Today: The ANZACs and the Ukrainians: the dangerous mythology of heroically fighting to the death.
Australia has just celebrated the memory of a World War One battle which, in essence, was for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps to make what was a suicidal push at Gallipoli against the Turkish troops of the Ottaman Empire. It was part of British strategy against Germany, and to relieve the pressure on the European and Eastern fronts of the war, Britains ally, the Russian government had also formally requested a ‘show of strength’ against Turkey, one of Germany’s allies’.
The result?
The campaign was a costly failure for the Allies, with heavy losses (44, 000 dead) and no gains made. Of the 60,000 Australians that fought at Gallipoli, there were 26,000 casualties and 7,594 were killed. Conditions were filthy, and dysentery was rife.
The longer term result?
By some magic – this whole thing has been turned into a glorious military myth about Australia’s identity.
Australia enthusiastically celebrates the national identity – the national spirit -the courage of these young men, many just teenagers, who lost their lives, or their health, in this failed military adventure. Of course they were brave, and should be remembered with great sadness, – but not turned into a hymn to militarism
And Ukraine?
Today’s Age – print version has this headline – ”National identity forged in the fire of Russian aggression’‘ We are regularly being told that Ukraine can win this war. I believe that the reality is otherwise. The USA and NATO are happy for this war to go on as long as possible, with their goal of weakening Russia – let it be fought to the last heroic Ukrainian.
Nuclear submarines in an Adelaide shipyard – sitting ducks for a disastrous terrorist attack: conventional submarines – cheaper, safer
Impact of a missile strike on the SSN at Osborne, APRIL 26, 2022 BY AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRATS WHAT HAPPENS IF A LARGE ADVERSARY DECIDES TO BLOW UP THE PROPOSED NUCLEAR SUBMARINES (SSN) PRIOR TO LAUNCH BUT AFTER THE REACTOR IS INSTALLED?
Once launched nuclear submarines are a very powerful weapons with an indefinite range. They are very hard to find and destroy in open water and pose a major direct threat to an adversaries home territory.
In the unlikely event they were destroyed in the water the reactor should shut down and sink with the boat to the abyssal depths of the ocean. While the reactor may leak to some extent the pressure and cold water contain the problem.
However, prior to launch the submarine is a sitting duck, vulnerable to a wide range of submarine and land-launched precision missiles. The logical time to strike would be when the boats are almost complete but not launched.
Questions for the government
- What is the likely impact of a missile strike on a nuclear submarine in the shipyard?
- What modelling does the government have regarding the spread of radioactive material from the reactor if it was hit by a precision missile?
- How many years would Adelaide need to be evacuated for after a disaster?
- Given the government’s rhetoric, why would a large adversary not destroy our SSN before launch given the threat they pose?
- Having spent $20 billion on each boat over ten years, will the government be upset if the SSN are destroyed on the day of the launch?
Our Plan: 20 advanced conventional submarines
The Democrats advocate avoiding this problem by building advanced conventional submarines.
This would save about $80 billion, ten years, and Adelaide…… https://www.democrats.org.au/impact-of-a-strike-on-the-ssn-at-osborne/
Hysteria over the Solomon Islands-China security pact
Independent Australia, By Binoy Kampmark | 28 April 2022, Visits to Honiara are part plea, part threat. Delegations are equipped with a note of harassment.
That was the initial Australian effort to convince the Solomon Islands that the decision to make a security pact with Beijing was simply not appropriate in the lotus land of Washington’s “Pacific empire”. ………………
Having not convinced Honiara to change course, a range of reactions are being registered. David Llewellyn-Smith, former owner of the Asia Pacific foreign affairs journal The Diplomat, took leave of his senses by suggesting that a Chinese naval base in the Solomons would see ‘the effective end of our sovereignty and democracy’.
In a spray of hysteria, he suggested that this was ‘Australia’s Cuban missile crisis’.
The Labor Opposition, desperate to win office on 21 May, are calling this one of the greatest intelligence failures since World War II, which perhaps shows their somewhat tenuous command of history. Their leader, Anthony Albanese, seeking some safe mooring in a campaign that has lacked lustre, was particularly strident.
It was a chance to show that Labor was not shaky or wobbly on national security.
…………..This belligerent, simple note might have been stronger were it not for the fact that his deputy, Richard Marles, had previously made the unpopular suggestion that the Pacific islands were somehow sovereign entities who needed to be treated as such while China, in providing development assistance to them, should be “welcome” in offering it. …………………….
With Australia failing to change minds, the paladins of the U.S. imperium prepared to badger and bore Honiara. On the list: President Joe Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan; Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink; and National Security Affairs Indo-Pacific chief Kurt Campbell. It seemed like an absurd gathering of heft for a small Pacific Island state.
The theme was unmistakable. A bullying tone was struck in a message from National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson, who seemed to forget the Solomons was not some ramshackle protectorate of the Five Eyes.
Officials from the US, Japan, New Zealand and Australia had ‘shared concerns about [the] proposed security framework between the Solomon Islands and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and its serious risks to a free and open Indo-Pacific’.…………………………….
As for the Solomon Islands itself, divided, fragmented and vulnerable to internal dissent and disagreement, Sogavare is unrepentant:
He has already told his country’s Parliament that there is no intention “to ask China to build a military base in Solomon Islands”. He felt “insulted” by such suggestions and felt that there was only one side to pick: “our national security interest”………………… https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/hysteria-over-the-solomon-islands-china-security-pact,16302
Low emissions, lower prices: South Australia’s remarkable shift to wind and solar — RenewEconomy
South Australia’s rapid transition to wind and solar has left other states in its wake, and it’s winning on emissions and prices too. The post Low emissions, lower prices: South Australia’s remarkable shift to wind and solar appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Low emissions, lower prices: South Australia’s remarkable shift to wind and solar — RenewEconomy
Greens propose levy on coal exports to drive coal phase-out within a decade — RenewEconomy
Australian Greens say billions could be raised through a levy on coal exports and help accelerate the phase out the fossil fuel. The post Greens propose levy on coal exports to drive coal phase-out within a decade appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Greens propose levy on coal exports to drive coal phase-out within a decade — RenewEconomy
After 43-nation war council, Australia to send howitzers, ammunition to Ukraine — Anti-bellum
UkrinformApril 27, 2022 Australia to send Ukraine howitzers, ammo Australia will give Ukraine more heavy artillery weapons and ammunition. *** The $26.7 million package of military assistance will see Ukraine provided with six M777 lightweight towed howitzers along with ammunition…. It takes Australia’s military assistance contribution to Ukraine to $225 million, with a further $65 […]
After 43-nation war council, Australia to send howitzers, ammunition to Ukraine — Anti-bellum
Ratings agency says Morrison climate policies “obscure, unclear and confusing” — RenewEconomy
Ratings agency says batteries will replace gas within a decade, but Morrison’s “obscure” energy policies could slow energy transition. The post Ratings agency says Morrison climate policies “obscure, unclear and confusing” appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Ratings agency says Morrison climate policies “obscure, unclear and confusing” — RenewEconomy
Morrison’s ‘hydrogen hubs’ push is a CCS trojan horse — RenewEconomy
Morrison and Taylor use promises for new ‘clean hydrogen’ hubs as a guise for channelling more than $285m into CCS projects. The post Morrison’s ‘hydrogen hubs’ push is a CCS trojan horse appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Morrison’s ‘hydrogen hubs’ push is a CCS trojan horse — RenewEconomy
Teals and Greens are the only political groups focused on the main issue — RenewEconomy
Neither major political party can be bothered with vehicle emissions standards, let alone a policy that might change consumer behaviour. Utterly hopeless. The post Teals and Greens are the only political groups focused on the main issue appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Teals and Greens are the only political groups focused on the main issue — RenewEconomy
“Lazy, toxic scare campaign:” Labor attacks Coalition over new climate war — RenewEconomy
Canavan triggers chaos within Coalition after declaring ‘net zero dead’, while Labor hits back at ‘lazy and toxic’ climate scare campaign. The post “Lazy, toxic scare campaign:” Labor attacks Coalition over new climate war appeared first on RenewEconomy.
“Lazy, toxic scare campaign:” Labor attacks Coalition over new climate war — RenewEconomy
NSW solar farm reaches full production three months after first power — RenewEconomy
Owner of Hillston solar farm says it has reached full operation less than three months after first energisation. The post NSW solar farm reaches full production three months after first power appeared first on RenewEconomy.
NSW solar farm reaches full production three months after first power — RenewEconomy
April 27 Energy News — geoharvey
Opinion: ¶ “Green Jet Fuel Is Here – So Why Are Airlines Not Using It?” • The ingredients of Sustainable Aviation Fuel include used cooking oils or agricultural waste. The first commercial flights using SAF took off in 2011. And yet in 2019, SAF accounted for just 0.1% of all jet fuel used worldwide. There […]
April 27 Energy News — geoharvey
Renewables to be “the new baseload” by 2030, says McKinsey.
Solar and wind power are on track to become the new baseload electricity
supply for global energy markets as early as 2030, and to relegate thermal
generation from coal and gas to the role of back-up, a major new report has
found.
In its 2022 Global Energy Perspective, leading global consultancy
McKinsey & Company says renewable energy is on track to account for 50% of
the world’s power mix by 2030, and around 85% by 2050, thanks to the
increasing cost competitiveness of new solar and wind capacity.
McKinseysays that even despite the conflict in Ukraine – and bizarre declarations
from certain Australian politicians that net-zero is “dead” – the
long-term transition to low-carbon energy systems continues to see strong
momentum, and even acceleration.
The report projects a rapid shift in the
global energy mix, with the share of renewables in global power generation
expected to double in the next 15 years while total fossil fuel demand is
projected to peak before 2030, depending on the scenario.
Renew Economy 27th April 2022
If Chevron, Exxon and Shell can’t get carbon capture right at Gorgon, who can?
If Chevron, Exxon and Shell can’t get carbon capture right at Gorgon,
who can? At a cost of more than $3 billion, Gorgon, the largest carbon
capture and storage (CCS) project in the world has failed to deliver,
underperforming its targets for the first five years of operation by about
50%. Carbon capture technology has historically been used as a method of
enhanced oil recovery – selling captured carbon dioxide to oil companies
to push more oil out of depleted wells, making any initial “carbon
capture” negligible.
Renew Economy 27th April 2022
International Atomic Energy Agency very concerned at dangers at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear complex.
Atomic agency: Danger signs at ‘occupied’ nuclear site in Ukraine
Rafael Grossi tells AP the Zaporizhzhia facility requires repairs and the current situation there is ‘not sustainable’. Aljazeera,
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) director-general says the level of safety at Europe’s largest nuclear plant, which is currently under Russian military occupation in Ukraine, is like a “red light blinking” as his organisation tries in vain to gain access to the site.
Rafael Grossi said that the IAEA needs access to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine so its inspectors can, among other things, reestablish the site’s connections with the Vienna-based headquarters of the UN agency.
Ukraine’s 15 nuclear reactors gives it one of the largest nuclear power capacities in the world, and Russia’s invasion has essentially turned parts of country into a nuclear minefield.
Again and again since the invasion, nuclear experts have watched in alarm as Russian forces have come uncomfortably close to multiple nuclear plants in Ukraine.
Grossi said the Zaporizhzhia plant requires repairs.
“There are two units that are active, in active operation … others that are in repairs or in cool down. And there are some activities, technical activities and also inspection activities that need to be performed,” Grossi said.
“So the situation as I have described it, and I would repeat it today, is not sustainable as it is,” he said.
“So this is a pending issue. This is a red light blinking.”…………
The IAEA chief said he is continuing to press Russia’s government for access to the Zaporizhzhia plant………
“There cannot be any military action in or around a nuclear power plant,” Grossi said, adding that he has appealed to Russia about this.
“This is unprecedented to have a war unfolding amidst one of the world’s largest nuclear infrastructures, which, of course, makes for a number of fragile or weak points that could be, of course, exploited wittingly or unwittingly,” he added.
“So this requires a lot of activity on our side and cooperation. Cooperation from the Russian side. Understanding from the Ukrainian side so that we can avoid an accident.”…………..
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, along with US and European support for Ukraine in the conflict, have increased tensions between Russia and the West, but it’s “imperative for us to look for common denominators in spite of these difficulties”, Grossi said.
“We cannot afford to stop. We have to continue. It’s in the world’s interest,” he said of global nuclear safety. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/27/un-nuke-chief-wants-ukraine-zaporizhzhia-plant
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 