Australian government credibility on the line
A South Australian government official promises that Australia will change its rules, so as to sell uranium to India, even though India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Meanwhile, fears of radiation exposure grow, in India, for India has no security safeguards for radioactive materials.
The Australian government prepares to sell uranium to Russia, even though Russia is furthering Iran’s nuclear technology, and despite Russia’s continuing bad record on nuclear security.
Australia to change rules so as to sell uranium to India?
Australia May Waiver Rules To Sell Uranium To India NUCLEAR EXPORT CONTROLS, Spectrum, April 26, 2010 Australia is planning to change its domestic rules to allow India to import Uranium from the country. Continue reading
Uranium Enrichment company Silex now runs Solar Firm
the re-opening of the plant will force a moral dilemma on go-greeners in the country. Do they really want to invest in Australian-made solar panels, when they will also, indirectly, be investing in nuclear energy?
Sydney’s largest solar panel plant rescued from the brink of extinction, Photovoltaics International27 April 2010 | By Emma Hughes “……As BP closed its doors for the final time, Australia’s PV manufacturing industry looked like it would never again see the light of day. Continue reading
Nuclear Waste Dump: three recommended Australian Defence Force sites excluded. Why?
A bill presently before parliament rules out the possibility of using one of three previously nominated sites on Australian Defence Force land in the Northern Territory,
Plan For Nuclear Waste Dump Faces Backlash, IPS ipsnews.net, By Stephen de Tarczynski, MELBOURNE, Apr 26, 2010 – Aboriginal landowners in Australia’s far north are battling government plans to construct this country’s long-term nuclear waste storage facility on their land… Continue reading
Because of its vested interests, Australia should not have a key position in Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty meetings
by Peter Ravine, 26 April 2010, I am concerned at Australia’s position with regard to proposed changes to the Non Proliferation Treaty. It holds a key position in the coming review as co-chair of the International Commission yet it has an unavoidable vested interest in promoting uranium exports.
It should be replaced by a neutral country like Ireland or New Zealand, and the Commission should be re-constituted with adequate informed renewable energy representation. The Commission’s proceedings to date should be rejected until a new neutral commission is formed to revise the proceedings as needed. (This article continues in item below)
Need to redraft Report of International Commission on Nuclear Proliferation and Disarmament.
Paragraph 15 and the remainder of the document would need to be re-worded to require phasing out nuclear power. Support for the following points might help to influence next month’s NPT New York conference.
by Peter Ravine, 26 April 2010, With due respect to Dr Gareth Evans, I am not impressed by the Commission’s December 2009 report as indicated by the following extract: Continue reading
At last, Australian solar projects to be announced
Shortlisted solar projects to see the light of day * Giles Parksinson , The Australian, April 26, 2010 IT could be a big fortnight for the Australian solar industry. The shortlist for the first two projects in the $1.5 billion Solar Flagships program is expected to be announced soon, and so will the much awaited but long-delayed winners of the solar component of the Renewable Energy Demonstration Program. Continue reading
Australia’s forgotten soldiers, victims of Maralinga atomic bomb testing
he was required to sign the official secrets act when returning from Maralinga, which prevented him from talking about the site for 30 years.
McGee’s lost men forgotten in fallout , Adelaide Now, Bryan Littlely, April 24, 2010 FRANK McGee is looking for the lost men of Maralinga, but fears most of his lads have died without recognition for the work they did cleaning up our nuclear disgrace
- The former Royal Air Force Flight Lieutenant commanded a party of 35 airmen whose task it was to collect, bury and salvage items from the Maralinga atomic test sites over two years from 1966. Continue reading
Tony Abbott would dump the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Abbott wants lead role for troops in Afghanistan, The Age, MICHELLE GRATTAN, April 24, 2010, “………In his first major foreign policy speech as Opposition Leader, he …… said he would drop Australia’s bid for a Security Council seat; scuttle Kevin Rudd’s pursuit of an Asia-Pacific community, and likely dump the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament that Australia set up. Foreign aid would be focused on the Asia-Pacific region, and uranium sold to India……Abbott wants lead role for troops in Afghanistan
Australian govt undermining nonproliferation: uranium sales to Russia
“The spread of weapons grade material is the dark underbelly of the
uranium mining industry,”
Fernando de Freitas, 24 April 2010, The Federal Government’s decision to allow uranium exports to Russia will harm Australia’s credentials as a leading international voice against the spread of nuclear weapons, according to the Australian Greens. Continue reading
Australian uranium companies scouting for investment from India
Australia looking for investors in infrastructure sector, Thaindian News Kolkata, April 23 (IANS) Australia wants India to share costs with it in infrastructure projects required to support the mining expansion projects in that country, an official said here Friday.Damian Papps, director for investments, department of trade & economic development of South Australia, said the country was scouting for investors in India for this. Australia looking for investors in infrastructure sector
In uranium-producing Australia, beware of governments bearing gifts
Could it be that the Australian and South Australian governments are getting just a little bit rattled, about their slavish devotion to the uranium/nuclear industry?
Goodness knows, the mainstream media are doing everything they can to help them. Nary a word about the scandalous betrayal of Labor policies and promises on nuclear waste dumping in the Northern territory.
Nary a word about the crumbling uranium price, the stalled Olympic Dam mining. and very little on BHP Billiton’s alleged involvement in corruption.
Meanwhile the South Australian government seems to be aiming at enhancing its green credentials, with environmental grants. Or could it be that they would like the organisations receiving those grants to just shut up about the environmental degradation caused by uranium mining?
Rudd govt’s nuclear waste dump bill more draconian than Howard’s
NT: Nuclear waste facility to be dumped on locals, Socialist Party (Australia) , 23 April 2010, Contradicting the ALP’s claims of consent, the April 2008 NT Labor Party conference unanimously passed a resolution calling on the federal government to exclude Muckaty because the nomination “was not made with the full and informed consent of all traditional owners and affected people and as such does not comply with the Aboriginal Land Rights Act.” Several federal ministers and members of government have also acknowledged the opposition and distress of locals.
This gives lie to Ferguson’s claim that he is restoring ‘fairness’ to the issue of radioactive waste management, Continue reading
Australia about to ratify uranium sales to Russi
Australia’s Smith Says Pact to Allow Uranium Exports to Russia , BusinessWeek, By Marion Rae April 23 (Bloomberg) — Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Australia and Russia will ratify a nuclear agreement that will allow Australian uranium to be exported to Russia for “civil, peaceful purposes.”Smith made the comments today in an e-mailed transcript of a press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during his visit to Russia. Australia’s Smith Says Pact to Allow Uranium Exports to Russia – BusinessWeek
Big welcome for aboriginal anti-nuclear protesors in Martin Ferguson’s electorate
at left, Dianne Stokes. by Christian Macpherson 22 April 2010. The Northcote Town Hall right in the heart of Martin Ferguson’s electorate, was packed last night, as local and Melbourne residents welcomed two courageous Aboriginals from the Tennant Creek area in the Northern Territory.
As Martin Ferguson hides in the safety of his Melbourne bunker, not having the guts to visit the local residents of the Muckaty Station area (planned nuclear waste dump) – well, Diane Stokes and Mark Chungaloo came to visit Ferguson’s area.
Melbourne heard of the strong opposition of four aboriginal clans, of local non-aboriginals, and of the Northern territory government – to the new National Radioactive Waste Management Bill – – which is intended to override all their rights, and impose a nuclear waste dump on their land.
Perhaps Martin Ferguson, Australia’s Minister For Promoting the Nuclear Industry, will have a few voters to worry about, come the federal election.
Of course, Australia’s mainstream media, ever subservient to their corporate mining links, ignored this as large and attentive crowd was informed about this issue, Dr Bill Williams spoke on the health dangers of ioinsing radiation,. Natalie Wasley and Dave Sweeney spoke on the draconian legislation planned. Alex Bhathal, Greens candidate for the electorate of Batman, received warm applause
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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