Maralinga nuclear tests and the environment
areas of fused or ‘glazed’ sand are still contaminated with levels of plutonium which are of a high and dangerous level
The impact of nuclear testing on the Australian environment | Blog About All 16 Feb 2010 “………..As well as the tests at Monte Belle islands, between 1952 and 1963 the British government, with the agreement and support of Australia, carried out ‘major’ tests at two other sites on the Australian mainland at Emu Field and Maralinga in South Australia. Continue reading
Rudd Govt Betrays Australians on Nuclear Waste Dumping
The Australian Government, aided by an inert mainstream media, is lying and cheating Australians. Martin Ferguson and the Rudd Government pretend to change the Howard Government’s laws on nuclear waste, and pretend to have aboriginal support for the dumping of radioactive waste on aboriginal land in the Northern Territory.
Rudd Government, elected on the promise to over-turn discriminatory and anti-environment laws about radioactive waste, is now producing a new and worse version of those laws. (More about Martin Ferguson’s new Bill at.Bernard Keane – Crikey )
Australia is obligated to take back a small amount of radioactive waste from UK and France. That waste originated from the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor in Sydney – and could perfectly well be stored there. Or on Commonwealth land elsewhere in Australia.
Australia: 100% renewable energy: expensive, but do-able
Zero emissions possible – at $40bn a year The Age ADAM MORTON February 15, 2010 AUSTRALIA could move to 100 per cent renewable energy within a decade if it spent heavily on cutting-edge solar thermal and wind technology, according to an analysis released as part of a community bid to redirect the flailing climate policy debate. Continue reading
Nuclear giant Areva claims to be committed to Australian solar energy project
“Australia is definitely part of our strategy to become a world leader in concentrated solar power.”
New French owner committed to Ausra’s solar plans |
The Courier-Mail Kerrie Sinclair February 14, 2010
FRENCH nuclear company Areva has secured a deal to take over US-Australian solar power plant company Ausra and says it is committed to Ausra’s local Australian project pipeline.
Ausra and Queensland state-owned utility CS Energy six months ago applied for federal funding for a portion of a $200 million solar thermal generator in addition to the 750-megawatt Kogan Creek coal-fired power plant, near Chinchilla. Continue reading
Australian govts not promoting solar power industry
the government is clearly more focused on supporting “clean coal” technology in order to protect coal and gas exports.
New French owner committed to Ausra’s solar plans | The Courier-Mail Kerrie Sinclair 14 Feb 2010 While European solar plant companies look to expand into Asia, Australian peers struggle. Continue reading
Northern Territory Intervention all about Uranium and Nuclear Waste Dumping
Stop the Intervention – Neil E Gillespie, Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement Inc – 9 February 2010 “I find the continuation of the racist NT Intervention by the Rudd Government disappointing.
I remind everyone that the Intervention is about access to Aboriginal land by business interests (mining) and the location of a dump for uranium waste.
SA, WA and Qld will not accept uranium waste so we are deluding ourselves the Intervention is anything but accessing Aboriginal land in the NT.
It has NOTHING to do with children.If it was about children, then the Intervention would have occurred elsewhere due to the undeniable fact that child abuse per capita is not as significant in the NT as it is in another State. NT is well down the pecking order.My question is why not have an Intervention in that State rather than the NT? The answer is simple. The Federal Govt does not have the Constitutional power to invade a State like it has in the NT.
Australia’s Maralinga Nuclear Veterans dying out, while they wait for justice
Nuclear veterans want better compo deal Sydney Morning Herald MAX BLENKIN 11 Feb 2010
Britain exploded seven atomic bombs in the South Australian outback in 1956-57 but continued the nuclear test program through to May 1963 with a large number of minor trials of items such as nuclear initiators. Continue reading
Angela Pamela uranium mine – a threat to Alice Springs’ water supply?
Uranium mine’s future depends on water supply ABC Rural News , 09/02/2010 The project manager for uranium exploration at the Angela Pamela deposit, 25 kilometres south of Alice Springs, says mining will only go ahead if the company can prove that it won’t harm the town’s water supply.
The Angela Pamela exploration site lies close to the aquifer that supplies the town with water.
Stephan Stander says it won’t be known until the end of this year whether or not Cameco Paladin will apply for a mining licence.”The joint venture partners are committed to the fact that we won’t develop the project or even consider it if we can’t, technically, for ourselves, prove that we won’t impact on the town’s water supply,” he says.
Highly radioactive leaking water continues from Ranger uranium mine
Uranium mine leak ‘5400 times normal level’ – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) By Emma Masters Feb 9, 2010 Contaminated water seeping from a mine in Kakadu National Park has a uranium concentration more than 5,000 times the normal level, a Senate estimates committee has heard.
The Office of the Supervising Scientist is the environmental regulator of the Ranger uranium mine, which is owned by Energy Resources of Australia. Continue reading
Wind power going ahead in New South Wales
Hunter Valley energy farm to power homes Sydney Morning Herald February 9, 2010 A $190 million renewable energy farm that will provide power for 47,000 Hunter Valley homes has been given planning approval by the NSW government. Continue reading
Cogeneration energy plant for Queensland sugar mill
Sweet news for Mackay Sugar Cogeneration Project EcoGeneration 10 February 2010
Mackay Sugar has issued contracts for the construction of a $120 million cogeneration power plant at its Racecourse Mill in Queensland. Continue reading
Western Australia makes modest start on promoting renewable energy
WA Gov puts up $10m in funds for green energy tech Third round of funding to encourage the development of sustainable, low-emission technologies Computerworld Staff * 10 February, 2010 Continue reading
Martin Ferguson says No Uranium Sales to India
Australian minister rules out uranium export to India DAWN.COM By Afshan Subohi , 11 Feb, 2010 CANBERRA: The Australian government does not intend to export uranium to India, according to Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism Martin Ferguson. Continue reading
Olympic Dam uranium mine’s very costly accident
Olympic Dam accident may cost $228m Matt Chambers The Australian February 11, 2010 THE failure of a hoist at BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine last October that sent a full skip of ore plummeting hundreds of metres was caused by a computer braking system fault and could cost the company more than $US200 million ($228.6m) in lost profit………
The October 2009 incident has rendered the Clark shaft unusable and sliced 75 per cent of capacity from the big mine at Roxby Downs in South Australia.
Review: AREVA, Climate Policy, Iran’s uranium enrichment
Au
stralia. Areva takes over Australian solar company. Continuing chaos on Australia’s Climate Change policy, as Rudd dithers over the Greens’ modest carbon tax plan, and Abbott is encouraged, as media publicises cranky extremist views of Lord Monckton. Sustainable Northern Australia report raises debate. W.A. govt refuses to hold public inquiry into uranium industry’s impact.
International: Obama appoints nuclear lobbyist as nuclear safety regulator. France’s AREVA joins powerful Korean nuclear industry competitor, while acquiring several solar companies. Iran ramps up uranium enrichment, while U.S and Israeli hawks preach war. Continuing anxieties over overuse of medical radiation – the week that has been
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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