How environmental groups are co-opted by grants from corporations, and governments
Environmental groups used to be funded largely by their members and wealthy individual supporters
The Wrong Kind of Green, By Johann Hari, The Nation, March 2010 “…as we confront the biggest ecological crisis in human history, many of the green organizations meant to be leading the fight are busy shoveling up hard cash from the world’s worst polluters–and burying science-based environmentalism in return. Sometimes the corruption is subtle Continue reading
Rudd govt’s nuclear waste dump bill more draconian than Howard’s
NT: Nuclear waste facility to be dumped on locals, Socialist Party (Australia) , 23 April 2010, Contradicting the ALP’s claims of consent, the April 2008 NT Labor Party conference unanimously passed a resolution calling on the federal government to exclude Muckaty because the nomination “was not made with the full and informed consent of all traditional owners and affected people and as such does not comply with the Aboriginal Land Rights Act.” Several federal ministers and members of government have also acknowledged the opposition and distress of locals.
This gives lie to Ferguson’s claim that he is restoring ‘fairness’ to the issue of radioactive waste management, Continue reading
Australian Nuclear Free Alliance call for health checks near uranium mine
Call for health monitoring near uranium mine, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Sally Bothroyd Apr 22, 2010 A member of the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance says there should be a program to monitor the health of people who live near the Ranger uranium mine. Continue reading
Political and NGO movement to stop uranium mining in Indian national park
Former Lok Sabha threatens agitation against uranium mining Prokerala.com Shillong, April 22 Former Lok Sabha speaker Purno A. Sangma Thursday threatened to launch an agitation against the central government’s proposal to conduct exploratory drilling for uranium inside the Balpakram National Parkin the South Garo hills of Meghalaya. Continue reading
Australia about to ratify uranium sales to Russi
Australia’s Smith Says Pact to Allow Uranium Exports to Russia , BusinessWeek, By Marion Rae April 23 (Bloomberg) — Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Australia and Russia will ratify a nuclear agreement that will allow Australian uranium to be exported to Russia for “civil, peaceful purposes.”Smith made the comments today in an e-mailed transcript of a press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during his visit to Russia. Australia’s Smith Says Pact to Allow Uranium Exports to Russia – BusinessWeek
Did Russia’s lack of nuclear security enable smuggling of enriched uranium?
Saakashvili accuses Russia of supplying enriched uranium to Caucasus, News.Az 23 April 2010, President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili accused Russia “of creating unstableness”.According to RBK, in the opinion of the Georgian leader, the unstableness enables the smugglers to deliver the highly enriched uranium to the Caucasus………..The Georgian leader underlined that Russia should be responsible for maintaining control of the nuclear weapon distribution in these territories so long as “it has occupied them”. In his opinion, the incidents with the highly enriched uranium threaten Georgia’s safety. News.Az – Saakashvili accuses Russia of supplying enriched uranium to Caucasus
Big welcome for aboriginal anti-nuclear protesors in Martin Ferguson’s electorate
at left, Dianne Stokes. by Christian Macpherson 22 April 2010. The Northcote Town Hall right in the heart of Martin Ferguson’s electorate, was packed last night, as local and Melbourne residents welcomed two courageous Aboriginals from the Tennant Creek area in the Northern Territory.
As Martin Ferguson hides in the safety of his Melbourne bunker, not having the guts to visit the local residents of the Muckaty Station area (planned nuclear waste dump) – well, Diane Stokes and Mark Chungaloo came to visit Ferguson’s area.
Melbourne heard of the strong opposition of four aboriginal clans, of local non-aboriginals, and of the Northern territory government – to the new National Radioactive Waste Management Bill – – which is intended to override all their rights, and impose a nuclear waste dump on their land.
Perhaps Martin Ferguson, Australia’s Minister For Promoting the Nuclear Industry, will have a few voters to worry about, come the federal election.
Of course, Australia’s mainstream media, ever subservient to their corporate mining links, ignored this as large and attentive crowd was informed about this issue, Dr Bill Williams spoke on the health dangers of ioinsing radiation,. Natalie Wasley and Dave Sweeney spoke on the draconian legislation planned. Alex Bhathal, Greens candidate for the electorate of Batman, received warm applause
Senator Bob Brown speaks out against Northern Territory nuclear waste plan
such a project would not be tolerated in other locations in Australia. “Who would want [or] allow in Sydney or Melbourne a uranium mine within the outer fringes of their suburbs,”
Brown questions nuclear dump rationale ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) 21 April 2010The Greens Senator Bob Brown says a proposed nuclear waste dump at Muckaty Station is not necessary. Continue reading
Local govt opposes nuclear waste dump in Switzerland
Canton slams radioactive waste plans, World Radio Switzerland, 21 April 2010, Plans for a radioactive waste disposal unit in the canton of Schaffhausen has come under fire in a study published by the local government.The National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste outlined two possible sites for the unit: one in Zurich Weinland and one near Sudranden in the canton of Schaffhasusen.That’s just a few kilometers from the city of Schaffhausen, where 80 percent of the canton’s population live and work.
Today’s report says a disposal centre would have a detrimental effect on the town of Schaffhausen, and on the development of both the canton’s economy and population.The report estimates it would lose between 15 and 33 million francs in tax revenue a year and the population would drop by up to 5,000 people. WRS | Canton slams radioactive waste plans
Lax controls in possibly corrupt BHP Billiton
BHP Reveals Possible Corruption Australasian Investment Review – (AIR) 22 April 2010, BHP Billiton, the world’s biggest mining company, has joined its smaller rival, Rio Tinto, in being implicated in possible corrupt activities.The news was buried in the company’s first quarter exploration and development report, issued yesterday……
The ASX and or ASIC should ask BHP to provide more details as soon as possible……The disclosure laws here in Australia will have to be applied to see if BHP has provided timely and adequate disclosure to the local (and London) markets……There’s no word on whether the US Justice Department will become involved, but if it involves a breach of America’s bribery laws, it will.If the reports are confirmed then authorities in countries in Europe, especially the European Commission and China could also become involved…..the fact that the allegations have been raised by the SEC shows the lax controls inside BHP, Australasian Investment Review
BHP’s Olympic Dam uranium production dropped 90%
BHP’s Mixed Production Report Australasian Investment Review – (AIR) 22 April 2010 “……Uranium production from Olympic Dam dropped 90% from the March 2009 quarter because of the damage to the main shaft which also cut copper output…”
“Developing” world a colony for “developed” world’s nuclear radioactive wastes
the developing world has unfortunately become the dumping ground for all sorts of hazardous waste from the developed world.
Radioactive Waste Came From Abroad, Officials Say | India, THE FASTER TIMES, Jeremy Kahn, 19 April 2010, Last week, I reported on the disconcerting case of a bunch of radioactive Cobalt 60 turning up in a West Delhi scrap dealer’s shop, resulting in the poisoning of at least six people and a considerable amount of panic.Now, The Wall Street Journal talks to nuclear scientists investigating the incident. They say that while they have not yet determined the source of radioactive metal, they are certain that it did not come from an Indian source…….As I mentioned in my initial post on this – the developing world has unfortunately become the dumping ground for all sorts of hazardous waste from the developed world. Radioactive Waste Came From Abroad, Officials Say | India
ERA fails to come clean on Ranger uranium leak
ERA fails to come clean on Ranger uranium leak , Scott Ludlam, 21st April 2010, Ranger Uranium Mine. Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) has failed to come clean with shareholders and the people of the Northern Territory about the contaminated water leaking from the Ranger uranium mine in Kakadu National Park during today’s Annual General Meeting in Darwin. Continue reading
USA’s “blue ribbon commission – no idea what to do with nuclear waste!
there is no real federal waste management plan….Energy Secretary Steven Chu has created a “blue ribbon” commission to help create a new long-term waste policy..
Nuclear Utilities Sue DOE To Halt Nuclear Waste Fees, Nuclear Street, 22 April 2010, Utilities contend that the DOE has collected over $33 billion since 1983, never came for nuclear waste and has no federal waste management plan – By Stephen Heiser – Continue reading
Can the Mirrar aboriginal people hold out against ERA’s plan to expand uranium mining in Kakadu National Park?
No traditional owners were at the meeting, but they have repeatedly said they do not want Jabiluka mined..
ERA still keen to mine Jabiluka for uranium, By Louisa Rebgetz ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Apr 21, 2010 Energy Resources of Australia has made it clear it wants to mine the Jabiluka uranium deposit within the Kakadu National Park.
ERA owns and operates the nearby Ranger uranium mine… Continue reading
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