A questionable vagueness about the federal govt’s nuclear waste plan for Kimba
Mark Simpkin Fight To Stop A Nuclear Waste Dump In South Australia 1 Feb 2020, Once again smelly. Without fair balanced consultation with the community, disallowing all stockholders to participate in the ballot, there’s a questionable vagueness of what this dump will entail in terms of its storage of intermediate / high level waste.
When Rowan Ramsay (Kimba’s local federal member) was interview by Peter Goers on ABC Radio, no indication of the proximity of Rowan Ramsey’s own land to the dump site, little mention that land owners can NAME THEIR OWN PRICE for the land with no government oversight .
Finally our own state Liberal government allowed this to run its course with full knowledge of our existing laws that were established to prevent this and to top it all, this announcement at a time when the countries attention and grief is for the bushfires speaks volumes of the nature and character of these individuals. Poor form. https://www.facebook.com/groups/941313402573199/
#ScottyFromMarketing is dodging the need for real action on climate change
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Climate change calls for action, not adaptation, SMH January 31, 2020 Judy Dillon, Garran ACT In the midst of our horrific summer, polls show the majority of people want to see urgent action on climate change, (”PM’s bushfire response must include climate change: experts”, January 30). We don’t want a focus on ”resilience and adaptation” or ”meeting and beating” pathetically low targets with the use of accounting tricks. Emissions are continuing to rise while the Morrison government uses weasel words to pretend they are doing something effective, all while handing billions to the fossil fuel industry.
The House of Representatives is scheduled to sit for a total of 72 days in 2020, so politicians have no time to lose. If they are not prepared to get on with the mammoth task of taking real and significant climate action in the interests of all Australians, and indeed the whole world, then they should get out of the way now so politicians who are so motivated can take their place. Quiet Australians have had enough – we will not be silent. –
– Peter Spencer, Castle Hill The PM is setting up an inquiry that avoids the real cause of of this and future bushfires – climate change. Once again, he gives the impression he is doing something when he is avoiding the real issue. Another opportunity wasted.
Adrian Owen, Killawarra , The PM now reluctantly concedes our continent is warming and drying. By saying the effects of the emissions already in the atmosphere will be felt for decades regardless of any action, he seeks to portray emissions mitigation as a lost cause. He must imagine the public will willingly surrender to warming beyond two degrees. His new focus on resilience and adaptation will lead to the absurd situation in which the coal industry will continue apace while federal government will spend money elsewhere to try to protect the rest of us from the ravages of a warming climate. –
– Mike Reddy, Vincentia After listening to Morrison talk about climate change action, I think his government is focused on hope. Hope that individuals keep putting solar panels up. Hope that the states keep pulling their weight. Hope that the rest of the world reduces its emissions. Hope that no one notices he is doing nothing. Hope that rising sea levels don’t swamp Waikiki.
Graham Lum, North Rocks Barilaro claims that Matt Kean’s comments on climate change are unhelpful and do not represent the whole of government. That may be so, but I suggest they do represent the views of the majority of Australians. -… https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/climate-change-calls-for-action-not-adaptation-20200129-p53vwp.html
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Aboriginal peoples must be restored as custodians of Country
Research Fellow, University of Melbourne, January 31, 2020 In the wake of devastating bushfires across the country, and with the prospect of losing a billion animals and some entire species, transformational change is required in the way we interact with this land.Australia’s First Peoples have honed and employed holistic land management practices for thousand of generations. These practices are embedded in all aspects of our culture. They are so effective, so perfectly suited to this harshest of continents, that we are the oldest living culture in the world today.
A reintroduction of traditional land management is essential if we want to address the ecological crisis we now face.
Not just ‘consultants Continue reading
Dodgy #ScottyFromMarketing govt process for Kimba nuclear waste dump needs investigation
Inhumane treatment of Australian Julian Assange by UK government
Julian Assange and the Inhumanity of the British State: ‘Unofficial’ Solitary Confinement as Torture 21st Century Wire, JANUARY 26, 2020 BY NINA CROSS Up until this week, Assange has been held in solitary confinement in Belmarsh prison. Incredibly, it was the other prisoners along with Assange’s legal team, who have pressured the government officials to respect the law and allow Assange to be removed from solitary confinement, resulting in his transfer to a general wing. This piece looks at how Assange was unofficially segregated in the prison’s healthcare unit, with no recourse to systems designed for prisoners in official solitary confinement regimes as applied under Prison Rule 45, leaving him out of reach of rules and law.
The sustained violation of the human rights of Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange, has been carried out in full view of the world throughout his arbitrary detention in HMP Belmarsh. Until now, condemnation of his treatment and pleas to end his suffering have been met with denial and silence by the British authorities.
But the announcement this week that Assange has been moved out of Belmarsh healthcare unit where he has been detained in solitary confinement since May, is a sign that the campaign to stop his persecution is gaining traction. Continue reading
Adaptation to bushfires might not be achievable without stronger action to curb emissions
(Cartoon above, courtesy of Independent Australia and Mark David)
Australia is ‘ground zero’ in climate crisis and must show leadership, top researchers say https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/29/australia-is-ground-zero-in-climate-crisis-and-must-show-leadership-top-researchers-say Lisa Cox, Wed 29 Jan 2020, Adaptation to bushfires might not be achievable without stronger action to curb emissions, letter warns, Lisa Cox Australia’s current position as “ground zero” for both the impacts of climate change and policy uncertainty presents an opportunity for the country to emerge as a leader in responding to the climate crisis, according to Australian Research Council laureates.
In a letter signed by 80 ARC laureate fellows, some of Australia’s top researchers said claims strong action to cut emissions would be economically destructive have no basis and are not “consistent with Australia’s traditional optimism and ingenuity, nor with historical experience”.
“Reducing emissions is a global challenge that requires collective action,” the letter said.
“But Australia’s current visibility as ground zero for both climate impacts and climate policy uncertainty presents a unique opportunity for us to emerge as a leader on this challenge.”
The ARC laureate fellows are a small group of researchers selected by the ARC as the top researchers across all fields in Australia.
The letter, whose signatories include decorated academics in mathematics, science, economics, and language and culture, said the government’s focus on adapting to changed fire patterns “is not enough”.
It was written as the country’s unprecedented bushfire season continues, with emergency warnings in place on Tuesday for a fire burning in the Namadgi national park near Canberra.
“We welcome government actions to help current victims and improve adaptation to future fires, as well as its acceptance of a role for climate change in the catastrophe,” the letter said.
“But this is not enough, because the greenhouse gas amounts driving warming are still rising: the world is only at the beginning of the climate change phenomenon.”
The bushfire emergency has brought the Coalition government’s climate policies into sharp focus.
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, was criticised for his handling of the crisis through Christmas and early January, and for his failure to meet with former emergency chiefs who warned of the coming catastrophe last year.
Morrison said this month that the government’s response to the increasingly visible effects of the climate crisis would be to address “adaptation and resilience” rather than strengthening policies to reduce emissions.
But the letter warns that without stronger action to curb emissions, the impacts of further temperature rises could be such that adaptation is not achievable.
“This dire outlook demands stronger mitigation of carbon emissions,” it said.
“Many argue that actions to achieve this would be economically destructive. This claim has no basis, nor is it consistent with Australia’s traditional optimism and ingenuity, nor with historical experience.”
They wrote that achieving net zero emissions was a large but achievable task, and “far less risky and irresponsible” than allowing continued global heating.
Australia faced international criticism as one of a handful of countries at the United Nations climate conference in Madrid in December that were responsible for thwarting a deal on the rulebook for the Paris climate agreement.
Australia is the only country that plans to use carryover credits from the Kyoto period to meet its targets under the Paris agreement.
Six legal arguments against the extradition of Julian Assange to America
Six legal arguments show why the US extradition of Julian Assange should be denied https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2020/01/25/six-legal-arguments-show-why-the-us-extradition-of-julian-assange-should-be-denied/ Tom Coburg 25th January 2020 The first of two articles examining Julian Assange’s upcoming extradition trial.
There are at least six legal reasons why the extradition request by the US against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be dismissed by the UK courts. The main extradition hearing is scheduled to commence 24 February 2020, with district judge Vanessa Baraitser presiding. The evidence to support Assange is compelling.
1. Client-lawyer confidentiality breached
2. The initial charge is flawed
1. Client-lawyer confidentiality breached
3. Initial charge relies on co-operation from Manning
4. Additional charges raised by the US are political
5. US legal precedent argues that Assange’s work is protected by the US Constitution
6. Threats of violence against Assange mean he’s unable to receive a fair trial
1. Client-lawyer confidentiality breached Continue reading
Uranium prospects poor, but Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt and Northern Land Council agree on a new mine
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NT uranium and gold mine exploration a step closer at Devil’s Elbow near Ranger Mine https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-25/ken-wyatt-approves-new-nt-uranium-mine-exploration/11896844 BY FELICITY JAMES Traditional owners and the Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt have signed off on a new exploration proposal for a uranium, gold and palladium mine in the Northern Territory.Key points:
Traditional owners fought hard against the Ranger Uranium Mine in the Northern Territory.
The Eclipse Metals project still needs approval from the NT Resources Minister but the company said in an ASX announcement it was confident approval would be granted. The site earmarked for exploration, known as Devil’s Elbow, is within Arnhem Land’s Alligator Rivers Uranium Field and lies 65 kilometres east of the Ranger Uranium Mine. The area has previously been explored and abandoned by other companies, including Cameco in 2008. Rio Tinto withdrew from a joint venture to acquire a majority stake in Devil’s Elbow, according to Eclipse Metals’ most recent annual report. The deal had been negotiated in 2016. In its announcement, Eclipse Metals said Mr Wyatt consented to the licence after a “long-standing” negotiation with the Northern Land Council and traditional owners resulted in an agreement. “The terms of the agreement are quite viable in the current market economy, allowing us to develop the Devil’s Elbow’s full potential,” director Carl Popal said in the statement. “The company looks forward to working closely with the traditional owners and the NLC in making the most of each exploration field from 2020, with bilateral benefits.” Scientist says venture may not be worthwhileThe supervising scientist branch of the Environment Department is responsible for protecting the Alligator Rivers region from the effects of uranium mining through monitoring and research. Gavin Mudd, an associate professor of environmental engineering at RMIT University who sits on the Alligator Rivers scientific committee, assists with this role. Associate Professor Mudd was sceptical about the proposal, considering market conditions and the fact the region has already been heavily explored for more than 60 years. “Sometimes you find something that other drillers and other explorers have missed, but often that’s not the case, it’s actually pretty rare,” he said. “There’s not a long-term prospect there. “I think when you’re looking at the uranium industry globally the future is not bright at all, that’s certainly how I read the tea leaves.” Associate Professor Mudd was sceptical about the proposal, considering market conditions and the fact the region has already been heavily explored for more than 60 years. “Sometimes you find something that other drillers and other explorers have missed, but often that’s not the case, it’s actually pretty rare,” he said. “There’s not a long-term prospect there. “I think when you’re looking at the uranium industry globally the future is not bright at all, that’s certainly how I read the tea leaves.”
But Associate Professor Mudd said Rio Tinto deserved some credit for committing funds to the rehabilitation of Ranger. “They haven’t just walked away, which is often what you would see a mining company do when you’ve got a mine that’s not making money anymore,” he said. |
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Names of 34 environmentalists and conservationists who received Australia Day Awards
Australia Day Honours, Maelor Himbury, 27 Jan 2020
Congratulations to the following people who received honours for contributions to the environment and/or conservation. (Apologies to any I may have missed)
Raymond Louis Specht, St Lucia QLD
Elaine Cafferty Carbines, Grovedale VIC
Graham John Faichney, Mosman NSW
David Ronald Leece, Beecroft NSW
Grant Donald Hunt, Isle of Capri QLD
Roderick Tucker Wells, Flagstaff Hill SA
Dedee Daryl Woodside, Umina Beach NSW
Graeme Leonard Worboys, Gilmore ACT
Maree Rosalie Byrne, Bowral NSW
Judith Anne Charnaud, Warriewood NSW
Fred Conway, QLD
Elizabeth Corke, VIC
Daryl James Akers, Melton South VIC
Eulalie Perry Brewster, Inverloch VIC
Raymond Brown, Bulli NSW
Leif Robert Cocks, Willagee WA
Brian Stuart Blythe, Portsea VIC
Marie Ann Ficcara, Cronulla NSW
Peter John Forster, Anglesea VIC
Sherryl Maree Garbutt, Brunswick VIC
Mary Julia Hutton, Stirling WA
William David Incoll, Monbulk VIC
Bronwen Jean Keichery, Subiaco WA
Gregory John Keichery, Subiaco WA
Diana Betty Laube, Tiatukia SA
Sarah Jane Lloyd, Birralee TAS
Peter Phillip Gash, Lady Elliott Island QLD
Lloyd Alwyn Nielsen, Mount Molloy QLD
Catherine Marie-Claire Oelrichs, Coopers Shoot NSW
Margaret Owen, Wembley WA
Carl John Rayner, Anglesea VIC
John Stanisic, Albany Creek QLD
Beverley Jean Weaver, Nundah QLD
Bruce Anthony Wilson, Seacliff Park SA
In Australia, legal action over climate change is on the rise
A class action might be out of the question but climate change litigation, at least against companies, is on the rise.
Australia has so far had the second-highest number of climate cases globally after the United States and the nation’s financial regulators have been warning about an increase of litigation for years now.
On top of that, in 2016 a legal opinion by Noel Hutley QC and Sebastian Hartford-Davis identified climate change as a material financial risk to businesses. As a result, Australian company directors might be legally obliged to consider and report on the risks.
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Climate activists and lawyers itching to sue Australia government, https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2020/01/25/climate-change-class-action/ Cait Kelly
As Australia experiences the worst bushfire season on record there are growing calls for a class action against the federal government for the lacklustre response to climate change. Emboldened by a recent case in the Netherlands where citizens successfully mounted a class action against their government for its failure to act on the climate crisis, there are mounting calls to do the same here. One change.org.au petition to rally support for a class action has received more than 63,000 signatures. “The government has failed to increase its emissions targets,” it reads. “Failed to increase the renewable energy target and failed the people of Australia. “We are now witnessing the effects of the climate emergency first hand, and still the government sits on its hands.” But mounting a class action against the government over the issue is “uncharted territory” and highly complicated, said Australian Lawyers Alliance’s Greg Barns. “There is certainly a strong and compelling moral argument that government inaction, in the face of uncontradicted expert evidence warning about the increased risk of number or, and magnitude of fires, should compel it to pay compensation to those impacted by the fires,” he told The New Daily. One argument thrown around for a class action is the historical precedent taken after Black Saturday fires in which 173 people died. Continue reading |
Climate and the Coalition’s new denialism
Nick Feik, In recent months the federal government’s position on climate change has shifted. Not in policy terms: the change has been restricted to its rhetoric. It has a new strategy to avoid responsibility. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has become adept at evading questions on climate change and its links to bushfires and judging by his satisfied expression as he fronted up for ABC’s 7.30 recently, he remains confident he has a form of words that, like armour, journalists will be unable to penetrate…. (subscribers only – or buy the print version) https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2020/01/25/climate-and-the-coalitions-new-denialism/15798708009296
Australia’s megafires a wake-up call on the climate-nuclear danger
the task of civil society is to organize more strongly in order to increase awareness regarding the link between the climate crisis and the vulnerability of nuclear facilities so that public opinion may begin to be altered and political powers may be pressured to begin an exit from the innately dangerous nuclear path.
What Australia type fire may tell us about the possibility of nuclear disasters, https://www.dianuke.org/what-australia-type-fire-may-tell-us-about-the-possibility-of-nuclear-disasters/ JANUARY 22, 2020 Australia is one of the countries that have experienced extreme weather events, especially in the last decade due to the effect of global warming. According to experts, system interactions triggered global warming, and extinguishing fires has become impossible due to reduced water resources as a result of excessive evaporation and mismanagement of these resources in the last decade in the country. It is estimated that nearly 1.25 billion animal species and at least 27 people have lost their lives, in addition to annihilation of forests and vegetation due to the fires which could not be controlled for almost four months; other species are threatened with extinction and 1800 houses have reportedly burned down.
Unfortunately, the impact of the events is not limited to the period of their occurrence – while four months of carbon emissions, as much as the annual carbon emission amount to the atmosphere, there are scientific studies indicating that there may be an increase in various diseases, especially asthma, especially among children, with the air quality rising to nearly 21 times the dangerous level. Things could have been much worse if the fires had reached the region where uranium mines are located in Australia, which supplies 12% of the uranium fuel used in nuclear power plants operating worldwide; Australia however, has no nuclear power plant of its own. Continue reading
1980 spill of nuclear poisons – a warning note for Kimba area
Potential nuclear spill a cause for concern, Port Lincoln Times, TY BRUUN 22 Jan 2020, I hope individuals from all over the Eyre Peninsula attend the protest rally (Kimba, February 2) to demonstrate the nuclear waste proposal affects more communities than just Kimba.
For those who are on the fence, please consider this realistic scenario.
The scene was attended by police officers. They were exposed to the radiation and became violently ill at the scene.
The following events bring doubt as to whether country SA could ever possess the expertise to deal with a nuclear waste accident, given this could not be sourced in the higher skilled population of Sydney.
The officers’ requested for assistance – it was refused on the grounds that no-one with nuclear waste spillage expertise could be sourced to prevent anyone else suffering radiation exposure.
The two officers and a council worker could only bury the waste beside the highway.
The sick officers tried to have the waste spillage formally acknowledged and cleaned up properly and spoke to the media.
It is truly questionable that, given this incident has still not been resolved despite other road workers becoming ill and construction of a new highway through the burial zone, the federal government will actually adequately resource the country town of Kimba (or anywhere else along the nuclear waste transport route) so that we can deal with this sensibly foreseeable emergency situation with radioactive waste.
I urge you all to consider what it would be like to wish your grown child a good day at work as they head off to deal with a radioactive spillage along Eyre Highway.
Is this really the legacy you will leave your children?
Remember, it has happened before; it is not over emotional or fear mongering to consider such scenarios, it’s rather sensible.https://www.portlincolntimes.com.au/story/6587692/potential-nuclear-spill-a-cause-for-concern/?fbclid=IwAR2NWWHE9A_5Uqog5nrcvC_o_3VukGgmUFcEfaxjiPMJ20r6edQVdcAEIsI
For those who are on the fence, please consider this realistic scenario.
The scene was attended by police officers. They were exposed to the radiation and became violently ill at the scene.
The following events bring doubt as to whether country SA could ever possess the expertise to deal with a nuclear waste accident, given this could not be sourced in the higher skilled population of Sydney.
The officers’ requested for assistance – it was refused on the grounds that no-one with nuclear waste spillage expertise could be sourced to prevent anyone else suffering radiation exposure.
The two officers and a council worker could only bury the waste beside the highway.
The sick officers tried to have the waste spillage formally acknowledged and cleaned up properly and spoke to the media.
It is truly questionable that, given this incident has still not been resolved despite other road workers becoming ill and construction of a new highway through the burial zone, the federal government will actually adequately resource the country town of Kimba (or anywhere else along the nuclear waste transport route) so that we can deal with this sensibly foreseeable emergency situation with radioactive waste.
I urge you all to consider what it would be like to wish your grown child a good day at work as they head off to deal with a radioactive spillage along Eyre Highway.
Is this really the legacy you will leave your children?
Remember, it has happened before; it is not over emotional or fear mongering to consider such scenarios, it’s rather sensible.https://www.portlincolntimes.com.au/story/6587692/potential-nuclear-spill-a-cause-for-concern/?fbclid=IwAR2NWWHE9A_5Uqog5nrcvC_o_3VukGgmUFcEfaxjiPMJ20r6edQVdcAEIsI
Honeymoon uranium mine might restart this year, and pigs might fly
Uranium miner flags restart at Honeymoon within a year if prices jump, others aren’t so sure, ABC BROKEN HILL BY DECLAN GOOCH AND SARA TOMEVSKA 22 Jan 2020, The company behind a proposal to restart uranium mining in north-east South Australia says it would be ready to begin production within a year if prices improve.
But the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) has cast doubt on the likelihood of that occurring, arguing the market is moving away from uranium.
Key points:
- Honeymoon is one of only four Australian uranium mines with an export licence but has been mothballed since 2013
- New owner Boss Resources says technology will help it lower operational costs and will reopen the mine once uranium prices improve
- Anti-nuclear campaigners doubt the mine’s prospects, saying significant uranium producers have been deferring or halting development
The Honeymoon uranium mine was mothballed in 2013 because it had become too expensive to run.
But in 2015, the mine, which is about 80 kilometres north-west of Broken Hill, was purchased by WA exploration company Boss Resources.
Boss chief executive Duncan Craib said the company had developed new technology to lower operational costs and had finalised a feasibility study.
He said the mine would reopen once uranium prices improved, which he was expecting to happen soon.
“We don’t want to destroy the resource at low uranium prices, so we’d like an uptick in the market before proceeding,” Mr Craib said.
Honeymoon is one of only four Australian uranium mines with an export licence.
However, Mr Craib said uranium was under-utilised in Australia and he would like to see a domestic uptake of nuclear power…….
Optimism baseless, campaigner says
Anti-nuclear campaigner Dave Sweeney from the ACF said he believed the announcement was without substance.
“There is nothing new in their statement,” he said.
“It’s pretty much a holding-pattern statement from a mining company with not a lot of resources, not a lot of projects, that are trying to continue to hold a place in the market, where the market is increasingly in freefall.
“Obviously, Boss is going to say the uranium price is going to soar — they’re a uranium miner.
“We’ve got major producers in this country … We’ve got a third of the world’s uranium and we’re not digging much, and that is because the price is not there.
Mr Sweeney said significant producers were deferring or halting development.
Rio Tinto, a massive mining company, is exiting at the Ranger mine in Kakadu,” he said.
“Cameco, the world’s largest dedicated uranium producer, has written down an asset that it spent $500 million on a decade ago in WA, and says that the best way to preserve the value of uranium is to keep it in the ground.”…….. https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-22/honeymoon-uranium-mine-production-within-a-year-company-says/11889466
SA Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young slams investment in South Australian uranium mine
Honeymoon isn’t over: SA uranium mine to reopen, The Advertiser, 22 January 2020 A closed uranium mine near Broken Hill will be reopened to seize on a renewed demand, its owner says.
The Honeymoon uranium mine in the state’s east “will be Australia’s next uranium producer” following a $93 million restart, its owner Boss Resources says.
The ASX-listed company says the mine “can be fast-tracked to re-start production in 12 months with low capital intensity to seize an anticipated rally in the uranium market’’…..
The Honeymoon project uses “in-situ recovery”, which involves injecting solvent into wells drilled into the deposit, dissolving the uranium, then recovering it at the surface. …..
SA Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the focus should be on renewables, not nuclear energy.
“South Australia doesn’t need to tether itself anymore to the toxic and dangerous cycle of the nuclear industry,’’ Ms Hanson-Young said
“SA is better than this and we are best placed in the world to reap the renewables and green industry revolution.
“Rather than a big new uranium mine, SA needs investment in our clean green energy industry. We should be working towards SA being a net exporter of renewable energy and technologies. ‘Green’ mining and industries like lithium for batteries, green hydrogen and renewable powered manufacturing will create jobs fit for the climate crisis Australia is in.”
Wilderness Society SA director Peter Owen said they would prefer to see investment in the state’s vast renewable resources such as wind and solar.
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
21 April Webinar: No Nuclear Weapons in Australia
Start: 2026-04-21 18:00:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
End: 2026-04-21 19:30:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
Event Type: Virtual
A virtual link will be communicated before the event.
Host Contact Info: australia@icanw.org
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 