Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

All aboriginal land in Australia really controlled by whites

UN SUBMISSION- ABORIGINAL PEOPLE BECOMING REFUGEES IN THEIR OWN LAND
by Michael Anderson, leader of the Euahlayi Nation of northwest NSW and southwest Queensland and elected spokesman of the 16 tribes in the Gumilaroi nation

September 7, 2009 Posted by | aboriginal issues, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, uranium | , , , , , | 1 Comment

Staggering size of environmental problems for BHPB’s uranium mine expansion

uraniumholeMega-everything: the world’s biggest open cut mine

OnLine opinion By Sandra Kanck – 24 August 2009

The expansion of the Olympic Dam mine at Roxby Downs will see environment as the biggest loser. The draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), for which public comment closed early in August 2009, has serious deficiencies. Continue reading

September 5, 2009 Posted by | environment, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Uranium sales to China ramped up as China’s nuke weapons ramp up

weapons1China prepares to show off nuclear missiles- South Australia and China move forward together

China will parade five new missiles in a show of military prowess on the 60th anniversary of Communist Party rule. Continue reading

September 4, 2009 Posted by | South Australia, uranium, weapons and war | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nuclear power for Australia’s Northern Territory – ridiculous

NT nuclear power idea ridiculous, say greens

THE Territory has “cleaner, cheaper and greener” energy solutions than nuclear power, the Environment Centre said.

NORTHERN TERRITORY NEWS 1 Sept 09

Centre co-ordinator Stuart Blanch said the suggestion by Alice Springs town councillor Murray Stewart a nuclear power station be built in Darwin or Katherine was “ridiculous”. He said the real issue was to develop renewable energy supplies that were as inexpensive as gas. Continue reading

September 4, 2009 Posted by | Northern Territory, politics, uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment

Nuclear disarmament policies: Japan at odds with Australia over ‘pre-emptive strike’ issue

Australia, Japan in nuclear rift

The Age DANIEL FLITTON

September 4, 2009

AUSTRALIA and Japan are at loggerheads over the use of nuclear weapons in war, with Japan – the only country to have suffered atomic attack – determined, for now, to keep a broad deterrent role for the world’s deadly arsenal. Continue reading

September 4, 2009 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics international | , , , | 1 Comment

Asbestos and Uranium

a-cat-CANChristina Macpherson 3 Sept 09

It’s hard to get your head around the magnitude of the asbestos scandal, world-wide. Phillip Adams covered this very recently, in ABC  Radio National’s Late Night Live  (podcast available at ABC Radio National – Late Night Live – Home

Matt Peacock’s new book “Killer Company” details the James Hardie asbestos story in Australia. Another author’s new book tells the world-wide, and continuing story of asbestos contamination, corporate cover-up, and huge profits gained by companies  which vanish long before they can be held accountable.

Meanwhile, the same process now kicks on, with uranium mining.  But with one significant difference.   It is actually easy to prove that a person’s nasty, fatal mesothelioma cancer was caused by asbestos. It is difficult to prove that invisible, unsmellable, tasteless radioactivity has caused a person’s nasty fatal cancer.

Hence the uranium mining corporations, and their investors, can relax. Their money will be made long before the scandalous health cost becomes public knowledge.

September 3, 2009 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, Christina reviews, health, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

As asbestos scandal is revealed, uranium threat develops

Radiation-Warning1Uranium mining ‘poses Wittenoom threat’ to Kimberley

ABC News 2 Sept 09

A Western Australian politician says the Kimberley is in danger of becoming the next Wittenoom if the Federal Government allows uranium mining to go ahead.There are between 30 and 40 uranium tenements in the Kimberley, in the state’s north, and Greens’ MP Robin Chapple says there are at least 12 proposed uranium mines in the region.

Mr Chapple was in Broome for a uranium mining forum last night and says the community has been lulled into a false sense of security about the practice.He says in some cases, uranium mining in the United States and India has wiped out all of the male members of some families.”In terms of the health effects we know there’s approximately a cohort of 10 per cent cancers in the workforce after about 20 years – so similar sort of effects as asbestos and Wittenoom [in WA’s Pilbara],” he said.

September 3, 2009 Posted by | 1, health, uranium, Western Australia | , , , , | Leave a comment

Uranium mining hype about aborigines

Christina Macpherson 3 Sept 09a-cat-CAN

As the commercial nuclear industry founders, uranium corporations hurry to expand their hype, while there’s still time. Continue reading

September 3, 2009 Posted by | aboriginal issues, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, Christina reviews, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Review: Uranium, wastes, racism, nuke costs

a-cat-CANReview of past week. by Christina Macpherson 2 Sept 09 Australia: Yeelirree uranium mine. W.A govt is not adequately assessing Environmental Review. Ferguson’s continued silence on federal govt’s plans for NT nuclear waste dump, Calls for NT to become “wildly rich” with nuclear power, despite the worldwide decline in commercial nuclear power. UN human rights expert James Anaya criticises Australia’s racist intervention in NT. Capd York aborigines keen for wind farm project. Uranium spot prices stay down.

Internationally: Hanford and other US nuclear fear they’ll become USA’s nuke waste dump. Finland’s Olkiluoto-3 nuclear reactor’s costs skyrocket, as AREVA takes court action against Finnish company. In Africa, nuclear electricity company makes record loss.

September 2, 2009 Posted by | Christina reviews, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Some BHP Billiton shareholders concerned about Olympic Dam uranium mine’s”poisonous legacy”

BHPB-Olympic-SmOlympic Dam opponents willing to sacrifice dividends
ABC News 27 Aug 09

A group of BHP Billiton shareholders who oppose the expansion of the Olympic Dam mine say they would rather forego any dividends from the project than see the environment damaged.

The BHP Shareholders for Social Responsibility group is made up of long-term shareholders from across the nation.

In a submission to BHP Billiton’s draft environmental impact statement, the group’s convener, John Poppins, says among other concerns, there is too much uncertainty about the impact on the local estuary of locating a desalination plant at Point Lowly.

Mr Poppins says BHP has no rectification plan if damage occurs and while shareholders stand to benefit from the expansion, it is a short-term view.

“Some shareholders are of the view that we can forego some of our dividends by looking to do things better environmentally or socially,” he said.

He says the mine will create a poisonous legacy for the future.

Olympic Dam opponents willing to sacrifice dividends – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

September 2, 2009 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, business, uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment

Location of BHP Billiton’s proposed desalination plant opposed

Australian environment body calls for shifting of BHP Billiton’s desalination plant domain-b.com news 24 August 2009
Environmental concerns over mining major, BHP Billiton’s expansion plans at Roxy Downs have come to the fore with the Australian Conservation Foundation calling for the shifting of a desalination plant from Upper Spencer Gulf in South Australia………………………
According to Dave Noonan from the foundation, the company has no choice but to shift the plant to address the environmental and other concerns. He added that the company should accept that a desalination at the planned location would not be allowed and that they would not be allowed to design a mine to leak millions of liters of radioactive waste a day.

domain-b.com : Australian environment body calls for shifting of BHP Billiton’s desalination plant

September 2, 2009 Posted by | South Australia, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Olympic Dam uranium mine expansion will go ahead, no matter what?

SA assures BHP Billiton on Olympic Dam environmental concerns

Business Spectator 25 August 09

The South Australian government has raised a number of environmental concerns with BHP Billiton Ltd about its planned $20 billion expansion of Olympic Dam, but assured the miner the proposal is not under threat……………

The $20 billion project will convert the underground mine into a massive open pit through an excavation of rock and waste material that will take around six years to complete………….

“None of the issues that have been highlighted by the government authorities are dealbreakers,” acting Premier Kevin Foley told the newspaper.

Business Spectator – News – SA assures BHP Billiton on Olympic Dam environmental concerns

September 2, 2009 Posted by | politics, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Liberals join Greens against some uranium mining in South Australia

Greens, Libs fight wilderness mining

ABC News 2 Sept 09

The Greens and Liberals are joining forces to urge the South Australian Government to keep mining out of Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in the Flinders Ranges. Continue reading

September 2, 2009 Posted by | politics, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Radiation warning for BHP Olympic Dam expansion

perth now Steve Larkin August 24, 2009

BHP Billiton has been told by governments to provide more information on radiation risks of the proposed expansion of the company’s Olympic Dam mine. Continue reading

September 2, 2009 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics, uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment

Australia won’t sell uranium to India

Australia won’t sell uranium to India, says Julia Gillard
Thaindian News New Delhi, Aug 31 (IANS)
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard Monday reiterated that her country will not sell uranium to India as it is yet to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT).
“Our decision was not aimed at India. As a principle, we don’t sell uranium to countries that have not signed the NPT,” Gillard told reporters here.

Australia won’t sell uranium to India, says Julia Gillard

September 1, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics, uranium | , , , | Leave a comment