UK election: Climate Change and Nuclear Power in the spotlight
Labour & Lib Dems Put Spotlight on Conservative Climate Sceptics The Energy Collective, by Vicky Portwain on 04/25/2010 Labour and Liberal Democrat energy representatives Ed Miliband and Simon Hughes joined forces to put Tory climate change sceptics in the spotlight this week.TThe ‘green hustings’ event organised by the Guardian featured a debate on climate change and energy between the 3 biggest political parties. The debate can be heard online via the Guardian website……Nuclear Power The Lib Dems do not believe nuclear power stations can be delivered in time before the energy crisis hits and that the nuclear programme undermines the building out of renewable energy……Labour & Lib Dems Put Spotlight on Conservative Climate Sceptics
Nuclear lobby a powerful influence on Nuclear Non Proliferation decisions
The big pitch to get “nuclear security” (now there’s another oxymoron) is being taken up by the nuclear lobby, with fervour. Let’s get new gee-whiz reactors that can use the old nuclear weapons fuel!
The world still ends up with even more toxic waste from these reactors. And the transport of the enriched uranium and plutonium? Still plenty of scope there for somebody to get hold of it and make a bomb. Even a “dirty bomb” will do. – our theme for April – Nuclear Power and Peace
Australia’s forgotten soldiers, victims of Maralinga atomic bomb testing
he was required to sign the official secrets act when returning from Maralinga, which prevented him from talking about the site for 30 years.
McGee’s lost men forgotten in fallout , Adelaide Now, Bryan Littlely, April 24, 2010 FRANK McGee is looking for the lost men of Maralinga, but fears most of his lads have died without recognition for the work they did cleaning up our nuclear disgrace
- The former Royal Air Force Flight Lieutenant commanded a party of 35 airmen whose task it was to collect, bury and salvage items from the Maralinga atomic test sites over two years from 1966. Continue reading
Tony Abbott would dump the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Abbott wants lead role for troops in Afghanistan, The Age, MICHELLE GRATTAN, April 24, 2010, “………In his first major foreign policy speech as Opposition Leader, he …… said he would drop Australia’s bid for a Security Council seat; scuttle Kevin Rudd’s pursuit of an Asia-Pacific community, and likely dump the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament that Australia set up. Foreign aid would be focused on the Asia-Pacific region, and uranium sold to India……Abbott wants lead role for troops in Afghanistan
Australian govt undermining nonproliferation: uranium sales to Russia
“The spread of weapons grade material is the dark underbelly of the
uranium mining industry,”
Fernando de Freitas, 24 April 2010, The Federal Government’s decision to allow uranium exports to Russia will harm Australia’s credentials as a leading international voice against the spread of nuclear weapons, according to the Australian Greens. Continue reading
Australia about to ratify uranium sales to Russi
Australia’s Smith Says Pact to Allow Uranium Exports to Russia , BusinessWeek, By Marion Rae April 23 (Bloomberg) — Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Australia and Russia will ratify a nuclear agreement that will allow Australian uranium to be exported to Russia for “civil, peaceful purposes.”Smith made the comments today in an e-mailed transcript of a press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during his visit to Russia. Australia’s Smith Says Pact to Allow Uranium Exports to Russia – BusinessWeek
Did Russia’s lack of nuclear security enable smuggling of enriched uranium?
Saakashvili accuses Russia of supplying enriched uranium to Caucasus, News.Az 23 April 2010, President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili accused Russia “of creating unstableness”.According to RBK, in the opinion of the Georgian leader, the unstableness enables the smugglers to deliver the highly enriched uranium to the Caucasus………..The Georgian leader underlined that Russia should be responsible for maintaining control of the nuclear weapon distribution in these territories so long as “it has occupied them”. In his opinion, the incidents with the highly enriched uranium threaten Georgia’s safety. News.Az – Saakashvili accuses Russia of supplying enriched uranium to Caucasus
Big welcome for aboriginal anti-nuclear protesors in Martin Ferguson’s electorate
at left, Dianne Stokes. by Christian Macpherson 22 April 2010. The Northcote Town Hall right in the heart of Martin Ferguson’s electorate, was packed last night, as local and Melbourne residents welcomed two courageous Aboriginals from the Tennant Creek area in the Northern Territory.
As Martin Ferguson hides in the safety of his Melbourne bunker, not having the guts to visit the local residents of the Muckaty Station area (planned nuclear waste dump) – well, Diane Stokes and Mark Chungaloo came to visit Ferguson’s area.
Melbourne heard of the strong opposition of four aboriginal clans, of local non-aboriginals, and of the Northern territory government – to the new National Radioactive Waste Management Bill – – which is intended to override all their rights, and impose a nuclear waste dump on their land.
Perhaps Martin Ferguson, Australia’s Minister For Promoting the Nuclear Industry, will have a few voters to worry about, come the federal election.
Of course, Australia’s mainstream media, ever subservient to their corporate mining links, ignored this as large and attentive crowd was informed about this issue, Dr Bill Williams spoke on the health dangers of ioinsing radiation,. Natalie Wasley and Dave Sweeney spoke on the draconian legislation planned. Alex Bhathal, Greens candidate for the electorate of Batman, received warm applause
Nuclear corporation AREVA guiding Nuclear Security policies
The roundtable was hosted by Vice President Biden.
AREVA CEO Lauvergeon Participates In Nuclear Security Summit, Nuclear Power Industry News, 21 April 2010, – By Stephen Heiser – “……AREVA CEO Anne Lauvergeon participated in Nuclear Security Summit activities taking place this week in Washington, D.C. President Obama and global leaders were meeting to pursue a comprehensive nuclear security agenda to secure vulnerable nuclear materials around the world in four years…… Continue reading
Local govt opposes nuclear waste dump in Switzerland
Canton slams radioactive waste plans, World Radio Switzerland, 21 April 2010, Plans for a radioactive waste disposal unit in the canton of Schaffhausen has come under fire in a study published by the local government.The National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste outlined two possible sites for the unit: one in Zurich Weinland and one near Sudranden in the canton of Schaffhasusen.That’s just a few kilometers from the city of Schaffhausen, where 80 percent of the canton’s population live and work.
Today’s report says a disposal centre would have a detrimental effect on the town of Schaffhausen, and on the development of both the canton’s economy and population.The report estimates it would lose between 15 and 33 million francs in tax revenue a year and the population would drop by up to 5,000 people. WRS | Canton slams radioactive waste plans
USA’s “blue ribbon commission – no idea what to do with nuclear waste!
there is no real federal waste management plan….Energy Secretary Steven Chu has created a “blue ribbon” commission to help create a new long-term waste policy..
Nuclear Utilities Sue DOE To Halt Nuclear Waste Fees, Nuclear Street, 22 April 2010, Utilities contend that the DOE has collected over $33 billion since 1983, never came for nuclear waste and has no federal waste management plan – By Stephen Heiser – Continue reading
Australia’s shame: ignoring its “Black Mist” atomic radiation victims
With such a long and documented history, official Australian ignorance of Beta Radiation Burn to skin as a consequence of contact with nuclear fallout has no excuse………
The Black Mist and its Aftermath, The Black Mist Incident « Paul Langley’s Nuclear History Blog, 21 April 2010, -Oral Histories by Lallie Lennon A Submission to the Government of South Australia, the Commonwealth Government of Australia and the International Atomic Energy Agency Oral Historian Michele Madigan, 2006 and 2009Transcription and Commentary by Paul Langley…… Continue reading
USA moves to compensate atomic radiation victims
Bipartisan bill would compensate more downwinders Legislation covers people affected in seven states. By Judy Fahys The Salt Lake Tribune04/20/2010 People throughout seven Western states — including anywhere in Utah — who were exposed to radiation from atomic testing and the uranium industry would be eligible for government compensation, under proposed new congressional legislation…….. Continue reading
ANSTO’s SILEX nuclear laser invention is a weapons proliferation risk
“If this [SILEX new laser technology] proliferates, a country could develop material for a nuclear weapon without anyone being able to detect their activity.”
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Says SILEX Needs a Careful Look Newswise 4/13/2010— As global leaders discuss ridding the world of nuclear weapons, the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory (NRC) Commission has acknowledged that a new laser technology— which could lead to even more global proliferation – deserves a closer examination.Commonly known as SILEX (Separation of Isotopes by Laser Excitation), the laser technology carries significant proliferation risks because of its small size and low energy use. Continue reading
Review: nuclear waste, Security Summit, Non Proliferation
Review. Australia. Government and media doing a fine job keeping quiet about the Senate Inquiry into Radioactive Waste Management Bill, while opposition mounts locally to the Northern territory nuke waste dump plan. South Australia’s Rann govt embarassed at $million cost likely from its court defeat regarding uranium protestors. Confusion in the uranium mining lobby, as prices tumble. Even more confusion about the Nuclear Security Summit plan to promote recycled uranium. Meanwhile ANSTO salivates at the thought of setting up a lucrative nuclear waste management business, and ANSTO’s baby, Silex promotes its dangerous laser nuclear technology.
International: Some 20 countries or more join up to Nuclear security Summit plan to send their enriched uranium to USA or to Russia, for recycling. Anxiety over earthquake risks in this plan. Much confusion over Recycling, Reprocessing, Fast Breeder Reactors, Integral Fast Reactors. Nuclear lobby gears up, with AREVA promoting its products at Nuclear Security Summit. More nuclear power promotion for upcoming Non-Proliferation talks. India grappling with problem of nuclear insurance, and of a dramatic radiation exposure incident
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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