Australian Aboriginal owners petition against nuclear waste dump
Dianne Stokes, a traditional owner from the area, says community members, along with the Australian Conservation Foundation, have delivered a petition with more than 2,000 signatures to federal
Resources Minister Martin Ferguson.
Traditional owners petition against nuclear dump ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), Nov 19, 2010 2 Traditional owners say they are ramping up their fight against a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory. Continue reading
Nuclear waste group’s expensive spin to indigenous people
The money comes from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, the group created by Canada’s nuclear electricity industry to find a new home for nuclear fuel waste.
(Canada) Nuclear group gives First Nations $1M for meetings, November 18, 2010 CBC News The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations has been given $1 million to hold information sessions on nuclear waste storage, but environmentalists are leery about the idea. Continue reading
Northern Territory govt explains its opposition to Alice Springs uranium mine
“We’re 20 kilometres from Alice Springs in an arid environment and an environment well known for dust storms,” he said.
“I think it’s enough evidence for us to oppose it…the reasons behind our opposition to establish a mine so close to Alice Springs
Vatskalis defends Alice uranium mine opposition ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), Nov 18, 2010 The Northern Territory Resources Minister says a decision to oppose any application to mine for uranium at a site near Alice Springs was not just based on public opinion. Continue reading
Secrecy as Australia does uranium deal with Russia
Australia opening new uranium markets to a country with the world’s largest arsenal of nuclear weapons and largest stockpile of weapons-usable material, much of it inadequately secured………..the secrecy surrounding a deal that is done on the sidelines of the G20 rather than in the proper light of Australian public scrutiny.
New Risks from Australia Russia Uranium Deal – On Line Opinion – By James Norman 19/11/2010 Late last week on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in South Korea, Prime Minister Julia Gillard ratified a deal with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that should send shockwaves through the Australian electorate. Continue reading
Push in US Congress to sell nuclear power to Australia
The deal would allow for the United States to export nuclear technology, material and equipment to Australia for atomic power generation
Renewed call against Martin Ferguson’s nuclear waste dump plan for Aboriginal land
“It is a long way from Northcote and Preston to Muckaty but today’s message to Minister Ferguson is simple: this issue is not out of sight and not out of mind and many people in this region do not support or accept this plan to push a radioactive waste dump on an unwilling community,”…Minister Ferguson’s dump plan is irresponsible, divisive and out of step with both international best practice and local community opinion.
Not in our name: locals say no to Minister’s dump plan , 18 Nov 10, Local community members will today join with representatives of the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) to deliver thousands of petitions calling on federal member Martin Ferguson to dump his plan for a controversial radioactive waste dump at Muckaty, north of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory. Continue reading
Port Hope residents urged to sue govt over radioactive wastes
Atomic Energy Canada Ltd. has begun a 10-year, $260-million project to dig up 1.2 million cubic metres of low-level radioactive waste buried in numerous sites around town and store it in a huge covered mound.
Sue government over toxic town, activist tells Port Hope – thestar.com, 17 Nov 10 “…………. Radium is leaking into Lake Ontario and uranium from the Cameco refineryPort Hope’s air, drinking water, fish, beach, soil — virtually everything in the town of 16,000 poses a health risk from radioactivity, anti-nuclear activist Dr. Helen Caldicott warned an overflow crowd Tuesday night. Continue reading
USA needs combination of smart grid and renewable energy
Research and development is needed to prepare the electric grid for the coming onslaught of new solar and wind power, in much the way farmers must prepare the ground before sowing a crop, (image below from Repower America)
(USA) Report: Electric Grid R&D Must Parallel Expansion of Renewable Power, NYTimes.com, By JENNY MANDEL November 16, 2010 The Energy Department should expand its research on energy storage, long-distance electricity transmission and short-term weather forecasting in order to support the growing use of renewable energy, the American Physical Society says in a report released today. Continue reading
BHP shareholder opposes dangerous expansion of Olympic Dam uranium mine
The production of radioactive tailings waste is projected to increase from 10million tonnes each year to 68million tonnes. The tailings dams now rise more than 20m above the landscape and cover many square kilometres. BHP Billiton intends these tailings piles to increase to 60m high and to cover up to 44sqkm.
BHP Billiton’s uranium quest has too many risksJohn Poppins, Canberra Times, Nov 15, 2010 Thousands of ordinary Australians, including my own family have benefited from BHP Billiton’s mining success. However, like increasing numbers of BHP Billiton shareholders, we are troubled by the long-term effects of some aspects of its mining projects. Continue reading
Aborigines, unions voice anger at BHP Billiton’s uranium mining plans
“The WA mining industry, and BHP in particular, has a poor worker safety record and uranium mining poses even greater health risks as uranium mine workers are exposed to radiation from the ore itself and from the inhalation of radon gas,”
Anger at BHP’s Yeelirrie uranium project Perth Now Russell Quinn & Rebecca Lawson, November 16, 2010 BHP Billiton has met with opposition from traditional owners over the development of the proposed Yeelirrie uranium mine at its annual general meeting in Perth today. Continue reading
UK nuclear workers’ organs removed for secret tests
scientists had long been concerned about workers’ exposure to radiation, essentially from plutonium. The analysis required a complex procedure in which organs were rendered to ash in a furnace and then dissolved in acid.
Families Shocked To Find UK Nuclear Workers’ Organs Were Removed For Secret Tests Peacefmonline.com, 17-Nov-2010 THE families of nuclear workers in the UK whose hearts, lungs and other organs were secretly tested for radiation for almost 40 years were let down by the authorities. Continue reading
Uranium company chairperson spruiks nuclear power to solve Australia’s water problems
Here’s a lovely bit of spin – from Erica Smyth, of Toro Energy uranium company, at Toro’s AGM yesterday. Of course, she’s on the board of ANSTO – Australia’s nuke-spruiking agency. and a member of Julia Gillard’s mining tax advisory panel.
Erica spruiks nuclear energy as a solution to Australia’s water shortage! Hers is a complicated story about combining nuclear energy with desalination plants.
She also advocates nuclear power for electric cars – well, we knew that particular spin was coming! But nuclear power to provide fresh water for Australia – that is indeed a new and wonderful spin. (And, let’s not forget – the uranium/nuclear industry is the most water-intensive, water guzzling, of all industries. – Christina Macpherson
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
50 years later, Rum Jungle uranium mine site still radioactive
Recreation reserve closed due to radiation, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Louisa Rebgetz Nov 12, 2010 A Northern Territory recreational reserve where a uranium mine once operated has been closed due to low-level radiation in the area. The Rum Jungle Mine, about 100 kilometres south of Darwin, operated in the early 1960s.The area was rehabilitated in 1991 before becoming the Rum Jungle South Recreation Reserve.The Department of Resources says tests at the waste rock pile at the reserve have detected low-level radiation……Recreation reserve closed due to radiation – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
BHP Billiton under fire over radioactive waste dumping
BHP boss faces a grilling, Sydney Morning Herald, Mathew MurphyNovember 15, 2010 BHP Billiton boss Marius Kloppers will come under pressure from shareholders at tomorrow’s annual meeting…… Continue reading
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