Uranium pollution continues in South Australia, but protestors gain legal victory
David Noonan, 10 April 2010, After 10 years a group of brave and resolute anti-nuclear protesters have won a major court case against SA police in defense of their rights to defend the environment, to protest against uranium mining and to protect their rights civil and human rights – after a range of police violence was inflicted on them including unlawful imprisonment in a shipping container at the Beverley acid in situ leach uranium mine in May 2000. Continue reading
Nuclear Power Lobby in a Bigger Mess Than I Thought
by Christina Macphers
on 9 April 2010, Some big corporations have an obvious interest in Australia promoting nuclear power. But which sort? Better not get Fourth Generation nuclear reactors – or the whole uranium industry is stuffed!
Today, thanks to Renfrey Clarke (3 items from him below) I learned about:
Second Generation Nuclear Reactors – those presently in use (Pressured Water Reactors – uranium-intensive and so ultimately producing lots of greenhouse gases, and not very safe, )
Third Generation Nuclear Reactors – still being built – updated versions of the Second Gen, super-expensive, a bit safer, but same waste and proliferation problems
‘Fast Breeder’ Reactors and Fourth Generation Nuclear Reactors – the latter still at the design stage, carry serious fire and radioactive waste risk. Worst of all, for Australia, they won’t need uranium mining , as they could use existing huge stockpiles of depleted uranium
Traditional Aboriginal Owners to Appear at Senate Inquiry on Australian Govt’s Nuclear Waste Dump Plan
The NRWM Bill is also strongly opposed by the NT Government, the ACTU and Unions NT and national public health, student and environment groups.
9 April 2010 Aboriginal Traditional Owners from the Muckaty Land Trust will appear at a Senate Inquiry hearing in Darwin on Monday April 12 to speak against the federal government’s new law that seeks to impose a radioactive waste dump on the NT – the National Radioactive Waste Management (NRWM) Bill. Continue reading
“Third Generation” Nuclear Reactors” safety, pollution, proliferation dangers
Why James Hansen is wrong on nuclear power | Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal, By Renfrey Clarke April 8, 2010 -“…….Third-generation reactors are in essence evolved versions of the pressurised-water installations that provide almost all of today’s nuclear energy. Now being built for the first time, “third-generation” plants are arguably still at the pre-commercial stage. Continue reading
‘Fourth Generation’ ‘Integral Fast Nuclear Reactors’ would not need uranium mining
This would be achieved through the irradiating of depleted uranium, of which large stockpiles exist. Fresh mining of uranium would not be needed for hundreds of years……
Why James Hansen is wrong on nuclear power | Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal, By Renfrey Clarke April 8, 2010″……Compared to earlier installations, the projected fourth-generation plants – specifically, the “integral fast reactor” (IFR) designs that have drawn most attention – promise important advantages., Continue reading
Australian mainstream media’s pro-nuclear bias
by Christina Macpherson 8 April 2010. Yesterday’ s National Press Club Debate between Ziggy Spinowski, (pro-nuclear) and Bob Brown (anti-nuclear) was duly reported by Australia’s mainstream media.
And all these reports covered both points of view, both arguments.
BUT – look how the mainstream media chose to headline these. You wouldn’t know that Bob Brown was even there, would you?
Ziggy Switkowski: we need nuclear power for climate – THE AUSTRALIAN
Nuclear power ‘won’t fuel arms race’ ABC Online The head of Australia’s nuclear science agency has rejected claims that nuclear power in Australia could lead to nuclear weapons in the region. (surprise, surprise!)
Nuclear technology safer than coal shipping: chief Sydney Morning Herald AN AUSTRALIAN nuclear power industry would bring little risk of an environmental disaster such as the potential oil spill on the Great Barrier Reef, Ziggy Switkowski says.
Nuclear shift ‘likely’ The Age Nuclear energy advocate Ziggy Switkowski says he expects the public mood to shift in favour of nuclear in the next three years.
France’s toxic radioactive mess in uranium-rich Niger
Nuclear colonialism News24: : AndreasSpath 2010-04-07 Fans of nuclear energy love France. They habitually depict the country which produces more than three quarters of its electricity using atomic power as the way forward to clean, cheap and low-carbon energy for all. In their enthusiasm they tend to ignore the less than glamorous aspects of the French nuclear industry. Continue reading
Radiation-caused cancer a risk in Australia’s CT scans
Radiation too high in CT scans, says study The Age, MARK METHERELL, April 8, 2010 AUSTRALIAN CT scans have been found to generate up to a third more radiation than necessary to yield a clear diagnostic image, needlessly exposing patients to an increased risk of cancer. Continue reading
Secret plan to permit higher levels of ionising radiation
“This critical debate is taking place entirely behind closed doors because this plan is ‘guidance’ and does not require public notice as a regulation would,”
(USA) Radiation Exposure Debate Rages Inside EPA Plan to Radically Hike Post-Accident Radiation in Food & Water Sparks Hot Dissent, YubaNet.com, By: Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER)Washington, DC Apr. 5, 2010 – A plan awaiting approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that would dramatically increase permissible radioactive releases in drinking water, Continue reading
Legal action likely against Muckaty nuclear waste dump
that was the largest demonstration in the history of Tennant Creek,
Lawyers confident over Muckaty legal challenge, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Katrina Bolton 7 April 2010 Lawyers planning to challenge a waste dump at Muckaty Station near Tennant Creek say if what they have been told is correct, they should be able to have the decision overturned. Continue reading
UK govt clamping down on unnecessary medical radiation
Dr. Helen Caldicott – the power of one activist
What Makes An Activist Tick? 6 Apr 2010 By Newmatilda.com Activist, medico, educator, broadcaster and writer Dr Helen Caldicott began her career as a physician in Adelaide. She is a passionate advocate of citizen action and has campaigned on nuclear and environmental issues around the world for the last 38 years. Continue reading
Review: nuke waste dumping, nuke disarmament
Review. Australia: The week has been dominated by the Muckaty nuclear waste dump plan, which clearly has caused disruption in Northern territory aboriginal communities.
But should decisions on nuclear waste dumping be made entirely the responsibility of local aborigines anyway?
Is this not a National problem for Australia? And why is the mainstream media pretty much silent on this critical issue?
International: World awaits nuclear disarmament talks. America in continued chaos over their nuclear waste problem. But at least they talk about it, while other countries keep mum on the unsolved disaster of radioactive wastes.
Anti-nuclear Waste Dump Rally in Northern Territory, Then Legal Action Against Govt?
Hundreds rally to stop nuclear dump ABC Alice Springs – Australian Broadcasting Corporation April 5, 2010 Indigenous groups and environmentalists are continuing a push to stop a radioactive waste dump being built on Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory.More than 200 people gathered in Tennant Creek on the weekend to protest against the dump being built on the site north of the town. Continue reading
Call for Australia to get out of the nuclear cycle
The team at ICAN – International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons 5 April 2010
We Australians often like to think of ourselves as a peace-loving nation.
However, as long as we continue to supply uranium to nuclear weapon states around the world, the perception of Australia as being benign in global affairs is an illusion.
The threat of nuclear weapons is as real today as it has ever been – yet Australia is in danger of setting itself up as uranium supplier to the world. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 