Women more affected by nuclear power and ionising radiation
NUCLEAR POWER and WOMEN – our focus for May 2010
Decisions on nuclear power, nuclear weapons, nuclear wastes are almost exclusively made by men.
Yet the brunt of nuclear-caused cancer is suffered by women and children, as is the brunt of nuclear war, and of depleted uranium spread.
Opinion polls over many years, and in many countries, consistently show that women are opposed to nuclear power and nuclear weapons.
More women than men are concerned about health and environmental effects of the nuclear industry.
Yet they are consistently reassured by narrowly educated nuclear physicists, and other technocrats, that nuclear power is safe, and that they have nothing to worry about in regard to ionising radiation.
Senate Report toes govt line on dumping nuclear waste on Northern Territory
Senator Ludlam criticised the Bill for its “heavy handed” overriding of Territory and Aboriginal heritage protection laws, and the reliance on secret documents for the nomination of Muckaty.
[The Report]t said an objects clause should be inserted as should an explanation of the minister’s “absolute discretion” on site selection.
Inquiry dumps on Northern Territory, Northern Territory News BEN LANGFORDMay 7th, 2010 THE Senate inquiry into laws which could put a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory has recommended the new legislation be passed.But the inquiry’s report was immediately criticised as “an unbalanced and closed-minded justification for a foregone conclusion” by one of the committee members. Continue reading
Australia: Flawed Senate Report into Radioactive Waste Plan
“This proposed legislation remains controversial and contested. Minister Ferguson’s legislation is a bad deal, not a done deal.”
Senate radioactive dump inquiry deeply flawed, Australian Conservation Foundation, 8 May 2010 A Senate report into laws to authorise a controversial planned nuclear waste in the Northern Territory has failed to make any progress towards responsible radioactive waste management in Australia, the Australian Conservation Foundation said today… Continue reading
AREVA’s radioactive water contamination in Niger
VIDEOLeft in the Dust – Areva’s uranium mining in Niger | Greenpeace International
Left in the Dust – Areva’s uranium mining in Niger | Greenpeace International 6 May 2010, Operations of Nuclear giant AREVA put lives at risk in Niger Uranium mines in Niger operated by the state-owned French nuclear giant AREVA continue to create a radioactive hazard for the people living nearby.
A new report released today by Greenpeace reveals contamination levels in the air, water and soil above internationally accepted limits.“Radioactivity increases poverty because it creates more victims. With each day passes we are exposed to radiation and continue to be surrounded by poisoned air, polluted water and earth – while AREVA makes hundreds of millions from our natural resources.”
said Almoustapha Alhacen, President of the local Nigerian NGO Aghir in’ Man (which means “the shield of the soul” in the Touareg language, is a local environmental and human rights organization).Last November, Greenpeace carried out soil, water and air tests in Arlit and Akokan, located a few kilometers from the mines.
The samples were studied in collaboration with the France-based Research and Independent Information on Radioactivity Commission (CRIIRAD).“The analysis we have performed show that the uranium contamination in four out of five water samples exceed World Health Organisation safety limits*. We found evidence of radon, a radioactive gas dissolved in water and also chemical elements. Even so, this water is still being distributed to the population and the workers for consumption” said Bruno Chareyron, an engineer in Nuclear Physics from CRIIRAD. Left in the Dust – Areva’s uranium mining in Niger | Greenpeace International
International Atomic Energy Agency wants Israel to ‘fess up to its nuclear weapons
UN watchdog wants Israel to join NPT, Palestine Note, 5 May 2010, IAEA seeks international input on persuading Israel to join treaty Washington – The UN’s nuclear watchdog is seeking international support in persuading Israel to join the Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) in a step that will likely put pressure on Israel to publicly confirm the existence of its unacknowledged nuclear arsenal, The Associated Press reported Wednesday. Continue reading
Nuclear Power Agreement between Obama and Australia
The proposed Agreement permits the transfer of information, material, equipment (including reactors), and components for nuclear research and nuclear power production
Message to the Congress Concerning a Nuclear Agreement with Australia. THE WHITE HOUSE, BARACK OBAMA, 5 May 2010, Politics News, – “I am pleased to transmit to the Congress, pursuant to sections 123 b. and 123 d. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2153(b), (d)) (the “Act”), the text of a proposed Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Australia Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy……. Continue reading
Australia at the Nuclear Non Proliferation Conference
as ever, Australia agrees with promoting nuclear technology. Australia keeps its focus on its own lucrative role, as uranium supplier, in the global nuclear cycle which makes nuclear weapons possible.
The U.N Nuclear Non Proliferation Conference in New York looks like becoming something of a non event. Continue reading
Australia condemns Iran, praises U.S. and Russia on Nuclear Non Proliferation
Only five states are allowed to have the bomb under the treaty,
Iran’s nuclear program of concern: Smith, Sydney Morning Herald, CATHY ALEXANDERMay 4, 2010 – “……As the conference began, outspoken Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused the US of threatening to use atomic weapons against other countries.
This triggered a rebuke from the US, and Australia joined in. Mr Smith called on Iran to fully co-operate with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the UN over its nuclear program……Mr Smith said it wasn’t all bad news, praising the US and Russia for recent action to cut back on nuclear weapons…….The non-proliferation treaty, which came into force in 1970, aims to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.
Only five states are allowed to have the bomb under the treaty.., Iran’s nuclear program of concern: Smith
President Ahmadinejad of Iran expresses the feelings of the nuclear ‘have nots’
He is not alone in seeing the old nuclear powers as an arrogant club who believe they have the right to rule…….As the US presses for sanctions against Iran, President Ahmadinejad has come to stir up charges of hypocrisy and double standards
An unlikely anti-nuclear campaigner? BBC, Mark Mardell , 3 May 2010 President Ahmadinejad of Iran says nuclear weapons are “disgusting and shameful”, a danger to the countries that have them.We have to assume this is an indirect denial that he is on the verge of developing such a weapon. Continue reading
Australia rejects its own Commission’s call for nuclear disarmament
Mr Smith rejected a key finding of the joint Australia/Japan-sponsored report delivered in December – one that called for reducing the total number of nuclear weapons to 2000 warheads by 2025………
Curb urged on Iranian nukes The Age DANIEL FLITTON, May 5, 2010 AUSTRALIA hit out at Iran’s nuclear ambitions yesterday, backing a chorus of Western countries warning Tehran must be stopped from building an atomic weapon. Continue reading
Arab states concerned that Israel has not signed Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty
they directed their focus to Israel, whose “unacknowledged” nuclear arsenal gets a free pass thanks to US protection in IAEA and the UN Security Council..
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commented over the weekend that more progress must be made world-wide in nuclear disarmament.
Nuclear conference: Arab states say Israel destabilizes the region, Palestine Note 4 May 2010, “………..Jordan’s foreign minister says the world must work harder for a “nuclear-free” Middle East, the Associate Press reports from the second day of the UN nuclear summit. Continue reading
Russian solution to oil leaks – nuclear bomb them
Should we drop a nuclear bomb on the leaky oil well? Washington Examiner, By: Mark Hemingway, 05/04/10 Apparently that’s what the Russians have done in similar circumstances:Komsomoloskaya Pravda, the best-selling Russian daily, reports that in Soviet times such leaks were plugged with controlled nuclear blasts underground. Continue reading
Foreign nuclear companies jittery over India’s radiation safety risks
Radiation death in India raises nuclear safety concerns, (Reuters) 5 May 2010, – The radiation-related death of a scrap metal worker has raised concerns over nuclear safety in India, at a time when the Asian power is wooing foreign players to its $150 billion civilian nuclear market. Continue reading
Quiet progress of People for a Nuclear Free Australia
More than half the battle, in getting rid of the toxic uranium , nuclear power, and nuclear weapons industries, is in informing people, about the true nature of the dangers, and financial waste involved.
This is an uphill battle in Australia, as we head off into Third World colonial status, pursuing the short term greed of the “resources boom” . The major political parties are subservient to polluting corporations. The mainstream media is closely allied to mining interests. Australia still has its cultural, colonial cringe – resulting in public ignorance and apathy about the nuclear issue.
People for a Nuclear Free Australia (PFNA) are changing this. By well planned educational materials, the facts are being placed before doctors and other professionals, trade unionists, and members of parliament. The Australian Electrical Trades Union has just produced an excellent film which documents the health implications of uranium mining both to the miners and their families who live near the mines.
To learn more about PFNA, or to contribute to their educational effort, go to http://pnfa.com.au
Australian women’s anti-nuclear peace walk to Canberra
Our aim is to communicate how the whole nuclear cycle is unsafe; it will leave a toxic legacy for over 200 000 years.
FootPrints For Peace Australia | Indymedia Australia, 1 May 2010, On 13 March 2010 five women aged from 37 to 69 began walking from Brisbane to Canberra to take a message to the prime minister. The message conveys the hopes and dreams of the Australian people, asking that we take steps towards a nuclear free future. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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