Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

What are ewes eating? Wirsol adds 300 sheep to Gannawarra solar farm — RenewEconomy

Wirsol puts 300 sheep to graze among the panels of its Gannawarra solar farm, as part of a trial to help manage vegetation at the site in Victoria. The post What are ewes eating? Wirsol adds 300 sheep to Gannawarra solar farm appeared first on RenewEconomy.

What are ewes eating? Wirsol adds 300 sheep to Gannawarra solar farm — RenewEconomy

December 15, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

NSW clean shift makes it pin-up state for renewable investors, but grid issues linger — RenewEconomy

Concerns around “random” grid connection issues and unpredictable federal policy dampen renewables investment confidence, CEC finds. Thank goodness for the states. The post NSW clean shift makes it pin-up state for renewable investors, but grid issues linger appeared first on RenewEconomy.

NSW clean shift makes it pin-up state for renewable investors, but grid issues linger — RenewEconomy

December 15, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Nuclear news – week to 14 December

 

The pandemic and the development of the vaccine have dominated the news this week.  Also, the impending USA electoral college vote is holding media attention, along with the potentially violent movement to overthrow Joe Biden’s election win.

The U.N.  Climate Change Action Summit drew attention both to the scale ofthe action needed, and to the efforts being made by different nations .

On the broad news, nuclear issues are in the background. For me, life has been busy, too. So this week’s notes are mercifully short.

AUSTRALIA

NUCLEAR.

Analysing Christopher Pyne’s article enthusing about proposed Kimba nuclear waste dump.  Australia’s Liberal and National Parties got their arithmetic wrong on nuclear waste dump opinion polls.  Michele Madigan sets former Minister Christopher Pyne straight on nuclear waste dump plan.    Far from “broad community consent”– nuclear waste dump plan for Kimba South Australia..

Australian Government Productivity Commission Report fails to realise the complexity of environmental problems in uranium mining.

The end of the uranium mining era leaves Jabiru with some social and housing problems.

CLIMATE Australia is “rapidly” moving towards a hotter, drier climate.

 

INTERNATIONAL

Dr Helen Caldicott on the nuclear lessons of the past – time to take note of them.

Greenhouse gas emissions transforming the Arctic into ‘an entirely different climate’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOV9QB4c4BA

Google headline news on “Nuclear” – articles are strongly pro nuclear, and for “Small Modular Reactors”, even more so.

Small Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) if they work, will arrive too late to make a difference to global heating.

Uranium Film Festival 2020 – a huge success under difficult circumstances.

Microwave Radiation ‘Most Plausible’ Cause Of Diplomats’ Ailments.

December 14, 2020 Posted by | Christina reviews | Leave a comment

The end of the uranium mining era leaves Jabiru with some social and housing problems

NT mine closure has Jabiru community anxious about an uncertain future, and some are already leaving,   https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-13/nt-jabiru-housing-uncertainty-as-uranium-mine-end-nears/12975950,  By Matt Garrick
  Packing her life away into boxes and preparing to shift out of her small Northern Territory town has had an emotional impact on Denise House — but it’s not the feeling she expected.

Key points:

  • The Ranger uranium mine will cease operations on January 9
  • Dozens of mining families are expected to leave town in coming months
  • Future rental prices and the standard of the town’s housing remains “unknown”

“It’s funny because I don’t feel like I’m leaving yet, although we know we are. There’s a date, we’ve already got our flights booked and everything,” Ms House said.

“But I’m sure there will be tears.”

The House family is among an exodus of families preparing to up stumps and leave Jabiru — a mining town on the edge of Kakadu National Park with a population of just over 1,000 people — as mining operations officially cease on January 9, 2021.

The vision is for Jabiru to eventually be turned into an Indigenous-run tourism town and service hub.

The entity set up to help handle the transition, Jabiru Kabolkmakmen Limited (JKL), is among those conceding the town faces a huge challenge in the coming year. Continue reading

December 14, 2020 Posted by | Northern Territory, uranium | Leave a comment

Don’t be led up the garden path on the nuclear road to nowhere

December 14, 2020 Posted by | General News | Leave a comment

Pathway of the peacemakers

beyondnuclearinternational's avatarBeyond Nuclear International

Walking the long road from law to justice with the Kings Bay Plowshares

By Paul Magno

For the past two-and-a-half years it has been my privilege to support the Kings Bay Plowshares. They are seven disarmament activists who entered the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in Georgia by night on April 4, 2018 — the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s martyrdom — to confront the Trident nuclear weapon system and engage in an act of disarmament. The seven poured human blood on signs and missile models, unfurled peace banners and used household tools to begin symbolic disarmament of Trident, a submarine based first strike nuclear missile, termed by the Navy as a “strategic” weapon.

The seven have subsequently been charged and convicted in a jury trial of three felonies and a misdemeanor in federal court. All but one have been sentenced, to date, by Federal Judge Lisa Godbey Wood…

View original post 1,563 more words

December 14, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Western Power seeks another 50MW of battery storage for WA’s main grid — RenewEconomy

Western Power seeks another 50MW of battery storage to avoid network costs and boost penetration of renewables in WA’s main grid. The post Western Power seeks another 50MW of battery storage for WA’s main grid appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Western Power seeks another 50MW of battery storage for WA’s main grid — RenewEconomy

December 14, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

December 13 Energy News — geoharvey

Opinion: ¶ “Rising To The Challenge Five Years After The Paris Climate Agreement’” • A new report produced by the UN Environment Program – the Emissions Gap Report 2020 and the Production Gap Report – highlights the urgency of the task ahead. We know how to deliver a safer climate trajectory right now, but major […]

December 13 Energy News — geoharvey

December 14, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Far from “broad community consent”- nuclear waste dump plan for Kimba South Australia.

Pauline Hanson’s One Nation says Aboriginal people not consulted enough on Kimba nuclear waste facility, ABC North and West SA, By Gary-Jon LysaghtLuke Radford and Shannon Corvo.  11 Dec 20,   Pauline Hanson’s One Nation says it is “very odd” that the Federal Government has not consulted Aboriginal people enough on a proposed nuclear waste storage facility in South Australia.

Key points:

  • A nuclear waste storage facility has been proposed for Napandee near Kimba on the Eyre Peninsula
  • One Nation doesn’t think the Barngarla people were given enough of a voice in SA’s nuclear debate
  • Federal Government wants to legislate the site, meaning the decision wouldn’t be subject to a judicial review

The proposed facility which would house Australia’s low and intermediate-level waste — which comes from medicine — has been earmarked for a farm near Kimba on the Eyre Peninsula.

The Government wants to legislate the farm as the site for the facility, meaning the decision would not be subject to a judicial review.

There was hope the matter would be resolved before the end of the parliamentary year, however that failed to eventuate.

Labor and One Nation oppose the legislation, saying the resources minister already has powers to select a site, adding that a judicial review had merit.

The Greens also oppose the legislation………

The debate surrounding the facility has been a hot-button topic in Kimba for the past five years, with locals saying they will experience another anxious Christmas.

Farmer Jeff Baldock owns Napandee, the 160-hectare property where the Government wants to put the facility.

He said his frustration levels were growing…….

Mr Baldock said having the facility at Kimba would provide future generations with a different industry in which to work besides agriculture.  ……

  Peter Woolford is another local farmer and has been campaigning against the waste facility.

He said it had been a long process but one that “needs to happen because of the nature of what’s being proposed”.

“It’s all about fairness for people, not only those opposed to it, but those that live outside of the Kimba boundary who were denied a vote,” he said.

To have senators not happy with the current legislation, I think it is a positive thing because in the end, this is forever this facility, it’s going to be 100 years.”

Mental health

Mr Woolford said the wellbeing of people impacted by the process had been forgotten.

“There’s no doubt that’s why people have left and some people are considering leaving now,” he said.

“They don’t want to live by a nuclear facility.

“The Government don’t seem to care about the mental wellbeing of people in this town.

“We’re going to keep standing our ground and oppose this because of how unfair this process has been.” https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-11/one-nation-says-not-enough-consultation-kimba-nuclear-facility/12971036

December 12, 2020 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, Federal nuclear waste dump | Leave a comment

Morrison sidelined by Boris at climate summit, overshadowed at Pacific Forum — RenewEconomy

On Friday it was confirmed that Australia has not been offered a speaking slot at the Climate United Nations’ Ambition Summit. This should not come as a surprise. The Climate Ambition Summit is, as the name would suggest, all about climate ambition – where Australia is decidedly lacking. Earlier this week, Australia was ranked second last……

Morrison sidelined by Boris at climate summit, overshadowed at Pacific Forum — RenewEconomy

December 12, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Independent MP Zali Steggall welcomes positive response to Climate Change Bill — RenewEconomy

Independent MP Zali Steggall welcomes positive response to proposed Climate Change Act, designed to break the climate policy deadlock. The post Independent MP Zali Steggall welcomes positive response to Climate Change Bill appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Independent MP Zali Steggall welcomes positive response to Climate Change Bill — RenewEconomy

December 12, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Angus Taylor’s 2020 emissions report: pro gas, anti wind and very weird — RenewEconomy

More gas, less wind and less big solar: The electricity numbers in Taylor’s emissions roadmap make no sense. But that’s not the only weird part of this report. The post Angus Taylor’s 2020 emissions report: pro gas, anti wind and very weird appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Angus Taylor’s 2020 emissions report: pro gas, anti wind and very weird — RenewEconomy

December 12, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

December 11 Energy News — geoharvey

Science and Technology: ¶ “Duke Energy Renewables Invests In Bald Eagle Research, Education In Oklahoma” • Duke Energy is a leader in developing national best practices to reduce bird impacts at wind facilities and from power lines. It partnered with Sutton Avian Research Center in Oklahoma to install an eagle nest camera, which now has […]

December 11 Energy News — geoharvey

December 12, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Both SMRs AND the high-level nuclear fuel waste they produce are EXEMPT from environmental assessment in Canada — Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County and Area

As noted in the recent Hill Times op-ed by Eva Schacherl, Political Opposition Growing to New Reactors, both small modular nuclear reactors AND the high-level fuel waste they produce are EXEMPT from environmental assessment in Canada From the op-ed: “The Impact Assessment Act was intended to create “greater public trust in impact assessment and decision-making.” […]

Both SMRs AND the high-level nuclear fuel waste they produce are EXEMPT from environmental assessment in Canada — Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County and Area

December 12, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Australia wins at not honouring 1.5C climate commitment. — Climate Action Moreland: people in Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy wanting action on climate change

Australia wins not honouring the 1.5C commitment Fossil award Australia took out an international award on the eve of the Climate Ambition international conference. But it is not an award to celebrate. Australia was handed the international ‘Fossil Award’ for failing to honour our climate commitments under the Paris Accord. Five years ago Australia signed […]

Australia wins at not honouring 1.5C climate commitment. — Climate Action Moreland: people in Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy wanting action on climate change

December 12, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment