Expensive spinning about radioactive waste in Sydney
a communications strategy that aims, in its words, to ”prevent the escalation of community opposition” to dumping radioactive waste at Kemps Creek.
Ready for a backlash, Sydney Morning Herald, Heath Aston, October 17, 2010 THE Keneally government knows it’s sitting on a dangerously explosive issue in Hunters Hill.Spooked by the coming backlash against moving the harbour’s most toxic blight to less picturesque Mulgoa, it has paid for pre-emptive spin doctoring. Continue reading
Radioactive waste from posh suburb to the lower class
The new classification of ”restricted solid waste” allows the government, which has dithered for decades about what to do with the radioactive site, to transport waste to the western suburbs……
State sends radioactive waste west, Sydney Morning Herald, Heath Aston, October 17, 2010 MORE than 5000 tonnes of radioactive waste will be dug up from one of Sydney’s wealthiest harbourside suburbs, trucked across the city and dumped near Penrith. Continue reading
BHP Billiton’s carbon tax policy aimed to promote its uranium mine
BHP has an interesting little asset called Olympic Dam in South Australia where it is considering a major series of upgrades. Expanded Olympic Dam output would exceed one quarter of global mined uranium. …..Olympic Dam is the world’s largest known uranium deposit,
BHP: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing? The Star, by Mark Taylor | 15 Oct 10 Why would BHP BHP CEO Marius Kloppers express support for a carbon tax? The mining industry has its fair share of climate skeptics. Geologists and model-based climatologists have very different views of the world. Does BHP stand to gain or lose from a carbon tax? Continue reading
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency secretive about reports
Other incidents related to unexplained high doses recorded by three mining company employees, radioactive contamination of drinking water at a uranium mine
Radiation reports are sadly lacking Karen Dearn, The Australian, 16 Oct 10,
THE Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, the nation’s peak radiation safety body, has failed to publish annual critical incident reports for the past six years, despite commitments to do so. Continue reading
Crushing disappointment for USA nuclear indusrty
For the second time in a generation, the nuclear industry is undergoing a breathtaking transit from overblown hope to crushing disappointment. Once again this cycle is taking place in the context of claims that we must have many more new reactors than we are likely to get to avert an overwhelming existential threat – oil imports in the 1970s, and climate change today.
Honey, I Shrunk the Renaissance: Nuclear Revival, Climate Change and Reality, CleanEnergy Footprints, by Peter Bradford, 15 Oct 10, The “nuclear renaissance” has proven to be a promotion that cannot pass economic muster. Continue reading
BHP Billiton held accountable for environmental impacts of uranium mine expansion plan
Call on BHP to answer over Olympic Dam impacts, Australian Conservation Foundation, David Noonan, 16 Oct 10
- BHP must present feasible alternatives to prevent or reduce the impacts of the proposed Olympic Dam open cut mine in the next phase of the Environmental Impact Statement process, including: considering copper mining alone – without uranium exports; properly managing radioactive liquid wastes and tailings; using renewable energy for its large new electricity demands; and protecting the fragile gulf environment from impacts from the mine’s proposed water supply. Continue reading
Expansion plans for Olympic Dam uranium mine need public scrutiny
BHP upgrades Olympic Dam forecasts | Adelaide Now SARAH MARTIN,The Advertiser October 15, 2010 “ …..Greens MLC Mark Parnell said the company’s plans to double expansion should require it to submit a revised EIS allowing further public consultation.”This has major implications for BHP Billiton and its shareholders,” Mr Parnell said.
“The State Government and BHP Billiton need to come clean with the South Australian people and reveal the full extent of this project, before any approvals are given,” he said…….BHP upgrades Olympic Dam forecasts | Adelaide Now
20 USA nuclear plants leaking radioactive tritium
Unfortunately, rather than hold nuclear plant owners to the terms of their licenses, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has failed to exercise its authority and instead has handed the problem of radioactive tritium leaks over to the industry lobbyists’ in a voluntary program.
Nuclear Power’s Threat to Clean Water | Greenpeace USA, by Jim Riccio – October 15, 2010 , Today is blog action day, an annual event held every October 15 that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day, and this year the topic is water. Continue reading
Western Australian govt’s Aboriginal land grab opposed by Greens
Greens slam compulsory WA land grab, Sydney Morning Herald, October 14, 2010 AAP Australian Greens leader Bob Brown has slammed West Australian Premier Colin Barnett’s decision to compulsorily acquire land in the Kimberley for a gas hub
Senator Brown on Wednesday toured James Price Point, the site chosen for the $30 billion Woodside Petroleum-led project, 60km north of Broome.The Greens leader told a public meeting that night in Broome he would work hard to put the issue on the national agenda……Greens slam compulsory WA land grab
Pacific radiation survivors lobbying U.S. Congress for compensation
The program would make those suffering from illnesses
Pacific radiation survivors to hold meeting Sunday Pacific Daily News • news@guampdn.com • October 15, 2010 Continue reading
ERA’s uranium profit fell 82% !
ERA in July reported an 82% plunge in first-half net profit to 22.7 million Australian dollars (about US$22.4 million), largely thanks to the lower ore grades.
Uranium Miner Expects Profit Hit – WSJ.com, By ROSS KELLY, 14 Oct 10, SYDNEY—Energy Resources of Australia Ltd., the uranium arm of mining giant Rio Tinto, on Wednesday downgraded its annual production guidance for the second time this year, ….The production shortfall means ERA will have to cover some supply requirements with purchases, further eroding its earnings. Continue reading
NASA astronaut warns on radiation, opposes monkey testing
Radiation is the single biggest threat to the health of astronauts.
Space Station Living, Radiation and Monkeys Former NASA astronaut Leroy Chaio discusses his personal space radiation experiences and why monkeys shouldn’t be our guinea pigs. Discovery, Oct 14, 2010 Continue reading
Uranium miner ERA: costs high, profits low
‘This is expected to adversely impact ERA’s 2010 earnings, as the small price margin associated with the sale of the purchased material is more than offset by the ongoing costs of operation,’’ the company said.
ERA shares fall on production downgrade, Sydney Morning Herald, October 13, 2010 – 1 Uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia has downgraded its 2010 production guidance, saying ore grade in the September quarter was lower than expected. Continue reading
“Nuclear Renaissance” dream becoming a financial nightmare
There’s no gainsaying that nuclear construction projects are looking riskier all the time, especially in the United States, where many factors have conspired to spoil dreams of a big nuclear renaissance: declining energy demand since the onset of the global economic crisis (down 4 percent since 2007 in the States); plummeting natural gas prices (down almost half from what they were a few years ago); collapsing prospects for enactment of a U.S. climate bill (which would have raised the costs of fossil-fuel-generated electricity); and soaring reactor construction costs (with EDF’s current reactor 40 or 50 percent more expensive than originally billed).
Cancellation of Maryland Plant Delivers Double Whammy IEEE Spectrum: Bill Sweet, October 13, 2010 Continue reading
USA, Europe want wind power, but split on nuclear
Opinions on building more nuclear power plants are more mixed and vary by country. The public is more or less equally divided in the U.S., Britain and France but clear majorities are opposed in Italy (60%), Spain (63%) and even more strongly in Germany (77%)…….
U.S., Europe back wind farms but split on nuclear power – Green House , 14 Oct 10, The main findings of the poll, taken between Sept. 15 and 21, 2010, include: * Big majorities of the public in all six countries favor the building of more wind farms in their countries, Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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