Climate Change the deciding issue in Australia’s coming election?
Which way the Labor Party now decides to go on the environment could yet prove to be the issue that decides the election.
Climate a hot issue in deciding election date – The Canberra Times, 11 July, “……….Australia’s response to climate change remains an unresolved political sore that continues to rub with the Australian public.The popularity of the Greens is clear evidence that the environment remains an area of great concern to many voters, yet those who feel passionately about the need to act are at present being given little choice between the incumbent and the alternative governments………. Continue reading
Energy from solar getting cheaper than from nuclear
proposed new nuclear plants would generate power at a cost of 14 to 18 cents per kilowatt-hour. But commercial-scale solar developers are already offering utilities electricity at 14 cents or less per kWh.
(USA) Solar power now cheaper than nuclear in North Carolina FACING SOUTH 12 July 2010, While the price of solar photovoltaic systems has been falling for decades, the cost of new nuclear plants has been climbing — and a historic crossover point has been reached in North Carolina, where solar power is now cheaper than nuclear. Continue reading
Costs and low uranium prices put Olympic Dam expansion at risk
BHP’s Olympic Dam expansion under pressure, Business Spectator 12 Jul 2010 BHP Billiton Ltd’s $US20 billion Olympic Dam expansion in Australia may be delayed by a protracted environmental assessment and cost, the Australian Financial Review reports. The recent softening prices for Olympic Dam’s key minerals, especially uranium, and a significant increase in the required capital is also understood to be weighing on BHP, the paper said. Continue reading
USA’s Delaware region’s population at risk from nuclear power growth
they [Nuclear Regulatory Commission] have acknowledged in public documents that it is “virtually certain” that radiation exposures will occur more than 150 miles from big reactors in a serious accident……………
(USA) Nuclear growth puts region at risk The Daily Times, By Jeff Montgomery • July 11, 2010 P ort Penn resident Julie L. Harrington is surrounded by nuclear reactors. Continue reading
Uranium mining companies us the language barrier to manipulate Australia’s Aboriginals
the communities feel the mining companies are using language barriers to manipulate them.
Miners exploiting language barriers: traditional owners ABC Online Indigenous – News, 12 July 2010, Traditional owners at the centre of controversial plans to mine uranium in the Northern Territory say they feel under siege from the Central Land Council and mining companies. Continue reading
Convergence of black and white to fight for Aboriginal rights
Aboriginal people fighting to protect their land from mining companies and the government described uranium mining and nuclear waste dumping in detail. “Breaking the nuclear chain” was a forum that included Diane Stokes from Muckaty, whose community is fighting to stop the government from dumping nuclear waste on their land…….
“The students are really passionate, and they’re up with what’s happening, through the internet and networks. The Aboriginal people are more isolated and we haven’t got all the technologies to campaign on the same scale.
“But we’re directly affected. So that’s why we need to fight for change together.”
Alice Springs convergence condemns NT intervention , Green Left, July 10, 2010, By Jay Fletcher, Alice Springs
“…….The convergence brought together Aboriginal communities affected by the Northern Territory intervention to speak and coordinate with anti-intervention and Aboriginal rights groups from around the country. Continue reading
The world remembers how France blew up anti nuclear protest ship
The tragedy reinforced powerfully New Zealand’s sense that it had been right to ban nuclear-powered or armed ships,
Rainbow Warrior fallout still felt, 25 years on * Rowan Callick, The Australian * July 10, 2010 “…….Around the world, the blowing up of the Greenpeace boat Rainbow Warrior in Auckland, 25 years ago today, still reverberates Continue reading
See online films of New Zealand’s anti-nuclear stand
Today (Saturday 10 July) is the 15th anniversary of the Greenpeace ship the Rainbow Warrior bombing by French agents. To mark the date, New Zealand On Screen has launched four titles exploring anti-nuclear protest and the politics of New Zealand’s ‘no nukes’ stand.
The movies can be watched online, for free.
When a Warrior Dies – a documentary on the aftermath of the bombing and the efforts by Greenpeace and sculptor Chris Booth to create a remembrance monument.
http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/when-a-warrior-dies-1991
Fallout – excerpts from award-winning Tom Scott and Greg McGee-scripted mini series dramatising events leading to NZ’s 80s ‘No Nukes’ stand
http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/fallout-1994/series
Mururoa 1973 – a landmark Alister Barry doco about protest flotilla who risked their lives travelling to French nuclear testing zone at Mururoa.
http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/mururoa-1973
A Nuclear Free Pasific – documentary on the long struggle for a treaty to declare the South Pacific free of nuclear arms.
http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/a-nuclear-free-pacific–niuklia-fri-pasifik-1988
Greens move to protect Arkaroola Wilderness from uranium mining
close to 95 per cent of South Australia, is available for mining but these precious places do need to be protected.
New step in Arkaroola wilderness mining fight – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), Fri Jul 9, 2010 Greens MP Mark Parnell says he is confident of enough support in the South Australian Parliament to protect Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary from mining.
VIDEO – a Nuclear Free Pacific
VIDEO
NZ On Screen – A Nuclear Free Pacific (Niuklia Fri Pasifik)
A Nuclear Free Pacific (Niuklia Fri Pasifik), NZ On Screen – 10 July, This documentary travels to nine Pacific nations, including New Zealand, to chronicle the long struggle to create a regional nuclear arms free zone. Interviews with politicians, activists, radiation victims and American and French admirals are counterpointed. When hopes of a treaty are dashed at a South Pacific Forum meet, it is pointed out that the David Lange-trumpeted independence of NZ’s nuclear free policy is evidently “not for export”. Local music scores the doco, including Australia’s Midnight Oil, whose lead singer (future MP Peter Garrett) is interviewed.
Forcing Aboriginals off their land in the interests of uranium mining
A monster has been created in our name called the Mining Industry, we all benefit from it, but not nearly as much as the Mining Magnates who run and control them. Our silence in the face of such blatant land grabs is no longer acceptable – we can no longer be innocent bystanders in our own country.
Terry Fitzpatrick Homily July 4 2010 NAIDOC WEEK » St Mary’s “……… ….Under the new Northern Territory Housing laws, and with the suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act, Aboriginal people living on their own country who receive any form of Centrelink income support are being forced to give up their control of their land. Continue reading
Radiation, nuclear waste and the Marshall Islanders
the US government is washing it hands of the people of the Marshall Islands. Aid, funding and compensation are being cut off and forced returns to the contaminated islands are being contemplated…
Remember the Rainbow Warrior and the Marshall Islands | Greenpeace International, 9 July 2010 Tomorrow is the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior by the French secret service in New Zealand’s Marsden Wharf. Continue reading
Encouraging advice for Australian Govt and Nuclear Industry
Having Troubles with your local Aborigines? 20 Ways to Commit Publicly Acceptable Genocide
“……13, When Aboriginal people protest mining and development on their own land, tell them they don’t understand what’s good for them. Tell them that they should be grateful for radioactive pollution because it comes with a cheque from the mining company. Make sure the government doesn’t provide any services to areas with high Aboriginal populations. Allow the mining companies to promise a service infrastructure well below the national standard. Tell the Aborigines that without the mining company they will have nothing. Don’t be bothered if the mining company fails all promises. Set up an extra government department to look at Aboriginal services. Uset his money to subsidise another government department. Use the leftovers to subsidise the obligations of the mining company. Announce an increase in government funding on the needs of Aboriginal people, as though housing is a special need of Aborigines. Thank the mining company for caring for the community and contributing to the economy….” Adapted by Emma Heughan and Matt Fagan from an untitled article obtained from the internet dealing with the genocide of Native Americans.
Govt pushes Aboriginals off land – young Australians will expose this
“The intervention is economically forcing people away from their country,”
Students hear NT anti-intervention talks, Sydney Morning Herald July 8, 2010, Busloads of university students converged on Alice Springs to support indigenous people seeking an end to the federal government’s intervention in the Northern Territory. Continue reading
Aboriginals’ welfare quarantining to provide land for uranium mining
What’s behind the NT intervention? | Green Left Weekly. July 3, 2010By Peter Robson, Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
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