Professor Brian Cox – subtle spinner for nuclear power, will tour Australia in November
Brian Cox is a very personable and knowledgeable TV star and particle physics expert. He is also a promoter of the nuclear industry. He is a big fan of plutonium -powered space travel.
Currently, Cox is in Cumbria, UK, addressing schoolchildren groups, and revving up enthusiasm for science and technology. All good, yes. He enthuses about the opportunity for top jobs in high tech in Cumbria. Good? Yes, but – where are these future jobs? Well – in the nuclear industry, which is desperately trying to get a new nuclear power station built.
Whitehaven News 29th Sept 2017, Television star Professor Brian Cox says Cumbria has a world-leading industry which warrants talent – but there’s a shortage of scientists and engineers. But he hopes to change that by helping to bring the prestigious Infinity Festival to the area and inspiring hundreds of teenagers to follow their dreams. Professor Cox was the star speaker at today’s festival which was held at West Lakes Academy in Egremont. More than 200 schoolchildren, aged 13 and 14, attended the event from schools across the whole of the county. http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk/news/Professor-Brian-Cox-visits-Egremont-and-declares-Cumbria-is-a-world-leading-high-tech-industry-941aa057-9b77-46a5-8eac-6e92f0341783-ds
The scientist, Professor Brian Cox, has told guests at the opening of a new exhibition in Whitehaven that nuclear power should be an important source of energy in the UK.
Famous scientist argues for ‘stable’ forms of energy, The famous scientist Professor Brian Cox has told guests at the opening of a new exhibition in Whitehaven that nuclear power should be an important source of energy in the UK.
He argues that education is important for accepting nuclear energy: http://www.itv.com/news/border/story/2014-05-30/professor-brian-cox-opens-beacon-museum/
Australia’s farmers need action on climate change, and for renewable energy
Our farmers must rally for climate change action, http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/4958579/our-farmers-must-rally-for-climate-change-action/ With no clear action on climate or energy policies, Australian farmers are scratching their heads and wondering how they can drive change.
The Federal Government is failing to help. They are talking about extending the life of old, polluting coal-fired power stations; more subsidies and taxpayer assistance to the fossil fuel industry; and pressuring states to frack more gas – an industry that directly competes for prime agricultural land.
They can’t be thinking of our interests. Farmers are the ones already impacted by climate change – look no further than heatwaves and severe rain shortages in parts of the country. We are also dealing with soaring energy costs.
As individuals we can get drowned out, but collectively our voice carries weight. If our views are to be heard, however, we must start talking to elected representatives before it’s too late.
Farmers are looking to renewables and storage to cut their energy costs. If you think that should be encouraged, then speak out. Farmers directly benefit from large-scale renewable projects. Wind turbines alone generate approximately $20 million worth of passive income for us.
Agriculture is one of the most climate-exposed industries in the country. If you think farmers should be supported to cope with what’s happening now, and steps taken to avoid worse impacts into the future – then speak out!
The future of farming won’t be assured without a fight. Add your voice. Verity Morgan-Schmidt is CEO of Farmers for Climate Action
Digging into Adani: The dubious dealings of India’s corporate colossus.
28 Sept 17, ‘When Four Corners travelled to India to investigate the activities of the giant Adani group, they soon discovered the power of the company.
‘While attempting to film and gather information about Adani’s operations, the Four Corners team had their cameras shut down, their footage deleted and were questioned for hours by police.
‘The team were left in no doubt that their investigations into the Indian company triggered the police action.
‘For months, Four Corners has been digging into the business practices of the Adani Group.
This is the corporate colossus that plans to build Australia’s biggest mine site. … ‘
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/digging-into-adani/8997202
Adani Carmichael coal mine: Former Indian minister sounds alarm on Adani’s track record, mega-mine’s viability
~ Four Corners www.abc.net.au/4corners/ By Stephen Long, Wayne Harley and Mary Fallon www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-02/former-minister-sounds-alarm-on-adanis-track-record-in-india/9005596
‘India’s former environment minister Jairam Ramesh is “absolutely appalled”
by the Australian Government’s approval of the Adani Group’s massive coal mine in North Queensland,
which he says will threaten the survival of the Great Barrier Reef, “a common heritage of mankind”.
‘Mr Ramesh, an elder statesman of India’s opposition Congress Party,
also said the Federal Government and Queensland Government have failed to do adequate due diligence
on Adani Group’s environmental and financial conduct in India before granting environmental approvals and mining licenses. …
‘”You’re giving a tax break to a project that is actually going to have adverse environmental consequences, which will have multiplying effects on weather patterns in the region, across the world. I find it bizarre,” he said. …
Adani coal ‘will be too expensive for Indian market’
‘Australian politicians have argued India needs the coal from Adani’s Carmichael mine
in North Queensland to lift millions of India’s poor out of “energy poverty”.
‘But another respected Indian observer, the former head of India’s Ministry of Power, E.A.S Sarma, dismissed that as false and misguided. …
‘”We cannot afford that, it is so expensive. My assessment is it will not be possible for the Indian market
to absorb Adani coal.” … ‘
Nuclear connections in Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
Dan Monceaux, Nuclear Fuel Cycle Watch South Australia shared a link. September 29
There are quite a few Fellows of ATSE with direct associations with uranium mining or nuclear fuel cycle projects. They include:
– Paul Heithersay (Olympic Dam task force, SA Gov)
– Malcolm Kinnaird (Olympic Dam task force, SA Gov)
– Ian Gould (Rio Tinto/Toro Energy)
– Vanessa Guthrie (Toro Energy)
– Hugh Morgan (WMC/Olympic Dam)
– David Klingberg (Nat. Radioactive Waste project)
– Marius Kloppers (BHP during ODX)
– Adi Paterson (ANSTO)
– Arvi Parbo (WMC/Olympic Dam)
– Erica Smyth (Toro Energy)
– Ziggy Switkowski (author of UMPNER Review circa 2006)
2 October REneweconomy news
RenewEconomy-
Tesla opens first Adelaide storeTesla is bringing scalable energy products and services including the award-winning Powerwall to customers with the opening of its first store in Adelaide at Westfield Marion.
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How lakes can generate electricityScientists develop new ways to harness energy from evaporation.
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A year since the SA blackout, who’s winning the high-wattage power play?It’s a year to the day since the entire state of South Australia was plunged into darkness. And what a year it’s been, for energy policy geeks and political tragics alike.
Aboriginal massacre sites uncovered in first forensic science study
~ ABC Kimberley By Erin Parke www.abc.net.au/news/erin-parke/4421154 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-01/forensic-science-study-seeks-truth-of-aboriginal-massacres/9001770
‘Cutting edge forensic science techniques have been used in a fresh examination of reported Aboriginal massacre sites in WA’s north, in an effort to prove alleged atrocities from 100 years ago.
‘Warning: This story contains the images of Aboriginal people who aredeceased.
‘A team of archaeologists and forensic scientists travelled to some of the most remote spots in WA
to examine bone fragments found at the sites, which have been mired in historical and political debate for decades.
‘Lead researcher Pam Smith said that while some of the results were inconclusive, the findings of the most advanced study of the alleged 1922 Sturt Massacre had backed up the oral histories of local Aboriginal elders. … ‘
U.S. military man urges Australia to prepare defences for nuclear war.
Doesn’t this tie in nicely with the push by American nuclear weapons firms like Lockheed Martin to sell military and space technology to Australia?
Australia must prepare for nuclear war with North Korea, former Pentagon official warns, Yahoo News, Australia has no choice but to prepare for a missile attack from North Korea, a former Pentagon nuclear weapons official warns.
Brad Roberts served as US deputy assistant secretary of defence for nuclear and missile defence policy is warning a weapon fired from North Korea could strike the country.
“Unfortunately, Australia doesn’t really get to choose whether or not North Korea threatens it — it’s the choice that the North Korean leader [Kim Jong-un] makes,” he told the ABC.
“His objective is to make us fearful so that our leaders will not stand up to his threats and coercion.” The former Obama administration defence official also said that warships should be fitted with proper while pointing out that Australia’s radar defences were rather sparse.
“I don’t think it’s a large number of very expensive interceptors and radars deployed around the periphery of the Australian continent,” he said…….https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/37278109/australia-must-prepare-for-nuclear-war-with-north-korea/
As Australia’s greenhouse emissions soar, Pacific islanders despair of its backward climate policies
Stuck in the dark ages’: Pacific island leader vents after Australia’s emissions hit record high, The Age, 30 sept 17 Desperate Pacific islands at risk of sinking beneath the sea say Australia is “stuck in the Dark Ages” by relying on fossil fuels, in response to alarming data showing this nation’s energy emissions have hit record highs.
The outcry from Australia’s smallest neighbours comes just weeks after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visited Samoa and reportedly promised Pacific leaders that he understood “very clearly” the threat of sea level rise to low-lying islands.
As Fairfax Media reported on Friday, a national audit prepared for The Australia Institute by energy analyst Hugh Saddler shows Australia’s emissions from energy combustion reached a record high in the year to June, driven largely by petroleum, and specifically diesel, consumption.
The audit showed the increase in Australia’s annual retail diesel emissions in the year to June on its own exceeded the total annual emissions of any Pacific nation.
Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga, whose tiny nine-island nation has become the poster child for the threat of sea-level rise, on Friday vented his frustration at the audit findings.
“While the rest of the world is moving ahead to renewable energy, Australia is stuck in the Dark Ages with its reliance on dirty fossil fuels. This is bad news for the Pacific”, he said, adding that Australia’s continued mining of coal was “extremely disappointing”.
Genevieve Jiva, spokeswoman for the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, said the findings would prompt Pacific leaders to exert further pressure on Australia at international climate talks in Bonn, Germany, in November. Fiji will chair the talks.
“This is happening right now and needs action right now. Not in 20 years’ time, not after the next Australian election, but right now.”……..http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/stuck-in-the-dark-ages-pacific-island-leader-vents-after-australias-emissions-hit-record-high-20170929-gyrbi6.html
National Party President Larry Anthony runs a firm that lobbies for coal industry !
Nationals Interest: Larry Anthony, the party president who runs a lobbying firm, The Age, Patrick Begley, Mario Christodoulou, 30 Sept 17,
A lobbying firm run by National Party president Larry Anthony is pushing the interests of energy firms as the Coalition grapples with looming gas shortfalls and bitter infighting over renewable energy policy.
Santos and Delta Electricity this year joined the client list of SAS Consulting Group, the government relations firm founded and co-owned by its executive director, Mr Anthony.
“Through our extensive networks we create powerful, purposeful connections for businesses and organisations,” the SAS Group website says.
The first line of Mr Anthony’s SAS Group biography refers to his presidency of the Nationals, “one half of the ruling Coalition government”.
A leading expert on lobbying said the party president’s absence from the public register of lobbyists “so undermines the intent of the lobbyist code of conduct as to make it nearly useless”………
After a federal conference debate moderated by Mr Joyce and Mr Anthony this month, the Nationals passed a motion urging the government to freeze and then phase out renewable energy subsidies…….
When he became party president in 2015, Mr Anthony was criticised for lobbying for the Shenhua Watermark mining project. At the time, he said he had removed himself from lobbyist registers and had no conflict of interest.
“We do a lot of things aside from government relations – media, communications, stakeholder relations, et cetera,” he said. “But executive director? Yes, I might have to come off that.”
Two years later, he remains an executive director.
The SAS Group website has promoted the fact Mr Anthony attended the Liberal National Party’s Queensland convention in July. Asked whether his party presidency helped to attract clients, Mr Anthony said: “I don’t know about that, but my name is synonymous with the National Party.”
His father, Doug, served as party leader from 1971 to 1984 and his grandfather, Larry snr, was a Country Party minister…….
The lobbyist code of conduct prohibits lobbyists from being a member of a party executive. It also requires anyone who lobbies or employs lobbyists to register on a public database.
University of Melbourne politics lecturer George Rennie said even if Mr Anthony had not technically breached the code, his failure to appear as a registered lobbyist “so undermines the intent of the code, as to make it nearly useless”.
“Being a part-owner and director of a lobbying firm, while concurrently serving as president of the National Party, creates a clear conflict of interest,” Mr Rennie said……..
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, which administers the lobbyist register, did not respond to specific questions about Mr Anthony but said in general it would investigate evidence or allegations of code breaches.
Do you know more? Email patrick.begley@fairfaxmedia.com.au http://www.theage.com.au/nsw/nationals-interest-larry-anthony-the-party-president-who-runs-a-lobbying-firm-20170929-gyr9wx.html
30 September REneweconomy news
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Queensland council saves $1.9m in grid costs from single Tesla PowerpackA Queensland local government council has installed what is believed to be Australia’s first off-grid solar and battery storage system to use a Tesla Powerpack, to maintain local drinking water quality around the clock. -
UK solar fund buys up 110MW PV project that will power Melbourne tramsUK solar fund buys major stake in 110MW Bannerton solar farm as part of plan to grow investments in “attractive” geographies.
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Renewables experts advise on the project financing of the Lilyvale Solar FarmHerbert Smith Freehills’ full service project finance team has advised on the project financing of the Lilyvale Solar Farm, located 50km north east of Emerald in the Central Highlands region of Queensland.
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Barnaby and Kelly’s constituents want a Clean Energy Target, not more coalPolling of over 1,000 voters in the Deputy Prime Minister’s electorate of New England shows strong support for renewable energy investment over coal.
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Tesla big battery will be on time, but households need to waitTesla’s big battery will be delivered on time, or even ahead of schedule, but overwhelming demand and diversions to hurricane-affected areas mean households will have to wait for their battery storage.
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Time for old coal to hang up the bootsAt this time of year, football matters, but in the case of Australia’s energy system, the stakes are much higher and it affects us all.
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Regulator cracks down on double dipping for replacing “dodgy” rooftop solarClean Energy Regulator says new rule will make replacement rooftop solar panels ineligible for the government rebate, in an effort to boost the standard of installs.
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South Australia leads again as saltwater pumped hydro storage takes shapeSouth Australia is ready to lead again, this time with saltwater pumped hydro storage. Here’s an inside look at what is planned.
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Graph of the Day: Australia’s surging fossil fuel emissionsAustralia’s fossil fuel emissions have hit record levels, and there is no federal policy in place to address them.
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The Pears Report: Summertime, and the living ain’t easyWith summer approaching, there’s a flurry of activity to ensure reliable energy generation under peak loads.
NO to Deputy Premier and Nationals Leader, John Barilaro: New South Wales does NOT need nuclear power
This follows musing by Deputy Premier and Nationals Leader, John Barilaro, that nuclear reactors could be operating in NSW within 10 years. Mr Barilaro said on social media: “We could have them (small nuclear reactors) operating here in a decade – which is not long for the energy industry…”
Opposition Energy spokesman Adam Searle said it was the second time this year Mr Barilaro had raised the possibility of nuclear energy for the State.
In May, Mr Barilaro said he was “prepared to talk about nuclear as an option”. One pro-nuclear power group, Nuclear for Climate Australia, has identified 12 regions of NSW as possible sites for nuclear reactors – including on the North Coast.
“A pro-nuclear power group is on the record suggesting reactors should be on the North Coast – does Mr Barilaro agree?” Mr Searle said.
“He should be clear with the public on where he thinks the nuclear reactors should be.
“Our farmers’ clean and green reputation is known throughout the world but a nuclear industry in these areas would end all that.”
South Australia’s Chief Scientist Leanna Read publicly advocating for illegal nuclear waste imports
“Why would South Australians want to become further involved in this industry when there are much safer alternatives available for people, the environment, country, culture and the economy?”
Kaurna ask the Scarn (South Auustralia Nuclear Fuel Chain Royal Commission) to justify the illegal immoral plotting which is being paid for by our tax dollars at the rate of a million dollars per month … a simple question which exposes the wasteful stupidity of the Scarn and the evil of radioactive poisons.
http://nuclearrc.sa.gov.au/…/2016/03/Kaurna-Yerta-04-09-201…
Australia’s rooftop solar boom now taking to business buildings
Above: Broadway shopping centre in Perth
The solar boom started in our suburbs, but now it’s moved out of home, ABC News, By Kathryn Diss, 28 Sept 17, Australian households have led the world in installing rooftop solar panels and now businesses are following suit as energy prices start to bite.
Nearly a quarter of the nation’s households have installed rooftop solar panels in recent years as consumers have looked for ways to offset their ever-increasing power bills.
But new research by consultancy firm SunWiz has found business solar installations have jumped 60 per cent during the past 18 months to 40,736 systems.
“It’s accelerated significantly in recent years and continues to be a popular investment for businesses wanting to take care of their electricity prices,” the company’s managing director Warwick Johnston said…….
Business backs renewables as politicians bicker
The research comes as federal politicians argue over what fuel source should be used to guarantee the nation’s future energy supply, with the east coast facing looming gas shortages……..http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-28/solar-power-perth-businesses-energy-boom/8994314
South Australia’s network of charging stations for electric cars
Tesla charging stations to link Adelaide with world’s largest battery http://reneweconomy.com.au/tesla-charging-stations-link-adelaide-worlds-largest-battery-20202/ By Andrew Spence on 28 September 2017, The Lead
A network of car charging stations is being developed in South Australia to allow Tesla drivers to visit the world’s biggest lithium-ion battery being built by Elon Musk in the state’s north.
Eight fast charging stations: four generic chargers for a range of electric vehicles, and four Tesla Superchargers, opened today in the capital city of Adelaide, completing an Australian Tesla charging network that stretches to Brisbane.
The fastest electric car charging units available in Australia, the Tesla Superchargers can charge Tesla Model S and X vehicles in 30 minutes, allowing a range of 270km.A Tesla charging station also opened today at the Clare Country Club to complement two existing chargers in the wine region about 140km north of Adelaide. From there, it is only about 90km further to the site of the world’s largest battery being installed by Tesla at Neoen’s Hornsdale Wind Farm north of Jamestown.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk flew into Adelaide, the South Australian capital, in July to announce his company would build the 100MW/129MWh lithium-ion battery in the state’s Mid-North.
The tech billionaire told reporters the Tesla Powerpack would be three times as powerful as the next largest lithium ion battery.
“I was made aware there was this opportunity to make this significant statement about renewable energy to the world,” Musk said in July.
“Coal does not have a long-term future.”
Musk will be back in Adelaide on Friday to update the International Astronautical Congress on plans by his company SpaceX to send humans to Mars in its Big Falcon Rocket.
It is not known if he will use the opportunity to make the trip north to Jamestown to check on the progress of the battery.
South Australian Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis said construction at the site was well underway and the batteries were on track to be operational by December 1, the start of the Australian summer.
Last month, Fluid Solar took its four-storey, renewable energy powered headquarters about 30km north of Adelaide off the main electricity grid.
Surplus electricity generated at the site will be used as part of Tesla’s car-charging network, with 11 electric vehicle bays that will be supplied completely by solar power harvested from a 98 kWp array of 378 PV solar panels on the building’s roof.
Eleven more electric vehicle charging points will be installed in the Adelaide Central Market car park in the centre of the city by the end of November and another 25 will be built around the city by mid next year.
South Australia leads the nation in the uptake of wind energy and roof-top solar with renewable sources accounting for almost 50 per cent of the electricity generated in the state.
However, the closure of two coal-fired power stations in recent years has increased South Australia’s reliance on energy supplies from the eastern Australian states, particularly in times of peak demand.
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 