Mining giant Xstrata (and Glencore?) in court over global warming
it will be the first in Australia to argue for an outright refusal of a mine based on its climate change impacts
Graziers, greenies ally against Xstrata, Brisbane Times, Christine FlatleyAugust 22, 2011 – Global giant Xstrata should be refused permission to open a new coal mine in Queensland that will have serious adverse impacts on the climate and nearby graziers, a court has heard.
Green group Friends of the Earth appeared in the Brisbane Land Court today in an attempt to scuttle an 11,000-hectare coal mine planned for the small town of Wandoan, 400km northwest of Brisbane. Continue reading
UK court victory gives hope to Australia’s nuclear test veterans
Sydney law firm Stacks/Goudkamp is representing hundreds of Australian veterans of the British nuclear tests at Maralinga and Montebello Island conducted in the 1950s and early 1960s……“The decision of the English Supreme Court to allow the UK veterans of Maralinga to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s decision against their claims keeps alive the prospect that these veterans, who have been so shamelessly treated by their own government, may finally receive the compensation they deserve.
“It also keeps alive the claims for the Australian veterans who have been waiting for the outcome of the UK case before launching their own class action against the UK Ministry of Defence.”
Australian veterans of British nuclear tests hopes for compensation boosted by UK court decision, Frank Walker, 31 July 11, The hopes of hundreds of Australian military veterans of British nuclear tests seeking compensation from the UK Ministry of Defence got a boost overnight after a significant victory in the British courts. Continue reading
Atomic veterans’ compensation case drags, as nuclear test victims die
A seemingly disproportionate number of the 26,000 servicemen, also from Australia, Fiji and New Zealand, sent to the sites had died prematurely of a range of illnesses including cancer and heart disease. Complaints of skin disease and infertility were common, while many offspring were sickly…….
Britain urged to settle nuclear payout for veterans, THE AUSTRALIAN , 4 July 11, The British government was under pressure last night to settle a multimillion-pound fight with more than 1000 veterans of nuclear tests in Australia and the Pacific or risk wasting even more money on a “morally unjustifiable” legal battle that could drag on for years.Supporters of the pensioners, who participated in Britain’s atomic bomb trials in the Pacific in the 1950s, said that it was time for the Ministry of Defence to follow the world’s four other main nuclear powers and pay compensation.
A group of veterans who are dying of cancer and other conditions at a rate of about three a month will this month go to the Supreme Court to challenge an attempt by the MoD to have their landmark case thrown out. Continue reading
Australia will abide by court decision on nuclear waste dump – Prime Minister Gillard
Gillard heckled on last day of NT visit ABC News 10 June 11, By Michael Coggan “…..Ms Gillard says she thinks the intervention, which is approaching its fourth anniversary and involves measures such as child health checks and extra police, is working.
But arriving at Charles Darwin University to open a new $28 million medical training school, she was heckled by protesters who called for an end to the intervention and voiced opposition to a proposed nuclear waste dump near Tennant Creek……The Prime Minister also fended off protests about Federal Government plans to build a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty Station near Tennant Creek……
“I understand there is disputation about who the traditional owners are. We of course followed the advice of the Northern Land Council, which is the appropriate process for us to follow, but this matter is now before courts and of course we will abide by any decision that comes from those court proceedings.” http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/06/09/3240211.htm?section=justin
Australia’s Future Fund breaks Australian law with investments in nuclear weapons
the Future Fund’s investments chief appeared unaware that nuclear weapons are banned under Australian law.
The fund’s biggest holding is in Honeywell International (A$76.8 million), a company in charge of conducting simulated nuclear tests for the US government and helping to extend the lifecycle of America’s Trident II nuclear weapons.
Our Nuclear Sovereign Wealth | newmatilda.com, Tim Wright 1 June 11“ If the Future Fund is to comply with its own stated policy not to finance companies involved in activities that are unlawful in Australia, it should exclude nuclear arms makers from its investment universe.
The Future Fund would not be the first sovereign wealth fund to do so. The Norwegian Pension Fund and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund have both deemed it unethical to finance nuclear weapons companies, winding up all investments they once had. Continue reading
Martin Ferguson disregarding Aboriginal court action against nuclear waste dump
Despite this, [Aboriginal landowners’ legal action in progress] Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson is already forging ahead to get plans for a national radioactive waste dump underway
NT nuclear waste dump plan forges ahead 9 NEWS, May 7 2011 By Fiona Willan, A federal government plan to dump nuclear waste on Aboriginal land is set to be debated in Parliament, as a legal battle over the site continues in court. Continue reading
Australian govt rushes nuclear waste legislation, while legal case continues
the Federal Court has listed it for further mediation in August.
While the legal battle continues, legislation to allow a facility to go ahead is proceeding much more quickly.
Legal battle over nuclear dump to resume in August – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) By Katrina Bolton Mar 1, 2011 A legal battle over the nominated site for Australia’s first nuclear waste facility looks set to continue for months. Muckaty Station near Tennant Creek is the only site nominated by the Federal Government for Australia’s first nuclear waste dump. Continue reading
Legal proceedings begin on Muckaty nuclear waste dump plan
“Everyone knew that the wrong people gave permission to have that land destroyed by these government people who weren’t listening to the main Traditional Owners.
Judge rules for Aboriginal landowners against mining company
SA judge’s blow to Straits, Argonaut | Perth Now, 17 Jan 2011, A SOUTH Australian court has denied Straits Resources and its joint venture partner Argonaut Resources the rights to explore a region around Lake Torrens. Continue reading
Judge upheld rights of Lucas Heights anti nuclear activists
Is breaking the law always illegal? | Greenpeace International, by Daniel Simons – January 11, 2011 Early in the morning of 17 December 2001, a group of intruders penetrated the area inside the perimeter fence surrounding the Lucas Heights nuclear plant, Australia’s only reactor. Continue reading
Australian soldiers and Aborigines affected by nuclear test court case
About 200 Australian veterans, widows and children of veterans had planned their own class action against the British government. Aborigines affected were also closely watching the verdict.
The British veterans are deciding whether to appeal, while the Australians are now considering an action against the Australian government.
British ruling hits Diggers’ bid for bomb test damages, The Age, DAN OAKES, 24 Nov 10, AUSTRALIAN veterans’ hopes of compensation for exposure to nuclear testing in the 1950s hang by a thread after a British court decision. Continue reading
Uranium company ERA fined for radioactive pollution of workers
Twenty-eight workers had fallen ill with spontaneous vomiting, gastric upsets, headaches or skin rashes after drinking or showering in the water, which contained 400 times more uranium than recommended
When PR Goes Nuclear | Green Hybrid Cars , 29 Sept 10, Northern Territory based miner and producer of uranium oxide Energy Resources Of Australia Limited (ERA) were today fined $150,000 Continue reading
Australian, New Zealand, UK, veterans were guinea pigs for nuclear radiation
In total, 25,000 forces members from the UK, Australia and New Zealand were stationed near the blast sites.
Their lawyers claim many were there simply as guinea pigs to gauge the impact of nuclear explosions on human health.
LibDem Armed Forces minister betrayed us by dropping U.S support, say atom-test veterans, Daily mail, By Ian Drury 11th September 2010 The Armed Forces minister was last night condemned as a hypocrite who has betrayed nuclear test veterans by dropping his support after getting into power. Continue reading
Fear and loathing in the Four Mile uranium project companies
Uranium companies at odds on recording devices ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Sep 1, 2010 A company involved in developing a uranium mine near Beverley in the far north-east of South Australia has lost an attempt to record confidential meetings. Continue reading
Centre for Geomechanics to “scrutinise” Western Australia’s uranium mining
The tender was awarded to the Australian Centre for Geomechanics,…The new group comes as several resources companies including BHP Billiton and Toro Energy are vying to develop the state’s first uranium mine, which could be as early as 2013.
Experts appointed to scrutinise WA uranium , Rebecca Laws, on Perth Now , August 23, 2010 The State Government has appointed an independent group of experts to implement a regulatory framework for WA’s emerging uranium sector. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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