Review: Kakadu, Israel’s nukes, UK’s muddle
Australia: Doubts on the future of uranium mining are really the result of the financial crisis in Europe. Still BHP, ERA etc grasp the opportunity to blame the Australian govt’s proposed new resources profit tax. BHP plans transporting uranium through W.A. towns. ERA’s uranium mine leaking into Kakadu National Park. Women peace walkers ,- part of Footprints For Peace International, arrive in Canberra. Lucas Heights about to close down old nuclear reactor.
International: Israel in awkward double standards over nuclear weapons. USA’s far right pushing for hawkish nuclear policy. World uranium stockpiling up, as its market in the doldrums. UK’s nuclear policy in a muddle. Marshall Islanders to be sent back to polluted islands.Native Americans fighting new uranium mining. Conflict of interest in USA’s Radiation Health Study
Uranium mine’s radioactive leak raises doubts on Cameco’s planned mine close to Alice Springs
No clean water, no Alice Springs. Is a uranium mine worth the risk? Judging by the experience of the Mirrar people in Kakadu — no way.
Kakadu’s tainted water is a no-go for Alice Springs, The Age, Jess Abrahams, Arid Lands Environment Centre, Alice Springs, 25 May 2010, URANIUM mining is not a safe or sustainable industry for Australia.The Ranger mine is meant to epitomise world’s best practice.But a poorly engineered dam apparently collapsed, spilling 6 million litres of radioactive water into the Gulungul Creek, which flows into Kakadu. Is this the best the uranium mining industry can manage?
Here in Alice Springs, Canadian company Cameco wants to dig a uranium mine at Angela Pamela, just over 10 kilometres from the southern outskirts of town. Continue reading
BHP’s dangerous plan to transport uranium through towns
Greens say uranium too risky to transport through towns ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) May 24, 2010 The Greens say the Western Australian Government should prevent the transport of uranium through all Goldfields towns, as well as Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Mines Minister Norman Moore last week revealed he does not want BHP Billiton to move yellowcake from its planned Yeelirrie mine through Kalgoorlie.The company has indicated it wants to temporarily store yellowcake in the town before it is transported to Adelaide or Darwin. Continue reading
Uranium mining radioactively pollutes Kakadu National Park
Mine fears grow as pollutants flow to Kakadu, Sydney Morning Herald, LINDSAY MURDOCH May 24, 2010
MILLIONS of litres of radioactive water from the Ranger uranium mine have flowed into internationally acclaimed and World Heritage-listed wetlands in Kakadu National Park. Continue reading
No gold health card for Australia’s atomic veterans
no provision had been made for the children of Maralinga veterans suffering from nuclear-related health problems.
Payment for nuclear veteran ‘not enough’ * Verity Edwards The Australian * May 23, 2010 AFTER almost 50 years of fighting for compensation, Maralinga veteran Avon Hudson’s frustration has turned into a feeling of intense disappointment.Mr Hudson says the Rudd government’s budget decision to provide nuclear veterans with a pension is just not enough.In particular, he thinks the defence force members who participated in British nuclear testing at Maralinga, Emu Field and the Monte Bello Islands in the 1950s and 60s deserve a health gold card. Continue reading
W.A. Mines Minister opposes transport of uranium through Kalgoorlie
Don’t be snowed by BHP’s blah on Resources Super Profit Tax
Miners strangely silent on the billions they reap in tax credits, Sydney Morning Herald, CHARLES BERGER, May 11, 2010 “………….If the government’s proposal can be criticised at all, it is that it doesn’t go far enough. More of the existing fossil fuel subsidies should be dismantled, as recommended by the Henry review (and as Australia has committed to the G20 to do).
And the government plans to return far too much of the revenue raised by the resources tax to the mining industry in the form of additional exploration rebates and mining industry infrastructure, when we should be using the additional revenue to help us build a clean, sustainable economy, including investment in renewable energy and clean transport.
So don’t be snowed by the big miners’ shrieks about sovereign risk driving them out of Australia. The biggest risk is that we continue to subsidise mining operations that aren’t paying a fair return for their use of public resources and taxpayer dollars…… Miners strangely silent on the billions they reap in tax credits
Anti-nuclear women walkers greeted in Sydney
Anti-nuclear activists on the road Alternative Media Group, Pam Walker & Anna Watanabe , 20May 2010 The City of Sydney hosted a reception for anti-nuclear walkers from Footprints for Peace at Town Hall last week, showing its support for ending Australia’s involvement in the nuclear cycle.
Among supporters were Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon and various councillors from Sydney Mayors for Peace.
The walkers from Footprints for Peace – Women’s International Peace Walk, are walking from Brisbane to Canberra to protest nuclear proliferation.In Canberra the walkers will present Prime Minister Kevin Rudd with a message stick from the indigenous people of Brisbane Continue reading
Australia’s heritage secret old nuclear target: how many secret new ones?
“Many Territorians would not even be aware of this priceless nugget of Cold War history right in their backyards.”
‘Top secret’ Cold War seismic vault heritage-listed “…….. ABC News by James Glenday May 18, 2010
The Spencer Hill Seismic Vault has been heritage listed…… A seismic vault, which was used to detect nuclear tests during the Cold War, has been heritage-listed……………Michael Wells from the Northern Territory Government’s heritage branch says the equipment was used to detect nuclear tests in the former Soviet Union.…. Between 20 to 30 US soldiers worked at the facility but many of their activities were kept secret from the Australian people…. ‘Top secret’ Cold War seismic vault heritage-listed – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Murky history of Australia’s exposure to radiation from French nuclear tests
Prime Minister Whitlam sent HMAS Supply to witness the French Tests. A Royal New Zealand Naval vessel also took position and watched. Thus more ANZAC nuke vets were created by the exposures they suffered…….The same mistakes which caused the Black Mist incident and all other incidents in Australia to go unreported in the 1950s were still in play in the 1970s…………
Paul Langley’s Nuclear History Blog, 19 May, 2010, On 22 July 1973 French atmospheric nuclear testing recommenced at Mururoa Atoll in the South Pacific. Continue reading
Millions of jobs in carbon cuts and green technologies
”The report shows regional areas, even those which produce coal and generate electricity will have more jobs if we take strong action to cut pollution, but only if we act now,”
Carbon scheme ‘will create millions of jobs’ The Age, TOM ARUP, May 19, 2010, BIG cuts to carbon emissions and heavy investment in green technologies will create 3.7 million jobs across Australia by 2030, economic modelling commissioned for unions and green groups shows. Continue reading
Quiet beginning to clean up dead nuclear reactor
Little fallout from nuclear clean-up (they hope) PS News 19 May 2010,
Obsolete facilities to be decommissioned, Work is due to commence soon on decommissioning obsolete nuclear facilities at the Lucas Heights Science and Technology Centre and the National Medical Cyclotron… Continue reading
Review: Nuke waste resisted, Radiation and Breast Cancer
Australia: Muckaty Aboriginal owners take their fight internationally. To public outcry, Paul Howes pushes for uranium mining in Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary. Martin Ferguson manages to avoid supporting real progress in renewable energy. Tony Abbott promises to slow renewable energy. Calls to phase out Victoria’s brown coal, and move to job intensive renewables.
International: Renewed concern over special cancer dangers for women and the young, from ionising radiation. Water issues threaten nuclear industry’s future. UK’s new govt raises doubts on new nuclear. Iran does uranium swap deal with Turkey. Cannes film festival launches “Countdown to Zero”. Indian community action stops uranium mining in National Park.
Muckaty nuclear waste battle goes to a global audience
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcuNpT84Ov
The proposed waste dump law excludes the Muckaty Traditional Owners from procedural fairness and appeal rights, removes Aboriginal Heritage and environmental protections and overrides any Commonwealth, State and Territory laws that could be used to oppose or challenge the dump plan.
From the campfire to cyberspace: Radioactive waste concerns go global, Natalie Wasley, 18 May 2001 Aboriginal Traditional Owners opposed to a radioactive waste dump at Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory of Australia have taken their campaign to a global online audience. Continue reading
Tony Abbott – No to increased funding for renewable energy
Tony Abbott – Address in Reply, Budget 2010 “…..the Coalition would not proceed with the budget increase to the renewable energy future fund and will cut government advertising by 25 per cent. These savings will pay for the Coalition’s direct action on climate change policy,…”
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