Cherie Blair will represent aboriginal nuclear victims in UK court case
Cherie Blair to work on SA compensation case ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) 25 Jan 2010
The wife of the former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, will represent five Aboriginies seeking compensation for ill health caused by nuclear testing in South Australia’s outback during the 1950s. Continue reading
Is nuclear energy a reasonable option for Australia?
Nuclear power and Australia John Quiggin January 21st, 2010 There’s been a bit of discussion about nuclear power lately, but it tends very much to the abstract. I thought I would look into the question of when, if ever, nuclear power might be a reasonable option for Australia to consider, and how we should go about it.
An obvious starting point is the Switkowski report commissioned by the Howard government, which I’ve uploaded here. There are three main points which allow me to provide an answer to the question, at least for the next decade or so.
(i) In the absence of a substantial carbon price nuclear power is not competitive with coal
(ii) First-of-a-kind (FOAK) nuclear plants are likely to be very expensive (above $80/MWh), not competitive with wind or gas (even with CCS)………………minimal conditions can’t be met before 2025 at the earliest.
The US, which has been attempting for a decade to restart its nuclear industries is still at the pilot stage, exploring a number of technologies, and offering to subsidise the construction of three plant designs for each major option. Most of the proposals are on existing sites, only six have reached the point of a plant actually being ordered, and none is anywhere near starting construction……..
……That suggests that Australia should forget about nuclear power entirely for at least the next five years. If things are going well for nuclear, and not so well for renewables, that would be the time to start setting up regulatory structures, looking for sites and so on. http://johnquiggin.com/index.php/archives/2010/01/21/nuclear-power-and-australia/
Greens call upon Rudd to help Australia’s nuclear veterans
“We know the Australian government was complicit in these tests which saw many soldiers used as human guinea pigs..”
Time for Rudd to step in and ensure justice for Maralinga nuclear vets: Scott Ludlam 20th January 2010, The Australian Greens are dismayed by the Rudd Government’s refusal to help Australian veterans of the Maralinga atomic bomb tests of the 1950s and 60s. Continue reading
Roxby Downs uranium mine will blow out greenhouse gases
“All of our efforts to reduce emissions, to conserve energy, will be undone by just one company, one project” The Advertiser DAVID NOONAN, 20 Jan 2010
The science of climate change demands action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. BHP Billiton’s proposed new open-pit mine at Roxby Downs would blow out SA’s greenhouse gas emissions by more than 12 per cent. Continue reading
Fremantle Anti Nuclear group (FANG) join international walk to the U.N.
Australian government continues to cover up radiation damage to veterans
successive governments continued to cover up the atomic test issue.
Rudd Government refuses to help Maralinga veterans sue Britain: The Courier-Mail Ian McPhedran January 20, 2010
THE Rudd Government has refused to help Australian veterans who are suing the British Government over radiation exposure during atomic bomb tests in the 1950s and 60s. Continue reading
New study shows low level radiation damage to nuclear bomb survivors
“This study provides the strongest evidence available to date that radiation may increase the rates of stroke and heart disease at moderate dose levels..”
A-bomb survivor data affirm radiation/CVD risk link the heart.org January 19, 2010 | Reed Miller Hiroshima, Japan – Fifty-three-year follow-up data confirm that Japanese atomic-bomb survivors exposed to at least 0.5 Gy of radiation have an excess risk of dying of heart disease or stroke . Continue reading
Review- the nuclear week that has been
Australia: Climate denialists Monckton and Plimer touring Australia (wonder who’s paying for this tour?). Maralinga nuclear veterans must take their case to England. Tony Abbott calls for uranium sales to India, as India builds its nuke weapons arsenal. Australian Super decides that uranium is ethical enough. Point Lowly Action group trying to save iconic Great Australian Cuttlefish. ERA uranium shares and production fall. Govt considers airport scanning amid public ignorance on the issue.
International: Huge global renewable energy summit. France’s nuke industry embroiled in strife. Critical talks about Iran’s nukes. Germany in dilemma over mounting nuclear waste. Future very complicated for USA’s nuke industry. Colorado anti-uranium legal bid moves along. Revelations of Israel’s uranium tests on workers. Doomsday clock – slight improvement. USA – anti-uranium protest. Court action over depleted uranium in Hawaii. Protest against NASA’s radiation testing on squirrel monkeys.
Tony Abbott dancing around nuclear power
his support for nuclear options surfaces fairly regularly in media releases.
Abbott won’t rule out putting a nuclear power station on a headland near you -NORTH COAST VOICES 18 January 2010 Continue reading
Australian media, Climate Denial, and Pro Nuclear Hype
I used to think that the Australian media publicised fraudulent and anti-scientific opinions just out of a desire to have a controversy, and stir public attention to the media. I now think, alas, that it also has to do with the ignorance about science of not only the public, but also of the journalists.
Australia is now in grave danger of falling for the simplistic views of people who put up good-sounding information about very complex problems, with little regard for the scientific or economic facts.
We can now expect a year of this, with Tony Abbott in the lead position, expert in claimimg “green” credentials, while in fact furthering the interests of powerful fossil fuel and nuclear lobbies.
I would hope that climate-denialist speakers like Lord Monckton, and Ian Plimer will be met byt the media with sceptical srutiny – with those tried and tested old questions; – “Does he really make sense?, and What’s in it for him?
Australian atomic radiation victims not compensated
Ex-servicemen who were ordered into radiation zones and to clean planes and vehicles following the blasts have not received any compensation….Many have died from blood disorders and cancers
Veterans clear to chase compo over Brit N-tests Brisbane Times ANDREA HAYWARD January 16, 2010 Continue reading
Tony Abbott calls for selling uranium to India
Australian opposition calls for India uranium sales Australia’s Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbot says Australia should sell uranium to India.ABC Radio 15 Jan 2010
The incumbent Rudd government fulfilled an election promise and outlawed uranium sales to India because Delhi has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. But Mr Abbott says selling uranium to India is a good idea……..
The former Howard government had agreed to Indian uranium sales on the back of a United States-Indian agreement allowing the sale of uranium for civil purposes. http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201001/2792805.htm?desktop
Airport scanners: radio frequency type better than X ray type
Sorry, Uncle Sam, I refuse to be ionized The Daily Observer (Canada) By DR. GIFFORD-JONES15 Jan 2010
“………Transport Canada reports that more than 40 scanners will be installed in Canadian airports. Fortunately, all of these scanners will use “millimeter wave” technology. This means travellers will be exposed to radio frequency waves that produce a three-dimensional image of a person’s body to detect hidden weapons or explosives. Radio waves are not the same as harmful X-ray ionizing radiation to be used in the U.S. Continue reading
Opposition to NASA’s radiation testing on squirrel monkeys
National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) plan to subject as many as 28 squirrel monkeys to a massive dose of gamma radiation………Because of the biological differences between species, results of radiation experiments on monkeys cannot be reliably applied to humans
PETA Calls On Space Agency to Ground Cruel and Wasteful Tests and Use 21st Century Research Methods Instead
PETS Media Center
January 13, 2010
Washington — Alongside a person wearing a space suit and holding signs that read, “Stop Radiation Tests on Monkeys,” PETA members will protest outside the National Air and Space Museum in response to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) plan to subject as many as 28 squirrel monkeys to a massive dose of gamma radiation. Continue reading
Radiation exposure in early life and breast cancer
Ionizing radiations including x-ray used in medical
Cancer News: Early radiation exposure raises breast cancer risk Jan 11, 2010 (foodconsumer.org) — Exposure to radiotherapy or radiation-based diagnostics like computed tomography (CT scans) in early childhood increases breast cancer risk in adulthood, a new study in the Jan 2010 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention…… Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 