Do you support nuclear power?
Westside News 22 Sep 09 IS nuclear the future for Australia? Last week, Federal Member for Ryan Michael Johnson told Parliament he believed that most westsiders would support nuclear power.Federal Member for Moreton Graham Perrett disagreed. Continue reading
BHP is advised, but not COMPELLED to consult aborigines
Aboriginal ecology to be included in assessments
Amanda O’Brien | September 24, 2009 . The Australian
ABORIGINES are claiming a landmark victory after the West Australian government told BHP Billiton to incorporate their ecological knowledge into future land clearing at its giant Yeelirrie uranium prospect. Continue reading
Queensland not supporting nuclear power, says MP
pro-nuclear hype, Italy and France’s nuclear wastes
Review, by Christina Macpherson 22 Sept 09 Pro-nuclear hype stepped up over the past week, with the worrying connection being pushed that somehow “nuclear energy and nuclear disarmament” are goals that go together!
In Australia, Paul Howes the very right-wing union leader, and hopeful ALP politician, is to speak on nuclear power, at a Liberal Party seminar! ANU to pursue nuclear research with ANSTO. Ziggy Spinowski spruiking nuclear power for Australia.
Internationally, the push to include nuclear at climate talks continues. The nuke lobby, (including Ziggy) tout Italy and France as winning nuclear examples. But Italy is in the throes of a nuclear waste scandal – ships scuttled in the Mediterranean . In France AREVA’s finncial problems continue, and its nuke waste disposal is coming under scrutiny, too.
Exposing Ziggy’s spin
Ziggy Switkowski is pretty careful these days, on where he spouts his pro-nuke spin. He doesn’t want demonstrations and hecklers. So, it’s usually to the refined world of corporate Australia. Or at Lucas Heights, where he recently spruiked on the seemingly inevitable move to nuclear power.
Ziggy talks about Australian public pro-nuke opinion, without any evidence to support this. He does not mention cost, nor water use, nor waste disposal.
Ziggy continues to tout nuclear as the solution to global warming, ignoring the factors of nuclear fuel cycle carbon emissions, and the fact that even if it did work, nuclear power would supply only electricity, and would be years too late.
Ziggy prophesies a future of continued unbridled energy consumption while the world is waking up to newer ways, energy conservation, energy efficency, cogeneration. Of course, Ziggy dismisses renewable energy sources, rather as horse and buggy experts might have dismissed the automobile a century ago.
Ziggy Switkowski wants 50 nuclear power plants in Australia
Upping the ante on nuke power
Business Spectator, by Keith Orchsison 22 Sept 09
One of the great quotes from Ziggy Switkowski is that it is never hard to figure out where things are moving; it’s just hard to figure out the timing.Switkowski, chairman of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and the head of John Howard’s review of nuclear energy earlier this decade, is quietly increasing his forecast of how many uranium-fuelled power stations will be operating in this country by the middle of the century. Continue reading
Australian National University quietly working with ANSTO on nuclear reaearch
New agreement for nuclear research
Sky News September 21, 2009
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and The Australian National University (ANU) will join forces to further research into nuclear science.Science Minister Kim Carr will launch the national research partnership in Canberra on Tuesday.
The new agreement will see the two organisations collaborate on research into future energy sources and nuclear non-proliferation as well as share the use of testing facilities like particle accelerators.
Uranium mining abuses Great Artesian Basin
‘Corporate abuse’ hits Great Artesian Basin
The Australian. Michael Owen, SA political reporter | September 21, 2009
THE Great Artesian Basin — one of the largest underground water reservoirs in the world — is in danger of going the same way as the ailing Murray-Darling Basin because of reckless corporate abuse, aided by political ignorance, says South Australian senator Nick Xenophon. Continue reading
Australian uranium company slack on safety in Africa
Miner accused on slack safety
The Age TOM HYLAND S eptember 20, 2009 AN AUSTRALIAN company has begun production at its uranium mine in Malawi amid renewed controversy over the operation in one of Africa’s poorest nations. Continue reading
Paul Howes to spruik for nukes at Liberal party seminar
Union leader speaking at Liberal energy symposium
ABC News 19 Sept 09A Federal Liberal MP says he is inviting a union leader to speak about nuclear power at a conference this weekend because there needs to be a bipartisan debate on the issue.
Michael Johnson is hosting an energy symposium in his Brisbane electorate of Ryan tomorrow.
The head of the Australian Workers Union, Paul Howes, will give a speech about his support for a nuclear power industry in Australia….
Mr Johnson said. “Paul Howes certainly has demonstrated vision and courage by speaking out in support of Australia becoming an exporter of uranium and going down the nuclear path.”
Mr Johnson says he hopes to generate a wider debate on the nuclear issue.
“If Paul Howes, a national figure, a leader in the union movement, if he’s got the courage to come out and talk about this, then surely Kevin Rudd can come out and talk about this.”
Union leader speaking at Liberal energy symposium – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Australian mining companies lack transparency in African projects
Oh, Africa!
New Matilda 17 Sept 09 Australian mining companies are being lured to Africa with a campaign that would make Tourism Australia proud, writes Tim O’Connor Continue reading
Workers’ anger at BHP’s chief officer pay rise
Workers angry at BHP CEO’s pay rise: CFMEU
Ewin Hannan | September 17, 2009
Article from: The Australian
BHP Billiton has strongly defended the remuneration package of its chief executive, Marius Kloppers, after the coalminers union used his salary to declare “open season” on pay rises……
…Union delegates representing 5000 BHP employees will meet today to consider a push for significant pay rises and improved conditions, with officials saying any call for pay restraint would be met with contempt.
Tony Maher, the national president of the CFMEU’s mining division, said workers were angry at the pay rise awarded to Mr Kloppers……………..
US missile shield partly scrapped: role of Australia’s Pine Gap not clear
US to scrap part of missile shield
BRENDAN NICHOLSON, CANBERRA
September 18, 2009
THE US has abandoned key parts of its planned global anti-ballistic missile system, apparently to avoid offending Russia.
The Wall Street Journal said that the Poland and Czech Republic sections of the system would be shelved after a review ordered by US President Barack Obama.
It is not yet clear what that means for plans for the Asian sections of the system and joint experimental work being carried out by Australia, Japan and the US. That work is intended to thwart North Korea’s plans to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
In September 2007, then defence minister Brendan Nelson told Parliament the joint Australian-US facility at Pine Gap provided information on ballistic missile launches of interest to Australia and could be used in any US missile defence system.
”As such, this would be a continuation of a ballistic missile early-warning partnership that we have shared with the United States for over 30 years,” Dr Nelson said.
At the time Ron Huisken, a senior fellow from the Australian National University’s Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, warned that Australia’s collaboration on missile defence with Japan and the US could agitate the Chinese as well as the Russians.
Uranium mining shareholders unaware of problems
Christina Macpherson 16 Sept 09
Mega uranium is to start operations in Western Australia, with some funding from the WA government
Commenting on this Federal Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson, said that Australian was “committed to mining uranium with safe hands and only supplying uranium to countries which use it with safe hands”.
But just how safe is Mega?
Mega Shareholders
Megames, African September 15, 2009
Are the shareholders aware of the loses incurred by the public officers because of negligence :1. US$ 35,000 (LOSS) – Legal Fees – Lost court battle in SA and Mega Uranium subsidiary was liquidated
2. US$ 54,000.00 (LOSS) – Cash in bank – Mega Uranium subsidiary was liquidated
3. US$ 246,000.00 (LOSS) – Drilling Machine – Mega Uranium subsidiary was liquidated
This equates to a loss of more than US$ 335,000.00 LOSS which is a lot less than creditors were owed in SA for which Mega Uranium refused to settle.
So is this the way shareholders funds should be used?
Pro-nuclear Paul Howes seeking safe parliament seat
Union man may want my seat: retiring MP
Sydney Morning Herald September 15, 2009
Retiring Labor MP Julia Irwin has hinted that the leader of a major union may be gunning for her safe western Sydney electorat.She suggested Australian Workers Union national secretary Paul Howes, an advocate of nuclear power, may be planning a parliamentary career.”While any seat might do, he will not doubt be salivating to have a safe Labor seat, built up by another, with a margin like that of Fowler,” Ms Irwin said in a statement on Tuesday.
But Ms Irwin, a critic of Israel, said she did not expect a “constructive contribution” from Mr Howes on foreign policy, “or any other policy for that matter”…………………
Mr Johnson told parliament on Tuesday of a “courageous” speech Mr Howes had made in support of nuclear energy……………….
Ms Irwin, who was elected to the House of Representatives in 1998, announced on Monday she would not be contesting the next election.
Nuclear lobby in top gear, as nuclear “renaissance” failing
Review. Christina Macpherson 15 Sept 09
The nuclear lobby is pushing US and Chinese governments to get nuclear included, at Copenhagen, as a global warming solution. Meanwhile the development of nuclear power slows down, and uranium is in oversupply, with the price dropping.
In Australia, despite the anti-nuclear choice of the 2007 election, tax-payer money goes to an expensive survey of public opinion on nuclear power. No doubt the pro-uranium.nuclear media hype will be stepped up now, in preparation. John Howard planned a pro-nuke PR campaign. It seems that Rudd is carrying on the Howard agenda – review of the week that was
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 