Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

BHP is advised, but not COMPELLED to consult aborigines

Aboriginal ecology to be included in assessments 
Amanda O’Brien | September 24, 2009 . The Australian
ABORIGINES are claiming a landmark victory after the West Australian government told BHP Billiton to incorporate their ecological knowledge into future land clearing at its giant Yeelirrie uranium prospect. Continue reading

September 24, 2009 Posted by | 1, aboriginal issues, uranium, Western Australia | , , , , | Leave a comment

Queensland not supporting nuclear power, says MP

Do you support nuclear power?
Westside News 22 Sep 09 IS nuclear the future for Australia? Last week, Federal Member for Ryan Michael Johnson told Parliament he believed that most westsiders would support nuclear power.

Federal Member for Moreton Graham Perrett disagreed. Continue reading

September 23, 2009 Posted by | politics, Queensland, uranium | , , , | Leave a comment

Four Mile uranium mine delayed, for at least months

Four Mile mine’s four-month setback

Matt Chambers | September 22, 2009

Article from: The Australian

WORK on what is expected to be the nation’s next uranium mine, the Four Mile project in South Australia, has been set back by at least four months Continue reading

September 23, 2009 Posted by | business, South Australia, uranium | , , , | Leave a comment

pro-nuclear hype, Italy and France’s nuclear wastes

a-cat-CANReview, by Christina Macpherson 22 Sept 09 Pro-nuclear hype stepped up over the past week, with the worrying connection being pushed that somehow “nuclear energy and nuclear disarmament” are goals that go together!

In Australia, Paul Howes the very right-wing union leader, and hopeful ALP politician, is to speak on nuclear power, at a Liberal Party seminar! ANU to pursue nuclear research with ANSTO. Ziggy Spinowski spruiking nuclear power for Australia.

Internationally, the push to include nuclear at climate talks continues. The nuke lobby, (including Ziggy) tout Italy and France as winning nuclear examples. But Italy is in the throes of a nuclear waste scandal – ships scuttled in the Mediterranean . In France AREVA’s finncial problems continue, and its nuke waste disposal is coming under scrutiny, too.

September 22, 2009 Posted by | Christina reviews | , , , | Leave a comment

Exposing Ziggy’s spin

a-cat-CANZiggy Switkowski is pretty careful these days, on where he spouts his pro-nuke spin. He doesn’t want demonstrations and hecklers. So, it’s usually to the refined world of corporate Australia. Or at Lucas Heights, where he recently spruiked on the seemingly inevitable move to nuclear power.

Ziggy talks about Australian public pro-nuke opinion, without any evidence to support this. He does not mention cost, nor water use, nor waste disposal.

Ziggy continues to tout nuclear as the solution to global warming, ignoring the factors of nuclear fuel cycle carbon emissions, and the fact that even if it did work, nuclear power would supply only electricity, and would be years too late.

Ziggy prophesies a future of continued unbridled energy consumption while the world is waking up to newer ways, energy conservation, energy efficency, cogeneration. Of course, Ziggy dismisses renewable energy sources, rather as horse and buggy experts might have dismissed the automobile a century ago.

September 22, 2009 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, Christina reviews, spinbuster, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ziggy Switkowski wants 50 nuclear power plants in Australia

Aust-nukeplantsUpping the ante on nuke power
Business Spectator, by Keith Orchsison 22 Sept 09
One of the great quotes from Ziggy Switkowski is that it is never hard to figure out where things are moving; it’s just hard to figure out the timing.Switkowski, chairman of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and the head of John Howard’s review of nuclear energy earlier this decade, is quietly increasing his forecast of how many uranium-fuelled power stations will be operating in this country by the middle of the century. Continue reading

September 22, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, spinbuster, uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment

Aborigines challenge mining registrar for equal treatment

Indigenous people power challenges mining might
Eureka Street Moira Rayner September 22, 2009

A mining registrar in Western Australia has a hard decision to make. The Martu Idja Banjima Native Title claimants — the Martidja Manyjima people of the Pilbara — want him to hear their challenge to BHP Billiton’s claim for more mining leases on 200 square kilometres of their traditional land. BHP Billiton doesn’t. Continue reading

September 22, 2009 Posted by | 1, aboriginal issues, Western Australia | , | Leave a comment

Australian National University quietly working with ANSTO on nuclear reaearch

New agreement for nuclear research
Sky News September 21, 2009
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and The Australian National University (ANU) will join forces to further research into nuclear science.Science Minister Kim Carr will launch the national research partnership in Canberra on Tuesday.
The new agreement will see the two organisations collaborate on research into future energy sources and nuclear non-proliferation as well as share the use of testing facilities like particle accelerators.

Sky News: New agreement for nuclear research

September 22, 2009 Posted by | 1, ACT, business | , , | Leave a comment

Uranium mining abuses Great Artesian Basin

BHPB-Olympic‘Corporate abuse’ hits Great Artesian Basin
The Australian. Michael Owen, SA political reporter | September 21, 2009

THE Great Artesian Basin — one of the largest underground water reservoirs in the world — is in danger of going the same way as the ailing Murray-Darling Basin because of reckless corporate abuse, aided by political ignorance, says South Australian senator Nick Xenophon. Continue reading

September 21, 2009 Posted by | 1, environment, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australian uranium company slack on safety in Africa

Miner accused on slack safety
The Age TOM HYLAND S eptember 20, 2009
AN AUSTRALIAN company has begun production at its uranium mine in Malawi amid renewed controversy over the operation in one of Africa’s poorest nations. Continue reading

September 20, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics international, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australia’s plan to resolve climate issue

Australia moves to resolve climate issue

9 News Sep 21 200 A proposal to resolve thorny climate change issues dividing developed and developing nations is being proposed by Australia in the lead up to the Copenhagen summit in December.

Climate Change Minister Penny Wong will reveal that Australia has been working on a proposed legal structure that could appease developing nations unwilling or unable to commit to economy-wide targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The issue has been a key point of difference, and a sensitive one, in addition to talks on just how much richer nations should pay to help poorer nations adjust to the huge changes required to reduce carbon pollution.

In a speech to the New York University School of Law on Monday (NY time), Senator Wong will tell students the proposed structure would allow nations to choose how they’ll reduce emissions instead of imposing a set of economy-wide targets that must be met by all countries………….Nations would be able to choose from a series of legally-binding schedules that could include renewable energy targets, a technology standard or a target to reduce deforestation, submitting a schedule before December……………..

“Developed countries would be expected to record an ambitious economy-wide emissions reduction target.

“For developing countries, taking on international mitigation obligations for the first time is a big deal – but the flexibilities in schedules are designed to give them greater comfort.”

For example, Australia’s national schedule would include an economy-wide target to reduce emissions by up to 25 per cent below 2000 levels by 2020, the legislated carbon pollution reduction scheme and the renewable energy target.

Australia moves to resolve climate issue

September 20, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming | , , , | Leave a comment

Paul Howes to spruik for nukes at Liberal party seminar

Howes,-P-rtwingUnion leader speaking at Liberal energy symposium
ABC News 19 Sept 09

A Federal Liberal MP says he is inviting a union leader to speak about nuclear power at a conference this weekend because there needs to be a bipartisan debate on the issue.

Michael Johnson is hosting an energy symposium in his Brisbane electorate of Ryan tomorrow.

The head of the Australian Workers Union, Paul Howes, will give a speech about his support for a nuclear power industry in Australia….

Mr Johnson said. “Paul Howes certainly has demonstrated vision and courage by speaking out in support of Australia becoming an exporter of uranium and going down the nuclear path.”

Mr Johnson says he hopes to generate a wider debate on the nuclear issue.

“If Paul Howes, a national figure, a leader in the union movement, if he’s got the courage to come out and talk about this, then surely Kevin Rudd can come out and talk about this.”

Union leader speaking at Liberal energy symposium – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

September 19, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics, uranium | , , , , | 1 Comment

Australian mining companies lack transparency in African projects

Oh, Africa!
New Matilda 17 Sept 09 Australian mining companies are being lured to Africa with a campaign that would make Tourism Australia proud, writes Tim O’Connor Continue reading

September 19, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, secrets and lies, uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment

Clean coal stealing funds from renewables

Clean coal funds are robbing renewable energy

COAL MINING 16 September 2009 a2a_linkname=document.title;a2a_linkurl=location.href;

CAPRICORN Conservation Council vice-president Ian Herbert says money spent on clean coal should be funding renewable energy technology.

Clean coal technology is an umbrella term used to describe technologies being developed that aim to reduce the environmental impact of coal energy generation such as carbon capture and storage (CCS).

Herbert claims clean coal is still unproved and Australia would be far more advanced if the funds were spent on developing renewable energy sources.

The representative says even if clean coal is proven, workable clean coal technology is still at least 20 years off.

Clean coal funds are robbing renewable energy – Coal Mining

September 19, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, business, climate change - global warming | , , , | Leave a comment

Solar power’s bright new prospects

World wakes to new dawn for solar power
The Age PADDY MANNING September 19, 2009

WHEN Lindsay Tanner says greenies are ”obsessed” with solar energy, he’s right. And it’s obvious why.Clean coal is a myth. Nuclear has radioactive waste and security issues and (read Helen Caldicott) it’s not as efficient as they say. Continue reading

September 19, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy | , , , , , | Leave a comment