Victoria: large scale solar plant and feed-in tariff
There is no doubt this initiative will mean that many local and international solar developers will remain in the country, and that Australia will have the opportunity of ranking among the leading developers of large-scale solar in the world…..
CLIMATE SPECTATOR: Brumby’s solar hit…Giles Parkinson, Business Spectator, 22 Jul 2010 Victorian Premier John Brumby certainly didn’t miss with the timing of the state’s large-scale solar power plant initiative…..announcing a 5 per cent large-scale solar energy target, supported by the country’s first large-scale feed in tariff.…. Continue reading
Australia’s Greens tell it like it is on Uranium, Nuclear Industry
“Recently we have been hearing a lot about ‘surging uranium prices’ and a ‘global nuclear renaissance’ but you only need to chart uranium miners’ share prices and the world uranium price to see the reality is strangely at odds with the hype,” Senator Ludlam said……..”Worldwide, the global civil nuclear industry is in serious trouble and nuclear weapons disarmament negotiations are suppressing world uranium prices.
Greens step up anti-uranium mining campaign, 21st July 2010, Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam will deliver a straightforward message to uranium miners and investors at the Australian Uranium Summit in Fremantle today
“The industry remains unsafe, unwanted and uneconomic. Pursuing investments in this least sustainable of industries will end in tears,” Senator Ludlam said. Continue reading
Bob Brown will back Labor or Liberal Climate Bills
Asked if he would block a climate change package without a price on carbon, Senator Brown said: “Goodness, no. We’re advocating renewable energy. “We’re advocating energy efficiency and we’ll negotiate. “We’re in there for better outcomes. But it will be remiss of both Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott if they don’t get a carbon price.”
Brown promises climate backing, Sid Maher, Patricia Karvelas The Australian July 21, 2010
BOB Brown .. said he would pass climate bills from both parties even if they had no price on carbon.
The Greens leader, campaigning in Adelaide yesterday, also intensified his attack on the mining industry, saying his party wanted uranium mining at the South Australian behemoth Roxby Downs stopped. Continue reading
International plea to save Arkaroola wilderness from uranium mining
the region could take centuries to recover from any mining…..
Arkaroola wilderness bid for UN recognition, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 20 July 2010, A bid has been made for Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary to be given United Nations recognition as an international geopark.
The sanctuary operators have been fighting to protect the Arkaroola area of the northern Flinders Ranges in South Australia from mining. Continue reading
Nuclear Lobby active in Australia pre election, and opposing renewables
While Climate Change is acknowledged as an issue for the coming Australian election, the nuclear issue still goes on, pretty much under the radar, because it is not popular with the public.
Despite Tony Abbott’s protestations, the Liberal Party still is a pro-nuclear party. Meanwhile the nuclear industry’s corporate lobby is working hard on Labor, too.
The Australian: 20 July 2010 quotes Business Council of Australia president Graham Bradley – “We would consider that white paper to be deficient if it does not canvass the merits of nuclear power as one of the longer-term options for Australia for the future economic generation of electricity and reduction of carbon emissions.” He also warned that the renewable energy target, coupled with other rising input costs, could lead to the need for higher power prices.
Australia: the electoral power of Climate Change activism
on July 12 Tony Abbott said the Opposition had “no plans to promote nuclear power”. This is a watershed.Politicians now fear the electorate’s environmental commitment, and its preparedness to punish lax environmentalism.So let’s use our electoral power.
Watershed for voting power – inMyCommunity – Perth, Western Australia, David Freeman , 20 July 2010, Continue reading
Still time to stop Muckaty nuclear waste dump
Country Liberals Senator Nigel Scullion says it is not too late to reconsider the most appropriate location for the waste dump.
Crossin rules out change to nuke dump stance – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Eleni Roussos Jul 19, 2010 Northern Territory Labor Senator Trish Crossin says her party’s decision to build a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory will not change if it is returned to government. Continue reading
The nuclear fuel cycle and Climate Change
“When the Dust Settles” can now be viewed on You Tube
A final word on climate change | Coober Pedy Regional Times July 17, 2010 The ETU does not accept the argument that nuclear energy is an answer to the harmful impact on the world’s climate of burning fossil fuels.
Mr Simpson said you do not solve one problem by creating another, more dangerous one.
“How can anyone credibly argue that the answer to global warming or atmospheric pollution is to significantly increase the risk of people getting cancer or them giving birth to deformed babies? Continue reading
World’s biggest uranium hole, BHP’s Olympic Dam. in doubt
“we are hearing from engineering circles that BHP has gone cold on the project. And it’s my gut feeling that the enthusiasm isn’t quite there any more.” – shadow mining minister Mitch Williams
Hole lot of trouble for BHP – The Independent Weekly, KEVIN NAUGHTON, 17 Jul, 2010 BHP Billiton’s Clark Shaft at Olympic Dam is set to return to full production, ending a nine-month lull in copper and uranium output.
But the news comes as speculation again surfaces about the company’s long-term plans for the mine…….
World’s hottest June, Australia’s driest
The Bureau reported that all states and territories in Australia experienced drier-than-average conditions in June…..
Warmest June on record globally. Better Panic Now !, 19 July 2010, (CNN) –– Last month was the warmest June on record worldwide, according to a report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Warmer-than-average conditions were present across nearly all continents, including much of the United States, according to the organization’s State of the Climate report, released Friday. Continue reading
Young Australians want action on Climate Change
As both major political parties dilly around, mouthing comforting statements about Climate Change, young people are turning to the Greens and Independents for any kind of sensible approach on Climate Change.
It is their future. One wonders about the baby boomer mining executives who put Julia Gillard into the role of prime Minister. One wonders about the baby boomer journalists, toeing the fossil fuel lobby’s line on Climate Scepticism.
Do they actually give a damn about their children and grandchildren?
Stop BHP’s expansion of Olympic Dam Uranium Mine
Zane Alcorn, said their purpose was to highlight the catastrophic effects the mine and its planned expansion would have on traditional owners, their land and future generations…..tens of thousands of gigalitres of water per day
is being sucked out of the Artesian Basin on Arabunna land to service the mine,”
Protesters gather at mine site, Sydney Morning Herald, July 16, 2010 –An anti-nuclear protester has chained himself to a four-wheel-drive blocking the road to BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam uranium mine in South Australia’s far north. Continue reading
What Australia’s nuclear company Silex Systems doesn’t tell you
Silex Systems jumps on the Climate Change bandwagon – presumably to draw in investors. In fact, solar energy is but a small fraction of their basically nuclear business. But – as the nuclear power industry languishes – well – a bit of solar can make you look good, for the moment.
What they don’t tell you is that while their nuclear laser technology awaits licensing, there are serious safety concerns about this technology. It will make the uranium enrichment process a lot faster and easier, but also easier to convert, without detection into nuclear weapons material. hence the Silex Systems laser uranium enrichment process is seen a s a nuclear weapons proliferation danger.
Pro nuclear propaganda from Silex Systems
any investor who survived the tech boom and bust of the late 1990s would be wary of grandiose technology claims.
It is therefore mollifying that Silex’s local solar operations are also on a growth path, albeit with only a fraction of the nuclear side’s dazzling (?) potential…….
RBS Morgans analyst Scott Power says solar accounts for less than 10 per cent of the firm’s Silex valuation.
Silex Systems opts for solar exposure Tim Boreham : The Australian * July 17, 2010 WITH the climate-change debate winding its way back on the political agenda, the Lucas Heights-based Silex Systems is hedging its bets. Continue reading
Australian champion surfer joins African anti nuclear protest
“The out-of-sight, out-of-mind attitude must stop now,” said Australia’s Mick Fanning, a former world surfing champion and a top contender this year on the ASP World Tour.
Surfers in South Africa to march against nuclear project, Outdoors, action and adventure, Pete Thomas Jul 16, 2010 Some of the world’s top pro surfers will participate in a protest march Saturday against the proposed construction in South Africa of a nuclear power station that threatens to jeopardize some of the region’s premier surf spots. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
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