Scientists and the ethics of uranium and nuclear weapons
Considering Australia, he argues, is a country with abundant uranium reserves, our scientists should refrain from activities that have the potential to indirectly aid the production of nuclear weapons
The Responsible Sci
entist: A Philosophical Inquiry, Eureka: Ethics Research, Australian Museum, December 2010, WINNER – The Responsible Scientist Setting a Moral Compass for Scientists As atomic bombs fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the final stages of World War II in 1945, the world witnessed the devastation that science could inflict on humankind.Since that moment, countries around the world have been called to account on their nuclear weapons programs. But what responsibility rests on the shoulders of the scientists who make such grand-scale destruction possible? Continue reading
Wikileaks Whistleblower defends principle of free speech
“When governments stop torturing and killing people, and when corporations stop abusing the legal system, then perhaps it will be time to ask if free-speech activists are accountable.” – Julian Assange
A dream come true for WikiLeaks founder, DAILY NATION 2 Dec 10, The founder of the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks whose exclusive dossiers have captured the attention of the world is a man who seems to have achieved his dream. Continue reading
The other side of BHP Billiton’s Annual Report
Threatening lives, the environment, and peoples’ future – An Alternative Annual Report on BHP Billiton 2009-2010 In this 25 page report, case studies question BHP’s record on human rights, transparency, and ecological justice.
“………..This report examines a number of BHP Billiton’s operations around the world. The collection of case studies highlights the disparity between BHP Billiton’s ‘Sustainability Framework’ and the reality of its operations.In the year 2009-2010 BHP Billiton has continued itsinvolvement in many controversial mines, is advancing riskyand unwanted projects….. Continue reading
BHP Billiton- uranium and coal miner – not an ethical investment
the problems of decommissioning nuclear power plants and disposal of waste and proliferation, as well as BHP’s carbon footprint, – reasons for not holding the company.
Turbocharged: ethical investments beat the market, Sydney Morning Herald John Collett, October 13, 2010 “…….Some of the largest that run ”socially responsible” funds have BHP Billiton among their biggest shareholdings. It means their investors have more money in BHP than any other company. Continue reading
Greenwashing in Australian banks and “ethical” funds
Many ethical funds will claim to be committed to socially responsible investment but how green are they?…Australian banks investing in coal over renewable energy at a rate of seven to one. The banks invested $5.5 billion in the coal industry, as against $784 million in renewable energies.
Environmentally-friendly investments, How green are they really?, Sydney Morning Herald, Adam Courtenay, October 12, 2010 – The government may have rediscovered a political commitment to carbon containment but few investment houses have shown any signs of moving with the environmental zeitgeist. Green investing, in its purest environmental sense, remains anathema to financial advisers and mainstream fund managers, and investors with a deep green conscience are badly served by the sector.There are only a handful of truly green investment funds available in Australia and most struggle for subscriptions. Continue reading
ANZ, National, CBA, Westpac hypocrites with their huge investment in coal
Greenpeace Slams Australia’s Big 4 Banks’ Coal Power Investment, Renewable Energy News, 4 Oct 10, A report prepared for Greenpeace Australia Pacific has found Australia’s big four banks are pouring huge amounts of money into the most polluting form of power generation: coal. Continue reading
U.S. Nuclear Agency’s grisly tests on monkeys
Monkeys blown up in grisly tests, Northern Territory News, BEN LANGFORD, September 10th, 2010 INPEX is relying on experiments where monkeys, dogs, sheep and ducks were suspended in water and blown up by explosives to test the effects of marine blasting. Continue reading
Australia’s”ethical” investments not always ethical when it comes to uranium
what about uranium mining?…. many consider uranium mining to be one of the most unethical activities of all.
A world of opportunities, Sydney Morning Herald, David Potts. September 6, 2010 -Ethical investment is a moral minefield …..there’s a fine line between what’s ethical and what’s mainstream. Continue reading
Paladin makes it clear that regulations are slacker for uranium mining in Africa
Take your pick and get out of Africa | Herald Sun, Olga Galacho , 6 May 2010, IF THE flap of a butterfly’s wings can cause an effect on the other side of the world, then it should follow that certain mining activities in Africa should shame some Australian investors. “………..Details of the 150 ASX-listed or soon to be floated companies with mostly uranium mining interests in Africa have been kindly supplied in the Australia-Africa Mining Industry Group’s submission.It is available here: tinyurl.com/34xw9ez Australian companies now represent the third-largest category of miners in Africa and many of them have been attracted to that continent because of the poor governance of some of its regimes………. Continue reading
Should we allow bribing of a few to bring radioactive poisons to future generations?
It raises the question tho, should a community, or NLC, on receiving a bribe…have the right to approve a dump when it is the next 1000 generations who may have to…wear the impact of leakage?
New Matilda, Markob 24/02/10 “…the problem of allowing local communities to decide these things, for different reasons than Ferguson’s. This community clearly feels that this is not right – why would you put a waste dump at the confluence of 3 major rivers?- but that can change, unlikely as it sounds. It raises the question tho, should a community, or NLC, on receiving a bribe such as annual income and new housing, some jobs guarding a dump, sw pool etc, have the right to approve a dump when it is the next 1000 generations who may have to do repair work, or wear the impact of leakage? Who should decide?
Land rights are one thing, self determination another great principle, but what happens when the guardians simply want their people to have an acceptable standard of living and are sick of watching babies die, and sign anything?
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 