Govt secrecy over nuclear waste transported to Woomera
Fears of nuclear waste dump site at Woomera KIM WHEATLEY, The Advertiser 27 Jan 2010) “The public needs to know and the traditional owners have a right to be aware.”
CONCERN is mounting that a site near Woomera may become the de facto radioactive waste dump for Australia.
This follows criticism the Defence Department failed to notify the public it was moving radioactive waste 450km from Edinburgh RAAF to a new waste dump at Woomera over the Christmas break. Continue reading
Nothing stops Australian uranium exports ending up in nuclear weapons
A credible safeguards regime for Australian uranium exports depends on having a credible safeguards agency. Sadly, the federal government’s Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO) is anything but.
Nuclear Safeguards and Australian Uranium Export Policy — Friends of the Earth Australia, by Jim Green 25 Jan 2010 There is a long history of nuclear power facilitating nuclear weapons programs …….The larger part of the problem is real or feigned interest in nuclear power providing a rationale for the acquisition of enrichment plants, reprocessing plants and research reactors and a rationale for the development of cadres of nuclear scientists and engineers whose skills can be put to use in weapons programs………… Continue reading
Roxby Downs, Ranger – who’ll clean up, who’ll pay?
Relevant to the proposed BHP Roxby new open pit and to the Ranger expansion – will they leave nothing but waste and cleanup bills (comment from David Noonan)
Call to levy mining firms for green fund KIM MACDONALD, The West Australian January 26, 2010,
Former scientist of the year Jorg Imberger has called for a five per cent levy on mining companies to pay for social and environmental programs, amid revelations only a fifth of export sales money stays in WA. Continue reading
Cherie Blair will represent aboriginal nuclear victims in UK court case
Cherie Blair to work on SA compensation case ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) 25 Jan 2010
The wife of the former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, will represent five Aboriginies seeking compensation for ill health caused by nuclear testing in South Australia’s outback during the 1950s. Continue reading
Australia Day – no celebration for aboriginal people
Craft-a-licious: Australia Day/Survival Day/Invasion Day? ..Kerri January 24, 2010 On the 26th January, Australians celebrate Australia Day, marking the arrival of the first fleet.But be aware that Aboriginal Australia does not celebrate with you.To us, this day signifies the beginning of the end to life as we knew it. Continue reading
Is nuclear energy a reasonable option for Australia?
Nuclear power and Australia John Quiggin January 21st, 2010 There’s been a bit of discussion about nuclear power lately, but it tends very much to the abstract. I thought I would look into the question of when, if ever, nuclear power might be a reasonable option for Australia to consider, and how we should go about it.
An obvious starting point is the Switkowski report commissioned by the Howard government, which I’ve uploaded here. There are three main points which allow me to provide an answer to the question, at least for the next decade or so.
(i) In the absence of a substantial carbon price nuclear power is not competitive with coal
(ii) First-of-a-kind (FOAK) nuclear plants are likely to be very expensive (above $80/MWh), not competitive with wind or gas (even with CCS)………………minimal conditions can’t be met before 2025 at the earliest.
The US, which has been attempting for a decade to restart its nuclear industries is still at the pilot stage, exploring a number of technologies, and offering to subsidise the construction of three plant designs for each major option. Most of the proposals are on existing sites, only six have reached the point of a plant actually being ordered, and none is anywhere near starting construction……..
……That suggests that Australia should forget about nuclear power entirely for at least the next five years. If things are going well for nuclear, and not so well for renewables, that would be the time to start setting up regulatory structures, looking for sites and so on. http://johnquiggin.com/index.php/archives/2010/01/21/nuclear-power-and-australia/
Facts on Europe’s nuclear waste dumping
How French solves nuclear waste , Jagadee’s English Webblog January 20, 2010 St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
- European utilities dumping uranium wastes in Russia include: OKG – Sweden, Vattenfall – Sweden/Europe, EoN and RWE – Germany, Electrabel – Belgium, EPZ – the Netherlands, British Energy – the UK, EDF – France, Iberdola – Spain, and NOK/Swissnuclear – Switzerland.
- The uranium waste dumped in Russia over the last thirty years belongs to nearly every nuclear power company operating nuclear reactors in western Europe from Spain to Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium. The UK and France have shipped the largest amount of uranium waste from their respective enrichment and reprocessing plants.
- Areva spokesman, Charles Hufnagel acknowledged to Nuclear Fuel of December 5th that the uranium shipped back to Eurodif (France) represents only “10% of the total” sent to Russia. An Areva spokesperson also confirmed to Nuclear Fuel that this uranium would remain the property of the Russian enricher, Techsnabexport (Tenex).
- Greenpeace Russia has filed a complaint against the illegal storage and dumping of uranium wastes in Siberia.Art. 48 of the 2002 law on ‘environmental protection’ prohibits storage or dumping of imported nuclear materials. A next session of the Moscow Court is scheduled for Dec. 8th
- 5. Greenpeace letter to to IAEA’s Director-General Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei can be found here.
The Real Face of the IAEA’s Multilateral Nuclear Approaches: The proliferation of nuclear weapon material & environmental contamination report.
Greens call upon Rudd to help Australia’s nuclear veterans
“We know the Australian government was complicit in these tests which saw many soldiers used as human guinea pigs..”
Time for Rudd to step in and ensure justice for Maralinga nuclear vets: Scott Ludlam 20th January 2010, The Australian Greens are dismayed by the Rudd Government’s refusal to help Australian veterans of the Maralinga atomic bomb tests of the 1950s and 60s. Continue reading
Roxby Downs uranium mine will blow out greenhouse gases
“All of our efforts to reduce emissions, to conserve energy, will be undone by just one company, one project” The Advertiser DAVID NOONAN, 20 Jan 2010
The science of climate change demands action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. BHP Billiton’s proposed new open-pit mine at Roxby Downs would blow out SA’s greenhouse gas emissions by more than 12 per cent. Continue reading
Fremantle Anti Nuclear group (FANG) join international walk to the U.N.
Australian government continues to cover up radiation damage to veterans
successive governments continued to cover up the atomic test issue.
Rudd Government refuses to help Maralinga veterans sue Britain: The Courier-Mail Ian McPhedran January 20, 2010
THE Rudd Government has refused to help Australian veterans who are suing the British Government over radiation exposure during atomic bomb tests in the 1950s and 60s. Continue reading
New study shows low level radiation damage to nuclear bomb survivors
“This study provides the strongest evidence available to date that radiation may increase the rates of stroke and heart disease at moderate dose levels..”
A-bomb survivor data affirm radiation/CVD risk link the heart.org January 19, 2010 | Reed Miller Hiroshima, Japan – Fifty-three-year follow-up data confirm that Japanese atomic-bomb survivors exposed to at least 0.5 Gy of radiation have an excess risk of dying of heart disease or stroke . Continue reading
Review- the nuclear week that has been
Australia: Climate denialists Monckton and Plimer touring Australia (wonder who’s paying for this tour?). Maralinga nuclear veterans must take their case to England. Tony Abbott calls for uranium sales to India, as India builds its nuke weapons arsenal. Australian Super decides that uranium is ethical enough. Point Lowly Action group trying to save iconic Great Australian Cuttlefish. ERA uranium shares and production fall. Govt considers airport scanning amid public ignorance on the issue.
International: Huge global renewable energy summit. France’s nuke industry embroiled in strife. Critical talks about Iran’s nukes. Germany in dilemma over mounting nuclear waste. Future very complicated for USA’s nuke industry. Colorado anti-uranium legal bid moves along. Revelations of Israel’s uranium tests on workers. Doomsday clock – slight improvement. USA – anti-uranium protest. Court action over depleted uranium in Hawaii. Protest against NASA’s radiation testing on squirrel monkeys.
Tony Abbott dancing around nuclear power
his support for nuclear options surfaces fairly regularly in media releases.
Abbott won’t rule out putting a nuclear power station on a headland near you -NORTH COAST VOICES 18 January 2010 Continue reading
Australian media, Climate Denial, and Pro Nuclear Hype
I used to think that the Australian media publicised fraudulent and anti-scientific opinions just out of a desire to have a controversy, and stir public attention to the media. I now think, alas, that it also has to do with the ignorance about science of not only the public, but also of the journalists.
Australia is now in grave danger of falling for the simplistic views of people who put up good-sounding information about very complex problems, with little regard for the scientific or economic facts.
We can now expect a year of this, with Tony Abbott in the lead position, expert in claimimg “green” credentials, while in fact furthering the interests of powerful fossil fuel and nuclear lobbies.
I would hope that climate-denialist speakers like Lord Monckton, and Ian Plimer will be met byt the media with sceptical srutiny – with those tried and tested old questions; – “Does he really make sense?, and What’s in it for him?
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 