India’s anti-nuclear protestors arrested
nearly 3,000 people staged protests and were picked up by police…., a 14-member expert appraisal committee for nuclear projects visited Madban. The committee, which was under heavy police escort, did not meet any of the local villagers.
Protest against Jaitapur nuclear power project, The Hindu, 31 Oct 10, Hundreds of villagers on Friday staged a silent protest against the Jaitapur nuclear power project in Ratnagiri district Continue reading
WA govt’s grab of Aboriginal land is condemned
the words “always was, always will be Aboriginal land” have the rider with Australian governments, “until some rich, greedy corporation wants it”.
Forum condemns Kimberley acquisition, Green Left Weekly, October 31, 2010 By Barry Healy, Perth Corporations trying to construct a gas processing hub at James Price Point “might have a bit of difficulty getting their power plant built” if Premier Colin Barnett completes compulsorily acquiring the Aboriginal land, Continue reading
Uranium mining would ruin Finland’s tourism reputation
a few years of mining operations are not worth ruining the reputations of Kainuu and Lapland as travel destinations.
Greens Want Uranium Mining Ban Uutiset | yle.fi, 31 Oct 10, The Green League’s party council is calling for a ban on uranium mining in Finland. According to the Greens, uranium mining operations have got into the country “through the back door” and they are ruining the country’s reputation as a travel destination, especially in the north. Continue reading
Clinton and Gates to Australia for Space War project in W.A.
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates is poised to announce the base when he visits Australia next week with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,….The facility will play a major role in an emerging Cold War in space.
WA joins space race, The Age, October 30, 2010 – Australia will become a key partner in the international battle for space supremacy, Continue reading
US company finds its nuclear investment ‘worthless’
its investment in UniStar Nuclear Energy was worthless, given the deteriorating nuclear energy market……….
Constellation Energy swings to 3rd-qtr loss as nuclear investments’ value plunges, Canadian Business Online, October 29, 2010, BALTIMORE (AP) – Continue reading
South Australia’s Labor govt set to fail Aboriginal Maralinga victims’ quest for justice
Maralinga victims denied legal help, MELISSA MACK,
Oct 29, 2010, ABORIGINAL victims of nuclear testing in the 1950s are likely to be denied the chance of claiming millions of dollars in compensation, with the state Government refusing to help fund the legal case. Continue reading
USA elections: will this lead to Sarah Palin in charge of nuclear weapons?
It is almost beyond belief to imagine the fair finger of Sarah Palin accessing the nuclear button but as Commander in Chief, that would indeed be her position.
THE ELECTION, Huffington Post. Helen Caldicott, 28 Oct 10, This is seen by many as a highly contentious mid-term US election, and not just for the people of the United States. Continue reading
Time for Australia to show clear support for Nuclear Weapons Convention
Greens spokesperson for nuclear issues, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, said the Government should take the opportunity to make a clear statement of support for a nuclear weapons convention.
Western Australia’s Greens will maintain anti-nuclear policy
The WA Greens say the party would be concerned if the Labor Party reneged on its long held opposition to uranium mining, when it reopens the debate at next year’s state conference.
Greens concern on Labor’s uranium stance – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 29 Oct 10, Greens MP Robin Chapple is concerned WA could have two major parties with a pro-nuclear, pro-uranium stance. Continue reading
Australia’s nuclear power spinners – theme for November
It is well accepted, (even by Ziggy Switkowski in his 2006 report) that Australia does not need nuclear power. Yet, Ziggy and other old nuclear lobbyists are now urgently “spinning” , promoting nuclear energy for Australia. And new spinners are joining them
Apologies to Bob Hawke – I left that old attention-seeker off the picture!
One reason for this nuclear spinning is the fact that Australia will be expected to take back international wastes, as part of its uranium export industry. So, by getting Australia into the entire nuclear fuel cycle, this would make a smoother transition from “our” nuclear wastes, to “theirs” too.
The radioactive waste question is becoming critical in Australia – with the government’s attempt to impose a dump on Aboriginal land, and with Lucas Heights wastes soon. due to return from England.
Hillary Clinton and Robert Gates visited Australia. Their mission? – to get Australia deeper into the US military machine, with Western Australia, like Pine Gap, part of the Space War project.
The USA’s urgent nuclear waste problem might have been on the agenda in talks with Julia Gillard. We, the great unwashed, would not know. (but for USA to export its nuclear rubbish to Australia could be a bit more difficult now – since the European Union declared that export of nuclear waste overseas is unsafe)
Stacked nuclear discussion panel for Melbourne
In November Melbourne University is to grace the public with another stacked nuclear power panel. ( It’s been a while since Ziggy Switkowski was heckled at the last one)
Despite the fact that nuclear power involves issue such as the environment, health, atomic weapons, even economics, the panel will be dominated by pro nuclear interests, with just one (?token) speaker possibly having some knowledge of environment.
Speakers will be: Ziggy Spinowski – paid nuclear spruiker from ANSTO, Dr Selena Ng, from AREVA, Prof John Daley – background in stockbroking, with ANZ – from Grattan Institute which is largely funded by BHP Billiton, Prof Mike Sandford, geologist, from Pro nuclear Melbourne Energy Institute
None of your “soft” scientists there!
Except possibly Prof Lee Godden – ? token woman – lecturer in human rights, indigenous issues, environment
Stacked nuclear power hearing in California
State panel to debate nuclear power Los Angeles Times, Patrick McGreevy, 27 Oct 10, “………..David Weisman of the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility complained that the hearing lineup appeared stacked in favor of those who support expanded nuclear power in California and that opposition groups like his own are not on the agenda.
“Essentially what they are doing here is re-creating a private nuclear-industry promotional forum that was held in La Jolla last year,” Weisman said of the senate hearing. “It’s entirely one-sided.”…..
Weisman noted that the electric utilities are big campaign donors at the Capitol. Although Padilla recently returned a $35,000 check from PG&E that arrived a day after the gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno, records show he previously was given $9,000 in campaign contributions from PG&E and six of its executives during the last two years, and $8,850 from Southern California Edison, Edison International and 22 of their executives….
Australia’s top nuclear lobbyist gets top education job
Ohmygawd, now we have Australia’s top nuclear salesman in a top position in academia! Yes, forget the humanities, forget scientific inquiry, RMIT university’s new Chancellor is to be a paid nuclear front man, trained only in the narrow field of nuclear physics.
Yes, it’s none other than Ziggy Spinowsky. He got some top post in the Australian Opera, presumably to get prestige in that area, rather than just as a nuclear lobbyist. Now, nuclear lobbying is entering education.- Christina Macpherson
Hazards in BHP’s planned export of uranium to China
“BHP propose precedent sale of uranium in copper concentrates to China…“This is not sanctioned under Australia’s nuclear treaties … it would compromise our safeguards and environmental responsibilities, and dump some 1.2 million tonnes of long-lived radioactive mine wastes in China every year.
‘Toxic lake’ future for Olympic Dam, Roxby Downs Sun, 25 Oct, 2010 02:26 BHP must present feasible alternatives to prevent or reduce the environmental impacts of the proposed Olympic Dam expansion in the next phase of the Environmental Impact Statement process, the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) say. Continue reading
Airport body scanners, ineffective, but raise radiation question
ARPANSA’s safety advisory council said the use of radiation in non-medical situations was considered “a planned exposure”, and any public benefits must be clearly proven before deployment.
Sacrificing privacy without ensuring airport security The Australian, Karen Dearne, October 26, 2010 THE federal government is trying to allay privacy and health fears over its $28.5 million plan for virtual strip-search scanners at airports. Continue reading
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