Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

Save Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary from uranium mining, says Liberal Senator

Arkaroola too precious to mine: Minchin , The Independent Weekly, 14 May, 2010 South Australia’s Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary is too precious to turn over to uranium mining, South Australian Senator Nick Minchin says.

The Liberal Senator says he is appalled that the Australian Workers Union is in favour of opening the sanctuary to the uranium industry. Continue reading

May 15, 2010 Posted by | environment, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

National panel stops uranium mining in the Balpakram National Park

Uranium mining blocked,The Telegraph – Calcutta (Kolkata), New Delhi, May 14: A national panel of wildlife experts today rejected a proposal from the department of atomic energy for uranium exploration on the Rongcheng plateau in Meghalaya’s South Garo Hills.The standing committee of the National Board of Wildlife decided to reject the proposal for exploratory drilling in view of the sentiments of the local people and representations from civil society groups, the environment ministry said.

The Rongcheng plateau falls in the Balpakram National Park, home to elephants, black bear, leopards, deer and the red panda, one of the rarest animals in the world.Several green groups and NGOs have campaigned against a proposal for exploratory drilling, arguing that it would harm the bio-diversity in the park. The Telegraph – Calcutta (Kolkata) | Nation | Uranium mining blocked

May 15, 2010 Posted by | uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Labor breaks election promise to set up inappropriate nuclear waste dump

Medical experts – including nuclear medicine practitioners – confirm that Australians can continue to have unimpeded access to diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicines without the need for this dump.

Labor reneges on nuclear waste promise, The Age, DAVE SWEENEY, May 14, 2010 Before the 2007 election, federal Labor promised a new approach to the management of radioactive waste, Continue reading

May 14, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ionising radiation double the cancer risk for the young

Younger Patients Face Double Radiation Risk from CT Scans: Study, Ethiopian Review, May 13th, 2010 Younger patients run a higher risk of health problems from radiation exposure caused by computed tomography (CT) scans, according to a new study. Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina found that the radiation risk for younger patients were double those of older patients in a CT radiation exposure study presented last week at the American Roentgen Ray Society 2010 annual meeting in San Diego, CA. Scientists say that the findings indicate that age is another factor that doctors should consider when ordering CT scans. Younger Patients Face Double Radiation Risk from CT Scans: Study

May 14, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics, uranium | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Increased momentum for a national fight against Muckaty Nuclear Waste Dump Plan

“There is growing national concern about Minister Ferguson’s decide-announce-defend approach. The Senate report does not challenge the Minister’s absolute discretion in the site selection process, which will mean continuation of the secretive and bullish process undertaken so far”.


Senate Report Increases Determination to Fight Muckaty Nuclear Dump. The Beyond Nuclear Initiative (BNI) says a Senate report released today on the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill is deplorable and will invigorate efforts to oppose a dump at Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory. Continue reading

May 13, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics | , , | Leave a comment

Australian Government postpones Nuclear Waste Bill, Spurns Discussion with Greens

Ferguson’s response was “I don’t deal with the Greens, why would I deal with the Greens, we don’t deal with the Greens” and walked off.

The government’s strange flip flops on nuclear, Crikey, by Bernard Keane, 13 May 2010, “….This week it [the Australian Government] was preparing to speed its National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010 through parliament, with the aid of an unusually compliant opposition. The bill was scheduled for today but has been dropped ahead of higher priority bills. It is expected to return in June. Continue reading

May 13, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics, uranium | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Govt perks to uranium industry in “indigenous” budget

Indigenous- Petrol sniffing, child abuse targeted, ABC Rural News, 11/05/2010…………………Funding will continue for the rehabilitation of the former uranium mining site at Rum Jungle in the Northern Territory, and sorting out Indigenous land access issues.Half a million dollars will be spent on the Working in Partnership Program, to help mining companies work better with Indigenous communities and create more Indigenous mining jobs.

May 12, 2010 Posted by | aboriginal issues, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

AREVA’s grand nuclear empire plans coming unstuck?

it is president Nicolas Sarkozy’s dream to streamline the nuclear power sector, from design to operation, working as a team to win high profile contracts around the world.

French Nuclear Industry Faces Meltdown, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL,  By Geraldine Amiel May 11, 2010,A much-awaited report on France’s nuclear industry — due out later this week — is understood to offer ways for France’s diverse nuclear industry to work together to garner big contracts around the globe. Continue reading

May 12, 2010 Posted by | aboriginal issues, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, uranium | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Legal challenge preparing against Australia’s plan to dump nuclear waste on aboriginal land

“We find it quite astonishing when we compare their determination against the land commissioner’s report which clearly identifies the traditional owners we’re speaking to as owners of the land.”

Lawyers step in as waste dump gets nod,  ABC Alice Springs – Australian Broadcasting Corporation, By Alex Johnson 11 May 2010, A team of solicitors will travel to Tennant Creek today to prepare their case against the Federal Government’s plan to build a nuclear waste dump north of the town. Continue reading

May 11, 2010 Posted by | aboriginal issues, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, uranium | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australia’s proposed nuclear waste dump a target for terrorism

Nuclear waste site a target for terrorists, expert warns, Sydney Morning Herald, LINDSAY MURDOCH DARWIN May 11, 2010 A BRITISH nuclear risk expert has warned that terrorists could target radioactive waste being transported thousands of kilometres across Australia to a proposed waste dump in the Northern Territory. Continue reading

May 11, 2010 Posted by | Northern Territory, safety, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mothers against uranium mining

Lila Watson, Australian aboriginal leader, said: “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come here because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”………

A Mother’s Day Call to Protect the Earth, Care 2, 9 May 2010, Our team of eight dynamic women – legal, policy, and business experts -convened in Elko, Nevada, to begin our journey……….. Finally, we traveled to the magnificent Grand Canyon, where Havasupai leader Carletta Tilousi explained the grave threat of uranium mining to the tribe’s sacred Red Butte mountain, to the community’s health, and to the safety of the regional aquifer. Continue reading

May 10, 2010 Posted by | uranium, water | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australia’s nuclear waste dump plan affects all Australians

Once again, Australia’s Aboriginal land rights are to be trampled by White Australia’s ignorance and apathy, (helped along by the subservient mass media), and by corporate   greed.   Not much comfort for Aboriginal owners of the Muckaty area – but eventually, even White Australians will suffer from this.

BUT – the fight is not over – as support for the Muckaty land owners and national resistance build among Australians of any colour.

May 8, 2010 Posted by | Christina reviews, uranium | , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Muckaty Australia’s Nuclear Waste Dump now – but What’s Next?

The nuclear waste dump battle is far from over. The Rudd government got elected partly on its promise to overturn Howard’s Radioactive Waste Management Act. Now, a tame Senate Inquiry has endorsed Rudd’s even more draconic National Radioactive Waste Management Bill.

Orchestrated by Australia’s fine Minister For Promoting the Nuclear Industry, Martin Ferguson, the new Bill opens the way for a radioactive waste dump to be imposed on Aboriginal land, against the will of its traditional owners, of the regional community, and the Northern Territory Government.

But that’s not all. Along with the Northern Territory Intervention, this Bill opens the door to further encroachment on the rights of all Australians, not only Aboriginals.

And – yesterday’s announcement of an agreement between the Australian Government and the Obam administration on nuclear technology, will soon be followed by a Obama’s visit to Australia. The timing of all this is remarkable.  The Muckaty nuclear waste dump is supposed to take the returned Lucas Heights nuclear waste.

But what’s next for Australia – which remains a signatory to the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership?

May 8, 2010 Posted by | Christina reviews, uranium | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Senate Report toes govt line on dumping nuclear waste on Northern Territory

Senator Ludlam criticised the Bill for its “heavy handed” overriding of Territory and Aboriginal heritage protection laws, and the reliance on secret documents for the nomination of Muckaty.

[The Report]t said an objects clause should be inserted as should an explanation of the minister’s “absolute discretion” on site selection.

Inquiry dumps on Northern Territory, Northern Territory News  BEN LANGFORDMay 7th, 2010 THE Senate inquiry into laws which could put a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory has recommended the new legislation be passed.But the inquiry’s report was immediately criticised as “an unbalanced and closed-minded justification for a foregone conclusion” by one of the committee members. Continue reading

May 8, 2010 Posted by | Northern Territory, uranium, wastes | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australia: Flawed Senate Report into Radioactive Waste Plan

“This proposed legislation remains controversial and contested.  Minister Ferguson’s legislation is a bad deal, not a done deal.”

Senate radioactive dump inquiry deeply flawed, Australian Conservation Foundation, 8 May 2010 A Senate report into laws to authorise a controversial planned nuclear waste in the Northern Territory has failed to make any progress towards responsible radioactive waste management in Australia, the Australian Conservation Foundation said today… Continue reading

May 7, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics, uranium | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment