Bad timing: Obama promotes nuclear power as its safety problems mount
The problems all occurred within days of President Obama’s post-election press conference in which he promoted restarting the U.S. nuclear power industry. His remarks came after heavy spending by the nuclear power industry during the recent election cycle.
As Obama pushes nuclear industry’s expansion, its safety troubles mount, FACING SOUTH, By Sue Sturgis on November 8, 2010, Continue reading
Water use, radiation hazard, in Cameco’s planned Pilbara uranium mine
Cameco’s Kintyre Uranium Project report details risks to mine workers from radiation exposure, the potential for groundwater contamination and the spread of radioactive dust and its potential to endanger flora and fauna.
Radiation fear for Pilbara uraium mine workers * Narelle Towie, The Sunday Times November 08, 2010 A CANADIAN company plans to draw five million litres of water a day – two Olympic-sized pools – to operate a uranium mine on the edge of a Pilbara national park. Continue reading
German anti-nuclear protest now a mainstream movement
“The main difference between the ’70s and ’80s, when this all started, is today it’s a mainstream issue at the centre of the society,” …… “It is not just the ecological fringe.”
Despite protests, nuclear waste arrives in northern Germany – thestar.com. Michael Slackman New York Times, 9 Nov 10, lBERLIN—After three days of protests and occasional violent clashes with the police, a train hauling 123 tonnes of nuclear waste arrived Monday in northern Germany. Continue reading
Massive protest in Germany highlights anti-nuclear feeling
What has made this particular demonstration so explosive is the coincidence of this transport of nuclear waste with the government’s decision to overturn former legislation aimed at phasing out nuclear power by around 2020.
Mounting disappointments boost anti-nuclear protests Deutsche Welle, Ben Knight, 08.11.2010 “……..The ongoing civil disobedience campaign against a train delivery of nuclear waste to a storage facility in Gorleben is being reported as one of the biggest of its kind ever in Germany. Continue reading
Martin Ferguson can over-ride Northern Territory Govt on Cameco uranium mine
The Mining Act (NT) requires the relevant Northern Territory Minister to exercise his or her powers in accordance with, and give effect to, the advice of the relevant Federal Minister in relation to uranium …… The Federal Minister’s position is not known.- [oh yeah!]
Nt government opposes uranium mine Lexology Margaret Michaels November 3 2010 The Northern Territory Government is opposed to a uranium mine at Angela Pamela, but the decision is up to the Federal Government. Continue reading
Cameco uranium company’s profit tumbles
Cameco profit tumbles on higher costs – The Globe and Mail, 8 Nov 10, Cameco (CCO-T35.982.828.50%)says its profit tumbled 43 per cent in the third quarter as lower uranium deliveries weakened results.The Saskatoon-based company said net income was $98-million, or 25 cents per share, a drop from $172-million or 44 cents per share a year earlier…..
Huge anti-nuclear waste protest continuing in Germany
Police used tear gas, baton charges, horses, water cannon, pepper spray and human brute force but wave after wave of protesters continued to swarm on the last stretch of track before the city of Dannenberg.
Hillary Clinton and Robert Gates – quiet pro nuclear spin to Australia?
The nuclear sales show is sure getting complicated. AS USA can’t sell new nukes to its own people, and France falters in that same effort at home – then it’s time to flog off the nuclear industry to Asia while you can still make a buck or a euro out of it.
Below you can read of Obama’s efforts right now, as he visits India with a stack of nuclear industry executives. Sarkozy’ does a similar deal in China.
Where does Australia come into all this? Surely not! Hillary Clinton and Robert Gates are in Australia for a jolly sunny holiday. No?
No – they’re in Australia to sell us military stuff, and to get Australia further into USA’s military machine. The Australian public will, as usual, be kept in the dark about this, and who knows what else?
Perhaps USA wants Australia to sell uranium to India – to further USA’s nuclear reactor sales there, and to spit China?
While Europe has just decided that it’s too dangerous to transport nuclear wastes beyond its shores, USA has made no such decision. Perhaps Australia is the preferred destination for USA’s mounting embarassment of nuclear wastes?
France selling nuclear technology to China
“We have decided to work without limits on a strategic collaboration in the nuclear domain that will go much farther on the full spectrum of nuclear activity,” Sarkozy said in a speech after a deal-signing ceremony in the presidential palace.
France, China to form nuclear power partnership | Reuters -Areva signs three deals with China, eyes EPR sale China signs $20 bln of business contracts in France PARIS, Nov 4 – Continue reading
Clinton to Australia to sell spy base and military stuff
Australia’s defence planning continues to promote the interoperability of its forces with those of the US, in part through provision of secure bases such as the new tracking station but also through equipment purchases.
An alliance still in the national interests, The Age,November 6, 2010 “…The US is also concerned by China’s increasing military might, which includes a capability for satellite warfare in space. One response to that capability is a satellite tracking station being built on Australian territory. Continue reading
Obama to India, with 200 nuclear salesmen!
US trade drive in India includes arms and civil nuclear material – The Irish Times – Nov 06, 2010, RAHUL BEDI in New Delhi US PRESIDENT Barack Obama arrives in India today on a three-day official trip that promises to be high on ceremony and sentiment but somewhat low on tangible “deliverables”…. Continue reading
Hillary Clinton not likely to be answering questions on nuclear wastes
Pardon my cynicism, but I bet that Hillary Clinton will be answering nice safe (non-nuclear) questions from young Australians.
Hillary Clinton to take questions from young Australians in Melbourne forum from Herald Sun, 4 Nov 10, |US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will take part in an hour-long question and answer forum in Melbourne on Sunday.Ms Clinton, who will be in Melbourne for the first time as Secretary of State, will answer questions from a live audience as well as respond to questions posted on Facebook, Twitter and others posted via video link.
The forum, aimed at people under-35 and at a secret location for security reasons, comes one day ahead of Ms Clinton’s expected attendance at the Australia-United States Ministerial (AUSMIN) consultations on Monday at Melbourne’s Government House
Questions for the forum, which will be televised on Sunday evening, can be posted on ABC News’s Facebook page or on Twitter with the hashtag #hillaryoz.
BUSTING THE NUCLEAR SPIN – theme for November
The nuclear industry is, in reality, in quite a mess. As French, American, South Korean companies scramble to sell nuclear power to the “Third World” – the industry stalls at home. The nuclear emperor’s new clothes are starting to be revealed to the world.
So – loads of money pour into this desperate sales pitch – while it becomes ever clearer that the nuclear industry is expensive, dangerous, and produces long-lasting toxic wastes – for which there is no storage solution.
Meanwhile – technologies for energy efficiency, and renewable energy get cheaper and more practical. And – renewable energy can be operated both as large scale projects on the grid – or as small-scale decentralised forms – very suitable for developing countries.
No gain, only harm, in Australia selling uranium to India
uranium sales to India would do very little to expand Australia’s export revenue − which helps explain why the Australian Uranium Association supports the government’s policy of prohibiting uranium sales to countries that have not signed the NPT.
Selling uranium to India will do great damage, with little gain to Australia, The Age, Richard Broinowski, November 1, 2010 “…..India made no concessions whatsoever during the US-India deal − no commitment to curb its escalating nuclear weapons program, no commitment to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, no commitment to stop producing fissile material for weapons. Continue reading
India’s anti-nuclear protestors arrested
nearly 3,000 people staged protests and were picked up by police…., a 14-member expert appraisal committee for nuclear projects visited Madban. The committee, which was under heavy police escort, did not meet any of the local villagers.
Protest against Jaitapur nuclear power project, The Hindu, 31 Oct 10, Hundreds of villagers on Friday staged a silent protest against the Jaitapur nuclear power project in Ratnagiri district Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 