Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

A positive view of the Nuclear Disarmament Commission

A real chance for a world free of nuclear weapons Sydney Morning Herald MARK DAVIS December 17, 2009 “…………………The original “grand bargain” of the NPT was that the nuclear-armed states signing up agreed to negotiate disarmament while the states without nukes agreed not to develop or obtain weapons. Continue reading →

December 17, 2009 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, uranium, weapons and war | , , , , , | Leave a comment

A negative view of the Disarmament Commission

Report on nuke threat is a dud Greg Sheridan, Foreign editor : The Australian  December 17, 2009 “……………The world has more than 20,000 nuclear weapons and it would be a good thing if this number were substantially reduced. Continue reading →

December 17, 2009 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, uranium, weapons and war | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Get a nuke weapon so that you won’t use a nuke weapon

International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament offers this change to a “no first use” policy  – encouraging countries to make an initial statement to this effect – “the sole purpose of the possession of nuclear weapons is to deter the use of such weapons – “
Rather like giving your little kid a gun, and saying – “Well, I’m giving you this gun so that you will never use a gun..”

Seems to me that the real purpose of this commission is to further the sales of uranium and of “peaceful” nuclear technology.

December 16, 2009 Posted by | politics international, weapons and war | Leave a comment

Push for Australian nuclear bomb is revived

Nation given N-bomb warning * Christian Kerr  The Australian * December 14, 2009 AUSTRALIA may be forced to acquire nuclear weapons to tackle deteriorating Asian security, a government-funded defence think tank has warned. Continue reading →

December 14, 2009 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, weapons and war | , , , | Leave a comment

Mapping 7 major nuclear test sites in Australia

British nuclear test sites in Australia Virtual Globetrotting Maps 9 Dec 09 British nuclear tests at Maralinga occurred between 1955 and 1963 at the Maralinga site, part of the Woomera Prohibited Area, in South Australia. Continue reading →

December 11, 2009 Posted by | South Australia, weapons and war | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australia’s hypocrisy over nuclear disarmament

The Forgotten Nightmare: Global Cooling

By Robin Davis

21 October, 2009
Countercurrents.org

Here in Australia, advocates of uranium mining and export claim that this gives us a more credible voice in the world arena than we would otherwise have. They say our position as the largest source of uranium and the second largest exporter after Canada makes us more effective in preventing nuclear proliferation than we would otherwise be. In other words, by selling the stuff from which nuclear weapons are made, we are helping to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. Continue reading →

October 22, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, weapons and war | , , , | Leave a comment

Raytheon – profits, depleted uranium and war crimes

Support the EDO Decommissioners – resisting war crimes is not a crime  UK  19 Oct 09 “……………Raytheon should be in the dock they are the worlds biggest producer of missiles and poisoned countless civilians and soldiers with Depleted Uranium. Continue reading →

October 19, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, weapons and war | , , | Leave a comment

Australia to be part of global weapons industry

SUPPORTING AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE INDUSTRY TO ENTER GLOBAL MARKETS Australian Government  Department of Defence The Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, Greg Combet, today welcomed the establishment of Raytheon Australia’s Industry Development Unit (IDU). Continue reading →

October 19, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, weapons and war | , , , , | Leave a comment

Maralinga atomic test site unsafe, aborigines affected

Coober Pedy Regional Times Maralinga Anniversary October 15, 1953 – 1967 and nuclear veteran’s website is closed down. “…………..October 15 is the anniversary of the first nuclear test at Maralinga, Totem 1.– the beginning of atomic testing in Australia 1953 – 1967, and the contamination of traditional  Kokatha Lands in the Western Desert of South Australia. The Action Australia page on the ANVAR website contained the details. Continue reading →

October 16, 2009 Posted by | South Australia, uranium, weapons and war | , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

International Disarmament meeting will endorse “peaceful” nuclear energy

Japan – The Fourth Meeting of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament

“……The fourth meeting of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, co-chaired by Hon. Yoriko Kawaguchi, former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and the Hon. Gareth Evans Continue reading →

October 10, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics international, uranium, weapons and war | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australia does not need the USA’s “nuclear deterrent”

A nuclear challenge to the world On Line opinion By Sue Wareham –  30 September 2009 “…President Obama’s chairing of the UN Security Council on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation served to focus the nuclear spotlight where it is most needed, on the Council’s five permanent members. Continue reading →

September 30, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics international, uranium, weapons and war | , , , , | Leave a comment

Still much to fear from nuclear

The Age, David Noonan, 29 Sept 09

Nuclear weapons raise serious, unresolved questions about Australia’s uranium exports.  The lesson from Iran is that nuclear technology and materials can be – and are – used for dual purposes. The weapons dangers in uranium enrichment are not unique to Iran.  All facilities in the nuclear fuel chain can be used to make weapons.

uranium-trail.The military remain inextricably linked to the civilian nuclear sector in Iran, in Russia, in China and in India.  All these countries fail the test of strengthened nuclear safeguards and should be disqualified from receiving Australian uranium.  And in an age of terrorism every nuclear reactor is a potential target that can be used as a weapon against the community.  The inherent safety and security risks of nuclear are strong reasons to phase out Australia’s uranium exports.  These risks should be front of mind when governments consider BHP Billiton’s plans to expand Olympic Dam to make Australia the global uranium quarry to fuel the nuclear industry.

September 29, 2009 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, uranium, weapons and war | , , , , | 2 Comments

Australia: no uranium to India

`No Uranium supply to India’

Central Chronicle September 25, 2009 United News of India
New Delhi, Sept 24:

Australia today reaffirmed its stand of not supplying uranium to India but said it favoured cooperation in energy sector specifically Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and coal. Continue reading →

September 25, 2009 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, weapons and war | , , , | Leave a comment

US missile shield partly scrapped: role of Australia’s Pine Gap not clear

US to scrap part of missile shield

BRENDAN NICHOLSON, CANBERRA

September 18, 2009

THE US has abandoned key parts of its planned global anti-ballistic missile system, apparently to avoid offending Russia.

The Wall Street Journal said that the Poland and Czech Republic sections of the system would be shelved after a review ordered by US President Barack Obama.

It is not yet clear what that means for plans for the Asian sections of the system and joint experimental work being carried out by Australia, Japan and the US. That work is intended to thwart North Korea’s plans to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

In September 2007, then defence minister Brendan Nelson told Parliament the joint Australian-US facility at Pine Gap provided information on ballistic missile launches of interest to Australia and could be used in any US missile defence system.

”As such, this would be a continuation of a ballistic missile early-warning partnership that we have shared with the United States for over 30 years,” Dr Nelson said.

At the time Ron Huisken, a senior fellow from the Australian National University’s Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, warned that Australia’s collaboration on missile defence with Japan and the US could agitate the Chinese as well as the Russians.

http://www.theage.com.au/world/us-to-scrap-part-of-missile-shield-20090917-ftnz.html

September 18, 2009 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, weapons and war | , , , , | Leave a comment

Uranium sales to China ramped up as China’s nuke weapons ramp up

weapons1China prepares to show off nuclear missiles- South Australia and China move forward together

China will parade five new missiles in a show of military prowess on the 60th anniversary of Communist Party rule. Continue reading →

September 4, 2009 Posted by | South Australia, uranium, weapons and war | , , , , , , | Leave a comment