Uranium and nuclear economics – theme for September
Uranium is not even a good financial investment for Australians.
The nuclear energy business is teetering, world-wide, as nuclear reactors reach their closing date faster than new ones are built, and as nuclear building and nuclear waste costs escalate.
In Australia, uranium mining companies scramble on the gamble of China and other Asian and Middle Eastern countries “going nuclear”.
Meanwhile old nuclear weapons fuel combines with the worldwide glut of uranium, to make Australia’s uranium future look gloomy.
Strangely, uranium explorers crawl all over the country, in some sort of act of religious faith in an industry that is clearly failing. USA, UK, France, India all see their nuclear power industry stalling.
The great hope seems to be China – with a touching faith that the Chinese won’t wake up to the financial and environmental disaster that is nuclear power.
In the last quarter, despite the general ‘resource boom’, earnings for Australia’s uranium dropped 24%
Climate change denialists’ aggressive politics in Australia
[Tony Abbott] A champion of voters who reject climate change, he has turbocharged his party and could within a couple of weeks be prime minister.
Aggression pays in king hits on Labor, Sydney Morning Herald, Shaun Carney, 28 Aug 2010, CLIMATE change can be a killer. This has nothing to do with the science and everything to do with its impact on political leaders. Look at the list of those who have felt its sting in the past three years: John Howard, Brendan Nelson, Malcolm Turnbull, Kevin Rudd. And Julia Gillard…… Continue reading
Victorian energy company award winner
The company has set its goals high – to become the leading solar supply and install business in Australia and to play its part in ensuring all Australians have access to a cleaner, greener electricity supply
Energy Matters A Melbourne Awards Winner : Renewable Energy News, 30 Aug 2010, In a gala ceremony at Melbourne Town Hall on Saturday night, Victoria-based national solar company Energy Matters emerged a winner in the Melbourne Awards. Continue reading
Looking far beyond Australia’s muddled election
The nuclear industry banks on a world that continues on a path of ever more consumption of material “goods” and of energy. The “consumer society” with its rampant materialism will inevitably end, one way or another. There’s a hope that the change will be made in a co-operative, careful way, by human societies. – rather than by a ecological crash, or nuclear war.
Sometimes the ?corny words of songs come to mind – “you gotta have a dream, if you don’t have a dream, how you gonna have a dream come true?” – or John Lennon’s “You make think I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one”.
In the sorry mess of Australia’s election, the national swing to the Greens shows the hope of so many Australian for a more intelligent style of politics, and a movement towards caring for the planet. – Christina Macpherson 28 Aug 2010
Stopping mindless consumption – no more ‘politics as usual’
all these issues – environmental, social and economic – have their source in a world view that sees the central purpose of our society as pursuing ever more material enrichment in order to allow us to consume more……….
Fiddling while the Earth burns, The Age, Richard Eckersley, August 27, 2010 No more ‘politics as usual’ should mean having enough courage to tackle the sickness of mindless consumption…… Continue reading
Aboriginals and Labor oppose uranium mining in Western Australia
Kade Muir, a Wongatha anthropologist who was born in Kalgoorlie but now resides elsewhere, says, “We don’t want this product disturbed from the ground. We don’t want to bequeath a legacy for future generations of a toxic environment.”
Enough of Uranium Mining, Say Aboriginal Communities. Galdu. Resource Centre for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, August 2010, KALGOORLIE-BOULDER, Australia — As a mining giant prepares to open a major uranium mining site in Western Australia next year, the clamour for the state to once more ban mining of the radioactive mineral has become louder.
By Jessie Boylan, IPS Continue reading
Business looks to new Australian Parliament for action on Climate Change
Trillion-dollar climate question, Sydney Morning Herald, August 28, 2010 Hopes surged this week that a swing to the Greens will result in meaningful action on climate change in the new Parliament. Continue reading
Australia’s Parliament reported on degrading effect of uranium mining on Aboriginal people
The1997 Australian parliament report observes: ‘(The) history of uranium mining in Australia and its impact on Aboriginal people is deplorable. Past mining in places like Rum Jungle have left areas so degraded that traditional owners are unable to use them, while mines such as Ranger (also in the Northern Territory) have been forced on traditional owners against their will.” “Even at mines such as Olympic Dam,” it adds, “…there was deep concern at the reckless degradation of sacred sites and insensitivity to their culture.”
Enough of Uranium Mining, Say Aboriginal Communities. Galdu. Resource Centre for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, August 2010, “……..For decades, uranium mining has been a touchy subject for Aboriginal people. Hundreds of Aboriginal communities were cleared out into cattle stations, towns and cities in the fifties and sixties, when Australian and British governments tested atomic weapons in the South Australian desert and off the coast of Western Australia. Continue reading
Centre for Geomechanics to “scrutinise” Western Australia’s uranium mining
The tender was awarded to the Australian Centre for Geomechanics,…The new group comes as several resources companies including BHP Billiton and Toro Energy are vying to develop the state’s first uranium mine, which could be as early as 2013.
Experts appointed to scrutinise WA uranium , Rebecca Laws, on Perth Now , August 23, 2010 The State Government has appointed an independent group of experts to implement a regulatory framework for WA’s emerging uranium sector. Continue reading
Australia going ahead with airport radiation scanning – no worries, mate?
US scientists have warned that radiation from controversial full-body airport scanners has been dangerously underestimated and could lead to an increased risk of skin cancer – particularly in children
Miss Ukraine backs full-body scanners at airports | The Australian, 25 Aug, 2010, “……….Due to be rolled out in Australia next year, the full-body scanners have raised privacy concerns Continue reading
Depleted uranium stolen in Australia
Depleted uranium and a substantial amount of chemicals and glassware were found at the shed…
Uranium stash claim,WHITNEY HARRIS The Advertiser, 24 Aug, 2010 A Kangaroo Flat man accused of drug trafficking after a series of police raids turned up a stash of uranium will stand trial next year. Continue reading
Independent M.P. Bob Katter’s views on Murray River and nuclear power
Katter dismisses Murray plight | Adelaide Now, MARK KENNY , The Advertiser. August 24, 2010 OUTSPOKEN independent Queensland MP Bob Katter has angrily dismissed concerns over the future of the Murray-Darling Basin, yesterday saying the vital river system was smaller than “just one of my rivers”……
SA Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young insists the environmental party would hold out strongly for the river, regardless of which side formed government….
Among other Greens policies is a commitment to close all uranium mines in Australia which, if enacted, would shatter the viability of the giant Olympic Dam copper, gold and uranium mine.
Rural people gain power – Weekly Times Now, 25 Aug 2010, “…….Mr Costar said Mr Windsor and Mr Oakeshott “seem to have Katter on a short leash” with regard to his plan for nuclear energy plants in Mt Isa …..
Australia’s economy needs new renewable energy industries, not fossil fuel ones
Relying on our fossil fuels for energy and future wealth is no longer a sensible option…Despite the claims of the fossil-fuel lobby, renewable energy can provide a vital new industry and energy source to power Australia’s economy day and night
Where’s the vision that will take us to a brave new world?, The Canberra Times, BY FIONA ARMSTRONG20 Aug, 2010 Call me fussy, but I have always expected leaders to provide leadership……while we’ve seen plenty of special interests in this election campaign, we haven’t seen much that captures what might be best for all of us…. Continue reading
Victorian govt aiming for Renewable Energy inverstment
Brumby to streamline planning for renewable energy projects – Government News By Rob O’Brien, 25 Aug 2010, Planning processes for renewable energy projects will be streamlined with Victorian councils receiving support to administer wind farm permits, the State Government has announced. Continue reading
Australian Greens will push for a Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff
The petition is still active and can be viewed at FeedInTariff.com.au.
Greens Senate Victory And Australia’s Solar Power Revolution : Renewable Energy News, 25 Aug 2010, While Australia starts the working week still not knowing who will take the reins of the country, the Greens having won the balance of power in the Senate is very good news for renewable energy….. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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