Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

“Restricted solid waste” sounds better than “radioactive”

The government maintained for years that Nelson Parade in Hunters Hill was safe, despite six people who lived there dying from cancer……..Ms Keneally said the waste was not ‘‘radioactive” but rather ”less hazardous, classified as restricted solid waste”’………

NSW government cover up Penrith toxic waste plan, Sydney Morning Herald, Alexandra Smith, October 18, 2010 The state government deliberately delayed briefing Penrith City Council on plans to dump 5000 tonnes of toxic soil in western Sydney until after it had signed a contract with the waste company, internal documents reveal. Continue reading

October 18, 2010 Posted by | New South Wales, secrets and lies, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

$Billions of Western aid later, Russia’s arctic nuclear dumps still polluted

Although Russian authorities pledged transparency about the region’s nuclear issues, foreign journalists are denied access to a number of sites.

Russian Arctic’s ‘nuclear dump’ gets a faceliftBy Pierre-Henry Deshayes , Google hosted news, (AFP) –18 Oct 10, MURMANSK, Russia — An electronic sign along a busy street posts the outside temperature, the wind strength — and the radioactivity level.Welcome to Russia’s Kola Peninsula, Continue reading

October 18, 2010 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , , , | Leave a comment

Radioactive waste from posh suburb to the lower class

The new classification of ”restricted solid waste” allows the government, which has dithered for decades about what to do with the radioactive site, to transport waste to the western suburbs……

State sends radioactive waste west, Sydney Morning Herald, Heath Aston, October 17, 2010 MORE than 5000 tonnes of radioactive waste will be dug up from one of Sydney’s wealthiest harbourside suburbs, trucked across the city and dumped near Penrith. Continue reading

October 16, 2010 Posted by | New South Wales, wastes | , , , , , | Leave a comment

20 USA nuclear plants leaking radioactive tritium

Unfortunately, rather than hold nuclear plant owners to the terms of their licenses, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has failed to exercise its authority and instead has handed the problem of radioactive tritium leaks over to the industry lobbyists’ in a voluntary program.

Nuclear Power’s Threat to Clean Water | Greenpeace USA, by Jim Riccio – October 15, 2010 , Today is blog action day, an annual event held every October 15 that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day, and this year the topic is water. Continue reading

October 16, 2010 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , , , | Leave a comment

Uranium miner ERA: costs high, profits low

This is expected to adversely impact ERA’s 2010 earnings, as the small price margin associated with the sale of the purchased material is more than offset by the ongoing costs of operation,’’ the company said.

ERA shares fall on production downgrade, Sydney Morning Herald, October 13, 2010 – 1 Uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia has downgraded its 2010 production guidance, saying ore grade in the September quarter was lower than expected. Continue reading

October 14, 2010 Posted by | business, Northern Territory, uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment

Lies about ethical investments, lies about Climate Change

Today’s news –  articles about “ethical investments”.  That turns out be an issue for “Secrets and Lies”.  Some companies are described as ethical because they claim not to invest in uranium.  But – read the fine print, where it sometimes goes on to say “where uranium is directly intended for nuclear weapons fuel”.  Now that’s a nice copout, isn’t it?

Another issue for “Secrets and Lies” – the enormously successful push by fossil fuel companies to set up the incorrect story that scientific opinion is “equally” divided on Global Warming and Climate Change.

One silly part of this is that climate scientists are accused of having a secret agenda to promote “socialism”.

Strange – because the nuclear and fossil fuel lobbies also want governments to cover the costs of nuclear power setup, security, and waste disposal – apparently nuclear socialism is OK!

October 13, 2010 Posted by | Christina reviews, climate change - global warming, energy | , , , , , | Leave a comment

BHP Billiton- uranium and coal miner – not an ethical investment

the problems of decommissioning nuclear power plants and disposal of waste and proliferation, as well as BHP’s carbon footprint, – reasons for not holding the company.

Turbocharged: ethical investments beat the market, Sydney Morning Herald  John Collett, October 13, 2010 “…….Some of the largest that run ”socially responsible” funds have BHP Billiton among their biggest shareholdings. It means their investors have more money in BHP than any other company. Continue reading

October 13, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, religion and ethics, uranium | , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Greenpeace demonstrates Europe’s unsoved nuclear waste problem

The nuclear sector has no idea what to do with this waste, let alone the far more dangerous and long-lived waste that also continues to pile up. As the vast majority comes from the power sector, the only logical step is to phase out nuclear power.

Greenpeace takes radioactive waste to the European Parliament, International Media-Newswire.com, by Jack Hunter, 8 Oct 2010,  – Greenpeace delivered radioactive waste to the door of the European Parliament today to remind MEPs in their last plenary session before considering a new nuclear waste law that there is no solution to nuclear waste. Continue reading

October 12, 2010 Posted by | uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australia’s uranium – part of a dangerous nuclear cycle

There is no way the use of uranium purchased from countries such as Australia can be policed. Once another country owns the uranium it can use it for military purposes,

The Danger of Nuclear Power Stations, Adventure Australia, October 07, 2010 Countries are going ahead with investment in nuclear power despite very real dangers. Similar crises to Chernobyl and Three Mile Island will definitely occur in the future with catastrophic results for resident of neighboring nations of the country experiencing the problem. Continue reading

October 8, 2010 Posted by | General News, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Robots to guard 1,360 square miles of radioactive ground

The Nevada National Security Site is the location of a thousand nuclear weapons tests that have left the site contaminated with tens of millions of cubic feet of low-level radioactive waste. The site spans 1,360 square miles

Robo Tanks to Guard Nuclear Facility. What Could Possibly Go Wrong? |   Discover Magazine,7 Oct 10, Who needs people to guard a nuclear weapons facility when you can build an autonomous robot to do it? Continue reading

October 8, 2010 Posted by | uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

BHP Billiton and uranium mining – a bad investment

Across the globe from uranium mines to coal, nickel and copper BHP have a trail of bad human rights records, poor working conditions for workers, environmental damage and dodging responsibilities.

Tell BHP Billiton Uranium mining is bad investment!Uranium Free, Oct 10, In 2006 BHP Billiton bought up Western Mining Corporation and with it their uranium mine assets at Olympic Dam in South Australia and Yeelirrie in Western Australia. Since then people around Australia and internationally have been calling on BHP to back out of uranium, an expensive, toxic industry which produces radioactive waste and weapons usable material. Continue reading

October 5, 2010 Posted by | General News, uranium | , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Uranium company ERA fined for radioactive pollution of workers

Twenty-eight workers had fallen ill with spontaneous vomiting, gastric upsets, headaches or skin rashes after drinking or showering in the water, which contained 400 times more uranium than recommended

When PR Goes Nuclear | Green Hybrid Cars , 29 Sept 10, Northern Territory based miner and producer of uranium oxide Energy Resources Of Australia Limited (ERA) were today fined $150,000 Continue reading

October 5, 2010 Posted by | legal, Northern Territory, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

USA renewable energy gaining, while nuclear power stagnant

Renewable energy has proven itself to be a solid investment – growing rapidly and nipping at the heels of the stagnant nuclear power industry.”…..

(USA) Renewables Gaining Ground, Without Congress’ Help , E Magazine.com (By Brita Belli), 4 Oct 10Continue reading

October 5, 2010 Posted by | climate change - global warming, energy, solar, wind | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to lie about nuclear power funding and still sound “ethical”

In this month of focus on lies and secrets, we might ponder what Westpac Bank actually does mean when it promises to favour “clean” energy projects.

In the USA, the word “clean” is routinely applied to nuclear power.  In China, even the word “renewable” is applied to nuclear power. We regularly hear of “green” nuclear power, along with other amazing lies  like “cheap”.

Most (not all) of Australia’s “ethical” investments fund any uranium mining that is not specified as intended for nuclear weapons –  in other words, they fund any uranium mining – and still call themselves “ethical”

October 2, 2010 Posted by | Christina reviews, energy, secrets and lies, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Radiation, environmental, causes of breast cancer

widely understood risk factors for breast cancer such as genetic mutations, reproductive history and lifestyle factors do not address a considerable portion of risk. “A substantial body of scientific evidence indicates that exposures to common chemicals and [ionising] radiation also contribute to the unacceptably high incidence of breast cancer,”

New Report Catalogues Chemical and Radiation Links to Breast Cancer, PR Newswire, 1 Oct 10, Scientists, health advocates call for national breast cancer prevention plan  – A report released today by the Breast Cancer Fund presents a comprehensive summary of the scientific data on the environmental causes of breast cancer. Continue reading

October 2, 2010 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , , , | Leave a comment