UK election: Climate Change and Nuclear Power in the spotlight
Labour & Lib Dems Put Spotlight on Conservative Climate Sceptics The Energy Collective, by Vicky Portwain on 04/25/2010 Labour and Liberal Democrat energy representatives Ed Miliband and Simon Hughes joined forces to put Tory climate change sceptics in the spotlight this week.TThe ‘green hustings’ event organised by the Guardian featured a debate on climate change and energy between the 3 biggest political parties. The debate can be heard online via the Guardian website……Nuclear Power The Lib Dems do not believe nuclear power stations can be delivered in time before the energy crisis hits and that the nuclear programme undermines the building out of renewable energy……Labour & Lib Dems Put Spotlight on Conservative Climate Sceptics
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?
How environmental groups are co-opted by grants from corporations, and governments
Environmental groups used to be funded largely by their members and wealthy individual supporters
The Wrong Kind of Green, By Johann Hari, The Nation, March 2010 “…as we confront the biggest ecological crisis in human history, many of the green organizations meant to be leading the fight are busy shoveling up hard cash from the world’s worst polluters–and burying science-based environmentalism in return. Sometimes the corruption is subtle Continue reading
Earth Day – we need local, national, and global action
This Earth Day: Recommit to Think Globally and Act Locally, THE HUFFINGTON POST, David Gordon, 22 April 2010, “…… We need to make some tough choices. We need to transform our electricity systems by multiplying energy efficiency measures and to invest only in renewable energy, not in more fossil fuels. Continue reading
University of Queensland leads the way with solar panels
UQ powers up with Australia’s ‘largest’ solar panel system – Industry News – Queensland Business Review, April 16, 2010 The largest roof top solar power panel installation in Australia will be built at the University of Queensland (UQ) St Lucia Campus in Brisbane.Premier Anna Bligh says the Queensland Government is investing $1.5 million to support the development of a $7.75 million 1.2 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) project at UQ……The system will form part of a larger micro-grid strategy to use renewable energy across the University’s other campuses over the next decade. UQ powers up with Australia’s ‘largest’ solar panel system – Industry News – Queensland Business Review
Reports show that renewable energy could provide majority of world’s electricity needs
A World Run On Low Carbon Energy No Pipe Dream : Renewable Energy News, 15 APRIL, 2010 |The myth of low carbon and renewable energy sources not being able to supply the majority, if not all, the developed world’s electricity requirements in the near future is being busted almost weekly in recent months. Continue reading
Like AREVA, nuclear energy company Silex buys into solar power
But the purchase leaves households interested in buying solar panels with a dilemma: by buying Australian-made panels, they are indirectly investing in nuclear energy as well.
Solar panel factory sees the sun again, Sydney Morning Herald BEN CUBBY, April 14, 2010 – THE biggest solar-panel factory in the southern hemisphere is to open in Sydney this morning – after it was rescued by a nuclear energy research company. Continue reading
Nuclear Power Lobby in a Bigger Mess Than I Thought
by Christina Macpherson 9 April 2010, Some big corporations have an obvious interest in Australia promoting nuclear power. But which sort? Better not get Fourth Generation nuclear reactors – or the whole uranium industry is stuffed!
Today, thanks to Renfrey Clarke (3 items from him below) I learned about:
Second Generation Nuclear Reactors – those presently in use (Pressured Water Reactors – uranium-intensive and so ultimately producing lots of greenhouse gases, and not very safe, )
Third Generation Nuclear Reactors – still being built – updated versions of the Second Gen, super-expensive, a bit safer, but same waste and proliferation problems
‘Fast Breeder’ Reactors and Fourth Generation Nuclear Reactors – the latter still at the design stage, carry serious fire and radioactive waste risk. Worst of all, for Australia, they won’t need uranium mining , as they could use existing huge stockpiles of depleted uranium
The rush to roll out ‘second generation’ nuclear reactors
Why James Hansen is wrong on nuclear power | Links April 8, 2010“…….With both third- and fourth-generation nuclear plants outside the time bracket, what is left for environmentalists who hanker after nuclear power? The only option for them is the one embraced by the French and Chinese governments, and now, it seems, by the Obama administration in the US: an accelerated roll-out of second-generation nuclear plants, built to standardised designs following rushed or non-existent consultation with the plants’ future neighbours. Continue reading
Australian mainstream media’s pro-nuclear bias
by Christina Macpherson 8 April 2010. Yesterday’ s National Press Club Debate between Ziggy Spinowski, (pro-nuclear) and Bob Brown (anti-nuclear) was duly reported by Australia’s mainstream media.
And all these reports covered both points of view, both arguments.
BUT – look how the mainstream media chose to headline these. You wouldn’t know that Bob Brown was even there, would you?
Ziggy Switkowski: we need nuclear power for climate – THE AUSTRALIAN
Nuclear power ‘won’t fuel arms race’ ABC Online The head of Australia’s nuclear science agency has rejected claims that nuclear power in Australia could lead to nuclear weapons in the region. (surprise, surprise!)
Nuclear technology safer than coal shipping: chief Sydney Morning Herald AN AUSTRALIAN nuclear power industry would bring little risk of an environmental disaster such as the potential oil spill on the Great Barrier Reef, Ziggy Switkowski says.
Nuclear shift ‘likely’ The Age Nuclear energy advocate Ziggy Switkowski says he expects the public mood to shift in favour of nuclear in the next three years.
Smart grid for huge wind farm in Western Australia
Smart grid gets green light in Western Australia$600 milllion wind farm to be built by Vestas Australian Wind Technology and is expected to generate 206MW of power * ARN Staff (ARN) * 07 April, 2010 Continue reading
Powerful future for wind energy in South Australia
South Australia Wind Energy To Power Past 1,000 Megawatts Renewable Energy News, by Energy matters, 6 April 2010, South Australian Premier Mike Rann says his state’s position as a leader in renewable energy will be reaffirmed when the 1000th megawatt of wind power capacity is brought online by July this year. Continue reading
Review: Nuke waste, “nukes for peace”, Climate Change, Iran
Review: Australia. A critical time for Australia – Senate Inquiry into Muckaty nuclear waste dump plan, but local community excluded from attendance. W.A plan to use Oakajee port for uranium shipments. Alarming report from CSIRO – Climate Change well underway in Australia. “Climate Sceptics” influence grows.
International: U.S. safety worries with aging nuclear reactors,while France’s cost-cutting threatening safety of new reactors. Nuclear power being promoted as part of nuclear non proliferation! Iran building more nukes? – Israel threatening action on Iran. Continuing legal and financial battles for U.S. nuclear industry. A political move to thwart California’s renewable energy industries. – the week that has been
Despite huge renewable energy resources, Australia is way behind in clean energy
Australia lagging in clean energy investment, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Sarah Clarke Mar 26, 2010 A global analysis of clean energy investment has found that Australia ranks 14th on the list of G20 countries, behind Mexico and Turkey. Continue reading
Australia’s Climate Change Report
Climate Change Your Green Ability 24 Marc h 2010, Australia recently released a major climate change report, clearly indicating that the continent is warming. The report is called the “State of the Climate” and was released by the Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organization and the Bureau of Meteorology.
The report is backed by approximately 100 years of record keeping for Australia. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 