India’s anti-nuclear protestors arrested
nearly 3,000 people staged protests and were picked up by police…., a 14-member expert appraisal committee for nuclear projects visited Madban. The committee, which was under heavy police escort, did not meet any of the local villagers.
Protest against Jaitapur nuclear power project, The Hindu, 31 Oct 10, Hundreds of villagers on Friday staged a silent protest against the Jaitapur nuclear power project in Ratnagiri district Continue reading
WA govt’s grab of Aboriginal land is condemned
the words “always was, always will be Aboriginal land” have the rider with Australian governments, “until some rich, greedy corporation wants it”.
Forum condemns Kimberley acquisition, Green Left Weekly, October 31, 2010 By Barry Healy, Perth Corporations trying to construct a gas processing hub at James Price Point “might have a bit of difficulty getting their power plant built” if Premier Colin Barnett completes compulsorily acquiring the Aboriginal land, Continue reading
Uranium mining would ruin Finland’s tourism reputation
a few years of mining operations are not worth ruining the reputations of Kainuu and Lapland as travel destinations.
Greens Want Uranium Mining Ban Uutiset | yle.fi, 31 Oct 10, The Green League’s party council is calling for a ban on uranium mining in Finland. According to the Greens, uranium mining operations have got into the country “through the back door” and they are ruining the country’s reputation as a travel destination, especially in the north. Continue reading
US company finds its nuclear investment ‘worthless’
its investment in UniStar Nuclear Energy was worthless, given the deteriorating nuclear energy market……….
Constellation Energy swings to 3rd-qtr loss as nuclear investments’ value plunges, Canadian Business Online, October 29, 2010, BALTIMORE (AP) – Continue reading
South Australia’s Labor govt set to fail Aboriginal Maralinga victims’ quest for justice
Maralinga victims denied legal help, MELISSA MACK,
Oct 29, 2010, ABORIGINAL victims of nuclear testing in the 1950s are likely to be denied the chance of claiming millions of dollars in compensation, with the state Government refusing to help fund the legal case. Continue reading
USA elections: will this lead to Sarah Palin in charge of nuclear weapons?
It is almost beyond belief to imagine the fair finger of Sarah Palin accessing the nuclear button but as Commander in Chief, that would indeed be her position.
THE ELECTION, Huffington Post. Helen Caldicott, 28 Oct 10, This is seen by many as a highly contentious mid-term US election, and not just for the people of the United States. Continue reading
Western Australia’s Greens will maintain anti-nuclear policy
The WA Greens say the party would be concerned if the Labor Party reneged on its long held opposition to uranium mining, when it reopens the debate at next year’s state conference.
Greens concern on Labor’s uranium stance – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 29 Oct 10, Greens MP Robin Chapple is concerned WA could have two major parties with a pro-nuclear, pro-uranium stance. Continue reading
Australia’s nuclear power spinners – theme for November
It is well accepted, (even by Ziggy Switkowski in his 2006 report) that Australia does not need nuclear power. Yet, Ziggy and other old nuclear lobbyists are now urgently “spinning” , promoting nuclear energy for Australia. And new spinners are joining them
Apologies to Bob Hawke – I left that old attention-seeker off the picture!
One reason for this nuclear spinning is the fact that Australia will be expected to take back international wastes, as part of its uranium export industry. So, by getting Australia into the entire nuclear fuel cycle, this would make a smoother transition from “our” nuclear wastes, to “theirs” too.
The radioactive waste question is becoming critical in Australia – with the government’s attempt to impose a dump on Aboriginal land, and with Lucas Heights wastes soon. due to return from England.
Hillary Clinton and Robert Gates visited Australia. Their mission? – to get Australia deeper into the US military machine, with Western Australia, like Pine Gap, part of the Space War project.
The USA’s urgent nuclear waste problem might have been on the agenda in talks with Julia Gillard. We, the great unwashed, would not know. (but for USA to export its nuclear rubbish to Australia could be a bit more difficult now – since the European Union declared that export of nuclear waste overseas is unsafe)
Stacked nuclear discussion panel for Melbourne
In November Melbourne University is to grace the public with another stacked nuclear power panel. ( It’s been a while since Ziggy Switkowski was heckled at the last one)
Despite the fact that nuclear power involves issue such as the environment, health, atomic weapons, even economics, the panel will be dominated by pro nuclear interests, with just one (?token) speaker possibly having some knowledge of environment.
Speakers will be: Ziggy Spinowski – paid nuclear spruiker from ANSTO, Dr Selena Ng, from AREVA, Prof John Daley – background in stockbroking, with ANZ – from Grattan Institute which is largely funded by BHP Billiton, Prof Mike Sandford, geologist, from Pro nuclear Melbourne Energy Institute
None of your “soft” scientists there!
Except possibly Prof Lee Godden – ? token woman – lecturer in human rights, indigenous issues, environment
Hazards in BHP’s planned export of uranium to China
“BHP propose precedent sale of uranium in copper concentrates to China…“This is not sanctioned under Australia’s nuclear treaties … it would compromise our safeguards and environmental responsibilities, and dump some 1.2 million tonnes of long-lived radioactive mine wastes in China every year.
‘Toxic lake’ future for Olympic Dam, Roxby Downs Sun, 25 Oct, 2010 02:26 BHP must present feasible alternatives to prevent or reduce the environmental impacts of the proposed Olympic Dam expansion in the next phase of the Environmental Impact Statement process, the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) say. Continue reading
New DVD from Germany, about Olympic Dam uranium mine
The DVD specializes in the truth of BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam (Roxby) uranium mine in northern South Australia–the world’s greatest uranium deposit.
The Reality About The Largest Uranium Mine in Australia, Bukisa, Oct 25th, 2010 by scotmxncmoe Continue reading
Tax-payer subsidises uranium mine, but unaware of toxic result
“BHP propose to dump radioactive mine tailings on the surface and to leave them there forever rather than to dispose of their wastes,”…“BHP do not intend to rehabilitate the proposed open pit, intending instead to leave a toxic lake as a radioactive scar on the landscape.”.
‘Toxic lake’ future for Olympic Dam, Roxby Downs Sun, 25 Oct, 2010 “…….. BHP had designed the project to leak an average three million litres of liquid radioactive wastes a day until 2050 and only plan to line about 15 per cent of tailings piles. Continue reading
NSW govt dumps plan to dump radioactive waste on Sydney Western suburb
Government documents unearthed last week showed that 6000 tonnes of radioactive waste would be dug up from the site of a former uranium smelter in Nelson Parade, Hunters Hill, and buried at Kemps Creek, near Penrith.
Keneally rules out Kemps Creek as dump for Hunters Hill N-waste, Sydney Morning Herald, Ben Cubby, October 25, 2010 The state government has backed out of using Sydney’s west as a dumping ground for radioactive waste after community opposition. Continue reading
Secrecy on transport of uranium from Darwin port
with all the recent pollution problems there, the shipment was being kept “quiet”…not uncommon for containers to be damaged.”Our wharfies aren’t trained to know what to do should one of the containers get damaged or there’s a spill …
Port keeps lid on uranium transport | Northern Territory News , ALYSSA BETTS, October 24th, 2010 ABOUT 500 tonnes of uranium concentrate from Jabiru is set to be loaded from East Arm Wharf on to ships bound for China. Continue reading
South Korea – Australia gas-uranium package deal?
South Korea has suggested a possible package deal to build nuclear-power plants in global markets using the country’s advanced technology and Australia’s uranium, the ministry said.
Korean Firms to Raise Australian LNG Spending WSJ.com, OCTOBER 24, 2010. By KYONG-AE CHOI, SEOUL—South Korea and Australia have agreed to allow South Korean companies to increase their investments in liquefied natural gas development projects in the resource-rich country Continue reading
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