Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

Australians can cut power bills with solar hot water subsidies

hot water accounts for 25 per cent of energy consumption, so switching to renewable energy can cut power bills dramatically.

Half not aware of hot water subsidies * Paul Cleary * The Australian * September 03, 2010 1 FEWER than one in two Australians are aware of the government subsidies available to install energy-saving hot water products. Continue reading

September 4, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy, solar | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australia can influence USA and China towards peaceful agreement

Australia can help by advocating that Washington and Beijing should start to negotiate such an agreement……. First, however, before we start trying to persuade others about the best future for Asia, we need to have our own debate about it here in Australia.

Our role in Asia’s superpower shuffle,  Hugh White , The Australian  September 04, 2010 As China rises, we may need to convince the US to relinquish primacy in Asia. Continue reading

September 4, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics international | , , | Leave a comment

National rage against compulsory grab of Aboriginal land.

  • The decision, as predicted in The Australian last Thursday, sparked nationwide indignation, with critics accusing Premier Colin Barnett of taking Aborigines back to colonial days and “sticking a finger in their eye” to do the bidding of Woodside.
  • Woodside land move to be felt ‘around world’ | The Australian,Amanda O’Brien September 03, 2010

ABORIGINAL leaders and celebrity environmentalists have threatened to mobilise across Australia in a battle “as big as Noonkanbah”. Continue reading

September 4, 2010 Posted by | aboriginal issues, uranium, Western Australia | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australia’s future economy – non nuclear, non uranium – theme for September

It’s time for Australia to see through the nuclear hype, and move towards 21st Century industries that have a real future.

Australia’s  ‘resources boom’ cannot last indefinitely, and already threatens this country with an imbalance of industries. Australia needs to foster its more permanent industries – they will still be there when the mining quarries are emptied.

Mineral exports are at present a large contributor to the Australian economy, but there is no reliance on uranium, which is only a modest contributor.

Australia pioneered renewable energy technologies, and could lead again in these industries.

Meanwhile uranium mining and nuclear waste are negatives for Australia’s tourism industry, Australia’s agriculture, and our precious fresh water and groundwater.

It’s time to promote Australia as a clever, forward-looking society, and to see through the lobbying of desperate corporations and their propaganda for the ailing, aging, out-dated nuclear industry.

Energy efficiency and renewable technologies can combine beautifully with Australia’s needs to conserve water, promote agriculture, and to adapt to climate change, which is already happening in Australia.

For example – drought areas offer the potential for solar farms. Australia’s hot weather makes decentralised solar power a very economic option for homes, farms, schools, small and large businesses

September 3, 2010 Posted by | Christina reviews, climate change - global warming, energy, solar, uranium | , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Western Australia’s shonky “independent” panel on uranium mining regulations

Sitting on the panel are pro-nuclear lobbyists and behind the scenes are corporate sponsors including some that are anything but independent. BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto are two of the sponsors − companies with operating uranium mines in Australia and uranium interests in WA.

Dodgy Dealings continue in the Uranium Industry, hi spirits: by Mia Pepper,   September 02, 2010, This week the Barnett Government announced that the Australian Centre for Geomechanics has won a tender to form an ‘independent panel on uranium mining regulations’. Continue reading

September 3, 2010 Posted by | spinbuster, uranium, Western Australia | , , , , , | Leave a comment

South Australan Liberals can’t decide on uranium mining in Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary

The Greens are trying to legislate to ban mining in the outback wilderness sanctuary.

Liberals defer decision on Arkaroola mining – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), Sep 1, 2010 The South Australian Liberal Party has deferred a decision on whether to support a ban on mining at Arkaroola in the Flinders Ranges.

The Greens are trying to legislate to ban mining in the outback wilderness sanctuary.

A Liberal Party conference at Port Lincoln has discussed the issue, but Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond says a decision is yet to be made because some party members who were not present may want to have a say…….

Liberals defer decision on Arkaroola mining – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

September 2, 2010 Posted by | politics, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Uranium company Paladin makes a loss, amid negative prospects for the future

the major risk for Paladin in the short to medium-term is the uranium price, with RBS Australia painting a somewhat negative view of this..

Uranium Price Dominates Paladin’s Prospects, 30/08/2010,  Money,  Chris Shaw Full year earnings for uranium producer Paladin  fell short of expectations, the company delivering a loss of around US$53 million Continue reading

September 2, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, business, uranium | , , , | Leave a comment

Compulsory acquistion of Aboriginal land; gas now, uranium later?

“What I say to the Premier is be very careful about setting precedents like this, they can do more damage that you can ever imagine. I think compulsorily acquisition is, in a sense, another act of colonialism, it’s another theft of our land, it’s another invasion. It should never ever be contemplated at a political level….


Compulsory acquisition ‘theft’ of land,  ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 2 Sept 10 Indigenous academic Mick Dodson has delivered a warning to the WA Premier, describing compulsory acquisition of land for the Kimberley gas hub as theft and an invasion. Continue reading

September 2, 2010 Posted by | aboriginal issues, uranium, Western Australia | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fear and loathing in the Four Mile uranium project companies

Alliance claimed it wanted to protect its interests but Quasar countered that the confidentiality of the meetings could be put at risk.

Uranium companies at odds on recording devices  ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Sep 1, 2010 A company involved in developing a uranium mine near Beverley in the far north-east of South Australia has lost an attempt to record confidential meetings. Continue reading

September 2, 2010 Posted by | legal, South Australia, uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment

Lord Stern advises Independents on economics of Climate Change

”Ten or 15 years from now, those that produce in dirty ways are likely to face trade barriers.”.

Act on climate or be left behind, says Stern, Sydney Morning Herald, Tom Arup, September 2, 2010, ONE of the world’s leading climate change experts, Sir Nicholas Stern, has warned countries such as Australia will face future trade barriers unless it moves to a low-carbon economy. Continue reading

September 2, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy | , , , , , | 5 Comments

Greens in Australian Parliament gives hope for nuclear disarmament movement

the election of the Australian Greens in a sweeping balance of power in the Senate in the August 2010 elections is good news for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferatio

Moving to a Safer World with a Million Pleas Campaign , Australia.to News, 02 September 2010   by Neena Bhandari SYDNEY (IDN)“.……. “It is widely recognised that the technology needed for nuclear power is not dissimilar to that needed for nuclear weapons production.” Continue reading

September 2, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, weapons and war | , , | Leave a comment

Australia urged to get with California’s R20 Climate Group

Details of the R20 will be launched at a Global Climate Summit in November along with a ”green bank,” backed by the United Nations Development Program, to help participating governments fund low carbon development.

Act on climate or be left behind, says Stern, Sydney Morning Herald, Tom Arup, September 2, 2010,  “……..Terry Tamminen, the climate adviser to the Californian Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is in Melbourne to address a business conference. Continue reading

September 2, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy, politics international, solar, wind | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Country Liberal Party M.P. opposes Muckaty nuclear waste dump plan

The former deputy mayor of Darwin’s satellite city of Palmerston nominated a proposal to build a nuclear waste dump as an issue on which she would consider crossing the floor.

During her campaign, Ms Griggs attacked Labor for its proposals to build the dump at Muckaty Station, about 120km north of Tennant Creek…….NT Labor Chief Minister Paul Henderson supported Ms Griggs’s stance

Top End Country Liberal MP ‘will cross floor’ Mark Schliebs *  The Australian * September 01, 2010 NEWLY elected Country Liberal Party MP Natasha Griggs will cross the floor on bills she regards as unfair to the Northern Territory. Continue reading

September 1, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australian govt cover up of radioactive gases from Lucas Heights nuclear reactor

Despite all the scientific evidence that these gas plumes are dangerous, the Australian government continues to maintain that the plumes were not harmful to the public

Australia’s Radiation Cover Up, The Intel Hub, August 30, 2010 By Michelle Jones On November 3, 2006, in Lucas Heights Australia, OPAL, the Open Pool Australian Light-Water Reactor was throttled to full power. There was grave opposition to this $400 million science research/nuclear facility, Continue reading

September 1, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, secrets and lies | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Secret release of radioactive gases from Lucas Heights nuclear reactor

the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) decided against releasing a public statement at the time to avoid causing alarm.

Poison gas leak cover up By LINDA SILMALIS  : The Sunday Telegraph  August 29, 2010 POTENTIALLY dangerous radioactive gases have been secretly pumped into the atmosphere from Lucas Heights and have spread hundreds of kilometres from the nuclear reactor – but the public have never been told. Continue reading

August 31, 2010 Posted by | New South Wales, secrets and lies | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment