The reality of nuclear power decline and falling uranium market
during the past 10 years, only about two-thirds of worldwide demand for nuclear fuel was met from resources obtained from mining. The remaining 20,000 tonnes came from so-called secondary uranium sources – mainly inventories held by utilities and governments, reprocessed nuclear fuel, and stockpiles of depleted uranium……………
The reality of nuclear energy is inconsistent with dreams of a renaissance. Nuclear energy is not on the rise – the hard facts point to a continuing, slow phase-out around the world Michael Dittmar guardian.co.uk, 16 August 2010
Repeatedly in recent years there have been calls for a revival of nuclear power. Yet that renaissance never seems to come. Continue reading
Australian Democrats say nuclear power is no solution to Climate Change
Climate change – Nuclear power still not a solution, Darren Churchill, 16 Aug 2010, Nuclear power still costs the earth and is not a solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions say the Australian Democrats.Australian Democrats’ lead candidate in the ACT, Darren Churchill says that only genuine ecologically sustainable energy sources can make the difference. Continue reading
Fires close in on Russian nuclear base: USA sends help
Russia admitted yesterday that fires closing in on its main nuclear centre represent ‘a certain danger’ to the secret town which houses its most sophisticated research laboratories.
U.S. sends help as fires close in on Russian nuclear base. Daily Mail 14th August 2010 The United States is sending firefighting equipment to Russia to help deal with 500 wildfires burning across the country, one of which threatens a nuclear base.
The blazes have been sparked by the hottest summer ever recorded in Russia, Continue reading
ERA tightlipped on uranium miners’ accidents
Uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia refused to discuss the two accidents with the NT News.
Miners fear life after chemical leak, Northern Territory News, NIGEL ADLAM, August 13th, 2010 TWO uranium miners thought they were going to die after fleeing to a “safe room” to escape a chemical leak.They almost lapsed into unconsciousness as ammoniaseeped into the room through the door. Continue reading
Thousands of firefighters sent to save Russian nuclear research centre
Russia has sent thousands of firefighters to douse wildfires close to its top nuclear research centre in Sarov, a town in the Nizhny Novgorod region still closed to foreigners as in Soviet times.
Fire near Russian nuclear centre grows, Sydney Morning Herald, August 13, 2010 Wildfires raging close to Russia’s main nuclear research centre have grown in size and emergency services are working round the clock to contain the blaze, officials say.
Russia has sent thousands of firefighters to douse wildfires close to its top nuclear research centre in Sarov, a town in the Nizhny Novgorod region still closed to foreigners as in Soviet times.
“The fire which appeared in the eastern part of the nature reserve two days ago after lightning struck a pine tree has grown in size and now presents a certain danger,” the head of the emergencies ministry for Mordovia, Major General Vyacheslav Kormilitsyn, said in a statement on Friday.
AREVA unhappy, Australia’s tourism happy, about Kakadu expansion
AREVA wants the Government to explain its decision and says it is now seeking legal advice…Meanwhile, Tourism Top End says it is hopeful Labor’s pledge to expand Kakadu will mean more areas will be opened to tourists.
Kakadu expansion plan bewilders uranium miner – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Emma Masters, Aug 11, 2010 “….A French mining company seeking to exploit uranium-rich land surrounded by Kakadu National Park is calling for the Federal Government to explain why it has promised to stop future mining. Continue reading
Radiation fears rise as Russia downplays wildfire hazard
The Kremlin has a long history of downplaying disasters in a bid to appear in control. State-run television has focused on official efforts to battle the flames.
Russians fear worst as fires reach Chernobyl fallout zone – NZ Herald News, By Miriam Elderm 12 Aug 2010, Radiation levels near Chernobyl could rise and pose long-term health dangers as deadly forest fires spread to land contaminated by the world’s largest nuclear-reactor disaster, Russian environmentalists said yesterday Continue reading
Uranium and nuclear news under the radar in Australia
I do aim to post significant international news here. But – so much uranium and nuclear stuff is going on without media mention, here in Australia. Today we have two courageous Aboriginals – Michael Anderson, and Jeffrey Lee, standing up for their people and for Country, against the uranium industry.
The USA and Australia are soon to ratify a new nuclear agreement, – yet we Australians HAVE NOT HEARD A WORD ABOUT THIS.
Tony Abbott’s telling Catholic schoolkids how all we need to do is follow USA’s lead on selling uranium to India (never mind about the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty)
Anyway, I’ve had to confine myself today to mentioning the frightening events in Russia, where a very little amount of news is getting out about the wildfires around the nuclear facilities near Moscow, and the uncertain facts on radioactivity in smoke. Christina Macpherson 11 Aug 2010.
Opposition to uranium mining in Western Australia
Politicians of the opposition Labor Party, who put the ban in effect when they were in power, agree.”We know that all mining is dangerous but we know that mining uranium is off the scale,”
Uranium mining in Australia opposed, The PoliJAM TIMES, 9 Aug 2010, “……….The Australian mining company BHP Billiton plans to develop a uranium deposit near the town of Kalgoorlie-Boulder in 2011 in a $15.6 billion project. Continue reading
Austrliun uranium companies tie up with Chinese state nuclear firm
possible expansion of joint venture relationships between Paladin and Energy Metals,…Energy Metals …holds around 54 percent of the Bigrlyi uranium project northwest of Alice Springs in Australia’s Northern Territory. Paladin owns 42 percent of the mine
Chinese nuclear firm ties up with Australian uranium miner –Yahoo!7News, BEIJING, Aug 6, 2010 (AFP) – – Australian uranium producer Paladin Energy Ltd has said it agreed with a major Chinese nuclear power firm to explore long-term uranium sales,…….. Paladin signed a memorandum of understanding with a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Corporation (CGNPC) setting up a “framework of cooperation” for uranium sales, the Sydney-based company said. Continue reading
BHP, Rio – relatively small employers, with big political influence
For such an economically important industry, mining is a relatively small employer (the Australian Bureau of Statistics does not rank it in the top 10 industries by employment)….The mining industry, however, is streets ahead in being able to exercise political influence.
Follow the miners in lobbying , Mike Riddiford, The Australian, August 04, 2010“……..Between them, companies such as BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Xstrata turn over more than $100 billion a year. This enables them to mobilise huge resources to protect their interests. Continue reading
Toshiba seeking taxpayer money, despite its CT scans radiation overdoses
one of the companies seeking the aid for a project in Texas is currently under federal investigation for its role in the radiation overdoses of patients who received CT scans on its equipment…..Given the information emerging about Toshiba’s safety record, is that a risk U.S. taxpayers want to take?
(USA) Company seeking nuclear subsidies under investigation for radiation overdoses to stroke patients, FACING SOUTH, , By Sue Sturgis , August 4, 2010 The U.S. Senate could vote as soon as next month on a proposal to give $9 billion in taxpayer-backed loan guarantees to companies planning to build new nuclear reactors – Continue reading
Sickly financial results for uranium miner ERA
Energy Resources of Australia – ERA – Intelligent Investor 2 Aug 10 By Gaurav Sodhi Sickly uranium prices and an unusually poor operating performance at the Ranger uranium mine contributed to a dramatic fall in Energy Resources of Australia’s (ERA) half year profits. For the half year ended July 2010, ERA made just $22.7m, compared with $176.1m for the same period last year. Energy Resources of Australia – ERA – Intelligent Investor
France leads in nuclear financial disaster
Last week, AREVA posted a massive operating loss of 485 million euros for the first half of 2010…..Electricite de France (EDF) finds itself in a similar predicament. In the first half of 2010, the company saw its profits slashed by almost half.
France leads the way in the nuclear debacle Greenpeace International, by jmckeati – August 2, 2010 If you want to know why the so-called nuclear ‘renaissance’ is never going to happen, you need only look at the news that’s been coming out of France in the last few days. Continue reading
Bob Brown scathing about the resources tax gift to the big miners
A tax on minerals like uranium should be implemented once the industry was in “boom times” he [Bob Brown, Greens leader] said.
Major parties ‘missing backbone’ on mining tax, Sydney Morning Herald, KATHERINE FENECH, August 2, “…..The CFMEU has launched the satirical ad campaign, which praises Opposition leader Tony Abbott for understanding the pressures facing “ordinary, everyday billionaires”, in response to the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies’ own advertising onslaught against the Mineral Resources Rent Tax. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 