Australian solar companies taken over by multinationals
Local solar power leaders taken over by Areva and Silex THE AUSTRALIAN, Giles Parkinson February 10, 2010 TWO of Australia’s most promising solar energy technologies changed hands yesterday, with the world’s largest nuclear energy group Areva buying Ausra and Silex Systems acquiring the assets of the collapsed Solar Systems. Continue reading
Areva ‘hedging’ its bets, with renewable energy push
this acquisition of Ausra is a good sign of where the market is heading. Given that the nuclear renaissance simply isn’t materializing as expected, it’s wise for Areva and other big energy conglomerates to hedge their bets.
Areva gets deeper into renewables with Ausra purchase the energy collective, by Tyler Hamilton, 02/08/2010 France’s Areva SA is known mostly as a designer of light-water nuclear reactors, builder of transmission and distribution systems, and a miner of uranium, Continue reading
BHP reduces Yeelirrie’s proposed uranium by an ‘uneconomic’ third
BHP cuts Yeelirrie uranium estimate Matt Chambers : The Australian February 09, BHP Billiton has cut projections for its proposed Yeelirrie uranium mine in Western Australia by nearly a third, ruling out a heap acid leach component at the site as uneconomic. Continue reading
Growing problem of unnecessary medical ionising radiation
(USA) Glance: High-grade medical scans are key contributor to rising radiation exposure Health News February 9th, 2010 The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it will work with doctors and manufacturers to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure from medical scans, a problem that has been growing for decades. Continue reading
Obama appoints pro-nuker to Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Mr. Magwood’s dozens of years promoting nuclear power make him unqualified to be a regulator of the industry.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission RC Needs Nuclear Power Regulators, Not Promoters – The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) Ingrid Drake and Peter Stockton Feb 08, 2010 It’s not often that POGO lobbies to defeat a presidential nominee. However, we have felt called to speak out as loud as we can in opposition to President Obama’s nomination of William Magwood for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on the grounds that he does not have the independence from the nuclear power industry to regulate it, nor the security oversight background. Continue reading
W.A’s Chamber of Minerals and Energy doesn’t want public inquiry on uranium mining
Chamber snubs uranium inquiry call ABC News February 4, 2010 The Chamber of Minerals and Energy has rejected the call for a public inquiry into proposed uranium projects in Western Australia.The Government yesterday upheld a decision by the Environmental Protection Authority to use an environmental and management review program to assess Toro Energy’s uranium project near Wiluna.
The Conservation Council of Western Australia wants a public inquiry, the highest level of assessment, and says it should be applied to all proposed uranium projects.
Chamber snubs uranium inquiry call – ABC North West WA – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Nuclear reactor leaking radiation into groundwater
Today’s groundwater is tomorrow’s drinking water. “Tritiated water” is chemically identical to water. Only now, it is radioactive water with a half-life of 12.3 years. That means that it can pose a biological hazard for 120 years.
(USA) Uncontrolled radiation releases still getting out of Vermont Yankee, Beyond Nuclear 6 Feb 2010, New test wells sunk around the Vermont Yankee nuclear power station have revealed rising radiation levels in groundwater on the banks of the Connecticut River near the town of Vernon, Vermont. Continue reading
Australia blocks shipments to Iran, on nuclear fear
(Of course, Australia sends uranium to China and Russia, where it might well end up in nuclear weapons – C.M. )
Rudd confirms Iran shipments blocked ABC News 4 Feb 2010 Continue reading
BHP’s uranium mine expansion will destroy Aboriginal heritage
Elder attacks Olympic Dam excavation plans ABC News 1 February 2010
Plans by BHP Billiton to excavate around its Olympic Dam mine in South Australia’s north have come under fire from a local Aboriginal elder. Continue reading
Obama’s pro-nuclear push could founder in money problems
experts are predicting a repeat of the experience of the 1980’s,
in which the costs of many projects soared in price until they became prohibitive and the plants were abandoned before completion.
Nuclear Power Gets Strong Push From White House
The New York Times By MATTHEW L. WALDJanuary 29, 2010The Obama administration moved vigorously on two fronts Friday to promote nuclear power, proposing to triple federal loan guarantees for new projects and appointing a high-level panel to study what to do with nuclear waste. Continue reading
NASA continues cruel and unnecessary radiation tests on monkeys
(USA) More Radiation for Space Monkeys ANIMAL WELFARE Stephanie Feldstein 29 Jan 2010 It’s not the first time monkeys have been exposed to radiation. So many studies have documented the painful and disturbing effects of exposure, that there’s no reason for further animal research. But NASA doesn’t see it that way. Continue reading
Obama parrots pro-nuke policy, but he knows better
Indeed, Obama knows better. Candidate Obama understood that nuclear power is neither safe nor clean. Watch this video taken early in his presidential campaign,
Nuclear Information and Resource Service Michael Mariotte 28 Jan 2010 If you were watching last night’s State of the Union address, I’m sure you were as appalled as I was when President Obama suddenly spoke in support of “safe, clean nuclear power” (not to mention support for offshore oil drilling and “clean” coal). Continue reading
Govt secrecy over nuclear waste transported to Woomera
Fears of nuclear waste dump site at Woomera KIM WHEATLEY, The Advertiser 27 Jan 2010) “The public needs to know and the traditional owners have a right to be aware.”
CONCERN is mounting that a site near Woomera may become the de facto radioactive waste dump for Australia.
This follows criticism the Defence Department failed to notify the public it was moving radioactive waste 450km from Edinburgh RAAF to a new waste dump at Woomera over the Christmas break. Continue reading
Nothing stops Australian uranium exports ending up in nuclear weapons
A credible safeguards regime for Australian uranium exports depends on having a credible safeguards agency. Sadly, the federal government’s Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO) is anything but.
Nuclear Safeguards and Australian Uranium Export Policy — Friends of the Earth Australia, by Jim Green 25 Jan 2010 There is a long history of nuclear power facilitating nuclear weapons programs …….The larger part of the problem is real or feigned interest in nuclear power providing a rationale for the acquisition of enrichment plants, reprocessing plants and research reactors and a rationale for the development of cadres of nuclear scientists and engineers whose skills can be put to use in weapons programs………… Continue reading
Roxby Downs, Ranger – who’ll clean up, who’ll pay?
Relevant to the proposed BHP Roxby new open pit and to the Ranger expansion – will they leave nothing but waste and cleanup bills (comment from David Noonan)
Call to levy mining firms for green fund KIM MACDONALD, The West Australian January 26, 2010,
Former scientist of the year Jorg Imberger has called for a five per cent levy on mining companies to pay for social and environmental programs, amid revelations only a fifth of export sales money stays in WA. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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