned Future Fund has investments in fifteen foreign-owned companies involved in the manufacture of nuclear weapons. Sandra Kanck, state President of the Australian Democrats, supports the abolition of nuclear weapons and she spoke to Jess Wingard.,,
Australia’s new colonialism – Aboriginal land grab for mining corporations
the Howard government’s 2007 intervention suspended all Aboriginal land rights…… more likely to simply allow free access for corporations……. The effect of this 21st century land-grab on indigenous peoples is as catastrophic as that of the earlier waves of imperial aggression. ..
First Nations festival kicks off in London New Internationalist, 3 July 11, by Michael Walling “………..Australia’s Native Title legislation was fiercely resisted by the mining companies; but its practical benefit for indigenous people is limited anyway, since the title to land does not include any rights to minerals in the land, or to trees and vegetation on it. Continue reading
Melbourne anti nuclear rally calls for sacking of Martin Ferguson
VIDEO http://melbourneprotests.wordpress.com/2011/06/30/protest-as-martin-ferguson-arrives-at-growth-conference-in-melbourne DUMP FERGUSON NOT NUCLEAR WASTE“Ferguson should also be held to account for continuing to promote Australia’s uranium industry despite its role in the Fukushima disaster.
Anti-nuclear activists from Friends of the Earth joined the protest outside the ‘Economic and Social Outlook Conference 2011′ at Melbourne University to voice concern against resources minister Martin Ferguson’s radioactive agenda. Continue reading
Aboriginal fight for alternative to NT Intervention comes to Sydney
On Saturday June 25, the Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney (STICS) will hold a demonstration demanding an end to the NT Intervention and support for a new alternative program ‘Rebuilding from the Ground Up’. The program was launched at a strong demonstration in Darwin on Tuesday by Aboriginal leaders from across the Northern Territory.
The 11 point plan includes the re-establishment of Aboriginal community councils, abandonment of the ‘hub towns’ model and investment in all communities, an end to compulsory acquisition of Aboriginal land, the rescinding of all leases signed under the NTER and recognition of the importance of Aboriginal customary law. Continue reading
Western Australian leader says that Labor Party will keep anti uranium policy
Ripper says uranium policy unlikely to change. Joe Spagnolo State Political Editor PerthNow , June 21, 2011 THE WA Labor Party is unlikely to change its anti-uranium mining policy at this weekend’s state conference, Opposition leader Eric Ripper says. Mr Ripper told PerthNow he expected the issue to be debated. But he believed Labor’s policy would not be changed ……
“The party has been concerned about uranium mining for 40 years,” Mr Ripper said….
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/ripper-says-uranium-policy-unlikely-to-change/story-e6frg14c-1226079290569
WA politicians told to get modern – dump uranium industry and boost renewables
Get with the times: Parliament told nuclear power is ‘so last century‘ WA Today Courtney Trenwith June 22, 2011 Uranium is so last century; renewable energy is where it’s at. That was the message to West Australian politicians last night during a protest against uranium mining.
An oversized cheque for 10,248 signatures (tabled during the past two years), cheekily made payable to WA Parliament, also was on display. A colourful slideshow of hand-written messages was projected on the front wall of Parliament House to mark the tabling of more than 10,000 signatures calling for the government to reinstate the no-uranium mining policy.
Conservation Council WA anti-nuclear campaigner Mia Pepper said the creative protest symbolised that the writing was on the wall for nuclear power.
“We hope to offer support to those in Parliament that are standing up against this industry.” “This industry is in decline and we need to take the lead and back out of this industry as quickly as possible,” Ms Pepper said.
The hand-written messages were sent over the internet from supporters around the state…….Organised by the WA branches of the Conservation Council, Nuclear-Free Alliance and the Anti-Nuclear Alliance, the rally was addressed by WA Greens Leader Giz Watson and Labor MP Sally Talbot, on behalf of Opposition Leader Eric Ripper…. Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/get-with-the-times-parliament-told-nuclear-power-is-so-last-century-20110621-1gddv.html#ixzz1Pz04XuCj
CSIRO’s new solar research hub
PICTURES CSIRO Newcastle solar tower opens: pics By Michael Lee, ZDNet.com.au on June 20th, 2011 CSIRO opened Australia’s largest solar thermal research hub over the weekend, providing the Hunter region with another source of renewable energy and industry with a new hub for research…. http://www.zdnet.com.au/csiro-newcastle-solar-tower-opens-pics-339317052.htm
1 This month
PETITION – To: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Government
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
19 May – Webinar- Webinar: No Nuclear Weapons in Australia
Start: 2026-05-19 18:00:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
End: 2026-05-19 19:30:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
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 
