The half-life of plutonium is 24,000 years. At this rate of decay, the Maralinga 
lands would be contaminated for the next half-million years.…..A variety of factors underlay the harm to public health, Aboriginal culture and the natural environment which the British tests entailed. Perhaps most significant was the secrecy surrounding the testing program….There seems little doubt that the secrecy in which the entire testing program was cloaked served British rather than Australian interests…..Information passed to Australian officials was kept to the minimum necessary to facilitate their assistance in the conduct of the testing program. The use of plutonium in the minor trials was not disclosed……
A toxic legacy : British nuclear weapons testing in Australia, Australian Institute of Criminology. “…… Three days after the conclusion of the Totem trials, the Australian government was formally advised of British desires to establish a permanent testing site in Australia. In August 1954, the Australian Cabinet agreed to the establishment of a permanent testing ground at a site that became named Maralinga, Continue reading →
December 23, 2016
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, history, secrets and lies, uranium | aboriginal, antinuclear, Australia, indigenous, Maralinga, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear wastes, radiation, renewable, secrets and lies, uranium |
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Faced with overwhelming evidence against nuclear power, vested interests have seized on the climate crisis as a last-gasp attempt to put it back on the agenda. But doing so would squander the resources necessary to implement meaningful climate change solutions.
The question: should nuclear energy power our future?, Sydney Morning Herald, 29 Nov 10 “…… Stephen Campbell Nuclear power has no future in Australia. This is commonsense for the environment and the economy. Let’s start with finance. In November last year economists at Citigroup issued a critique called, “New nuclear – the economics say no”. The report said ”three of the risks faced by developers – construction, power price, and operational – are so large and variable that individually they could each bring even the largest utility companyto its knees”. Continue reading →
November 29, 2010
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
General News, uranium | antinuclear, Australia, nuclear costs, nuclear wastes, radioactive, uranium |
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That we don’t need nuclear power is obvious: the ”land of the cloudless skies” has cleaner, abundant energy available. The recent report Beyond Zero Emissions demonstrates baseload clean energy can be supplied by renewable sources within 10 years at an affordable cost – about $8 a household a week.
The question: should nuclear energy power our future?, Sydney Morning Herald, 29 Nov 10, “……...THE SCIENTIST: Ann Henderson-Sellers Cold, northern hemisphere countries may resort to nuclear power to try to achieve energy security and moderate climate change but Australia neither needs it nor wants it. Continue reading →
November 29, 2010
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
climate change - global warming, energy, General News | antinuclear, Australia, carbon, climate change, climate change - global warming, energy, nuclear costs, nuclear wastes |
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The unethical nature of nuclear power, nuclear weapons, and the entire nuclear fuel cycle is becoming more obvious, as its history unfolds. On grounds of nuclear weapons spread, unsolved wastes problem, health and environment, effects on indigenous and poor peoples, injustice to today’s and future generations – and even the sheer financial costs for now and the future – it is clear that “atoms for peace” is a false and unethical enterprise.
Why is it so rare for ‘important’ people to face up to the evil nature of the whole nuclear fuel cycle? It’s not just money. Is it that so much of their reputation, their work has already been invested in nuclear? just too much effort to change track
Like Shakespeare’s Macbeth, who said “For mine own good,
All causes shall give way: I am in blood
Stepp’d in so far that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o’er”
(Image from MACBETH IS A BAD, BAD MAN design by Dave Shanker&Danilo Groppa, Charles W. Flanagan High School, Macbeth – Webquest)
However, some notable Australians have changed track, and next week, this blog heading will take a more positive view of Australians and nuclear power
November 26, 2010
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
Christina reviews, energy, uranium | antinuclear, Australia, energy, nuclear wastes, uranium |
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The Angela Pamela project is owned by Paladin and Canada’s Cameco Corp………Paladin could also come under pressure today from the Climate Advocacy Fund, which claims the WA miner is not providing a satisfactory level of information about its carbon footprint.
Paladin to face anti-nuclear protest at AGM – The West Australian, PETER KLINGER, November 25, 2010, Paladin Energy is set for a showdown with the anti-nuclear lobby at its annual meeting in Perth today amid a heightened level of protest against uranium miners. Continue reading →
November 26, 2010
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
energy, Opposition to nuclear, uranium, Western Australia | antinuclear, Australia, carbon, climate change, energy, nuclear, nuclear wastes, Opposition to nuclear, radioactive, uranium |
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An Australian royal commission first discovered the use of depleted uranium in atomic tests at Maralinga some 14 years ago, but the government failed to take any action at the time.
Depleted uranium used at Maralinga, Paul Langley’s Nuclear History Blog, 23 Nov 10, Australian Government Confirms Depleted Uranium Used in 1950s The Australian Federal Government announced that it will conduct a health study of Australian volunteers who worked at Maralinga, a British nuclear test site. Continue reading →
November 23, 2010
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, uranium, weapons and war | antinuclear, Australia, cancer, Maralinga, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear wastes, radiation, renewable, uranium |
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The High Court in London ruled Monday that just one out of 10 test cases, representing more than 1,000 claimants, was entitled to proceed to a full trial. The remaining nine cases had been launched outside a legal time limit, it said…..However, lawyers for the claimants indicated that they would take the case to the Supreme Court in Britain.
British government wins partial victory in nuclear test claim case, Monsters and Critics, Nov 22, 2010, London – The British government Monday claimed a partial victory in a long-running legal battle over compensation for ex- servicemen involved in 1950’s nuclear tests in Australia. Continue reading →
November 23, 2010
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
Uncategorized | antinuclear, Australia, cancer, nuclear wastes, nuclear weapons, radiation |
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Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary director Marg Sprigg says the overhaul of the state’s mining laws has done little to beef up environmental protection. “Unless further conditions are imposed in any licence to explore for uranium within Arkaroola, bulldozers can again move in, carving tracks through fragile environments and flattening steep slopes to create closely spaced drilling pads,”
Arkaroola mining measures criticised, The Advertiser, ADAM TODD November 22, 2010 ARKAROOLA Wilderness Sanctuary is still under threat from miners despite new laws aimed at penalising those who breach exploration and mining licences, the sanctuary’s director says. Continue reading →
November 22, 2010
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
environment, South Australia, uranium | antinuclear, Arkaroola, Australia, nuclear, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive, South Australia, uranium |
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the chief concern for the town is the danger a uranium mill could pose to the region’s water and air quality….“The increased presence of radionuclide particles that will contaminate our surface water bodies, currently used as our municipal drinking water source, is of critical concern to the Town of Telluride.”….because it could affect the tourist population, he said, it endangers Telluride’s economy.
Town of Telluride protests uranium mill Town pens letter to CDPHE Telluride Daily Planet, By Katie Klingsporn, November 21, 2010 A group of environmentalists from the Telluride region has been hustling for more than a year to protest a uranium mill proposed to go up in Paradox Valley, a lonely, windswept valley in western Montrose County. Now, the Telluride Town Council is hopping aboard the opposition movement. Continue reading →
November 22, 2010
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
uranium, water | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive, uranium, water |
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Dianne Stokes, a traditional owner from the area, says community members, along with the Australian Conservation Foundation, have delivered a petition with more than 2,000 signatures to federal 
Resources Minister Martin Ferguson.
Traditional owners petition against nuclear dump ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), Nov 19, 2010 2 Traditional owners say they are ramping up their fight against a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory. Continue reading →
November 21, 2010
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
aboriginal issues, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, uranium | aboriginal, antinuclear, Australia, Muckaty, nuclear, nuclear wastes, radiation, renewable, uranium |
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The money comes from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, the group created by Canada’s nuclear electricity industry to find a new home for nuclear fuel waste.
(Canada) Nuclear group gives First Nations $1M for meetings, November 18, 2010 CBC News The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations has been given $1 million to hold information sessions on nuclear waste storage, but environmentalists are leery about the idea. Continue reading →
November 21, 2010
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
uranium | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear wastes, radioactive, renewable, uranium |
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“We’re 20 kilometres from Alice Springs in an arid environment and an environment well known for dust storms,” he said.
“I think it’s enough evidence for us to oppose it…the reasons behind our opposition to establish a mine so close to Alice Springs
Vatskalis defends Alice uranium mine opposition ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), Nov 18, 2010 The Northern Territory Resources Minister says a decision to oppose any application to mine for uranium at a site near Alice Springs was not just based on public opinion. Continue reading →
November 18, 2010
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
Northern Territory, politics, uranium | aboriginal, antinuclear, Australia, nuclear, nuclear wastes, radiation, renewable, uranium |
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The discovery of the contamination on the seabed in 1997 led to a ban on fishing in waters within two kilometres of the plant…..An area equivalent in size to 22 football pitches is being cleaned.
(Scotland) Dounreay: Investigation uncovers worst radiation hotspot ever Radioactive particles located during the latest search of the seabed off Dounreay. STV News, 18 November 2010 An investigation into the seabed off the Dounreay nuclear plant has uncovered the most dangerous radioactive hotspot yet found. Continue reading →
November 18, 2010
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
Uncategorized | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear wastes, radiation, renewable |
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Australia opening new uranium markets to a country with the world’s largest arsenal of nuclear weapons and largest stockpile of weapons-usable material, much of it inadequately secured………..the secrecy surrounding a deal that is done on the sidelines of the G20 rather than in the proper light of Australian public scrutiny.
New Risks from Australia Russia Uranium Deal – On Line Opinion – By James Norman 19/11/2010 Late last week on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in South Korea, Prime Minister Julia Gillard ratified a deal with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that should send shockwaves through the Australian electorate. Continue reading →
November 18, 2010
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics international, uranium | antinuclear, Australia, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear wastes, nuclear weapons, radioactive, uranium |
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The deal would allow for the United States to export nuclear technology, material and equipment to Australia for atomic power generation
Legislation Would Protect U.S.-Australia Atomic Trade Deal, NTI: Global Security Newswire , Nov. 18, 2010 Recently introduced U.S. legislation would ensure that a civilian nuclear trade agreement with Australia would still enter into force even if its time runs out in Congress, Continue reading →
November 18, 2010
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, energy, politics international, uranium | antinuclear, Australia, energy, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear wastes, radioactive, renewable, uranium |
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The half-life of plutonium is 24,000 years. At this rate of decay, the Maralinga 
lands would be contaminated for the next half-million years.…..A variety of factors underlay the harm to public health, Aboriginal culture and the natural environment which the British tests entailed. Perhaps most significant was the secrecy surrounding the testing program….There seems little doubt that the secrecy in which the entire testing program was cloaked served British rather than Australian interests…..Information passed to Australian officials was kept to the minimum necessary to facilitate their assistance in the conduct of the testing program. The use of plutonium in the minor trials was not disclosed……
Like Shakespeare’s Macbeth, who said “For mine own good,
Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary director Marg Sprigg says the overhaul of the state’s mining laws has done little to beef up environmental protection. “Unless further conditions are imposed in any licence to explore for uranium within Arkaroola, bulldozers can again move in, carving tracks through fragile environments and flattening steep slopes to create closely spaced drilling pads,”
The money comes from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, the group created by Canada’s nuclear electricity industry to find a new home for nuclear fuel waste.
Antinuclear 