Australia’s top nuclear business closes down – “a waste of time”
Top trio turn off N-switch
(for more Australian news go to nuclear news Australia )
Herald Sun Cameron England
July 23, 2009 12:00am
THREE of Australia’s best-known businessmen have abandoned plans to build the country’s first nuclear power plant in the face of Federal Government opposition to the controversial energy source.
Fairfax Media chairman and former Liberal Party treasurer Ron Walker has applied to deregister Australian Nuclear Energy — the company he set up with mining identities Robert Champion de Crespigny and Hugh Morgan — three years after its creation.
Mr Walker said yesterday a lack of government support had scuttled their ambitions. “Government was very clear that they would not allow nuclear energy in Australia,” he said.
“We decided that it was just a waste of our time…………
…………Mr Walker applied to shut down ANE, which investigated the possibility of building a nuclear plant in either Victoria or South Australia, on May 2
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25821675-664,00.html
Rio Tinto tries to steer Rudd towards nuclear power
Business Spectator , 22 Jul 2009
Rio Tinto tries to steer Rudd towards nuclear power“…………….The company laid out its position in a submission to the government’s Energy White Paper, signed by Rio Tinto Australia managing director Stephen Creese.
The submission raised particular concern about the government’s 20 per cent renewable energy target…………………..
Rio Tinto owns 68 per cent of Australia’s largest uranium exporter Energy Resources of Australia Ltd.
The miner also cast doubt on the viability of gas as a lower-emitting, base load alternative to coal.
Government minister in a hole over Australian uranium mine approval
Government minister in a hole over Australian uranium mine approval
edie.net news by David Gibbs 21 July 09-“……………..The decision to approve Australia’s fifth uranium mine sparked fierce criticism of Mr Garrett from political opponents and conservation groups.They accused the former anti-uranium activist, who once stood for the Nuclear Disarmament Party and penned anti-nuclear anthems for his band, of hypocrisy and argue the mine will harm the environment.
Federal opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull said: “This approval shows that Mr Garrett is as big a phoney as the prime minister.
“He spent his whole life denouncing uranium mining and wanting to shut it down. Now he’s opening a new one.” ………………Senator Scott Ludlam, nuclear spokesman for The Greens, said the claim the mine, 550km (340 miles) north of Adelaide, would be world’s best practice was “unfounded and bordered on delusional”.
He added: “This acid injection uranium mine will dump liquid radioactive waste into regional groundwater body and the minister is trying to argue this won’t damage the environment.”
Government minister in a hole over Australian uranium mine approval
Drowning island pins hopes on clean energy – CNN.com
(for more internatiomal news, go to http://www.nuclear-news.net)
(CNN) 21 July 09 — Tuvalu, the fourth smallest nation on the planet, has announced it aims to be totally powered by renewable energy sources by 2020.Located between Hawaii and Australia, the tiny Pacific nation is one of the world’s climate change hotspots and many believe it is already seeing the negative affects of rising sea levels.
The highest elevation on the island is just 4.5 meters (14.8 feet), and king tides have become increasingly damaging over the past 10 years, threatening the homes and livelihoods of its 12,000 inhabitants.
The government of Tuvalu is working with the e8, a consortium of 10 energy firms from the G8 nations that was set up after the 1992 Rio Earth Summit as a non-profit organization. The Tuvalu government estimates that it will take around $20 million in investment to reach the goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2020.
The first stage of the project has seen the roof of the country’s largest football stadium covered in solar panels, which supplies 5 percent of the electricity needed by the nation’s capital, Funafuti…………………………
“We thank those who are helping Tuvalu reduce its carbon footprint as it will strengthen our voice in upcoming international negotiations. And we look forward to the day when our nation offers an example to all — powered entirely by natural resources such as the sun and the wind,” said Kausea Natano, Tuvalu’s minister for public utilities and industries.
Nuclear power is a feminist issue
by Noel Wauchope 21 July 09
Thirty years ago, along with others, I argued that NUCLEAR is a feminist issue, and Women’s Electoral Lobby put in a detailed anti-uranium submission to the Australian federal government.
Nothing has changed.
1. The uranium/nuclear industry is still a Big Boys’ Club
– providing the ultimate phallic symbol – the nuclear missile, – toys for the boys
– providing exorbitantly paid jobs for the corporate boys, and for their tunnel-vision “experts”
– providing short-term dangerous jobs for tough boys.
2. Cancer is on the increase, especially breast cancer. The research goes towards cure – which is fine, but where’s the research into the causes and prevention of breast cancer . (Women are conned into thinking that “detection = prevention”)
Women bear the load of caring for those who suffer and die from leukaemia, breast cancer, lung cancer, – as well as of birth abnormalities. Meanwhile the establishment carefully attributes these to “genetic factors” – or vaguely to “unknown” factors.
The nuclear issue is still a feminist issue.
In every survey, more women than men are opposed to this industry.
But then – if they speak out – the “experts” dismiss women’s views – they are too “emotional”
Still – those surveys are a bit of a nuisance for the uranium/nuclear lobby – they are working hard now, to get women on side with them.
Martin Ferguson Minister for the Uranium Lobby
The Bulletin 21 July 09
“The Labor Party changed its policy at the 2007 national conference,” Mr Ferguson said.“There is no limit on the number of uranium mines in Australia.“I simply adopt the view it’s only a matter of time and there will be uranium mining in Queensland.”
Ferguson hails next wave of mining growth | Local News | Rockhampton Morning Bulletin
How the media covers the nuclear industry – or doesn’t cover it
The public in USA, Britain, Europe, (even Australia, though rarely)- do have an opportunity to learn of the negative side of the nuclear industry. In particular, we learn of the desperate efforts of the nuclear industry to portray itself as “commercially viable”.
However, do the “customer countries” of AREVA, Westinghouse, BHP Billiton etc – Asian countries learn of this, – does their media cover this? How much of the touted “scramble for nuclear” really mean a scramble of Asian and Middle Eastern governments to get nuclear weapons.
Where the government runs the nuclear industry – well, it doesn’t have to be “commercially viable”
This suits the”First World” nuclear and uranium salesmen who cannot get anyone to invest in their product in their own country. – Christina Macpherson 21 July 09
Away from the media glare, Asean talks nuclear 2009/07/19 Sheridan Mahavera reporting from Phuket
ASEAN is again likely to be known as a group that is better at promoting development among its 10 member countries than promoting noble political principles like the rule of law or protecting human rights.
The idea of having its own human rights body has grabbed headlines in the region but some of the more noteworthy meetings that are going on away from the glare of the media are about how some member countries are going nuclear……………………….Thailand is planning to build a nuclear plant that could cost US$6 billion (RM21.4 billion) and produce 4,000-megawatts of electricity in 2020.
While Vietnam had announced that it would start building two nuclear power plants, each with two 1,000-megawatt reactors, in 2013 in its southern province of Ninh Thuan.
Malaysia has yet to make public its nuclear power plans but Tenaga Nasional Berhad has said it wants to build a power plant by 2025.
Meanwhile, Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan confirmed that officials would be putting the final touches to the China and Australia agreements over the next few days. Once signed, the pacts would create free trade zones between Asean and the two countries. NST Online Away from the media glare, Asean talks nuclear
A Labor loner who has given it all away
A Labor loner who has given it all away The transformation of Peter Garrett from environmental activist to passive government minister is now complete, writes Kerry-Anne Walsh.
- Sydney Morning Herald July 19, 2009
Parachuted into the safe Labor seat of Kingsford Smith in Sydney, Garrett landed in Canberra at the 2004 election and has, in quietly dramatic fashion, been divesting himself ever since of his pre-Labor skin.
Approving the Four Mile uranium mine last week was the starkest example to date of the transformation of Garrett from anti-nuclear and environmental activist to passive government minister. It was an even bigger slap in the face to his past than giving the nod last year to a Tasmanian pulp mill…………………………… It was, after all, only two years ago at Labor’s national conference that he spoke passionately against expanding Labor’s three-uranium-mines-only policy.
“I have always maintained and indeed committed myself to the notion that Australia should be nuclear-free – that our country is as far into nuclear activities as it ever should be,” he spruiked. “I have long been opposed to uranium mining, and I remain opposed to it. I am unapologetic about this. In fact, I am proud of it.”………………..
………….when policy directions collide fiercely with deeply held convictions – if, indeed, they still do – there is always the option of resignation from cabinet……………..
……..The voters who put him there won’t thank him; he’s betrayed them.
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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