Australia’s young doctors ignorant about ionising radiation
Medical students unaware of radiation hazard, IBTHealth -15 Mar, 2010, Over half of medical students and junior doctors underestimate the amounts of radiation involved in regularly ordered scans with 25 per cent wrongly accept that magnetic resonance imaging emits radiation. Continue reading
Yearly, 400 new cases of cancer caused by CT scans
Radioactive waste dumped in Kakadu National Park
Toxic waste dump in Kakadu, Northern Territory News , NIGEL ADLAM, March 13th, 2010
THE equivalent of six Olympic-size swimming pools of radioactive soil and mining equipment has been buried in Kakadu National Park.Parks Australia said it was not nuclear waste and the level of radioactivity was low.
The soil and equipment had been stored in shipping containers.
It has now been put in containers with a structural life of 1000 years and buried four metres down.
Nuclear spin intensifies in lead-up to Obama’s Australian visit
the PR teams of the nuclear industry have been hard at work trying to make the idea of a nuclear future more palatable. The same sorts of spin doctors that once sang the praises of asbestos and denied any link between smoking and cancer
En Passant » Nuclear power is no environmental alternative, by Andrew Cheeseman, Socialist Alternative online, 09 March 2010
Once more, the Rudd government is talking up a nuclear future. There are plans for a new nuclear waste dump and it’s quite likely that this month’s meeting between US President Barack Obama and the Australian parliament will see further discussions of so-called “uranium leasing”. [ The Global Nuclear Energy Partnership] Continue reading
Faltering start to new South Australian uranium mining ventures
...The uranium expansions are having to factor in lower uranium price expectations. Prices …. have been steadily declining…..The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics said the price decline reflected the situation where supply would exceed demand for the second year in a row.
Uranium mining cranks up at Honeymoon, Sydney Morning Herald BARRY FITZGERALDMarch 12, 2010 COMMISSIONING of Australia’s fourth uranium mine begins next month…..Honeymoon is nevertheless set to reach the production stage before what was meant to be Australia’s fourth uranium mine, the Four Mile joint venture between Heathgate and Alliance Resources. Continue reading
Nuclear, Fossil Fuel, people stack Australia’s New Renewable Energy Centre
Members of the interim board for the Australian Centre for Renewable Energy include:
• Graeme Hunt (Chair) – formerly in charge of BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam expansion;
• Prof Mary O’Kane – former Vice Chancellor of Adelaide University;
• John Ryan – awarded the public service medal for his work on the PM’s Task Force into Development of Uranium Mining and Nuclear Energy in Australia;
• Emma Stein – has served on the boards of energy, oil and gas utilities;
• Dr John Wright – CSIRO Energy Transformed;
• Other members without clear relevant expertise in renewable energy development.
Centre for Renewable Energy welcome, but Greens amendments would have improved it | Greens MPs
Martin Ferguson’s hypocrisy about medical radiation
Here’s another example of Martin Ferguson’s duplicity. He’s promoting the planned radioactive waste dump on aboriginal land, as necessary for Australians because it’s for medical waste.
BUT: 1. There’s no scientific reason why the nuke waste dump has to be in the Northern Territory, let alone on aboriginal land.
2. The dump will also take highly radioactive spent fuel rods – conveniently opening the door for a future intake of high level nuclear waste from – well, perhaps the USA, as Howard and Bush had intended.
Planned NT nuclear waste dump will not be just for ‘medical’ waste
What will be stored at Muckaty? – ABC Darwin – Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 March, 2010 By Liz Trevaskis We’ve heard that medical waste will be stored at an Australian radioactive waste dump, either at Muckaty station or wherever else a site is chosen. But spent nuclear fuel rods, which are of a higher level of radioactivity, will also be stored in any waste dump that’s established.
Australia could reduce greenhouse gas without nuclear power
Nuclear does not have the answers we need, Sydney Morning Herald, SCOTT LUDLAM, March 10, 2010 -“…….Dr Hansen argues that energy efficiency and renewable energy sources are our first-line weapons in the battle against climate change. No arguments there. In the Australian context, we have a growing body of scientific research mapping out sustainable energy scenarios that would allow us to keep the lights on while also sharply reducing greenhouse emissions. Continue reading
Australian govt quietly planning expansion of ANSTO’s nuclear facility
Central Australia to get nuclear waste dump Herald Sun AAP * March 09, 2010 “…federal parliament’s public works committee is holding an inquiry into proposed extensions to the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) facility at Lucas Heights, in Sydney’s south. Continue reading
All types of nuclear reactors can be used for nuclear weapons
Nuclear does not have the answers we need, Sydney Morning Herald, SCOTT LUDLAM, March 10, 2010 -“…….claims made about the “proliferation resistance” of novel nuclear power concepts do not stand up to scrutiny.
Dr Hansen is keen on the “integral fast reactor” concept. Continue reading
Review: Nuclear waste dumping, nuclear’s costs and safety
Australia: Others join Maralinga veterans’ court case. Mounting opposition to NT nuclear waste dump, while both major parties push for it. Movement for sustainable energy becoming nationally organised
International: Questions in U.S. Congress about financial risks of Obama’s nukes policy, as States become anxious over costs and safety. Pro nukes enthuise over “clean”, “renewable” nuclear energy Safety risks raised over UK’s planned French nuclear reactors, while France mounts push to sell nuke reactors to 3rd World. Practicality and popularity of renewable energy continues to grow.
Melbourne’s big nuclear debate was a blow to the nuclear industry
“Should Australia Embrace Nuclear Power?” – The big debate at the Melbourne Town Hall, on March 4, – resulted in an audience swing of opinion against nuclear power
A poll before the debate found an eight percent margin in favour of nuclear power. A poll taken immediately after the debate revealed a margin of 24 percent against nuclear power – 34 percent in favour, 58 percent against. This 32 percent turn-around was all the more striking given that the pro-nuclear debating team included high-profile nuclear advocates Dr Ziggy Switkowski and Dr James Hansen.
The video will be posted sometime soon at:
http://www.iq2oz.com/events/event-details/2010-series-melbourne/01-march.php
ABC TV will broadcast the debate on “Big Ideas’, possibly on 23rd March.
Coalition Joins Labor in PLan to Impose Nuclear Waste Dump on the Northern Territory
“Fourteen years worth of research that was conducted that identified 15 sites around Australia, none of which were in the Northern Territory.
Coalition to support nuclear waste dump, ABC News 9 March 2010, The Federal Opposition has confirmed it will support the Government’s plan for a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory. oday, the Opposition’s resources spokesman, Nick Minchin, said the Government’s bill reflects long-standing Coalition policy. Continue reading
Women walking to Canberra to oppose NT nuclear waste dump
“We will also be talking to people about the deadly effects of the nuclear cycle and draw attention to people that Australia is contributing to the nuclear cycle by digging up uranium and how the government is planning to open a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory.”
Cassie joins peace walk, Ipswich Queensland Times. 9th March 2010 On Saturday Ms McMahon will join a 1400km walk from Brisbane to Canberra to encourage a peaceful and sustainable future as part of the Women’s International Peace Walk. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 