Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

Liberal party leader Turnbull says that nuclear has “zero emissions”

More pressure for Turnbull The Age ANDREW DARBY, HOBARTOctober 14, 2009THE Rudd Government is pressuring Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull over climate change – ruling out nuclear power and calling for his view………………
Leading political figures including former NSW premier Bob Carr and Mr Turnbull advocate debate on the nuclear  topic.

But Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said his Government was against it. Australia would meet the greenhouse challenge by investment in carbon sequestration and solar energy, and setting renewable energy targets.

”We do not see a nuclear power plant as part of our response to our energy future. In the past [former prime minister John] Howard said he wanted to see nuclear power plants around Australia. What’s Mr Turnbull’s position? Mine’s very clear.”……..

Mr Turnbull, …………. described nuclear power as a ”zero emissions” power source.

More pressure for Turnbull

October 14, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics | , , , | Leave a comment

Australia’s unique opportunity to develop non-nuclear energy

All that sun gives us a different glow The Age, Dr A. Barrie Pittock, author of Climate Change: The Science, Impacts and Solutions, October 14, 2009 THE Age editorial and feature on nuclear power as a means to decrease carbon emissions (13/10) continues the strange process of ignoring major alternatives. Continue reading

October 14, 2009 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, energy | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pro nuke hype hotting up inAustralia

a-cat-CAN

Fairfax newspapers come out today with headlines about Australians wanting nuclear power. In fact, Australian were asked if they thought the Federal Government should “consider” nuclear power.  Not quite the same thing as wanting it. Continue reading

October 13, 2009 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, Christina reviews, energy, spinbuster, uranium | , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Only the Greens up to date on low carbon economy

Head-in-the-sand economics Business Spectator, Giles Parkinson 13 Oct 09 “……….Unlike the other domestic political parties who are bickering over a scheme that will have minimal environmental impact, only the Greens are proposing a scheme that seeks to meet the demand of the science. Continue reading

October 13, 2009 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy, politics | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Family car – solar-powered, fast and low-energy

Solar car ‘uses less power than a toaster’ Brisbane Times KELLY LANE

October 8, 2009

It’s lean, green and can run on less energy than it takes to power the family toaster. Continue reading

October 8, 2009 Posted by | climate change - global warming, energy, Queensland | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kevin Rudd should come clean on renewable energy

Editorial: Reserve Bank eases the accelerator

Adelaide Now 7 Oct 09 Dim prospects for sun power GOING green and embracing alternative energy is one of the standards the Federal Government has been flagging furiously since its first day in office. Continue reading

October 7, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy | , , , , | Leave a comment

Gas beats nuclear, and it’s a good transition to renewables

a-cat-CAN

I realise that I am out of step with many environmentalists, but I am a fan of gas as an energy source. We cannot just shut down all our big fossil fuel industries. Nuclear power just adds damage and danger, along with its greenhouse gases. Continue reading

October 2, 2009 Posted by | Christina reviews, climate change - global warming, Victoria | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Renewable energy’s prospects rise, with Smart Grid plan

Australia’s Smart Grid A Step Closer by Energy Matters 1 October 09 The Australian Government yesterday announced the next step in transforming Australia’s ageing electricity grid into a “smart grid” through the release of a report. Continue reading

September 30, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, energy | , , , | Leave a comment

Australia’s renewable energy policy in a mess

Solar sector held back by foggy energy policy  THE AUSTRALIAN  Giles Parksinson | September 28, 2009 WHEN Kevin Rudd returns to Australia to translate the grand rhetoric of the international stage into action on the domestic front, he could start by trying to sort out the mess and the confusion in the country’s solar ambitions. Continue reading

September 28, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy | , , , , | Leave a comment

BHPB not publicly discussing Olympic Dam’s radioactive dust danger

by Coober Pedy Regional Times“…….70 million tonnes of radioactive tailings to be dumped at the Roxby mine site each year without evidence of dust control is cause for concern”, says David Bradbury.. Continue reading

September 26, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, environment, uranium | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Online Solar and Energy Efficiency Forum for Scientists and Community

Energy Matters Launches Australian Solar Power Online Forums
Melbourne, Victoria, September 25, 2009. Energy Matters, a national provider of solar power solutions for home, business and community groups has launched an online community to cater to supporters of solar power and other forms of renewable energy in Australia. Continue reading

September 26, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wake up Australia, and New Zealand, to the radioactive dust danger!

a-cat-CANRegarding BHP Billiton’s planned expansion of Olympic Dam uranium mine, South Australia’s minister for resources, Mr Holloway says “radioactive dust obviously could be a problem but the issue is able to be resolved”

You gotta laugh. The dust “could” be a problem? Dust already is a problem . The planned open cut mine will be – I’ve forgotten how many kilometres wide, and is it 1 or 3 kilometres deep, – with an equally vast amount of tailings, a mountain of radioactive dust ready for blowing in the wind.

And this issue is “able to be resolved”?  Just how?.  Well, it might be resolved in the way that the radioactive rain to Australia’s East coast, from the French Pacific nuclear testing in the 1970’s was resolved. Professor Ernest Titterton came up with the bright idea – just stop testing the rain for radioactivity. That could be the answer.

September 25, 2009 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, environment, uranium | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

More dust storms predicted, may carry radiation

Dust storm born out of flooding rains
ABC Science 23 September 2009
Darren Osborne
“………………..with climate change set to bring more variability, Australia may experience more large scale dust storms in the future. Continue reading

September 24, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, 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

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