Do you support nuclear power?
Westside News 22 Sep 09 IS nuclear the future for Australia? Last week, Federal Member for Ryan Michael Johnson told Parliament he believed that most westsiders would support nuclear power.Federal Member for Moreton Graham Perrett disagreed. Continue reading
SA government not protecting sanctuary against uranium pollution
Arkaroola plan ‘not strong enough’ ABC News 28 Oct 09 A Greens’ legislative councillor says a South Australian Government plan to manage mining and conservation in the Northern Flinders fails to protect the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary.
The plan is a response to the discovery of illegally dumped exploration waste at Arkaroola but Mark Parnell says the response is not strong enough.
“The Government should have just made the announcement that they were not going to allow future exploration or mining anywhere in the wilderness sanctuary,” he said.
“Instead, they have produced a map for discussion that shows most of the wilderness sanctuary still available for mining and only one tiny area close to Mount Painter which is designated as off limits.”…………… The State Government draft framework is currently open for public comment. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/28/2726287.htm
Protest against BHP as Alternative BHP Report released
In Melbourne today, protesters gather outside BHP Billiton’s head
office in Melbourne, highlighting the impacts of BHP’s plan to make
Olympic Dam the biggest uranium mine in the world.
Friends of the Earth’s national nuclear campaigner Dr Jim Green said:
“For all of BHP Billiton’s hollow rhetoric about corporate social
responsibility, the company operates the Olympic Dam mine in SA under an outdated Indenture Act which exempts the mine from key environmental and Aboriginal heritage laws.
“BHP Billiton has provided over $2 million to Reconciliation Australia.
Yet the company will not relinquish its exemptions from the SA
Aboriginal Heritage Act. The company’s attitude appears to be ‘do as I
say not as I do’. It’s time for this hypocrisy to end.”
Duban Velez, a union delegate for workers at the Cerrejon coal mine in
Colombia, will be at today’s protest in Melbourne to tell his story
about BHP’s inadequate social and environmental standards in Colombia.
Mr Velez will also be attending BHP’s second AGM, in Brisbane on
November 26. Farming families in villages around the mine have been
deprived of their livelihoods as the mine expands and accuse BHP of
failing to negotiate in good faith or offer sufficient assistance or
compensation.
The Alternative Annual Report can be downloaded at:
http://tinyurl.com/yjjluqg
Uranium miners – the phoniest of corporations
During the next decade the world must reduce emissions as fast as possible, in order to avoid climate change “tipping points”. Australia is the world’s worst per-capita emitter of greenhouse gases. Our coal-fired power stations emit almost 50 percent of our emissions, so it is crucial that we minimise their emissions as fast as possible. Continue reading
Western Australian government’s “blind spot” about uranium mining
Greens sceptical about uranium mine assessment ABC News Oct 16, 2009 The Greens say they doubt the Western Australian Government will be swayed on the level of environmental assessment it is proposing for a uranium mine on the Goldfields.The Government last week extended the time available for public comment on the assessment level for BHP Billiton’s Yeelirrie mine by four weeks.
WA Greens’ Senator Scott Ludlam says while he encourages more people to respond within the consultation period, he is sceptical it will make a difference.”Nobody seriously believes this State Government or this Environment Minister is going to take a look at the evidence that the community will put on the table …………… Government has got a particular blind spot around uranium mining ……….
Greens sceptical about uranium mine assessment – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
BHPB sets policy for Federal govt, as well as for South Australia’s
We knew that BHP pretty much dictated the policies of the South Australian government – most clearly shown in the Roxby Downs (Indenture Ratification) Act 1982 (Indenture Act). which provides BHP Billiton the legal authority Continue reading
Liberal party leader Turnbull says that nuclear has “zero emissions”
More pressure for Turnbull The Age ANDREW DARBY, HOBARTOctober 14, 2009THE Rudd Government is pressuring Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull over climate change – ruling out nuclear power and calling for his view………………
Leading political figures including former NSW premier Bob Carr and Mr Turnbull advocate debate on the nuclear topic.But Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said his Government was against it. Australia would meet the greenhouse challenge by investment in carbon sequestration and solar energy, and setting renewable energy targets.
”We do not see a nuclear power plant as part of our response to our energy future. In the past [former prime minister John] Howard said he wanted to see nuclear power plants around Australia. What’s Mr Turnbull’s position? Mine’s very clear.”……..
Mr Turnbull, …………. described nuclear power as a ”zero emissions” power source.
Only the Greens up to date on low carbon economy
Head-in-the-sand economics Business Spectator, Giles Parkinson 13 Oct 09 “……….Unlike the other domestic political parties who are bickering over a scheme that will have minimal environmental impact, only the Greens are proposing a scheme that seeks to meet the demand of the science. Continue reading
Women 4 times less likely to favour nuclear
Women recycle and save water but men go nuclear The Age CARMEL EGAN October 11, 2009 Continue reading
BHP Billiton’s uranium mining is above the law
Olympic Dam expansion: above the law? On Line Opinion By Peter Burdon 9 October 2009 In the heart of the South Australian outback, rests the Olympic Dam mine, owned and operated by BHP Billiton. Continue reading
Narrow assessment will allow BHP’s uranium mine to go ahead
Public inquiry not possible on uranium mining
Perth Now
October 09, 2009
ENVIRONMENT Minister Donna Faragher has today ruled out holding a public inquiry into BHP Billiton’s proposal for a $17 billion uranium mine in WA. Continue reading
Australian Liberal MP opposes nuclear plant
MP warns against Port Stephens nuclear plant
ABC Newcastle News 26 Sept 09 The state Liberal Member for Port Stephens, Craig Baumann, says he is not against nuclear energy, but will not tolerate a power plant being built in his electorate.
Yesterday, Acting Opposition Leader Julie Bishop said nuclear energy needs to be considered as a way to address climate change.Three years ago Mr Baumann strongly criticised an Australia Institute report that named Port Stephens as an ideal site for a nuclear power station.He says such a plant would ruin the area.
ABC Newcastle NSW – MP warns against Port Stephens nuclear plant
Queensland not supporting nuclear power, says MP
Paul Howes to spruik for nukes at Liberal party seminar
Union leader speaking at Liberal energy symposium
ABC News 19 Sept 09A Federal Liberal MP says he is inviting a union leader to speak about nuclear power at a conference this weekend because there needs to be a bipartisan debate on the issue.
Michael Johnson is hosting an energy symposium in his Brisbane electorate of Ryan tomorrow.
The head of the Australian Workers Union, Paul Howes, will give a speech about his support for a nuclear power industry in Australia….
Mr Johnson said. “Paul Howes certainly has demonstrated vision and courage by speaking out in support of Australia becoming an exporter of uranium and going down the nuclear path.”
Mr Johnson says he hopes to generate a wider debate on the nuclear issue.
“If Paul Howes, a national figure, a leader in the union movement, if he’s got the courage to come out and talk about this, then surely Kevin Rudd can come out and talk about this.”
Union leader speaking at Liberal energy symposium – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Pro-nuclear Paul Howes seeking safe parliament seat
Union man may want my seat: retiring MP
Sydney Morning Herald September 15, 2009
Retiring Labor MP Julia Irwin has hinted that the leader of a major union may be gunning for her safe western Sydney electorat.She suggested Australian Workers Union national secretary Paul Howes, an advocate of nuclear power, may be planning a parliamentary career.”While any seat might do, he will not doubt be salivating to have a safe Labor seat, built up by another, with a margin like that of Fowler,” Ms Irwin said in a statement on Tuesday.
But Ms Irwin, a critic of Israel, said she did not expect a “constructive contribution” from Mr Howes on foreign policy, “or any other policy for that matter”…………………
Mr Johnson told parliament on Tuesday of a “courageous” speech Mr Howes had made in support of nuclear energy……………….
Ms Irwin, who was elected to the House of Representatives in 1998, announced on Monday she would not be contesting the next election.
Rudd govt uranium policy for miners, against environment
NT uranium royalty laws a king hit for environment
Dave Sweeney 10 Sept 09 New uranium mining laws passed by Federal Parliament yesterday put the interests of uranium mining companies ahead of the environment, Indigenous landowners and Australian taxpayers, the Australian Conservation Foundation said.
“The Uranium Royalty (Northern Territory) Act is biased towards Continue reading
1 This month.
20 September –National Day of Action in Melbourne on the International Day of Peace
Help Aunty Sue Protect Her Land and Sacred Sites From Destructive Rocket Testing.
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AUKUS – https://aukuspublicinquiry.com/
PETITION – To: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Government
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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